Mood Disorder Symptoms Research Articles

Psychotropic medication use among adolescents participating in three randomized trials of DBT

BackgroundFrequently presenting with symptoms of mood or anxiety disorders, substance abuse or borderline personality disorder, suicidal and self-harming adolescents often are prescribed psychotropic medication. Though such treatment may be warranted, recurrent suicidal and self-harming behaviour is often linked to emotion dysregulation where pharmacological treatment has weak empirical support. There is a need for more clinical research into the frequency, type and rationale for pharmacological treatment in this group. In this secondary analysis of three randomized clinical trials of dialectical behaviour therapy for adolescents, we report on psychotropic medication use in the respective samples at the time of recruitment, compare use of psychotropic medication across trials and describe sample characteristics that may be associated with possible differences in psychotropic medication.FindingsTrials were conducted in Norway, the US and Spain (labelled the Oslo, US and Barcelona samples). At baseline, 86% of the Barcelona sample, 67% of the US sample and 12% of the Oslo sample were taking at least one psychotropic medication with antidepressants as the most frequent, followed by antipsychotics (72%, 22% and 1.3% respectively) and mood stabilizers (14.2%, 16.2% and 0%). In the Oslo sample there was a significant association between receiving a diagnosis of major depression and the likelihood of receiving antidepressants, but no such association was found in the Barcelona and US samples. The overall 7–8 times higher proportion of participants in the US and Barcelona samples treated with psychotropic medication could only partially be explained by differences between the samples in diagnostic profiles, symptom severity or level of dysfunction.ConclusionsHighly prevalent in use among suicidal and self-harming adolescents with borderline features, psychotropic medication was still very unevenly prescribed across trials, differences not explained by differences in sample characteristics suggesting that current treatment practices are not fully empirically supported. We call for continued medical education and increased availability of evidence-based psychosocial interventions.

Experiential avoidance as a mediator of risk factors for higher order internalizing psychopathology in the perinatal period.

Perinatal psychopathology can be damaging. This study examined the strength of the associations between risk factors and all perinatal mood and anxiety disorder symptoms while assessing the mediating effect of experiential avoidance. Participants (N = 246) completed assessments during pregnancy (28-32 weeks) and the postpartum (6-8 weeks). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine associations between risk factors and latent factors: distress (composed of depression, generalized anxiety, irritability, and panic symptoms); fear (social anxiety, agoraphobia, specific phobia, and obsessive-compulsive); and bipolar (mania and obsessive-compulsive). During pregnancy, past psychiatric history, anxiety sensitivity, maladaptive coping, and age were significant risk factors. In the postpartum, negative maternal attitudes and past psychiatric history were only risk factors for symptoms that composed distress. Experiential avoidance mediated the relation between maladaptive coping and symptoms that composed fear. It is important to assess for psychological risk factors starting in pregnancy. This study identified critical risk factors that are associated with the underlying commonality among perinatal mood and anxiety symptoms. Some of the risk factors as well as the mediator are malleable (negative maternal attitudes, experiential avoidance), creating new possibilities for prevention and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder symptoms.

Exploring weight bias and negative self-evaluation in patients with mood disorders: insights from the BodyTalk Project.

Negative body image and adverse body self-evaluation represent key psychological constructs within the realm of weight bias (WB), potentially intertwined with the negative self-evaluation characteristic of depressive symptomatology. Although WB encapsulates an implicit form of self-critical assessment, its exploration among people with mood disorders (MD) has been under-investigated. Our primary goal is to comprehensively assess both explicit and implicit WB, seeking to reveal specific dimensions that could interconnect with the symptoms of MDs. A cohort comprising 25 MD patients and 35 demographically matched healthy peers (with 83% female representation) participated in a series of tasks designed to evaluate the congruence between various computer-generated body representations and a spectrum of descriptive adjectives. Our analysis delved into multiple facets of body image evaluation, scrutinizing the associations between different body sizes and emotionally charged adjectives (e.g., active, apple-shaped, attractive). No discernible differences emerged concerning body dissatisfaction or the correspondence of different body sizes with varying adjectives. Interestingly, MD patients exhibited a markedly higher tendency to overestimate their body weight (p = 0.011). Explicit WB did not show significant variance between the two groups, but MD participants demonstrated a notable implicit WB within a specific weight rating task for BMI between 18.5 and 25 kg/m2 (p = 0.012). Despite the striking similarities in the assessment of participants' body weight, our investigation revealed an implicit WB among individuals grappling with MD. This bias potentially assumes a role in fostering self-directed negative evaluations, shedding light on a previously unexplored facet of the interplay between WB and mood disorders.

