Manifestation Of Depressive Symptoms Research Articles

Association Between Depressive Symptoms, Cognitive Status, and the Dual-Task Performance Index in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The Performance Index (P-Index) is a measure for evaluating mobility-related dual-task performance in older adults. The identification of specific clinicodemographic factors predictive of P-Index scores, however, remains unclear. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 120 community-dwelling older adults (average age 71.3 ± 11.23years) to explore clinicodemographic variables that influence P-Index scores during the instrumented timed up and go test. Unadjusted analyses suggested several factors, including age, gender, body mass index, Mini-Mental Status Examination scores, functional reach test performance, history of falls, ethnicity, Geriatric Depression Scale scores, alcohol consumption, and educational levels, as potential predictors of P-Index. However, adjusted multinomial multiple regression analysis revealed Geriatric Depression Scale and Mini-Mental Status Examination scores as the exclusive independent predictors of P-Index classifications, segmented into high, intermediate, or low (percentiles ≤ 25, 26-74, or ≥ 75, respectively). A significant association was observed between the manifestation of depressive symptoms, lower Mini-Mental Status Examination scores, and reduced cognitive-motor performance. The findings implicate depressive symptoms and low cognitive performance as substantial impediments to optimal dual-task mobility within this cohort. Further studies are warranted to examine the efficacy of cognitive stimulation and antidepressant therapy, in augmenting mobility-related dual-task performance among older adults.

Features of first-year students adaptation to study at a higher education institution

Annotation. The article is devoted to an empirical study of the level of severity and prevalence of depressive disorders and the level of the resilience among first-year students at the higher education institution, using the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10 and the author's questions about the state of mental health and social activity in a sample of 85 people were analyzed. An analysis of the dynamics of the indicated indicators was carried out: there is a tendency towards a pessimistic assessment of one’s own success and appearance by students during the first semester of study at the higher education institution, but at the beginning of the second semester demonstrates is a tendency towards a more realistic assessment and revitalization of social activity, which confirms the adaptation of students and orientation towards academic and social performance activities with increased resilience and reduced manifestations of depressive symptoms. In the future, it is worth focusing on the identification of factors and conditions that will influence the faster and better adaptation of first-year students, which will determine their success, the formation of skills to overcome life crises based on the value- motivational system, emotional and volitional qualities in the conditions of the eco-environment of higher education institutions.

The effects of baicalin in depression: preclinical evidence construction based on meta-analysis.

Depression manifests as a mental disorder characterized by a low mood, suicidal tendencies, disturbances in sleep-wake cycles, psychomotor agitation, and pronounced feelings of hopelessness and anhedonia. Baicalin, a natural flavonoid compound, shows significant promise in alleviating depressive symptoms in animals. This study aims to assess the impact of baicalin on experimental models of depression. A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted using the search terms "baicalin" AND "depression" OR "depressed" OR "anti-depression". Preclinical animal models representing experimental depression were included in the analysis. The risk of bias in the included studies was evaluated using the CAMARADES tools. Baicalin significantly increased sucrose preference test (SPT) [SMD= 21.31, 95%CI (16.32, 26.31), P < 0.00001]. mThe tail suspension test (TST) duration significantly decreased in the baicalin group compared to the model group [SMD = -39.3, 95%CI (-49.71, -28.89), P < 0.0001]. Furthermore, baicalin reduced immobility time in rats subjected to the forced swim test (FST) [SMD = -39.73, 95%CI (-48.77, -30.69) P < 0.0001]. Compared to the model group, baicalin treatment also significantly increased the frequency of crossings in the open field test (OFT) [SMD = 32.44, 95%CI (17.74, 47.13), P < 0.00001]. Baicalin significantly improves the manifestations of depressive symptoms. The effect of baicalin against depression is exerted through its anti-inflammatory actions, inhibition of oxidative stress, regulation of the HPA axis, and restoration of neuroplasticity. Future studies will be needed to further explore how these promising preclinical findings can be translated into clinical treatment for depression. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42023472181.

