Lower Prevalence Of Depressive Symptoms Research Articles

Employment, income, and education and prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy: the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

BackgroundEpidemiological evidence for the association of socioeconomic status with prenatal depression has been inconsistent. The current cross-sectional study examined the association between employment, job type, household income, and educational level and the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy.MethodsSubjects were 1741 Japanese women. Depressive symptoms were defined as present when subjects had a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score of 16 or higher. Adjustment was made for age, gestation, region of residence, family structure, personal and family history of depression, smoking, secondhand smoke exposure at home and at work, employment, household income, and education.ResultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy was 19.3%. Compared with unemployment, employment, part-time employment, and full-time employment were significantly associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy: the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were 0.65 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50 − 0.86), 0.66 (95% CI: 0.46 − 0.95), and 0.66 (95% CI: 0.48 − 0.90), respectively. Regarding the job type held, women with a professional or technical job and those with a clerical or related occupation had a significantly lower prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy: the adjusted ORs were 0.67 (95% CI: 0.47 − 0.96) and 0.62 (95% CI: 0.43 − 0.90), respectively. Sales, service, production, and other occupations were not significantly related to the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy. There were no relationships between household income or education and the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy.ConclusionsEmployment, whether full-time or part-time, and holding a professional or technical job or a clerical or related occupation may be inversely associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

Green tea polyphenols produce antidepressant-like effects in adult mice

Recent studies have shown that a higher consumption of green tea leads to a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in elderly individuals. However, no studies have explored the antidepressant-like effect of green tea in preclinical models of depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the antidepressant-like effects and the possible mechanism of action of green tea in widely used mouse models of depression. Mice were orally administered green tea polyphenols (GTP; 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) for 7 days and assessed in the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) 60 min after the last GTP administration. Serum corticosterone and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) levels were also determined immediately after the FST. Green tea polyphenols significantly reduced immobility in both the FST and TST but did not alter locomotor activity in the open field test, suggesting that GTP has antidepressant-like effects, and this action did not induce nonspecific motor changes in mice. Green tea polyphenols also reduced serum corticosterone and ACTH levels in mice exposed to the FST. The present study demonstrated that GTP exerts antidepressant-like effects in a mouse behavioral models of depression, and the mechanism may involve inhibition of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis.

Physical activity and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling elders from southern Brazil

To determine the existence of a relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling elders. This is a cross-sectional, population-based study, which included 379 community-dwelling elders from Novo Hamburgo, state of RS, Brazil. The level of physical activity was estimated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and depressive symptoms were diagnosed according to the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale. The association between the level of physical activity and depressive symptoms was analyzed by logistic regression. A tendency towards a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms was observed in individuals with higher levels of physical activity, both in the sample as a whole as well as among men, but not among women (p for linear trend 0.04, 0.03 and 0.36, respectively). The odds ratio of the presence of depressive symptoms in the very active group as compared against that of the insufficiently active group was 0.32 (95% CI: 0.12-0.86) for men and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.39-1.46) for women. In this population of aged individuals, more intense physical activity is related to a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms. As shown by gender stratification, physical activity is inversely related to depressive symptoms in men, albeit not in women.

Fish and n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake and Depressive Symptoms: Ryukyus Child Health Study

Epidemiologic evidence on the role of fish and long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake on depression during adolescence is sparse. We examined the association between fish, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake and depressive symptoms in a group of adolescents. This cross-sectional study, conducted in all public junior high schools in Naha City and Nago City, Okinawa, Japan, included 3067 boys and 3450 girls aged 12 to 15 years (52.3% of the eligible sample). Dietary intake was assessed by using a validated, self-administered diet-history questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were defined as present when participants had a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale score of >or=16. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 22.5% for boys and 31.2% for girls. For boys, fish intake was inversely associated with depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [OR] for depressive symptoms in the highest [compared with the lowest] quintile of intake: 0.73 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.55-0.97]; P for trend=.04). EPA intake showed an inverse association with depressive symptoms (OR: 0.71 [95% CI: 0.54-0.94]; P=.04). DHA intake also showed a similar inverse, albeit nonsignificant, association (OR: 0.79 [95% CI: 0.59-1.05]; P=.11). In addition, intake of EPA plus DHA was inversely associated with depressive symptoms (OR: 0.72 [95% CI: 0.55-0.96]; P=.08). Conversely, no such associations were observed among girls. Higher intake of fish, EPA, and DHA was independently associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in early male, but not female, adolescents.

