Onset Of Depression Research Articles

Onset and Relapse of Depressive Disorders Associated With Wegovy® For Weight Loss

Onset and Relapse of Depressive Disorders Associated With Wegovy® For Weight Loss

Psychobiological screening among patients affected by prostate cancer: Identification of potential psychobiological markers.

Prostate cancer is a common oncological disease of old age with the highest rates of incidence among males older than 65 years old. Diagnosis and treatment may be associated with the onset of adjustment, depressive, and anxiety disorders. The comorbidity with depression and anxiety may lead to a higher risk of suicide, and mortality as well as lower adherence to medical treatments and adverse functional outcomes in patients affected by urologic cancers. The role of genetic vulnerability and pre-morbid personality in predicting the development of mental disorders during cancer disease is debated. For instance, some genetic polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter-related promoter region (5-HTTLPR polymorphism) are associated with higher vulnerability for mental disorders as well as personality traits of neuroticism; both factors are potentially useful for identifying risk of depressive and anxious symptoms among cancer patients. This communication proposes the development of individualized psychobiological approaches to identify possible 'psychobiological' markers associated with the risk of mental disorders in prostate cancer patients.

Assessing Anhedonia in Adolescents: The Psychometric Properties and Validity of the Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale

Adolescent anhedonia is a multidimensional construct defined as the loss of enjoyment or pleasure across multiple domains of life. Anhedonia is concurrently associated with substantial impairment and distress, and it prospectively predicts the onset, severity, and treatment of depression. Despite its demonstrated importance, a limited number of anhedonia measures are validated for adolescents. The current study assessed the psychometric properties of the Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS) in 400 English-speaking, 12- to 19-year-old adolescents. Overall, the DARS demonstrated good convergent and discriminant validity, but sub-optimal concurrent validity. The strengths and limitations of the DARS and its utility as a measure of adolescent anhedonia are discussed. Furthermore, future directions for the construction of measures of adolescent anhedonia are outlined.

Perinatal Trajectories of Maternal Depressive Symptoms in Prospective, Community-Based Cohorts Across 3 Continents

Depressive symptoms during pregnancy influence the development and health of the offspring, underscoring the need for timely intervention. However, the course of depressive symptoms across the perinatal period remains unclear, thus complicating screening and referral guidelines. To examine the course and stability of depressive symptoms across the perinatal period in multiple, ethnically diverse independent observational cohorts. This cohort study included self-reported depressive symptoms at multiple time points from 7 prospective cohorts spanning 3 continents (United Kingdom: Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children from 1991 to 1995; Canada: Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment from 2003 to 2007; Montreal Antenatal Well-being Study from 2019 to 2022; Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition from 2009 to 2014; and Singapore: Growing Up in Singapore Toward Healthy Outcomes from 2009 to 2013; Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes from 2015 to 2019; and Mapping Antenatal Maternal Stress from 2019 to 2022). Participants were recruited either during preconception or pregnancy and observed into the postnatal period. All data from each cohort were analyzed from July 2022 to April 2023. Self-reported depressive symptoms from pregnancy to 2 years following childbirth using either the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale or the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression were analyzed independently within each cohort using item response theory (IRT) techniques. K-means clustering was used to identify groups of participants with similar trajectories. A total of 11 563 pregnant women (mean [SD] age, 29 [5] years; 569 [4.9%] East Asian women; 304 [2.6%] Southeast Asian women; 10 133 [87.6%] White women) self-reported depressive symptoms from pregnancy to 2 years following childbirth. Analytic methods from Item Response Theory identified 3 groups of mothers based on depressive symptoms: low, mild, and high levels in each of the 7 cohorts. Mothers within and across all cohorts had stable trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms from pregnancy onwards. Mothers with clinical levels of depressive symptoms likewise showed stable trajectories from pregnancy into the postnatal period. In this study, trajectories of depressive symptoms remained stable from pregnancy across the perinatal period, a finding that conflicts with a continuing emphasis on postpartum or postnatal onset of depression that persists in some health policy guidelines. Interventions and public health initiatives should focus on reducing depressive symptoms during pregnancy in addition to following birth.