Exploring Digital Biomarkers for Depression Using Mobile Technology

Introduction &amp; BackgroundWith the advent of ubiquitous sensors and mobile technologies, wearables and smartphones offer a cost-effective means for monitoring mental health conditions, particularly depression. These devices enable the continuous collection of behavioral data, providing novel insights into the daily manifestations of depressive symptoms. Objectives &amp; ApproachThe present study summarizes findings from our five recent investigations that explored the relationships between depression severity and digital biomarkers captured by wearables and smartphones. These studies analyzed data from RADAR-MDD, a multinational mobile health program, involving 623 participants and tracked for up to two years. Participants' depression severity was measured biweekly using the PHQ-8 questionnaire conducted via smartphones. Concurrently, participants’ Fitbit and smartphone data were also collected. Given the longitudinal nature and repeated measurements for each participant, multilevel modeling techniques were employed to analyze the data. Relevance to Digital FootprintsOur approach involved extracting features from passive data that reflect various aspects of daily behavior—such as sleep quality, social interaction, physical activity, and walking patterns—akin to digital footprints. ResultsWe found several significant links between depression severity and various behavioral biomarkers: elevated depression levels were associated with diminished sleep quality (assessed through Fitbit metrics), reduced sociability (approximated by Bluetooth), decreased levels of physical activity (quantified by step counts and GPS data), a slower cadence of daily walking (captured by smartphone accelerometers), and disturbances in circadian rhythms (analyzed across various data streams). Conclusions &amp; ImplicationsLeveraging digital biomarkers for assessing and continuously monitoring depression introduces a new paradigm in early detection and development of customized intervention strategies. Findings from these studies not only enhance our comprehension of depression in real-world settings but also underscore the potential of mobile technologies in the prevention and management of mental health issues.

Vitamin B12 and homocysteine in patients with major depressive disorder.

Alterations in the level of neurotransmitters are evident in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Vitamin B12 mediates the synthesis of neurotransmitters, and hence, vitamin B12 deficiency could be associated with depression. To assess the levels of serum vitamin B12, homocysteine (Hcy), and haematological profiles in patients of MDD. Fifty-nine patients with MDD were recruited based on ICD-10 criteria. Severity of depression was assessed by HAM-D scale. Vitamin B12, Hcy levels, and haematological profiles were analysed. Vitamin B12 was deficient or depleted in all patients with MDD. The median level of vitamin B12 in serum was 164.2 pg./ml and significantly lower in patients with severe MDD. The mean value of Hcy was 18.34 μmol/L, which was high compared to the normal reference range. The red cell distribution width (RDW-CV) varied significantly between the three groups of MDD patients. Patients consuming non-vegetarian food had a significantly higher median value of serum vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 deficiency is found in patients with MDD and varies inversely with severity of MDD. Hcy is found to be higher in patients with MDD. The manifestation of depressive symptoms precedes the more commonly known haematological manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency in this study.

Network Structure of Depressive Symptomatology in Elderly with Cognitive Impairment.

Objective and objectives: Patients with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) frequently exhibit depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms can be evaluated with various measures and questionnaires. The geriatric depression scale (GDS) is a scale that can be used to measure symptoms in geriatric age. Many questionnaires sum up symptom scales. However, core symptoms of depression in these patients and connections between these symptoms have not been fully explored yet. Thus, the objectives of this study were (1) to determine core symptoms of two cognitive disorders, Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment, and (2) to investigate the network structure of depressive symptomatology in individuals with cognitive impairment in comparison with those with Alzheimer's disease. Materials and Methods: This study encompassed 5354 patients with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer's disease (n 1889) and mild cognitive impairment (n = 3464). The geriatric depression scale, a self-administered questionnaire, was employed to assess depressive symptomatology. Using exploratory graph analysis (EGA), a network analysis was conducted, and the network structure was evaluated through regularized partial correlation models. To determine the centrality of depressive symptoms within each cohort, network parameters such as strength, betweenness, and closeness were examined. Additionally, to explore differences in the network structure between Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment groups, a network comparison test was performed. Results: In the analysis of centrality indices, "worthlessness" was identified as the most central symptom in the geriatric depression scale among patients with Alzheimer's disease, whereas "emptiness" was found to be the most central symptom in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Despite these differences in central symptoms, the comparative analysis showed no statistical difference in the overall network structure between Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment groups. Conclusions: Findings of this study could contribute to a better understanding of the manifestation of depressive symptoms in patients with cognitive impairment. These results are expected to aid in identifying and prioritizing core symptoms in these patients. Further research should be conducted to explore potential interventions tailored to these core symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. Establishing core symptoms in those groups might have clinical importance in that appropriate treatment for neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with cognitive impairment could help preclude progression to further impairment.