Dietary Folate, Riboflavin, Vitamin B-6, and Vitamin B-12 and Depressive Symptoms in Early Adolescence: The Ryukyus Child Health Study

To examine the association between dietary folate, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12 and depressive symptoms in a group of adolescents. This cross-sectional study, conducted in all public junior high schools in Naha City and Nago City, Okinawa, Japan, included 3,067 boys and 3,450 girls aged 12 years to 15 years (52.3% of eligible sample). Dietary intake was assessed using a validated, self-administered diet history questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were defined as present when participants had a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score of ≥16. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 22.5% for boys and 31.2% for girls. Folate intake was inversely associated with depressive symptoms in both boys (adjusted odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] in the highest (compared with the lowest) quintile, 0.60 [0.45, 0.79]; p for trend = .002) and girls (OR [95% CI], 0.61 [0.48, 0.77]; p for trend = <.001). Vitamin B-6 intake was inversely associated with depressive symptoms in both boys (OR [95% CI], 0.73 [0.54, 0.98]; p for trend = .02) and girls (OR [95% CI], 0.72 [0.56, 0.92]; p for trend = .002). Riboflavin intake was inversely associated with depressive symptoms in girls (OR [95% CI], 0.85 [0.67, 1.08]; p for trend = .03), but not in boys. No clear association was seen between vitamin B-12 intake and depressive symptoms in either sex. This study suggests that higher intake of dietary B vitamins, particularly folate and vitamin B-6, is independently associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in early adolescence.

Association of n-3 long-chain PUFA and fish intake with depressive symptoms and low dispositional optimism in older subjects with a history of myocardial infarction

Individuals with CHD are at increased risk of poor mental well-being. Dietary intake of EPA and DHA, the main n-3 fatty acids from fish, may be beneficial to mental well-being. We examined the association of EPA+DHA and fish intake with mental well-being in 644 participants, aged 60-80 years, with a history of myocardial infarction. Habitual food intake was assessed with a 203-item FFQ. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the self-report geriatric depression scale, and dispositional optimism was assessed with the revised life orientation test (LOT-R) and a four-item questionnaire (4Q). In Cox-regression models modified for cross-sectional analyses, we adjusted for sex, age, energy intake, BMI, family history of depression, education, marital status, smoking, physical activity and intake of saturated fat, alcohol and fibre. Compared with the lower tertile, subjects in the higher tertile of EPA+DHA intake had a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms, but this association was not statistically significant (prevalence ratio (PR) 0.78; 95 % CI 0.50, 1.22, P-trend 0.27). The higher tertile of EPA+DHA intake was positively associated with dispositional optimism measured with the 4Q (PR 0.69; 95 % CI 0.46, 1.03, P-trend 0.05), but not according to the LOT-R. Fish intake was not related to either depressive symptoms or dispositional optimism. In conclusion, intake of EPA+DHA was positively associated with dispositional optimism assessed with the 4Q, but not with optimism assessed with the LOT-R or with depressive symptoms.

Green tea consumption is associated with depressive symptoms in the elderly

BackgroundGreen tea is reported to have various beneficial effects (eg, anti–stress response and antiinflammatory effects) on human health. Although these functions might be associated with the development and progression of depressive symptoms, no studies have investigated the relation between green tea consumption and depressive symptoms in a community-dwelling population. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the relations between green tea consumption and depressive symptoms in elderly Japanese subjects who widely consumed green tea. DesignWe conducted a cross-sectional study in 1058 community-dwelling elderly Japanese individuals aged ≥70 y. Green tea consumption was assessed by using a self-administered questionnaire, and depressive symptoms were evaluated by using the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale with 2 cutoffs: 11 (mild and severe depressive symptoms) and 14 (severe depressive symptoms). If a participant was consuming antidepressants, he or she was considered to have depressive symptoms. ResultsThe prevalence of mild and severe and severe depressive symptoms was 34.1% and 20.2%, respectively. After adjustment for confounding factors, the odds ratios (95% CI) for mild and severe depressive symptoms when higher green tea consumption was compared with green tea consumption of ≤1 cup/d were as follows: 2–3 cups green tea/d (0.96; 95% CI: 0.66, 1.42) and ≥4 cups green tea/d (0.56; 95% CI: 0.39, 0.81) (P for trend: 0.001). Similar relations were also observed in the case of severe depressive symptoms. ConclusionA more frequent consumption of green tea was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in the community-dwelling older population.