Knowledge of Maternal Mortality Risk Among Women with Substance Use Disorders during Pregnancy and Postpartum.

The purpose of this study was to investigate knowledge of maternal mortality risk of women with substance use disorder in the perinatal period. This study was conducted using a qualitative descriptive design. Participants were recruited from a residential substance use treatment center in a rural Midwestern city. We used semi-structured interviews during which participants described their understanding of maternal mortality risk and their related experiences. We analyzed the transcribed interviews using content analysis to yield themes and subthemes. Sixteen women participated. Three main themes were identified: Women with substance use disorder lack understanding of maternal mortality; Women with substance use disorder experience barriers to perinatal care; and Women with substance use disorder have additional risk factors for maternal mortality. Nurses can use validated screening tools, offer brief interventions, and refer women to appropriate substance use disorder treatment and mental health resources. Nurses must educate women with substance use disorder about their risk for maternal mortality as well as the signs and symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Nurses should provide education about the access and use of naloxone. A non-judgmental and trauma-informed approach should be used during interactions with this population.

Pengelolaan Diri dan Regulasi Emosi dengan Pendekatan Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Kelompok pada Gangguan Mood

Various interventions have been researched that are capable of reducing symptoms of mood disorders, including DBT (Goldstein et al., 2015; Van Dijk et al., 2013). In addition to individual interventions, group therapy interventions have also been widely used and proven to be effective in reducing symptoms of Bipolar disorder in participants (Costa et al., 2012; Rebeca et al., 2020). This study aims to examine the effectiveness of group therapy using a DBT approach on the emotional regulation and self-control of individuals with mood disorders. Group therapy was conducted on ten individuals with mood disorders. The Brief Self-Control Scale and Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale were used as tools for quantitative data collection.Meanwhile, observation and interviews were conducted to assess group therapy's effectiveness qualitatively. The hypothesis testing results indicate no significant correlation between the two variables. These findings are helpful for the development of psychological interventions for individuals with mood disorders in Indonesia.

The mood disorders and suicidal thoughts and their impact on the quality of life among people living with HIV treated in Białystok, Poland: a cross-sectional study

Introduction and objective: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of mood disorders symptoms and suicidal thoughts among HIV patients treated in Białystok and their impact on quality of life. Materials and methods: A total of 147 participants, including 104 men (70.7%) and 43 women (29.3%), took part in the research. The study used a diagnostic survey method with a modified questionnaire “Psychosocial situation of people living with HIV/AIDS in Poland” by Dr Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: Suicidal thoughts and attempts were reported by 20% and 7% of respondents, respectively. Fear of living with HIV and fear of loneliness were the predominant reasons for suicidal thoughts (38.7% in total). Two-thirds of respondents had no depressive symptoms, while one-fourth of respondents presented with at most moderate depressive symptoms. There were significant differences in the level of health problems depending on marital status. Those who had suicidal thoughts after receiving HIV diagnosis had a lower quality of life. Conclusions: One-third of the respondents reported symptoms of mood disorders, most of which were of moderate intensity, and one-fourth of the respondents had suicidal thoughts and attempts. The quality of life of HIV patients was mainly determined by their general physical and mental health and social support. A higher quality of life was presented by those with better general health status who received social support. Only marital status determinated the prevalence of symptoms of mood disorders in the study group.

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder in Times of COVID

Between 15-20% of pregnant and birthing people in the United States experience symptoms of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD). This percentage is higher for individuals who are low income, racially minoritized, and/or marginalized. Social systems of care and support have been shown to reduce symptoms of PMAD and help optimize the health of pregnant and postpartum people. For many people, COVID-19 further exacerbated the negative impacts of PMAD, largely because of disruptions of social support networks and health care resources. This article uses testimonio and autoethnography to discuss the stress, abandonment, and feeling of loss associated with the disruption of access to postpartum mental health care and support. While such feelings of loss and abandonment may feel personal, this article argues that it is critical to recognize the structural dimensions of perinatal mental health and postpartum care. The author concludes that misrecognition of the structural dimensions of PMAD contributes to structural violence.