Modeling the relationship between depression in people with cancer and perceived stress, with the mediating role of eating problems, sexual satisfaction, emotion regulation and self-compassion.

With the rising prevalence of cancer and the adverse physical and psychological experiences endured by affected individuals, this study aims to establish a model illustrating the relationship between depression in people with cancer and perceived stress. Additionally, it examines the mediating influence of eating problems, sexual satisfaction, emotional regulation, and self-compassion. This study employs a descriptive-correlational research method, utilizing structural equation analysis (modeling) to explore the role of mediators. The research sample comprised 200 individuals diagnosed with cancer, selected based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants completed Beck's 13-item depression questionnaire, a 10-item perceived stress questionnaire, an 8-item appetite measurement questionnaire, a 25-item sexual satisfaction questionnaire, a 10-item emotion regulation questionnaire, and a 12-item compassion questionnaire. The data were subsequently analyzed using SPSS-24 and Lisrel 80/8 software. The research findings indicate a significant positive relationship between perceived stress and depression in people with cancer. Furthermore, eating problems exhibited a mediating role in the relationship between perceived stress and depression, with a direct effect coefficient of (t = 0.28, ß = 0.02). However, the path from perceived stress to depression, mediated by sexual satisfaction, was found to be statistically insignificant, with a standard coefficient of 0.01 at the p < 0.05 level. Emotion regulation demonstrated a direct effect coefficient of (t = -3.52, ß = -0.33) on depression. Likewise, self-compassion exhibited a direct effect coefficient of (t = -3.08, ß = -0.28) on depression, while the path from perceived stress to depression was mediated by self-compassion, with a standard coefficient of 0.12 at the p < 0.05 level. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the interplay between depression and perceived stress in individuals with cancer, revealing a significant positive association. Eating problems emerged as a mediating factor, directly influencing the manifestation of depressive symptoms. However, the mediation pathway through sexual satisfaction was found to be statistically insignificant. Emotion regulation and self-compassion were identified as influential factors, with direct effects on depression and self-compassion also serving as a mediator in the relationship between perceived stress and depression. The findings emphasize the importance of targeted interventions addressing eating problems, enhancing emotion regulation, and fostering self-compassion to alleviate the impact of depression and perceived stress in individuals facing cancer-related challenges. Further research is encouraged to refine and expand upon these insights, advancing holistic care for this population.

Adolescent Depression: Impact of Family Relations

Depression is a major mental disorder that affects numerous people and causes them to experience depressive episodes. The root of depression usually appears in people’s teenage years. Research have shown that family relations, in particular, has the largest impact on the development and manifestation of depressive symptoms in teenagers. After reviewing pertinent literature, the specific components in family relations that are risk factors and protective factors for depressive symptoms in adolescents are identified. The risk factors for depressive symptoms in teenagers are mostly correlated with negative family emotions and actions, which includes parental criticism and expressed emotions, parental depression, lack of family cohesion and adaptability, lack of parental care, negative family emotional climate, and lack of physical affection and verbal intimacy. The protective factors revolve around adolescents’ ability to recognize and manage negative emotions, which includes emotion regulation, positive family climate and social support, emotion coaching, emotion clarity, and cooperative communication. Four recommendations for parents are offered based on these observed risk factors and protective factors to hinder and prevent the development of depression adolescents. These recommendations are social support, positive family atmosphere, physical affection, and verbal affection. It is hoped that studies in the future can focus on investigating the effectiveness of these recommendations and provide a more detailed and reliable list of recommendations for parents to reduce the chances of depression development in their children.

Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation for Perinatal Depressive Disorder: A Literature Review

IntroductionPeripartum Depressive Disorder (PPD) is a Peripartum Mental Disorder (PMD) characterized as a Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), wherein the manifestation of depressive symptoms initiates either during pregnancy or within the first 12 months following childbirth.PPD impacts both maternal well-being and infant health, resulting in unfavorable outcomes during pregnancy and the postpartum period.Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS) is one of the rapidly expanding fields in medicine, using a range of techniques to modulate the brain.ObjectivesThis study aimed to summarize the latest evidence about the impact of NIBS (efficacy, tolerance, and safety) in PPD.MethodsA review was conducted, drawing on reputable (PubMed and Web of Science databases).Key brain stimulation modalities, such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (TES), and Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were analyzed in the context of PPD.ResultsPreliminary findings indicate promising positive effect of NIBS in reducing symptoms associated with PPD.In the postpartum, the favorable outlook on the effectiveness of NIBS implies that, when feasible, women diagnosed with mild to moderate PPD, especially those reluctant to initiate pharmacological interventions, should be presented with TMS or TES as an alternative therapeutic approach.However, some doubts persist about the safety of NIBS regarding fetus and preterm birth.ConclusionsNIBS constitutes a viable option for pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions, and it can also be integrated into comprehensive treatment regimens.Future research include large-scale clinical trials and longitudinal studies is needed to address the efficacy, security, and long-term effects of NIBS.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Developing Topics.