Social networks and depressive symptoms among elderly women and men in Havana, Cuba

Objectives: To examine the main and the stress-buffering effects of social networks on depressive symptoms among elderly Cuban men and women living in La Havana. Method: Information was gathered from a representative sample of the elderly population in Havana (n = 1905), as part of the SABE (Salud, Bienestary Enuejecimiento) study. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. The structure and function of social networks were studied. Gender-specific multivariate logistic regressions were fitted to test the main (independent of stressors) and the stress-buffering effects (in the presence of financial strain or disabilities) on depressive symptoms. Results: Social ties were associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in women and men independently of the presence of stressors. Women who were or had been married, lived in an extended family, and enjoyed balanced exchanges with relatives and children reported low prevalence of depressive symptoms. Men were less likely to report depressive symptoms if they were currently married, and did not live alone. Social networks buffered the effect of financial strain on depression, but not in the event of disability. Conclusion: In Cuba, networks centered on children and extended family were associated with low frequency of depressive symptoms, ruling contrary to common findings in developed societies. These living arrangements have an important role in buffering the impact of financial strain on depressive symptoms.

Home Blood Pressure Is Associated with Depressive Symptoms in an Elderly Population Aged 70 Years and Over: A Population-Based, Cross-Sectional Analysis

Although several epidemiologic studies have assessed the relationship between low blood pressure and depressive symptoms in geriatric populations, the results have been inconsistent. Because the white-coat phenomenon is observed frequently in patients with depressive symptoms, we have considered that blood pressure measured in nonmedical settings is important in assessing the relationship between blood pressure and depressive symptoms among the geriatric population. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between home blood pressure and depressive symptoms in a community-based elderly population aged 70 years and over. We analyzed a cross-sectional survey comprised of 888 community-dwelling Japanese aged 70 years and older. Blood pressure was self-measured at home, and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS 30) with a cutoff point of 11. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 34.8%. For all subjects, after adjustments for potentially confounding factors, the odds ratios of having depressive symptoms by increasing quartiles of systolic blood pressure of subjects not taking antihypertensive drugs to subjects taking them were 1.00, 0.97, 0.88, 0.59, and 0.70. Statistically significant inverse relationships were observed in subjects not taking antihypertensive drugs. No apparent association between diastolic blood pressure and depressive symptoms was observed in any subjects or in a stratified analysis of antihypertensive drug use. In this study, a higher home systolic blood pressure was independently and continuously related to a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in participants not using antihypertensive medication. Further study is required to clarify the causality of this relationship.

Dietary intake of folate, other B vitamins, and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in relation to depressive symptoms in Japanese adults

Objective Although a favorable effect of dietary folate and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on depression is suggested from epidemiologic studies in Western countries, evidence from non-Western populations is lacking. We examined cross-sectional associations between the intake of folate, other B vitamins, and ω-3 PUFAs and depressive symptoms in Japanese adults. Methods Subjects were 309 Japanese men and 208 Japanese women 21–67 y of age. Dietary intake was assessed with a validated, brief, self-administered diet history questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were defined as present when subjects had a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale score ≥16. Adjustment was made for age, body mass index, work place, marital status, occupational physical activity, leisure-time physical activity, current smoking, current alcohol drinking, and job stress score. Results The prevalences of depressive symptoms were 36% for men and 37% for women. Folate intake showed a statistically significant, inverse, and linear association with depressive symptoms in men but not in women. The multivariate odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for depressive symptoms for men in the first, second, third, and fourth quartiles of folate intake were 1.00 (reference), 0.78 (0.38–1.63), 0.57 (0.27–1.18), and 0.50 (0.23–1.06), respectively ( P for trend = 0.045). No statistically significant linear association was observed for the intake of riboflavin, pyridoxine, cobalamin, total ω-3 PUFAs, α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, or docosahexaenoic acid in either sex. Conclusion Higher dietary intake of folate was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in Japanese men but not women.