Sex-Specific Depressive Symptom Trajectories Among Adolescents in Los Angeles County, 2013 to 2017

After remaining stable for many years, the prevalence of depression among adolescents increased over the past decade, particularly among girls. In this study, we used longitudinal data from a cohort of high school students to characterize sex-specific trajectories of depressive symptoms during this period of increasing prevalence and widening gender gap in adolescent depression. Using data from the Health and Happiness Cohort, a longitudinal 8-wave study of high school students residing in Los Angeles County from 2013 to 2017 (N = 3,393), we conducted a multiple-group, latent class growth analysis by sex to differentiate developmental trajectories in depressive symptoms scores measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies- Depression (CES-D) scale (range, 0-60). A 4-class solution provided the best model fit for both girls and boys. Trajectories among girls included low stable (35.1%), mild stable (42.8%), moderate decreasing (16.2%), and high arching (5.9%). Trajectories among boys included low stable (49.2%), mild increasing (34.7%), moderate decreasing (12.2%), and high increasing (3.9%). Average scores consistently exceeded or crossed the threshold for probable depression (≥16). Across comparable sex-specific trajectory groups, the average CES-D scores of girls were higher than those of boys, whose average scores increased over time. In a diverse cohort of students in Los Angeles County, depressive symptom trajectories were comparable to prior time periods but with a higher proportion of students in trajectories characterized by probable depression. Trajectories differed by sex, suggesting that future research should consider differential severity and onset of depression between boys and girls.

Polygenic predisposition, sleep duration, and depression: evidence from a prospective population-based cohort

Suboptimal sleep durations and depression frequently cooccur. Short-sleep and long-sleep are commonly thought of as symptoms of depression, but a growing literature suggests that they may be prodromal. While each represents a process of mutual influence, the directionality between them remains unclear. Using polygenic scores (PGS), we investigate the prospective direction involved in suboptimal sleep durations and depression. Male and female participants, aged ≥50, were recruited from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). PGS for sleep duration, short-sleep, and long-sleep were calculated using summary statistics data from the UK Biobank cohort. Sleep duration, categorised into short-sleep (“≤5 h”), optimal-sleep (“>5 to <9 h”), and long-sleep (“≥9 h”), was measured at baseline and across an average 8-year follow-up. Subclinical depression (Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale [≥4 of 7]) was also ascertained at baseline and across an average 8-year follow-up. One standard deviation increase in PGS for short-sleep was associated with 14% higher odds of depression onset (95% CI = 1.03–1.25, p = 0.008). However, PGS for sleep duration (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.84–1.00, p = 0.053) and long-sleep (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.89–1.06, p = 0.544) were not associated with depression onset during follow-up. During the same period, PGS for depression was not associated with overall sleep duration, short-sleep, or long-sleep. Polygenic predisposition to short-sleep was associated with depression onset over an average 8-year period. However, polygenic predisposition to depression was not associated with overall sleep duration, short-sleep or long-sleep, suggesting different mechanisms underlie the relationship between depression and the subsequent onset of suboptimal sleep durations in older adults.

Mindfulness-based real-time fMRI neurofeedback: a randomized controlled trial to optimize dosing for depressed adolescents

BackgroundAdolescence is characterized by a heightened vulnerability for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) onset, and currently, treatments are only effective for roughly half of adolescents with MDD. Accordingly, novel interventions are urgently needed. This study aims to establish mindfulness-based real-time fMRI neurofeedback (mbNF) as a non-invasive approach to downregulate the default mode network (DMN) in order to decrease ruminatory processes and depressive symptoms.MethodsAdolescents (N = 90) with a current diagnosis of MDD ages 13–18-years-old will be randomized in a parallel group, two-arm, superiority trial to receive either 15 or 30 min of mbNF with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Real-time neurofeedback based on activation of the frontoparietal network (FPN) relative to the DMN will be displayed to participants via the movement of a ball on a computer screen while participants practice mindfulness in the scanner. We hypothesize that within-DMN (medial prefrontal cortex [mPFC] with posterior cingulate cortex [PCC]) functional connectivity will be reduced following mbNF (Aim 1: Target Engagement). Additionally, we hypothesize that participants in the 30-min mbNF condition will show greater reductions in within-DMN functional connectivity (Aim 2: Dosing Impact on Target Engagement). Aim 1 will analyze data from all participants as a single-group, and Aim 2 will leverage the randomized assignment to analyze data as a parallel-group trial. Secondary analyses will probe changes in depressive symptoms and rumination.DiscussionResults of this study will determine whether mbNF reduces functional connectivity within the DMN among adolescents with MDD, and critically, will identify the optimal dosing with respect to DMN modulation as well as reduction in depressive symptoms and rumination.Trial RegistrationThis study has been registered with clinicaltrials.gov, most recently updated on July 6, 2023 (trial identifier: NCT05617495).