More than 600 million people have been infected by Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Common cognitive and psychological symptoms in these patients are memory impairment, attention difficulties, anxiety and depression, and neuropsychological rehabilitation is a possible strategy to improve them. In addition, some studies have shown a decrease in depressive symptoms after starting a cognitive rehabilitation program, although this was not the main objective of rehabilitation. Five patients underwent mood assessment, more specifically, depressive symptoms. For this, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used. The application was made immediately before and after the cognitive rehabilitation intervention, lasting 20 weekly sessions of about one hour of activity. The evaluation was performed on five patients with a mean age of 52.5 years (Table 1). These presented measures that indicated the presence of depressive symptoms at the beginning of the study. After 20 sessions of cognitive rehabilitation it was not possible to observe an objective change in depressive symptoms. This can be explained by the reduced number of individuals in the sample, which may have impaired the statistical calculation. But it was observed a clinical improvement of depressive symptoms was observed in 60% of patients and 40% remained stable (Table 2). Clinical improvement was also noted in patients, who reported that they were feeling better and that they resumed activities that they have previously avoided or that they were finding it easier, in addition to perceiving their own evolution throughout the treatment, increasing their sense of self-efficacy and feeling more hopeful. Finally, it is noted that cognitive rehabilitation is a possible strategy to improve not only cognitive impairment, but also the clinical manifestations of depressive symptoms in post-Covid-19 patients.

Post-COVID-19 Syndrome and Related Dysautonomia: Reduced Quality of Life, Increased Anxiety and Manifestation of Depressive Symptoms: Evidence from Greece.

Post-COVID-19 syndrome affects a significant number of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals, even in asymptomatic cases causing several neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms and signs. An online cross-sectional study with a convenience sample was conducted in Greece from November 2022 to January 2023. We measured the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with post-COVID-19 dysautonomia in terms of the quality of life with the EQ-5D-3L, and anxiety and depressive symptoms by employing Patient Health Questionnaire-4. The study population included 122 patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. One out of four patients (27.8%) manifested post-COVID-19 dysautonomia, while the mean duration of COVID-19 symptoms was 11.6 months. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were worse after the post-COVID-19 syndrome (p<0.001 in both cases). A statistically significant reduction in quality of life was observed among patients after the post-COVID-19 syndrome (p<0.001 for both EQ-5D-3L index value and EQ-5D-3L VAS). Post-COVID-19 dysautonomia increased depression symptoms after developing the post-COVID-19 syndrome (p=0.02). We found a negative relationship between the duration of COVID-19 symptoms and the quality of life (p<0.001). Moreover, our results showed that depressive symptoms were more common among females after the post-COVID-19 syndrome (p=0.01). Also, the quality of life was lower among females than males (p=0.004 for EQ-5D-3L index value, and p=0.007 for EQ-5D-3L VAS). Our results suggest that post-COVID-19 syndrome causes a tremendous impact on the patients' quality of life and mental health. In addition, we found that the groups most psychologically affected were patients with post-COVID-19 dysautonomia, females, and patients with a longer duration of symptoms. Policy makers should assign priority rights to vulnerable groups in future psychiatric planning. Policy measures should focus on the mental health of post-COVID-19 patients who seem to be particularly vulnerable.

Longitudinal Changes of Depressive Symptoms in Sedentary Women Who Exercised During Pregnancy.