Relationship between subjective and objective fatigue and sleep characteristics in individuals with anxiety and mood disorders: An exploratory study

ObjectiveFatigue and sleep disturbances are important symptoms of anxiety and mood disorders (AMD). Studies about the relationship between these variables usually rely on self-report assessments. Therefore, the aim of our exploratory study was to investigate the independent correlations between subjective and objective fatigue and sleep characteristics in individuals with AMD. MethodsIn sum, 233 individuals with AMD attending a stress-related disorders day care unit (78.5 % females, mean age 39.0 years old) participated in a cross-sectional study. Participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index self-report questionnaires, as well as an exercise capacity workload test for assessing objective fatigue and polysomnography monitoring for evaluation of sleep structure. ResultsIn individuals with AMD, exercise capacity workload was associated with lower percent of stage 1 sleep (β = - 0.17, p = 0.006), REM latency (β = -0.13, p = 0.042), and wake after sleep onset (β = -0.12, p = 0.039). General fatigue was associated with a higher percent of body movements (β = 0.12, p = 0.047), as well as mental fatigue was associated with a higher percent of body movements (β = 0.13, p = 0.029), and a higher score on the PSQI (β = 0.21, p = 0.002). ConclusionsObjective sleep characteristics were associated with objective assessment of fatigue, while subjective sleep quality was associated with subjectively assessed mental fatigue.

Association Between Diseases and Symptoms Diagnosed in Primary Care and the Subsequent Specific Risk of Multiple Sclerosis.

Previous studies have reported a possible prodrome in multiple sclerosis (MS) defined by nonspecific symptoms including mood disorder or genitourinary symptoms and increased health care use detected several years before diagnosis. This study aimed to evaluate agnostically the associations between diseases and symptoms diagnosed in primary care and the risk of MS relative to controls and 2 other autoimmune inflammatory diseases with similar population characteristics, namely lupus and Crohn disease (CD). A case-control study was conducted using electronic health records from the Health Improvement Network database in the United Kingdom and France. We agnostically assessed the associations between 113 diseases and symptoms in the 5 years before and after diagnosis in patients with subsequent diagnosis of MS. Individuals with a diagnosis of MS were compared with individuals without MS and individuals with 2 other autoimmune diseases, CD and lupus. The study population consisted of patients with MS (n = 20,174), patients without MS (n = 54,790), patients with CD (n = 30,477), and patients with lupus (n = 7,337). Twelve ICD-10 codes were significantly positively associated with the risk of MS compared with controls without MS. After considering ICD-10 codes suggestive of neurologic symptoms as the first diagnosis of MS, 5 ICD-10 codes remained significantly associated with MS: depression (UK: odds ratio 1.22, 95% CI 1.11-1.34), sexual dysfunction (1.47, 1.11-1.95), constipation (1.5, 1.27-1.78), cystitis (1.21, 1.05-1.39), and urinary tract infections of unspecified site (1.38, 1.18-1.61). However, none of these conditions was selectively associated with MS in comparisons with both lupus and CD. All 5 ICD-10 codes identified were still associated with MS during the 5 years after diagnosis. We identified 5 health conditions associated with subsequent MS diagnosis, which may be considered not only prodromal but also early-stage symptoms. However, these health conditions overlap with prodrome of 2 other autoimmune diseases; hence, they lack specificity to MS.

Sense of coherence, its components and depressive and anxiety symptoms in expecting women and their partners – A FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study

ObjectiveExpecting mothers with high sense of coherence (SOC) exhibit improved physical, emotional, and childbearing health. However, the dimensions of SOC and the factor structure of the SOC-13 scale during prenatal period is slightly known. Especially the differences in experiencing SOC and its components (comprehensibility, manageability, meaningfulness) among both expecting parents (mothers and fathers) is poorly understood. The association between SOC and mood disorder symptoms (depression and anxiety) during pregnancy is scarcely studied. MethodsThe structure of the SOC-13 scale, differences in SOC experiences, and the associations between SOC and depressive and anxiety symptoms were studied in a sample of 2784 pregnant women (mothers) and 1661 men/partners (fathers) belonging to the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. Self-reports (SOC-13, EPDS, SCL-90: ANX) from gestational week 24 were used. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and invariance testing was carried out to investigate the factorial structure of SOC-13 among both groups (mothers and fathers). Group comparisons were used to study differences in the level of SOC among mothers vs. fathers, low vs. high depression and anxiety subgroups, and multiparous vs. nulliparous mothers. ResultsA two-factor model for SOC-13 consisting of comprehensibility-manageability and meaningfulness fitted the data best. Mothers reported higher levels of meaningfulness, whereas fathers reported higher levels of comprehensibility-manageability. SOC was significantly higher among fathers vs. mothers, but mothers with depressive symptoms reported higher SOC than fathers with depressive symptoms. ConclusionsDuring pregnancy, SOC can be viewed as a two-dimensional (vs. one- or three-dimensional) concept, and mothers and fathers have differences in the components of SOC. Importantly, mothers vs. fathers with depressive symptoms express higher overall SOC indicating that pregnancy may relate to higher than usual SOC especially among women with psychological distress. Understanding how expecting mothers and fathers experience SOC during pregnancy, particularly in relation to depressive symptoms, helps midwives and maternity care providers to focus health promoting support more precisely.