Worse prognosis in females with new onset of depression after oral cancer diagnosis: a retrospective case-control study.

Sex-related discrepancies in the prognosis of oral cancer patients have not been clarified. This study aimed to assess survival outcomes and potential prognostic factors in female and male patients with oral cancer. A retrospective search of the TriNetX network (TriNetX, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA) was conducted to identify patients diagnosed with oral cancer (International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes C02-C06), within the past 20 years from the access date April 21, 2023. Patients were categorized according to sex (female vs. male). Following matching for age and risk factors such as nicotine dependence and alcohol abuse, Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed and risk, odds, and hazard ratios were calculated. Outcome variables were five-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Additionally, the female and male patient cohort were compared with regard to the novel diagnosis of depression (depressive episode, major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder) after the tumor diagnosis. A total of 77,348 patients were assessed. After propensity score matching, 26,578 male and 26,578 female patients were included in each group (mean age 63 years). DFS (71.92% in females vs. 68.29% in males; hazard ratio (HR) 0.870; p < 0.001) and OS (77.08% in females vs. 71.74% in males; HR 0.793; p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the female cohort. However, in patients diagnosed with depression after the initial cancer diagnosis (N = 4,824), survival was worse in female patients compared to male patients (82.48% in females vs. 86.10% in males; HR 1.341; p < 0.001). This retrospective case-control study showed that females with oral cancer had a better DFS and OS than males. However, survival in females with a newly diagnosed depression after the oral cancer diagnosis was worse compared to those of male oral cancer patients. Depression may be a relevant prognostic factor that contributes to sex disparities in oral cancer patients.

What childhood and related developmental factors are relevant to the risk of onset and course of depression and other mood disorders?

One of the most strongly held beliefs in developmental psychiatry is that various emotional, cognitive, behavioural and temperamental factors observed in childhood set the individual trajectory for the risk of onset, course and likely response to treatments in youth and adults with depressive and other mood disorders (Hickie et al., 2019).

Microglia in the pathogenesis of depression, insomnia and their comorbidity

Microglia have been shown to regulate sleep homeostasis and depressive behavior. However, the mechanism of how microglia are involved in the pathogenesis of depression and insomnia is not well understood. Given the complex and interdependent relationship between sleep and depression, it is important and worthy to clarify the role of microglia in this comorbidity. This review summarizes the current understandings of microglia in insomnia and depression, as well as suggesting their shared mechanisms in neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity and purinergic signaling, which may promote the precise treatment of comorbid insomnia and depression and facilitate early intervention of insomnia to prevent the onset of depression.

Childhood emotional abuse and depression: The mediating roles of emotion regulation and resilience

Childhood adverse experiences are associated with an increased susceptibility to low psychopathology. Childhood emotional abuse (CEA) is a widespread adversity, known to be associated with depression. Yet, the underlying mechanisms contributing to the relationship remain unclear. The present study aimed to explore the association between CEA and depression and identify potential mediating factors, focusing specifically on emotion regulation and resilience. Participants (N = 110) completed an online survey assessing experiences of CEA, depression levels, emotional regulation strategies, and resilience levels. A mediation analysis found that CEA has a direct influence on the onset of depression. Interestingly, only the expressive suppression emotional regulation strategy and resilience were found to mediate the relationship between CEA and depression. Cognitive reappraisal was not a mediator. The results add to the growing literature emphasising the association between CEA and depression. The implications for clinicians would be to explore the emotional regulation strategies and resilience in clients with known CEA. In the future, when assessing the outcome of CEA, it is critical to consider all aspects of the effects of CEA. Rather than primarily focusing on the presence of depression, clinicians should consider the fact that CEA often hinders one’s social, cognitive, and emotional development.

Targeting mitophagy for depression amelioration: a novel therapeutic strategy.