Prenatal depression is a common disorder; however, little is known about how depressive symptoms manifest during pregnancy, including when symptoms present and what symptoms are common. This study aimed to better understand prenatal depressive symptoms during pregnancy in the postpartum period, as well as how exercise, such as walking and stretching, can improve depressive symptoms during pregnancy and the postpartum period. A total of 55 women were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II for depressive symptoms at 16 weeks, 28 weeks, and 2 months postpartum. Sedentary pregnant women at-risk for preeclampsia were randomly assigned to either a stretching or walking group for 40 minutes five times a week from 18 weeks of gestation until birth. The primary analyses were analysis of variance and mixed-effects models. All depressive symptoms decreased throughout pregnancy during the postpartum period, although this trend was not statistically significant. Cognitive-affective and somatic depressive symptoms had different trajectories during pregnancy into the postpartum period, but no significant difference was found. Statistically significant improvements were observed in loss of energy and change in sleeping pattern for the walking and stretching groups. The finding that physical activity improves the depressive symptoms' loss of energy and changes in sleeping patterns during pregnancy aligns with the existing literature, but little research has examined how individual depressive symptoms change throughout pregnancy into the postpartum period. Gaining a better understanding of the trajectories and manifestations of depressive symptoms during pregnancy and the postpartum period is essential for improving detection and treatment practices. Understanding when and how depressive symptoms are present is critical for the clinical diagnosis of this disorder.

Intergroup relations affect depressive symptoms of Indigenous people: Longitudinal evidence

AbstractOne thousand eight hundred thirty‐five individuals who self‐identified as Indigenous (with Mapuche being the largest group) participated in a two‐wave longitudinal survey conducted in Chile with an 18 months lag. This was an approximately nationally representative sample of residents from culturally diverse communities. The aim of the study was to identify protective and adverse factors that are related to the development of depressive symptoms in Indigenous people. It was hypothesized that perceived social support would be negatively related to the development of depressive symptoms and that perceived discrimination would be positively associated with depressive symptoms, so that being on the receiving end of discrimination would make the manifestation of depressive symptoms more likely. Social support and perceived discrimination were themselves predicted to be affected by acculturation preferences and skin pigmentation. It was hypothesized that a positive acculturation orientation towards both the Indigenous group and members of non‐Indigenous majority society would be associated with more perceived social support. Hence, preference for culture maintenance and preference for cross‐group contact were expected to be positively related to social support. Further, it was hypothesized that darker skin pigmentation would be associated with more experiences of discrimination. Taken together, two processes were expected to affect depressive symptomatology: a protective effect of acculturation preferences mediated by social support and a deleterious effect of pigmentation mediated by experiences of discrimination. Results confirmed the predictions cross‐sectionally but longitudinal effects were only found for the deleterious effect of pigmentation; the protective effect of acculturation preferences was notably weaker over time. These findings have both theoretical and applied implications.

Differences in intracellular protein levels in monocytes and CD4+ lymphocytes between bipolar depressed patients and healthy controls: A pilot study with tyramine-based signal-amplified flow cytometry

BackgroundMolecular biomarkers for bipolar disorder (BD) that distinguish it from other manifestations of depressive symptoms remain unknown. The aim of this study was to determine if a very sensitive tyramine-based signal-amplification technology for flow cytometry (CellPrint™) could facilitate the identification of cell-specific analyte expression profiles of peripheral blood cells for bipolar depression (BPD) versus healthy controls (HCs). MethodsThe diagnosis of psychiatric disorders was ascertained with Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for DSM-5. Expression levels for eighteen protein analytes previously shown to be related to bipolar disorder were assessed with CellPrint™ in CD4+ T cells and monocytes of bipolar patients and HCs. Implementation of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and pathway analysis was subsequently used to identify new analytes and pathways for subsequent interrogations. ResultsFourteen drug-naïve or -free patients with bipolar I or II depression and 17 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. The most distinguishable changes in analyte expression based on t-tests included GSK3β, HMGB1, IRS2, phospho-GSK3αβ, phospho-RELA, and TSPO in CD4+ T cells and calmodulin, GSK3β, IRS2, and phospho-HS1 in monocytes. Subsequent PPI and pathway analysis indicated that prolactin, leptin, BDNF, and interleukin-3 signal pathways were significantly different between bipolar patients and HCs. LimitationThe sample size of the study was small and 2 patients were on medications. ConclusionIn this pilot study, CellPrint™ was able to detect differences in cell-specific protein levels between BPD patients and HCs. A subsequent study including samples from patients with BPD, major depressive disorder, and HCs is warranted.

Non-linear association between Mediterranean diet and depressive symptom in U.S. adults: A cross-sectional study.