The prevalence of depressive symptoms and other variables among frail aging men in New York City's Personal Care Services program

Background New York City's Personal Care Service Program provides service-rich assistance to the frail elderly who would not be able to live at home without such support. However, gender-specific health care delivery has not been introduced. Depressive symptoms are common among elderly people. We conducted a cross-sectional study in order to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and other variables among frail elderly men receiving personal care services. Methods Data were collected from administrative data available in the Human Resources Administration's computer system. Two hundred men aged 65 or older were randomly selected. We defined depressive symptoms by tracking the recording of depressed mood in the data system. We examined statistical differences in a variety of indicators between elderly men with and without depressive symptoms. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine which independent variables were associated with depressive symptoms. Results Of all cases, 10.5% had depressive symptoms. In multiple logistic regression models, the duration of services provision and hearing impairment were independently associated with depressive symptoms in frail elderly men. Conclusion The results of this study indicate the low prevalence of depressive symptoms among frail elderly men compared with previous studies. The duration of services provision was a protective factor for depressive symptoms, i.e. personal care services provided high quality Activities of Daily Living (ADL) support, which keeps frail elderly men living at home for as long as possible. The significance of hearing impairment, which can induce social isolation, also needs to be stressed as an indicator of depressive symptoms, even though there was no discrete measurement of social isolation included in the data.

Prevalência de depressão em idosas participantes da Universidade para a Terceira Idade

INTRODUÇÃO: Estudos têm sugerido que o envelhecimento tem relação com a depressão. No entanto, os idosos podem apresentar ausência ou mesmo prevalência baixa de sintomatologia depressiva quando participam de atividades grupais de educação permanente. OBJETIVOS: Investigar a intensidade e prevalência de sintomatologia depressiva em idosas participantes da Universidade para a Terceira Idade (UNITI) da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Verificar se o tempo de participação na UNITI ajuda na melhora do humor e as características das participantes antes e após ingressarem na UNITI. MÉTODO: Participaram 103 idosas integrantes da UNITI. Utilizou-se a Escala de Depressão Geriátrica (GDS) e uma ficha de dados sociodemográficos, que investigava o tempo de participação na UNITI e sua relação com sintomas depressivos, o papel da UNITI na melhora do humor e características das participantes antes e depois de entrarem na instituição. A amostra foi de conveniência. RESULTADOS: Observou-se ausência de sintomatologia depressiva na GDS na amostra estudada (média = 2,65; desvio padrão = 2,42). Do total de idosas, 80,6% apresentaram escores normais na GDS, e nenhuma apresentou depressão grave. Observou-se diferença significativa entre depressão e tempo de participação na UNITI igual ou superior a 1 ano (p &lt; 0,05). Verificou-se também que as participantes apresentaram melhoras no humor e nas áreas pessoal, intelectual, afetiva e social. CONCLUSÕES: É possível envelhecer bem, com ausência de sintomatologia depressiva. Este estudo aponta para a existência de uma associação, a ser melhor investigada, entre menor intensidade de sintomatologia depressiva e tempo de participação na UNITI superior a 1 ano. Também sugere que a participação em uma universidade para a terceira idade traz melhoras aos idosos.

Getting Old With a New Heart: Impact of Age on Depression and Quality of Life in Long-term Heart Transplant Recipients

Limited research has been done on depression and quality of life in long-term survival after heart transplantation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of age on depression and quality of life in a sample of long-term heart transplant recipients. We investigated 137 consecutive patients recruited in a single center who were still alive at more than 10 years after transplantation. Quality of life and depression were rated with the Medical Outcome Study Short Form (SF-36) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), respectively. Sociodemographic, clinical, affective, and quality of life data for long-term survival patients stratified by current age younger than 70 years (young) and 70 years or older (old) were compared using Fisher's exact tests and Student's t-tests. The SF-36 Mental Component Summary did not significantly differ between the young subjects (48.75 +/- 10.2) compared with old (48.47 +/- 10.1; p = 0.897). By contrast, the SF-36 Physical Component Summary was higher in younger subjects (46.88 +/- 10.2 vs 40.81 +/- 10.6, p = 0.008). According to BDI, 37.4% of the young group and 13.3% of the old group scored above the selected threshold of 10 (p = 0.014). In the light of our findings, older age does not seem to negatively affect the mental component of quality of life in the long term after heart transplantation, but it does on the physical component, as expected. On the other hand, it may be even associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms more than 10 years after surgery. Hence, age per se does not represent a major limiting factor when considering candidates for this procedure, at least with regard to the issue of psychologic distress.