Major depressive disorder is a global psychiatric condition characterized by persistent low mood and anhedonia, which seriously jeopardizes the physical and mental well-being of affected individuals. While various hypotheses have been proposed to explicate the etiology of depression, the precise pathogenesis and effective treatment of this disorder remain elusive. Mitochondria, as the primary organelles responsible for cellular energy production, possess the ability to meet the essential energy demands of the brain. Research indicated that the accumulation of damaged mitochondria is associated with the onset of depression. Mitophagy, a type of cellular autophagy, specifically targets and removes excess or damaged mitochondria. Emerging evidence demonstrated that mitophagy dysfunction was involved in the progression of depression, and several pharmacological interventions that stimulating mitophagy exerted excellent antidepressant actions. We provided an overview of updated advancements on the regulatory mechanism of mitophagy and the mitophagy abnormality in depressed patients and animals, as well as in cell models of depression. Meanwhile, various therapeutic strategies to restore mitophagy for depression alleviation were also discussed in this review.

SAT126 Relationship Between Type I Diabetes And Depression In The Pediatric Population

Abstract Disclosure: L.B. Greenblatt: None. M. Epelman: None. S. Demissie: None. Introduction: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most common chronic illnesses in children. Depression in children and adolescents with T1DM has been associated with negative diabetes related health outcomes, such as recurrent diabetes ketoacidosis. These associations can be bidirectional, where poor glycemic control can worsen symptoms of depression. Adolescents with T1DM and depression pose additional challenges to health care providers due to non-adherence to diabetes management. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between depression and age of onset, duration and T1DM control. We hypothesized that duration of diabetes mellitus positively correlates with depression symptoms. Patients diagnosed with T1DM in adolescence have higher depression scores compared to individuals diagnosed at a younger age. Methods: Individuals with T1DM 11 to 21 years old enrolled in the study. Patients with known psychiatric illnesses and intellectual disabilities were excluded. After obtaining informed consent and assent, participants were asked to complete age specific depression screening form PHQ-9. Forms were immediately scored by the investigator. Patients with moderate symptoms (score of 10 to 14) are provided a list of local mental health resources and individuals with severe depressive symptoms (score &amp;gt; 15) were referred to a pediatric psychiatrist for evaluation. Data on age, sex, ethnicity, age at diagnosis, diabetes duration, recent glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), treatment methods (insulin pump vs injections) and continuous glucose monitor use were collected from patients’ electronic health records. Results: 34 patients, 61.7% female, were screened thus far. The mean age was 16 years and average age at diagnosis was 8 years. 22% of patients were on multiple daily injections and 78% on insulin pump therapy. Most patients (88%) were using continuous glucose monitors. Despite long term care, the average HbA1c was 8%. Girls had higher average PHQ-9 score (7.24) compared to boys (3.69). As expected, high PHQ-9 score was associated with poor diabetes control (r=0.35, p=0.044). There was a positive correlation between PHQ-9 score and duration of T1DM and negative correlation between PHQ-9 score and age at onset (p&amp;gt;0.05). Conclusion: Children and adolescents with T1DM are at risk of depression. Younger age of onset and longer duration of T1DM was associated with higher severity of depression symptoms as evident by PQH-9 score. Poor control, defined by high HbA1C, is positively correlated with depression score. Screening for depression and proper referral should be integrated into routine care for children and adolescents with T1DM. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

The Impact of Postpartum Depression on Socio-professional Integration

The modern woman nowadays is subjected to more and more challenges. Whether it is due to her work, her appearance or her marital status, she must always show that she is coping in the most efficient way. This constant measurement and confrontation of the performance achieved in a certain field leads to the perception of otherwise normal, physiological actions as stressful. The mother who raises her child wants to face the multiple challenges, even when she is being subjected to pressures from the family, her own requirements, values ​​and beliefs and at the same time from the micro group she belongs to or from society. That's why her slip into depression is extremely easy. The support she might receive from family, friends, professionals can save her from further complications such as deepening depression, job loss, long-term loss of self-esteem, child neglect and child abuse, the transition to a suicidal act in a moment of imbalance or the transition to alcohol misuse, sometimes witnessed by the child. Identifying factors involved in the onset and maintenance of postpartum depression can help prevent it and provide early intervention within vulnerable families with the aim of making women stronger and children healthier and happier. Postpartum depression is a fairly common phenomenon in the female population, the cumulative forms giving a percentage of 31%, of which minor forms occupy 19% and moderate and severe forms 12%. Among the factors that have an important influence we list: a weaker support of the mother by her support group, problems related to the mother's low self-esteem, the more difficult temperament of the child who can be more agitated and disrupts the mother's sleep-wake rhythm, but also the existence of other previous episodes of postpartum depression of the mother and the number of previous births.