The Mediterranean diet (MED), a dietary pattern rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish, and olive oil, has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Although some data suggest that MED adherence is associated with decreased manifestation of depressive symptoms, it remains necessary to further analyze this apparent non-linear association as well as the influence of different factors on the relationship between MED and depression. Here, we investigated associations between the alternate MED (aMED) score and depressive symptom via multivariate logistic regression, weighted generalized additive (GAM) and two-step linear regression models, analyzing data from the 2005–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The most important factor relevant to aMED score that contributed to the prevalence of depressive symptom was assessed using random forest. Furthermore, we examined whether the relationship between aMED score and depressive symptom differs by age, race, sex, socioeconomic variables, lifestyle- and health-related variables, and chronic medical conditions, via subgroup analyses. A total of 19,477 participants (20–80 years of age) were included in this cross-sectional study. In crude and adjusted (1–5) multivariate logistic regression models, increased aMED score was noted to associate with non-depressive status, as defined using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (P < 0.05). Data analyses via GAM and two-piecewise linear regression revealed a non-linear association between aMED and depressive symptom, which had an inflection point of 3. Random forest results revealed that vegetable score contributes greatest to the relationship between aMED and depressive symptom. Subgroup analyses revealed that aMED score is significantly negatively related with depressive symptom in most different populations (P < 0.05) with the exception of high annual income, diabetes, borderline blood glucose level and Parkinson's disease (PD) (P > 0.05). In conclusion, we observed a non-linear association between aMED score and depressive symptom. Further studies are needed to validate our results.

Development of neuroactive steroids for the treatment of postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common major depressive episode surrounding childbirth, with estimated rates ranging from 5.5% to 23.5% of all live births across Europe and the USA based on the presence of key symptoms. PPD has been associated with significant impairments in both maternal functioning and mother‐infant attachment, and these impairments can have lasting effects on the emotional and cognitive development of children. Although the precise pathophysiology of PPD is unknown, preclinical findings suggest that large fluctuations in neurosteroid hormone levels can induce physiological plasticity in the expression of functional GABAA receptors during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and that deficits in this plasticity may underpin a biological mechanism that contributes to the manifestation of depressive symptoms. Here, we review the controlled clinical trials to date that have assessed the efficacy of pharmacological treatments for PPD, including oestradiol, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, brexanolone (an iv formulation of allopregnanolone) and an investigational neuroactive steroid and GABAA positive allosteric modulator, zuranolone. Coupled with the GABAergic deficits implicated in major depressive disorder, these findings highlight not only the potential role of GABAA receptor plasticity in the pathophysiology of PPD, but also the novel therapeutic approach of using positive allosteric modulators targeting GABAergic transmission to treat women affected by PPD.

Distance education during COVID 19: an Italian survey on the university teachers\u2019 perspectives and their emotional conditions

BackgroundFollowing the COVID-19 pandemic, distance education (DE) replaced traditional “face-to-face” teaching and has become the main method of teaching. The aim of this study was to 1) evaluate the impact of DE by teachers in our department during the second semester of the 2019–20 academic year following the March–May 2020 Italian national lockdown and 2) evaluate the relationship between DE and the emotional well-being of teachers during the period of home confinement.MethodsNinety-seven university teachers (51.5% women; most represented age group 60–69 years range, 40.2%) responded to an anonymous online cross-sectional survey between July 15 – September 30, 2020, on the advantages and disadvantages of DE, developed by one online teacher focus group. The emotional conditions were assessed by a short version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). The internal consistency reliability survey and the 10-item BDI-II were measured by Cronbach’s alpha. A correlation analysis (r-Pearson) was conducted between the overall evaluation of the experience of DE and the variables included in the study.ResultsTeachers reported difficulties in technical aspects, and in psychological factors, as the discomfort of “speaking in the void” (64.7%). The absence of “face-to-face” eye contact with the students was complained by 81% of teachers.Significant impairments in sleep patterns and loss of energy were reported, with female teachers having greater difficulty concentrating than their male colleagues. A quarter of teachers showed depressive symptoms of varying severity.The most satisfied teachers were those most stimulated by DE (r = 0.752, p < 0.000), who showed a lower impact of depressive symptoms (r = − 0.289, p = 0.005). The teaching load in hours influenced the perception of disadvantages (r = 0.214, p = 0.035) and contributed to a lower appreciation of the challenges of DE.The more significant the manifestation of depressive symptoms during the lockdown was, the greater the subjective recovery of a good emotional condition once the domestic confinement was over (r = 0.344, p = 0.001), despite maintaining DE.ConclusionsOur study highlights the impact of technical, didactic, and psychological difficulties of DE, reported by our teachers. The appreciation of their new learning promoted by DE seemed related to better emotional well-being of university teachers accepting this “challenge” in their important role in the high-education system, influencing good learning and promoting students’ professional success.

