Mood Disorders In Adults Research Articles

Association between body mass index and mental health status among community-dwelling older adults

Abstract Background Maintaining a better physical and mental health status is an important issue for older adults in their later life. Although obesity has been suggested to reduce the risk of mood disorders in older adults, the findings are controversial. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and mental health status among older adults in Taipei City and to elucidate risk factors contributing to mood disorders. Methods The elderly health examination database was obtained from the Department of Health, Taipei City government, from 2005 to 2016. A total of 80,121 older adults underwent at least two publicly funded health examinations, with 398,416 visits. We used the Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5) questionnaire to estimated relative risks among potential risk factors with the generalized estimating equations (GEE) model to measure the mental health status of older adults. Mood disorders were defined as a score of ≥ 6 on BSRS-5. BMI, age, education level, gender, living alone, income status, number of chronic diseases, smoking, drinking, and exercise were included as covariates. Results Older adults who are overweight or obese have a lower risk for mood disorders (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.79 - 0.85), while those underweight have a higher risk (OR = 1.31; 95% CI = 1.21 - 1.41). Other results show that being male (OR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.63 - 0.69), higher education (OR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.69 - 0.75), and have exercise habits (OR = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.70 - 0.76) were all positively correlated with better emotional status. However, low income (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.14 - 1.35) and having more chronic diseases (OR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.87 - 2.11) were all correlated with poor mental status among older adults. Conclusions Keeping an appropriate weight or even being overweight might be beneficial for older adults. In addition, encouraging older adults to maintain exercise habits can also help improve mood disorders. Key messages • Keeping an appropriate weight or even being overweight might be beneficial for older adults. • Encouraging the elderly to maintain exercise habits can also help improve mood disorders.

Effects of graphene far-infrared and social network interventions on depression, anxiety and dementia in older adults

BackgroundFive-guaranteed elderly individuals are a special group of the elderly Chinese population faced with unique challenges; these individuals lack any financial resources (including support by relatives), and are solely reliant on the government to provide food, clothing, medical care, and housing as well as burials. In this article, we aim to investigate mood problems (depression, anxiety) and cognitive functioning in Five-guaranteed elderly individuals, and to validate the effectiveness of two promising interventions, graphene far-infrared intervention (GFII; an exploratory and noninvasive technique) and social network intervention (SNI), for elderly people to lay the foundation for future social service work.MethodsTo address the emotional and cognitive difficulties experienced by this special group, we designed this study, which is the first to apply GFII in this population. We also administered SNI given the social isolation of these individuals, in addition to a corresponding control group. 108 elderly individuals in 3 elder care facilities were screened to evaluate eligibility to participate in the current study, including 44 from Facility A (allocated to the GFII group), 43 from Facility B (allocated to the SNI group), and 21 from Facility C (allocated to the control group). GFII lasts for four weeks, with professionally trained carers putting on and removing intervention caps for half an hour each day. SNI lasts for three weeks, three times a week, and consists of a total of nine themed activities. The length of an activity is 90 min. We also did pre- and post-test comparisons of depression, anxiety and cognition in each group of older adults.ResultsThe results showed that GFII led to immediate improvements in anxiety and cognitive impairment in the five-guaranteed elderly individuals, and the improvement in cognitive function was sustained over time. Moreover, SNI group showed significant improvements in cognitive function after the intervention period.ConclusionsThe GFII is a promising intervention that can be applied to intervene in cognitive and mood disorders in older adults. The GFII has short-term interventions for anxiety in older adults, but long-term effects for cognitive impairment. SNI also had an interventional effect on cognition.

High-intensity interval training ameliorates postnatal immune activation-induced mood disorders through KDM6B-regulated glial activation

Postnatal immune activation (PIA) induces persistent glial activation in the brain and causes various neuropathologies in adults. Exercise training improves stress-related mood disorders; however, the role of exercise in psychiatric disorders induced by early-life immune activation and the association between exercise training and glial activation remain unclear. We compared the effects of different exercise intensities on the PIA model, including high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). Both HIIT and MICT in adolescent mice inhibited neuroinflammation, remodeled synaptic plasticity, and improved PIA-induced mood disorders in adulthood. Importantly, HIIT was superior to MICT in terms of reducing inflammation and increasing body weight. RNA-seq of prefrontal cortex (PFC) tissues revealed a gene expression pattern, confirming that HIIT was more effective than MICT in improving brain glial cell activation through epigenetic modifications of KDM6B. We investigated the role of KDM6B, a specific histone lysine demethylation enzyme — histone 3 lysine 27 demethylase, in inhibiting glial activation against PIA-induced depression and anxiety by regulating the expression of IL-4 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Overall, our data support the idea that HIIT improves PIA-induced mood disorders by regulating KDM6B-mediated epigenetic mechanisms and indicate that HIIT might be superior to MICT in improving mood disorders with PIA in mice. Our findings provide new insights into the treatment of anxiety and depression disorders.