Prevalence and determinants of depression among a community people during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background: In situations beyond their control, individuals often exhibit feelings of despair and diminished motivation, leading to the onset of depression. Consequently, this study seeks to investigate the occurrence and factors influencing depression among the population of St. Kitts and Nevis amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This research study utilized quantitative methods through structured questionnaires distributed via a self-administered online survey using a cross-sectional approach. Sampling encompassed a combination of purposive and snowballing techniques, culminating in a participant pool of 397 individuals. The analysis of data was performed using IBM-SPSS version 25.0. Result: The prevalence of depression overall stood at 65.5%. Female respondents exhibited 2.18 times higher odds of experiencing depression compared to males, while individuals aged 30 to 39 had a 2.80 times higher likelihood of developing depression compared to other age groups. Those earning between 2000 and 5000 had a 2.28 times higher probability of experiencing depression compared to individuals in different income brackets. Moreover, civil servants showed a 3.66 times higher likelihood of experiencing depression, and individuals whose businesses were forcibly closed faced an 18.91 times higher chance of developing depression. Respondents whose lives were significantly impacted by the pandemic exhibited a 4.48 times higher tendency to face mental health challenges compared to those affected differently by COVID-19 consequences. Additionally, 66.1% of respondents believed life should resume normalcy despite the escalating virus cases, based on their perceptions of COVID-19 preventive measures. Conclusion: The government must implement sufficient measures aimed at mitigating the pandemic’s effects to lessen the prevalence of depression.

Building an Early Warning System for Depression: Rationale, Objectives, and Methods of the WARN-D Study.

Depression is common, debilitating, often chronic, and affects young people disproportionately. Given that only 50% of patients improve under initial treatment, experts agree that prevention is the most effective way to change depression's global disease burden. The biggest barrier to successful prevention is to identify individuals at risk for depression in the near future. To close this gap, this protocol paper introduces the WARN-D study, our effort to build a personalized early warning system for depression. To develop the system, we follow around 2,000 students over 2 years. Stage 1 comprises an extensive baseline assessment in which we collect a broad set of predictors for depression. Stage 2 lasts 3 months and zooms into participants' daily experiences that may predict depression; we use smartwatches to collect digital phenotype data such as sleep and activity, and we use a smartphone app to query participants about their experiences 4 times a day and once every Sunday. In Stage 3, we follow participants for 21 months, assessing transdiagnostic outcomes (including stress, functional impairment, anxiety, and depression) as well as additional predictors for future depression every 3 months. Collected data will be utilized to build a personalized prediction model for depression onset. Overall, WARN-D will function similarly to a weather forecast, with the core difference that one can only seek shelter from a thunderstorm and clean up afterwards, while depression may be successfully prevented before it occurs.

The relationship between air pollution and depression and anxiety disorders - A systematic evaluation and meta-analysis of a cohort-based study.

To explore the correlation between air pollution and the onset of depression and anxiety disorders, to draw more comprehensive and integrated conclusions, and to provide recommendations for maintaining mental health and developing policies to reduce mental health risks caused by air pollution. Meta-analysis of cohort study articles exploring the relationship between air pollution and depression or anxiety disorders included in Pubmed, Web Of Science, CNKI, and Wan Fang database before October 31, 2022, and subgroup analysis of the association between air pollution and depression and anxiety disorders regarding the air pollutants studied, the study population, and Publication bias analysis and sensitivity analysis. A total of 25 articles meeting the criteria were included in this study, including 23 articles examining the relationship between air pollution and depression and 5 articles examining the relationship between air pollution and anxiety disorders. The results of the meta-analysis were based on the type of pollutant and showed that there was a high degree of heterogeneity among the studies on the relationship between air pollution and depression and a significant heterogeneity among the studies on PM2.5 and the risk of anxiety disorders (I2 = 71%, p < .01), so a random-effects model was selected for the analysis. CO, O3, and SO2 and depression onset had combined RR values of 1.10 (1.00, 1.20), 1.06 (0.87, 1.29), 1.17 (1.06, 1.31), 1.19 (0.90, 1.58), 1.03 (0.99, 1.07), and 1.09 (0.97, 1.24), respectively, and PM2.5 and anxiety The combined RR value for morbidity was 1.10 (0.99, 1.22). The results of sensitivity analysis showed that the combined results were stable and reliable. The results of Egger regression method test showed that none of them had significant publication bias (p > .05). Combined exposure to air pollutants on depression and anxiety, further studies by other researchers are needed in the future. PM2.5 and NO2 exposure, especially long-term exposure, may be associated with the onset of depression, and no association was found for the time being between PM10, CO, O3, SO2 exposure and depression and PM2.5 exposure and anxiety disorders.