Autobiographical and biopsychological indicators of life satisfaction of the persons of pre-retirement age

The subject of this research is the correlation between the indicator of life satisfaction as a cognitive-affective construct of human psyche, certain scales that reflect the respondents&amp;rsquo; perception of a temporal project of life (such parameters&amp;nbsp; as orientation towards the future, fatalistic present, hedonistic present), which reflect the cognitive component of life assessment and various parameters of the life path of a person, such as self-esteem of activity throughout life, career success, material well-being, indicators of overall activity, optimism, parental status and/or presence of dependents, presence of intellectual or sport hobbies, strategies of cooperation/individualism, determined in the course of the game &amp;ldquo;Dilemma of the Prisoner&amp;rdquo;, scales of depressive symptoms and severity of chronic fatigue syndrome, and ratio of the biological age index to appropriate biological age as an indicator of the difference between normal and individual level of aging in the age group, and indicator of psychological age and personal maturity that reflect the assessment of self-realization and the adequacy of mental state to physical state respectively. The author&amp;rsquo;s special contribution to this research consists in the establishment of correlation between the indicators of life satisfaction and cognitive assessment of the parameters of life path, such as overall activity throughout life, optimism, strategies of cooperation and partnership with the surrounding people, orientation towards the future relative to time-related project of life, and establishment of inverse connection with orientation towards the present regardless of the emotional coloring of such perception. The biological parameters of individual aging among persons of pre-retirement age play lesser role than the assessment of the reflected on current life situation. However, the author determines significant negative associations between the manifestation of depressive symptoms and the severity of chronic fatigue syndrome and life satisfaction.

Physical and Mental Health Level of the Elderly Living in Central Greece.

Introduction:Elderly population is growing fast in the western world due to a reduction in birth rates and a marked increase in life expectancy with multiple co-morbidity that warrants greater attention by health care workers.Aim:The purpose of the study is to investigate the levels of physical and mental health of elderly people living in Central Greece.Methods:A cross-sectional study design was adopted with self completed questionnaires. Data collected, included socio-demographic and general health information using the Greek version of General Health Questionnaire 28. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and regularity diagrams were employed.Results:The sample included 230 elderly people with an average age of 73.1 years, women (53.5%), married (75.7%), with children (100%), primary school graduates (47.8%), residing in a city (72.2%), retired (90.9%), living with a spouse (68.3%), worked previously (96%) and 37.4% with a present monthly income of 301-600€. In the General Health Questionnaire, the internal consistency factor Cronbach’s alpha for ‘physical depressive symptoms’ was 0.85, for ‘anxiety and insomnia’ 0.86, for ‘social dysfunction’ 0.86 and for ‘depressive sentiment’ 0.89, which indicates an excellent reliability of the questionnaire. The ‘social malfunction’ sub-scale showed the highest score (8.9) then ‘anxiety and insomnia’ (6.9) followed by ‘physical symptoms of depression’ (6.2) and ‘depressive sentiment’ (3.4). For the ‘anxiety and insomnia’ sub-scale, marital status shows another important correlation: unmarried elderly people had higher levels of stress. A lower educational level was associated with higher levels of anxiety and insomnia. Marital status appears to affect the manifestation of depressive symptoms as widows, singles and divorced showed a higher mean rate of depression than married people.Table 1.Demographical characteristics of the elderly. α mean, β standard deviationDemographicsN%Gender Men10746,5Women12353,5Age 73,1α6,3βMarital statusSingle83,5Married17475,7Divorced 114,8Widowers3716,1Children 12310213056,535523,94219,1510,4Educational levelNone31,3Primary (partial)135,7Primary11047,8Secondary6628,7Tertiary3816,5Place of residenceCity16672,2Town2611,3Village3816,5Pension Public servant5925,7Farmer6126,5Labor6126,5Free lance worker167Other125,2None219,1Residence Living alone4318,7Living with spouse 15768,3Living with children3013OccupationLabor7030,4Non-labor8336,1Farmer3816,5Housework 3414,8None53,2Monthly income (€)0-3002310301-6008637,4601-10006729,1>10005423,5Table 2.Descriptive results of the GHQ-28 sub-scales. Sub-scaleMeanStandard deviation MedianPhysical Depressive symptoms [0-21]6,24,45Anxiety and Insomnia [0-21]6,94,66Social dysfunction [0-21]8,94,08Depressive feelings [0-21]3,44,31Overall scores [0-84]25,313,923Conclusions:Various demographic as well as bio-psycho-social factors affecting health and particularly mental health are distributed unevenly between older men and women and between older people living in urban and rural areas. Therefore as our findings show, special care and priority should be granted to those who are single or widowed or divorced as they seem to be at greatest risk for overall declining mental health.