Risk for diagnosis or treatment of mood or anxiety disorders in adults after SARS-CoV-2 infection, 2020–2022

COVID-19 is associated with increased risks for mood or anxiety disorders, but it remains uncertain how the association evolves over time or which patient groups are most affected. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a nationwide database of electronic health records to determine the risk of depressive or anxiety disorder diagnoses after SARS-CoV-2 infection by 3-month blocks from January 2020 to April 2022. The study population comprised 822,756 patients (51.8% female; mean age 42.8 years) with COVID-19 and 2,034,353 patients with other respiratory tract infections (RTIs) (53.5% female, mean age 30.6 years). First time diagnoses of depressive or anxiety disorders 14 days to 3 months after infection, as well as new or new plus recurrent prescriptions of antidepressants or anxiolytics, were compared between propensity score matched cohorts using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, including hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Risk of a new diagnosis or prescription was also stratified by age, sex, and race to better characterize which groups were most affected. In the first three months of the pandemic, patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 had significantly increased risk of depression or anxiety disorder diagnosis (HR 1.65 [95% CI, 1.30-2.08]). October 2021 to January 2022 (HR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.06–1.18]) and January to April 2022 (HR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.01–1.14]). Similar temporal patterns were observed for antidepressant and anxiolytic prescriptions, when the control group was patients with bone fracture, when anxiety and depressive disorders were considered separately, when recurrent depressive disorder was tested, and when the test period was extended to 6 months. COVID-19 patients ≥65 years old demonstrated greatest absolute risk at the start of the pandemic (6.8%), which remained consistently higher throughout the study period (HR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.13–1.27]), and overall, women with COVID-19 had greater risk than men (HR 1.35 [95% CI 1.30–1.40]).

Behavioral and inflammatory changes in rats induced by a three-hit stress model: Implications for psychiatric disorders

Many aspects of the impact of childhood trauma remain unknown, such as the age at which individuals are most vulnerable to trauma, whether traumatic experiences have more severe and lasting effects when experienced early in life, and whether early life trauma causes psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and major depressive disorder (MDD) that persist over time or evolve into other disorders. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the impact of traumatic experiences in childhood on susceptibility to mood disorders in adulthood, particularly MDD. Animal models were used to address these questions, and different stressor protocols at various stages of the offspring's life were used. Three-hit starting with injections of Poly: IC was performed on the 9th day of gestation and then considered the first stressor. After birth, the animals were exposed to the maternal deprivation (MD) protocol, which separated the pups from the mother 3 h a day during the first ten days of life. From the 60th day of life, the animals were divided to receive the chronic mild stress (CMS) protocol over 21 days. The stressors can induce anxiety-like behaviors, such as increased locomotor activity through a maternal immune activation protocol using Poly: IC and demonstrating depressive-like behaviors through the MD and CMS protocols. It also showed changes in brain structures for pro-inflammatory parameters, IL-1β and TNF-α, and alterations in anti-inflammatory parameters, IL-4 and IL-10, at different ages of life. The study also found that regulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines is necessary for appropriate neuronal behavior, and stress responses can be both friendly and enemy, with costs and benefits balanced to provide the best-fit result. In conclusion, phenotypic characteristics of animals' life history are shaped by signals transmitted directly or indirectly to developing animals, known as “predictive adaptive responses."

The Association of Asthma with Anxiety, Depression, and Mild Cognitive Impairment among Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals in Saudi Arabia.

Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory condition with increasing global prevalence. There is some evidence highlighting the effect of asthma on brain functioning. In Saudi Arabia, limited studies have examined the relationship between asthma and mental health, including cognition and mood disorders in older adults in particular. In this study, we examine the association between asthma and mental health outcomes in middle-aged and elderly individuals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In a cross-sectional study, 243 subjects were recruited from outpatient clinics between 2020-2021 (non-asthmatic: n = 159, asthmatic: n = 84). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment test, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Asthma Control Test were used to assess cognition, anxiety and depression, and asthma control, respectively. Logistic regression analysis while controlling for covariates revealed an association between asthma and symptoms of anxiety and depression (OR = 2.40 [95% CI: 1.07-5.35]) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (OR = 1.80 [95% CI: 1.00-3.24]). Poorly controlled asthma increased the odds of anxiety cases (OR = 4.88 [95% CI: 1.09-17.2]). Stratifying analysis by age intervals revealed that asthma was associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression (OR = 2.5 [95% CI: 1.00-6.08]) in middle-aged patients only, while elderly asthmatics had increased odds of having MCI (OR = 7.4 [95% CI: 2.34-23.31]). These findings highlight the possible effects of asthma and its control on mental health among middle-aged and elderly individuals in Saudi Arabia.

Polygenic risk scores and the prediction of onset of mood and psychotic disorders in adolescents and young adults.

To examine whether polygenic risk scores (PRS) for neuroticism, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are higher in individuals manifesting trans-diagnostic risk factors for the development of major mental disorders and whether PRS enhance prediction of early onset full-threshold disorders. Using data from the Brisbane Longitudinal Twin Study, we examined individual PRS for neuroticism, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, recorded evidence of subthreshold syndromes and family history of mood and/or psychotic disorders and noted progression to trans-diagnostic clinical caseness (onset of major mental disorders) at follow-up. We undertook multivariate, receiver operating curve and logistic regression analyses that were adjusted for known variables of influence (age, twin status, and so on). Of 1473 eligible participants (female = 866, 59%; mean age 26.3 years), 28% (n = 409) met caseness criteria for a mood and/or psychotic disorder. All PRS were higher in cases versus non-cases but associations with different levels of risk were inconsistent. The prediction of caseness (reported as area under the curve with 95% confidence intervals [CI]) improved from 0.68 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.71) when estimated using clinical risk factors alone up to 0.71 (95% CI: 0.69, 0.73) when PRS were added to the model. Logistic regression identified five variables that optimally classified individuals according to caseness: age, sex, individual risk characteristics, PRS for depression and mental health case status of cotwins or siblings. The findings need replication. However, this exploratory study suggests that combining PRS with other risk factors has the potential to improve outcome prediction in youth.

The role of the broader autism phenotype in anxiety and depression in college-aged adults.

The current study examines the relationship between the presence of autistic traits and anxiety and mood disorders in young adults from different racial groups. A representative sample from a predominately white university (2,791 non-Hispanic White (NHW) and 185 Black students) completed the broad autism phenotype questionnaire (BAPQ), a measure of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9), and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD-7). Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to perform two multiple regression analyses to determine the association between race, BAPQ score and anxiety and depression symptoms. The current study found a stronger association between autistic traits had depression and anxiety symptoms in Black participants than did NHW participants. These findings underscore the association between autistic traits and anxiety and depression in Black communities, and the need for further studies on this topic area. Additionally, it highlights the importance of improving access to mental health care for this population.

A study to explore patterns and factors of depression, anxiety and stress among students preparing for competitive exams in central India

Background: Depression, stress and anxiety among students is being increasingly recognized as a major mental health problem. Depression is a common but grave mood disorder. Many chronic mood and anxiety disorders in adults begin as high levels of anxiety in children. Objectives of current study were to explore the level of depression, anxiety and stress and to identify various factors associated with it. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study on 400 students preparing for competitive exams, using a questionnaire having socio demographic profile and DASS 21 scale was carried out. Then data was entered in MS excel and SPSS Software was used for relevant inferential statistical tests of associations. Results: 65.8 % of participants were less than 18 years of age and 57.3 % were males.20.3 % of students were found to be having moderate depression, 8.8 % having severe depression, 17.8 % having moderate anxiety, 27.3% having severe anxiety, 14.8 % having moderate stress, 12 % having severe stress. Stress was found to be significant in females and those having more than 2 siblings. Significant anxiety was found in those having non supportive teachers. Significant depression was found in those having non supportive teachers and parents, those who sleep for less than 6 hours and those spending less than 2 hours on study. Conclusions: Study highlighted common factors leading to depression anxiety and stress among students. Parents and teacher are recommended to develop proper communication and be aware of this problem.