New onset postoperative depression after major surgery: an analysis from a national claims database

BackgroundPostoperative depression is not well characterised. We investigated the incidence of postoperative depression with the hypothesis that after controlling for confounders, new onset depression would vary significantly by surgical type. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Optum Clinformatics Datamart. The primary outcome was new onset postoperative depression, defined by a new diagnosis of depression or new prescription for an antidepressant in the year after surgery using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9/10 codes and drug names. Adjustment for preoperative comorbidities and predictors of depression was with multivariable Cox regression and propensity score matching. Sensitivity analyses defining new onset depression as both a new diagnosis of depression and a new prescription for an antidepressant, or either outcome separately, were conducted. ResultsData from 132 390 cardiac surgery, 12 538 thoracotomy, 32 630 video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), 96 750 hip fracture surgery, 157 484 hip replacement, and 347 878 laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients from January 2004 to June 2021 were analysed. The incidence of new onset postoperative depression was 18.8% for hip fracture surgery, 16.1% for thoracotomy, 12.6% for cardiac surgery, 12.4% for VATS, 8.6% for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and 6.8% for hip replacement. After multivariable adjustment, hip fracture surgery patients were most likely to develop new onset postoperative depression (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) 1.56 [1.45–1.68]), followed by thoracotomy (1.12 [1.03–1.22]), cardiac surgery (1.09 [1.04–1.12]), VATS (0.95 [0.90–1.00]), and hip replacement (0.55 [0.52–0.57]) compared with patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (hazard ratio=1). Results from propensity score matched analyses and sensitivity analyses were similar. ConclusionsThe risk of postoperative depression differs by surgical type after controlling for preoperative characteristics.

The thalamic reticular nucleus-lateral habenula circuit regulates depressive-like behaviors in chronic stress and chronic pain

Chronic stress and chronic pain are two major predisposing factors to trigger depression. Enhanced excitatory input to the lateral habenula (LHb) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. However, the contribution of inhibitory transmission remains unclear. Here, we dissect an inhibitory projection from the sensory thalamic reticular nucleus (sTRN) to the LHb, which is activated by acute aversive stimuli. However, chronic restraint stress (CRS) weakens sTRN-LHb synaptic strength, and this synaptic attenuation is indispensable for CRS-induced LHb neural hyperactivity and depression onset. Moreover, artificially inhibiting the sTRN-LHb circuit induces depressive-like behaviors in healthy mice, while enhancing this circuit relieves depression induced by both chronic stress and chronic pain. Intriguingly, neither neuropathic pain nor comorbid mechanical hypersensitivity in chronic stress is affected by this pathway. Altogether, our study demonstrates an sTRN-LHb circuit in establishing and modulating depression, thus shedding light on potential therapeutic targets for preventing or managing depression.

Randomized pilot trial of the "Mom Power" trauma- and attachment-informed multi-family group intervention in treating and preventing postpartum symptoms of depression among a health disparity sample.

Perinatal depression, a common complication related to childbearing, impacts mothers, children, and families. Efficacious interventions reduce perinatal depression symptoms; effort is needed to prevent the onset of perinatal depression. To determine feasibility and preliminary efficacy in reducing perinatal depression, we conducted a community-based, randomized parallel open pilot trial of Mom Power, a group-based intervention to improve mental health and parenting in mothers with young children. Mom Power consists of 10 group sessions, focused on parenting, child development and self-care and three individual sessions, to build rapport and provide personalized referrals. Control group participants received psychoeducational mailings. Computer-based urn randomization assigned mothers with experiences of interpersonal violence, depression, or other traumatic experiences to Mom Power (68) or control (54). At 3-months post-treatment, the 31 retained women assigned to Mom Power were half as likely to meet criteria for probable depression (26%) as the 22 women retained in the control group (55%), with treatment predicting lower incidence of probable depression (OR = 0.13, p = 0.015). Moreover, among the 23 women who did not meet criteria for depression diagnosis at baseline, no women in the treatment group developed depression (n = 0, 0%) compared to control group women (n = 3, 30%). Logistic regression controlling for selective attrition confirmed the treatment effect on preventing new onset of depression (OR = 0.029, p = 0.012). These findings support the use of Mom Power for both treatment and prevention of perinatal depression. https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01554215, NCT01554215.