The Wonder of Plants

Epidemiological studies suggest that higher tea consumption was associated with lower risk of depressive symptoms, but this has not been found consistently. Moreover, the effect of different types of tea on depressive symptoms needs to be further explored. This study aimed to examine the association between tea consumption and depressive symptoms in Chinese elderly.We analyzed the baseline data from Zhejiang Major Public Health Surveillance Program including 9371 participants. Depressive symptoms was assessed through the application of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scale (PHQ-9). Logistic regression models, controlled for an extensive range of potential confounders, were generated to evaluate the association between tea consumption and risk of depressive symptoms.The black tea drinkers had a significantly decreased risk of depressive symptoms (p<0.01), whereas no association was found in green tea drinkers. Compared with non-drinkers, the adjusted ORs (95% CIs) were 0.48 (0.23, 0.99) and 0.35 (0.17, 0.72) for participants consuming <3 cups and ≥3 cups of black tea per day, respectively (P for trend: <0.01). A linear association between concentration of black tea and depressive symptoms was also confirmed in our study.Cross-sectional data could not make a causation conclusion, and the observed association in our study could not be ascribed to any specific component in tea.Our results indicated that higher black tea consumption was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in the elderly.

Support from children, living arrangements, self-rated health and depressive symptoms of older people in Spain.

To assess the association between emotional and instrumental support from children and living arrangements with the physical and mental health of older people in Spain. A face-to-face home interview was carried out with 1284 community-dwelling people over 65 (response rate = 83%) randomly sampled according to an age- and sex-stratified sampling scheme in 1993 at Leganés (Spain). Close to 93% of the participants had children and 45% of them coresided with them. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic study depression scale) and self-rated health (SRH) by a single-item question. Emotional support was measured with a six-item scale on affection and reciprocity. Instrumental support was assessed by help received from children in 17 activities of daily living. Four living arrangements were considered: Living with spouse only, living with a spouse and children, widower living alone, and widower living with children. Multivariate analysis controlling for age, gender, education and functional status showed that low emotional support and reception of instrumental aid were significantly associated with poor SRH. Being a widower and sharing living arrangements with children was associated with good SRH. Living arrangements modify some of the associations of support of children with SRH. Depressive symptoms were associated with low emotional support, reception of instrumental help and being a widower who did not share living arrangements with children. For widowers who do not cohabit with children, reception of instrumental aid is associated with low depressive symptomatology. Emotional support from children seems to play an important role in maintaining the physical and mental health of elderly people in Spain. Instrumental support is widely available. Coresidence with children is very common and it is associated with good self-perceived health and low prevalence of depressive symptoms in a culture where family interdependence is highly valued. Families should be protected and encouraged to continue care-giving through a variety of community services and respite care, adapted to their needs and preferences. Research should be undertaken to find more efficient ways to help family caregivers in the Mediterranean context.

Gender Differences in Depressive Symptoms Among Older People Living in the Community

Objective: To study gender differences in depressive symptoms among older people.Method: Data obtained from a study of 533 women and 467 men aged 65 and over living independently in Melbourne were analysed to explore any gender differences in depressive symptoms.Results: There is a low prevalence of depressive symptoms among both older men and women living in the community, with a slightly higher prevalence among women. However, women were twice as likely as men to report sufficient symptoms to be classified as depressed. This gender difference was not explained by age, but was fully accounted for by either IADL dependency or marital status. In turn, widows were more likely to be classified as depressed because they were more often lonely.Conclusions: Women are more likely than men to be classified as depressed in community surveys of older people because they are more likely to experience an IADL dependency and because they are more likely as widows to experience loneliness.