Effect of age-related hyperkyphosis on depression and quality of life.

Hyperkyphosis is a frequent problem in older adults. Depressed mood and decreased quality of life are supposed to be related to age-related hyperkyphosis. This study aimed to explain the relation between depression, quality of life, and hyperkyphosis in old patients. 142 patients who applied to the outpatient clinic of geriatrics were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Mean age of participants was 72. Hyperkyphosis was evaluated by the bloc method defined in the Rancho Bernardo Study (1). Depression was evaluated by the Short form of Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Quality of life was assessed by the 3-level version of EQ-5D. Hyperkyphosis was found to be positively related to depression (P=0.037), negatively related to the QOL (p<0.001). QOL, depression, and hyperkyphosis were in a ship with each other when evaluated with one-way MANOVA (F [3.135] =5.23, P=0.002, Wilk's Λ=0.896, partial η2=0.104). Chronic pain was negatively related to QOL (p<0.001). Depression was positively related to chronic pain (p<0.001). QOL evaluated with VAS was independently related to the presence of hyperkyphosis in logistic regression analysis (r2=0.179, P=0.007). Considering the relationship with depression and quality of life, early recognition, and treatment of hyperkyphosis in elderly individuals is important. More studies evaluating the association between postural disorders, quality of life and mood disorders in older adults will be useful.

Predicting treatment response in adolescents and young adults with major depressive episodes from fMRI using graph isomorphism network

BackgroundMajor depressive episode (MDE) is the main clinical feature of mood disorders (major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder) in adolescents and young adults and accounts for most of the disease course. However, 30%-40% of MDE patients not responding to clinical first-line interventions. It is crucial to predict treatment response in the early stages and identify biomarkers associated with treatment response. Graph Isomorphism Network (GIN), a deep learning method, is promising for predicting treatment response for individual MDE patients with more powerful representation ability to capture the features of brain functional connectivity. MethodsIn this study, GIN was used to predict individual treatment response in 198 adolescents and young adults with MDE. The most discriminating regions were also identified for the treatment response prediction. ResultsUsing GIN approach, the baseline functional connectivity could predict 79.8% responders and 67.4% non-responders to treatment (accuracy 74.24%). Furthermore, the most discriminating brain regions were mainly involved in paralimbic and subcortical areas. ConclusionsGIN has shown potential in predicting treatment response for individual patients, which may enable personalized treatment decisions. Furthermore, targeted interventions focused on modulating the activity and connectivity within paralimbic and subcortical regions could potentially improve treatment outcomes and enable personalized interventions for adolescents and young adults with MDE.

Multivariate analyses of molecular genetic associations between childhood psychopathology and adult mood disorders and related traits.

Ubiquitous associations have been detected between different types of childhood psychopathology and polygenic risk scores based on adult psychiatric disorders and related adult outcomes, indicating that genetic factors partly explain the association between childhood psychopathology and adult outcomes. However, these analyses in general do not take into account the correlations between the adult trait and disorder polygenic risk scores. This study aimed to further clarify the influence of genetic factors on associations between childhood psychopathology and adult outcomes by accounting for these correlations. Using a multivariate multivariable regression, we analyzed associations of childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), internalizing, and social problems, with polygenic scores (PGS) of adult disorders and traits including major depression, bipolar disorder, subjective well-being, neuroticism, insomnia, educational attainment, and body mass index (BMI), derived for 20,539 children aged 8.5-10.5 years. After correcting for correlations between the adult phenotypes, major depression PGS were associated with all three childhood traits, that is, ADHD, internalizing, and social problems. In addition, BMI PGS were associated with ADHD symptoms and social problems, while neuroticism PGS were only associated with internalizing problems and educational attainment PGS were only associated with ADHD symptoms. PGS of bipolar disorder, subjective well-being, and insomnia were not associated with any childhood traits. Our findings suggest that associations between childhood psychopathology and adult traits like insomnia and subjective well-being may be primarily driven by genetic factors that influence adult major depression. Additionally, specific childhood phenotypes are genetically associated with educational attainment, BMI and neuroticism.