Only 20% of patients with PPD, anxiety symptoms receive diagnosis

The probability of receiving a postpartum mood or anxiety disorder diagnosis is three times higher for white patients with symptoms than for Black patients with symptoms, according to a study published last week in Psychiatric Services, according to American Psychiatric Association Psychiatric News Alert. In addition, regardless of race, only 1 in 5 women received a diagnosis. “Despite their high prevalence and disease burden, [postpartum mood and anxiety disorders] often remain underdiagnosed,” wrote Stephanie V. Hall, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the University of Michigan, and colleagues. “Low diagnosis rates contribute to even lower treatment rates and exacerbate poor outcomes. Untreated [postpartum mood and anxiety disorders] are associated with worse maternal and infant health outcomes.” Hall and colleagues linked Medicaid claims data in Michigan with results from the Michigan Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, an ongoing representative survey of childbearing people conducted at 2 to 6 months after childbirth. All participants gave birth between 2012 and 2015 and were continuously enrolled in Medicaid from nine months before delivery through three months after delivery. Participants self‐reported their postpartum mood and anxiety disorder symptoms using an adapted version of the two‐item Patient Health Questionnaire. “Measuring the factors associated with underdiagnosis is a first step in improving [postpartum mood and anxiety disorder] detection and treatment,” the authors wrote. “Implementing culturally sensitive care, including strategies such as using non‐stigmatizing language to describe mental health, ensuring that providers reflect patients' identities and fostering patient‐provider relationships may mitigate underdiagnosis.”

Effect of modifying agricultural product circulation on mood disorders among consumers

BackgroundMood disorders encompass a category of mental illnesses characterized by fluctuating emotional states, including periods of elevated and diminished emotions. These conditions have the potential to profoundly influence an individual’s behavior and cognitive functions. To effectively intervene in mood disorders, innovation is made in the circulation mode of agricultural products based on the patient’s lifestyle habits, and consumer mental changes are recorded, providing reference opinions for the treatment of mood disorders.Subjects and MethodsA cohort of 140 individuals, who were enthusiastic about agricultural products and exhibited symptoms of mood disorders, was recruited from the general population. All participants displayed clear indications of mood disorders. The circulation mode of agricultural products was reconfigured under the participants’ lifestyle habits. A comprehensive set of measures was implemented as part of the intervention. Over a span of 4 months, the mental symptoms of the 140 participants were meticulously documented. These records formed the basis for subsequent analysis. All collected data were subjected to rigorous statistical examination using SPSS23.0. To gauge changes in participants’ mental states, the Self-Rating Depression Scale was employed. This assessment tool was administered both before and after the intervention period.ResultsThe transformation of the agricultural product circulation mode led to significant improvements in emotional well-being and mental state among patients over the 4-month intervention period. The psychological impact varied based on the specific agricultural product transformation strategy employed. Nonetheless, all strategies demonstrated a capacity to alleviate negative emotions and foster overall patient well-being.ConclusionsAdapting the agricultural product circulation mode in line with individual patient characteristics emerges as a promising strategy for mitigating mental stress and enhancing the well-being of those affected by mood disorders. This innovative approach offers potential avenues for symptom relief and presents actionable recommendations for mood disorder treatment.