Anxious-depressive Pathology in the Structure of Adaptation Disorders (Clinics, Diagnosis, Therapy)

The objective: evaluation of the effectiveness of the drug Giacintia (escitalopram) – coated tablets, 10 mg in the treatment of patients with anxiety and depressive symptoms in the structure of adaptation disorders.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The study involved 38 patients with adaptive disorders, mixed anxiety-depressive response to ICD-10 (F 43.22). All patients received Giacintia at a dose of 10 mg per day, due to the sufficient therapeutic effect of this dosage. A comprehensive approach was used, which included methods: clinical and psychopathological; psychodiagnostic, based on the scale «Questionnaire of severity of psychopathological symptoms» (Symptom Check List-90-Revised – SCL-90-R), hospital scale of anxiety and depression (HADS) and the scale of social adaptation Sheehan (SDS); methods of mathematical statistics.&#x0D; Results. Peculiarities of patients’ clinical condition and its dynamics were assessed before treatment (day 1), during therapy (day 14), and after treatment (day 90). As a result of Giacintia therapy, a significant improvement in the mental state of patients was found. When studying the regression of psychopathological symptoms, the positive dynamics of depressive disorders in this category of persons was observed by the end of the second week of therapy, and on the part of anxious – up to 21 days of therapy. Examination of patients at the end of the 90-day course of Giacintia treatment revealed a significant reduction in all previously recorded symptoms of anxiety and depression compared with baseline (p&lt;0.05). On the SCL-90-R scale, on day 14 of therapy, patients showed a significant decrease in obsessive-compulsive symptoms, signs of paranoia (suspicion), hostility (feelings of anger), depressive symptoms, and phobic anxiety. Subsequently, there was a significant decrease in existing psychopathological symptoms and a probable decrease in all scales on day 90 of therapy with the studied antidepressant (t≥2,3477). At the time of the final assessment, the indicator on the scale of depression decreased to 0,52 points, and on the scale of anxiety – to 0,56 points, which indicates a reduction in clinically = pronounced anxiety and depressive symptoms. According to the HADS scale at the initial assessment of clinical and psychopathological manifestations of anxiety and depression, clinically expressed symptoms of anxiety were registered in 71,05 % of individuals (mean score – 15,00±2,39 points), subclinical – in 28,95 % of individuals (mean score – 8,82±0,75 points). At the same time, clinically pronounced symptoms of depression were registered in 81,58 % of individuals (mean score – 15,23±2,33 points), subclinical – in 18,42 % of individuals (mean score – 8,43±0,53 points). A significant decrease in the percentage of clinically pronounced manifestations of depressive symptoms was registered on day 14 of therapy (57,89 % of individuals, p&lt;0,05). At the time of the final HADS assessment, clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression were completely reduced in the study group and were represented only by subclinical manifestations in 13,16 % of patients and 11,43 % of patients, respectively.&#x0D; Conclusions. The results of the study showed high efficacy and good tolerability of the drug Giacintia in the treatment of anxiety and depressive symptoms in the structure of adaptation disorders. Giacintia has not only a balanced pronounced thymoanaleptic effect, but also provides increased professional, social and family activity and improves the quality of life of patients in general. Especially important is the good tolerability of the drug confirmed by the study, the unstable transient nature of adverse events, their insignificant severity, which is a significant advantage in the formation of patients’ commitment to treatment and achieving a deeper and more lasting therapeutic effect. Thus, the use of Giacintia can successfully overcome adaptation disorders and prevent their transformation into chronic conditions.