Co-occurrence, stability and manifestation of child and adolescent mental health problems: a latent transition analysis

BackgroundComplex constellations of socio-emotional and behavioural problems (i.e., mental health problems) in childhood and adolescence are common and heighten the risk for subsequent personality, anxiety and mood disorders in adulthood. Aims of this study included the examination of patterns of mental health problems (e.g., externalizing-internalizing co-occurrence) and their transitions to reported mental disorders by using a longitudinal person-centered approach (latent class and latent transition analysis).MethodsThe sample consisted of 1255 children and adolescents (51.7% female, mean age = 12.3 years, age range 8–26 years) from three time points of the comprehensive mental health and wellbeing BELLA study. Children and their parents completed the German SDQ (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, Goodman, 1997) and reported on diagnoses of ADHD, depression, and anxiety.ResultsLatent class analysis identified a normative class, an emotional problem class, and a multiple problem class. According to latent transition analysis, the majority of the sample (91.6%) did not change latent class membership over time; 14.7% of individuals showed a persistent pattern of mental health problems. Diagnoses of mental disorders were more likely to be reported by individuals in the emotional problem or multiple problem class.ConclusionsResults highlight the need for early prevention of mental health problems to avoid accumulation and manifestation in the transition to adolescence and young adulthood.

The relationships between use of alcohol, tobacco and coffee in adolescence and mood disorders in adulthood.

Alcohol, tobacco and coffee are commonly used substances and use in adolescence has previously been linked to mood disorders. However, few large prospective studies have investigated adolescent use in relation to mental health outcomes in adulthood. The main aim of this study was to examine the prospective associations between alcohol use, cigarette smoking and coffee consumption at age 16 and subsequent mood disorders up to 33 years of age. Data from The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 Study were used and a total of 7660 participants (49.9% male) were included. Associations between alcohol use, cigarette smoking and coffee consumption at age 16 and later diagnoses of major depression and bipolar disorder were examined using multinomial logistic regression analyses. Mean number of cigarettes/day (OR,1.23 [95% CI 1.01-1.50]) and mean volume of alcohol consumption (OR,1.22 [95% CI 1.01-1.47]), but not frequency of excessive drinking, in adolescence were associated with increased risk for subsequent bipolar disorder after adjustment for sex, parental psychiatric disorders, family structure, illicit substance use, and emotional and behavioral problems at age 16. An association between cigarette smoking and major depression attenuated to statistically non-significant when adjusted for emotional and behavioral problems. No associations were observed between adolescent coffee consumption and subsequent mood disorders. This is the first study to report an association of adolescent cigarette smoking and subsequent bipolar disorder diagnosis providing grounds for further research and pointing to a place for preventive measures among adolescents.

Relationship of herpesvirus (HSV1, EBV, CMV, HHV6) seropositivity with depressive disorder and its clinical aspects: The first study in children.

Infections can lead to the onset of mood disorders in adults, partly through inflammatory mechanisms. However pediatric data are lacking. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between depressive disorder and seropositivity of herpes virus infections in children. The sample group consisted of patients diagnosed with depressive disorder according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and healthy volunteers, being between 11 and 18 years with clinically normal mental capacity. All children completed DSM-5-Level-2 Depression Scale, DSM-5-Level-2 Irritability Scale, DSM-5-Level-2 Sleep Scale, DSM-5-Level-2 Somatic Symptoms Scale. The levels of anti-HSV1-IgG, anti-CMV-IgG, anti-EBNA, and anti-HHV6-IgG were examined in all participants. Patients with an antibody value above the cut-off values specified in the test kits were evaluated as seropositive. The mean age was 15.54 ± 1.57 years in the depression group (DG), 14.87 ± 1.76 years in the healthy control group (CG). There were 4 boys (11.2%), 32 girls (88.8%) in the DG, 9 boys (21.9%) and 32 girls (78.04%) in the CG. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the presence of seropositivity of HSV1, CMV, EBV, and HHV6. HHV6 antibody levels were significantly higher in the DG (p = 0.000). A significant positive correlation was found between HHV6 antibodies and DSM-5 level-2 somatic symptoms scale score. HHV6 antibody levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with existing suicidal ideation in the DG (n = 13) compared to those without existing suicidal ideation in the DG(p = 0.043).HHV6 persistent infections may be responsible for somatic symptoms and etiology of suicidal ideation in childhood depressive disorder.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND MOOD DISORDERS IN ADULTHOOD (Review Article)

It is commonly believed that childhood trauma can manifest into mood disorders in adulthood; the aim of our study is to thoroughly review the array of mood disorders that can be caused by childhood trauma and underline the predisposing risk factors and mechanisms of developing negative symptoms. We are trying to investigate the relationship between specific trauma types and mood disorders. For this purpose, we reviewed more than 20 articles on various childhood traumas, mood disorders, their mechanisms, and relationship. In our research, we specifically focus on the risk of developing mood disorders in the victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect, briefly review the statistical data, as well as try to explain the pathophysiologic mechanism by analyzing: genetic factors, neuroplasticity, HPA axis, hippocampal volume and the effect of oxytocin.