Only 20% of patients with PPD, anxiety symptoms receive diagnosis

The probability of receiving a postpartum mood or anxiety disorder diagnosis is three times higher for White patients with symptoms than for Black patients with symptoms, according to a study published yesterday in Psychiatric Services, according to American Psychiatric Association Psychiatric News Alert. In addition, regardless of race, only 1 in 5 women received a diagnosis. “Despite their high prevalence and disease burden, [postpartum mood and anxiety disorders] often remain underdiagnosed,” wrote Stephanie V. Hall, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and colleagues. “Low diagnosis rates contribute to even lower treatment rates and exacerbate poor outcomes. Untreated [postpartum mood and anxiety disorders] are associated with worse maternal and infant health outcomes.” Hall and colleagues linked Medicaid claims data in Michigan with results from the Michigan Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, an ongoing representative survey of childbearing people conducted at two to six months after childbirth. All participants gave birth between 2012 and 2015 and were continuously enrolled in Medicaid from nine months before delivery through three months after delivery. Participants self‐reported their postpartum mood and anxiety disorder symptoms using an adapted version of the two‐item Patient Health Questionnaire. “Measuring the factors associated with underdiagnosis is a first step in improving [postpartum mood and anxiety disorder] detection and treatment,” the authors wrote. “Implementing culturally sensitive care, including strategies such as using nonstigmatizing language to describe mental health, ensuring that providers reflect patients' identities, and fostering patient‐provider relationships, may mitigate underdiagnosis.”

The interplay between previous infection and mental health condition on antibody response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccination

Increasing evidence has been pointing towards the existence of a bi-directional interplay between mental health condition and immunity. Data collected during the COVID-19 outbreak suggest that depressive symptoms may impact the production of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, while a previous infection could affect the immune response and cause neuropsychological disturbances. A prospective observational study was designed to investigate the association between mental health conditions and immune response over time. We analyzed the mental health at baseline and the antibodies before and after immunization with the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in a cohort of healthcare professionals in southern Switzerland. One-hundred and six subjects were enrolled. Anxiety, distress and depression correlated to each other. There were no correlations between the mentioned variables and the vaccine induced IgG antibodies against the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein. For those who had a previous COVID-19 infection, the antibodies increased according to the grade of depression. For those who did not, the anti-RBD IgG levels remained similar when comparing presence or absence of depression symptoms. Our results show that previous SARS-CoV-2 natural infection in subjects with mental health conditions enhances the immune response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. The correlation between immune response to COVID-19 vaccination, a previous exposure to the virus, and symptoms of mood disorders, makes it necessary to explore the direction of the causality between immune response and depressive symptoms.

Structural Factors in Health Care Associated With the Mental Health Needs of Black Women in California During the Perinatal Period

ObjectiveTo identify structural factors associated with the receipt of mental health care treatment among Black women in California during pregnancy and after childbirth. DesignSecondary analysis of data from the population-based Listening to Mothers in California survey. ParticipantsThe sample included 194 non-Latina Black women in the postpartum period. MethodsWe used descriptive statistics, including differences between means and logistic regression, to conduct a series of bivariate analyses. ResultsMost respondents (84.4%, n = 163) reported symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders prenatally, and half (50% n = 97) reported symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders in the postpartum period. Only 12.3% to 14.6% of those who reported symptoms received mental health care treatment. Furthermore, 21.2% (n = 38) of respondents were not screened for postpartum depression. Respondents with private insurance coverage were more likely to report receipt of mental health care after childbirth (OR = 4.6; 95% confidence interval [1.5, 13.5]) compared to respondents with public insurance coverage. ConclusionOur results suggest a high prevalence of unmet mental health needs among non-Latina Black women who lived in California during the perinatal period. Practitioners in clinical settings may be more likely to make referrals to mental health care for women with private insurance coverage in the postpartum period.

Increases in poor mental health, mental distress, and depression symptoms among U.S. adults, 1993–2020

Across three nationally representative surveys (N = 9.2 million), U.S. adults reported increasingly poor mental health between 1993 and 2020. In the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, poor mental health days rose from 3 to 4 days per month, and from 3.55 to 6.02 days per month among young adults ages 18–25. Twice as many young adults spent half or more of their days in poor mental health in 2018–20 compared to 1993–99. Nearly all of the increase occurred before the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. In the National Health Interview Survey, 30% more young adults and prime-age adults (ages 26–49) reported moderate to high mental distress in 2017–18 compared to 1997–99. In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, more than twice as many young adults, and 50% more prime-age and older (50 +) adults, fit criteria for moderate to severe depression in 2017–20 compared to 2006–07. The pronounced increase in mood disorder symptoms identified among adolescents has now moved up the age scale to younger adults.

Measuring Intolerance of Uncertainty After Acquired Brain Injury: Factor Structure, Reliability, and Validity of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12.