Temperament and character dimensions as psychological markers of mood disorders in Polish adolescents and young adults-A prospective study.

An increasing incidence of mood disorders in adolescents and young adults is being observed. The assessment of personality traits seems to be an interesting tool in identifying early markers of major depression (MD) or bipolar disorder (BD) as well as predictors of the course of the disease. The aim of this study was to compare the personality profiles in young patients with MD and BD in acute and remitted mood states. Seventy-nine adolescents and young adults with mood disorder diagnoses (MD or BD) were included in the study. The participants were assessed based on structured diagnostic interviews and completed the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The clinical evaluation was conducted during the acute episodes and after reaching the stabilized mood in the course of follow-up visits in a 2-year study observation. At baseline, MD patients had higher scores on the harm avoidance (HA) with more pronounced anticipatory worry and fatigability subscale than BD patients. Conversely, BD patients reached higher scores in the total self-directedness (SD) character dimension and its sub-dimensions. MD patients with acute depressive symptoms had higher scores in the HA dimension and its subscale: anticipatory worry, shyness, and fatigability compared with their euthymic states. No significant differences in TCI dimensions between baseline and euthymia in the BD subgroup were found, and no differences between euthymic MD and BD patients. Higher ST and SD sub-dimensions may constitute a personality profile specific to BD, while high HA seems to be related to major depression in both acute and remitted states in young patients.

Folic Acid Attenuates Glial Activation in Neonatal Mice and Improves Adult Mood Disorders Through Epigenetic Regulation.

Growing evidence indicates that postnatal immune activation (PIA) can adversely increase the lifetime risk for several neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression, which involve the activation of glial cells and early neural developmental events. Several glia-targeted agents are required to protect neonates. Folic acid (FA), a clinical medication used during pregnancy, has been reported to have neuroprotective properties. However, the effects and mechanisms of FA in PIA-induced neonatal encephalitis and mood disorders remain unclear. Here, we investigated the roles of FA in a mouse model of PIA, and found that FA treatment improved depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors in adults, accompanied by a decrease in the number of activated microglia and astrocytes, as well as a reduction in the inflammatory response in the cortex and hippocampus of neonatal mice. Furthermore, we offer new evidence describing the functional differences in FA between microglia and astrocytes. Our data show that epigenetic regulation plays an essential role in FA-treated glial cells following PIA stimulation. In astrocytes, FA promoted the expression of IL-10 by decreasing the level of EZH2-mediated H3K27me3 at its promoter, whereas FA promoted the expression of IL-13 by reducing the promoter binding of H3K9me3 mediated by KDM4A in microglia. Importantly, FA specifically regulated the expression level of BDNF in astrocytes through H3K27me3. Overall, our data supported that FA may be an effective treatment for reducing mood disorders induced by PIA, and we also demonstrated significant functional differences in FA between the two cell types following PIA stimulation.

Supporting Dietary Change for the Treatment of Mood Disorders in Adults: How Can We Harness Digital Platforms?

Extensive epidemiological data show an association between diet and mental health. Now, emerging data from intervention studies show dietary interventions can be effective in the treatment of a range of psychiatric disorders, particularly depression. This has led to guidelines for mood disorders now containing recommendations that lifestyle-based approaches, including dietary change, form “foundational” treatment. However, without direct access to a dietitian, there are challenges for mental health clinicians implementing these recommendations and consumers initiating and maintaining dietary improvements in the context of their mental disorder. Digital delivery of evidence-based dietary interventions may help overcome these challenges. This paper discusses practical learnings from our experiences piloting digital dietary interventions with participants experiencing depressive symptoms and the current evidence base to aid the translation of digital dietary programs in psychiatry and mental health settings. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2022;52(2):62–66.]

P.0120 Childhood adversities and the comorbidity between mood and general medical disorders in adults

P.0120 Childhood adversities and the comorbidity between mood and general medical disorders in adults