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a risk factor for poor mental health. Acquired brain injury (ABI; for example, stroke, traumatic brain injury) often brings considerable uncertainty and increased mood disorder vulnerability. The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-Short Form (IUS-12) is a brief, well-validated IU measure in non-ABI samples, comprising two subscales, namely, Prospective Anxiety and Inhibitory Anxiety. Here, for the first time, we investigated its reliability and validity (N = 118), and factor structure (N = 176), in ABI. Both subscales had high test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients [ICCs] of .75 and .86) and were significantly associated with mood disorder symptoms. The two-factor model was superior to a one-factor IU model fit. Some fit statistics were less than optimal (standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.06, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.09); hence, exploration of other factor structures in other ABI samples may be warranted. Nonetheless, the IUS-12 appears suitable in ABI.

Maternal mood and anxiety effects on the fetal nonstress test

Previous studies have suggested that acute mood states may influence levels of fetal activity. Because the fetal nonstress test relies on markers of fetal activity to suggest fetal wellbeing, its interpretation may be affected by maternal mood. This study sought to determine if there are differences in nonstress test characteristics between pregnant individuals with and without symptoms of mood disorder. In this prospective cohort study, we recruited pregnant individuals undergoing nonstress test in the third trimester and compared the results of the nonstress test between pregnant individuals with scores above and below the cutoff values on validated screening questionnaires for depression and anxiety symptoms, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7). Demographic information was collected from each participant at the time of recruitment, and medical information was extracted from the electronic medical record. A total of 68 pregnant individuals were enrolled, 10 (15%) of which screened positive for perinatal mood disorders. There was no significant difference in means of time to reactivity (15.6 [4.8] minutes vs 15.0 [8.0] minutes, P=.77), number of accelerations (0.16/min [0.08] vs 0.16/min [0.10], P>.95), number of fetal movements (17.0 [14.7] vs 19.7 [20.4], P=.62), heart rate baseline (138.0 [7.5] bpm vs 139.2 [9.0] bpm, P=.67) or variability (8.5 [2.5] bpm vs 9.1 (4.3) bpm, P=.51) between pregnant individuals who screen positive for mood disorders and those who did not. Fetal heart rate patterns are similar in pregnant individuals with and without symptoms of mood disorder. The results provide reassurance that acute symptoms of anxiety and depression do not have significant effects on the fetal nonstress test.

Magic Mushrooms

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring compound present in numerous mushroom species characterised by its hallucinogenic and psychedelic effects. Although it has a negative reputation, psilocybin has demonstrated therapeutic potential for treating mental health disorders by allowing the brain to make new neural connections which help the neural pathways adapt and break out of certain cognitive patterns related to mental illness. In recent studies, psilocybin has shown antidepressant effects, significantly reducing depressive and anxious symptoms in affected individuals. After single or low dosage, mood disorder symptoms remained in remission for 6 to 12 months. In contrast, conventional antidepressants often require multiple doses over long treatment periods to achieve similar effects. Other findings have shown that therapeutic use of psilocybin helps combat substance abuse and addictive disorders and can be applied as a cessation tool. Despite years of controversy surrounding the benefits of psilocybin, recent scientific evidence supports psilocybin’s immense potential in helping those with mental health disorders like Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and addiction disorders. With such promising results, psilocybin could be incorporated into clinical use and its therapeutic effects should continue being researched.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for menopausal mood disorder: a randomized controlled trial

Objective This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) on mood disorder symptoms for menopausal women. Methods A total of 95 qualified Chinese participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 31 in the acupuncture combined with CHM group (combined group), 32 in the acupuncture combined with CHM placebo group (acupuncture group) and 32 in the CHM combined with sham acupuncture group (CHM group). The patients were treated for 8 weeks and followed up for 4 weeks. The data were collected using the Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and safety index. Results The three groups each showed significant decreases in the GCS, SDS and SAS after treatment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the effect on the GCS total score and the anxiety domain lasted until the follow-up period in the combined group (p < 0.05). Within the three groups, there was no difference in GCS and SAS between the three groups after treatment (p > 0.05). However, the combined group showed significant improvement in the SDS, compared with both the acupuncture group and the CHM group at 8 weeks and 12 weeks (p < 0.05). No obvious abnormal cases were found in any of the safety indexes. Conclusions The results suggest that either acupuncture, or CHM or combined therapy offer safe improvement of mood disorder symptoms for menopausal women. However, the combination therapy was associated with more stable effects in the follow-up period and a superior effect on improving depression symptoms.