Presence Of Major Depression Research Articles

Associations of Depression, Antidepressants with Atrial Fibrillation Risk in HFpEF Patients.

Studies dedicated to exploring the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with concurrent depression and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are scarce. The impact of antidepressant therapy on AF risk within this population remains unclear. Our current study aimed to investigate the link between depression and AF risk in HFpEF patients and to assess the influence of antidepressant medication on the development of AF. We utilized Kaplan-Meier estimates to determine the event-free status for AF and applied the Log-rank test for comparative analysis between groups. The associations were quantified using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models, with results expressed as hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Among the 784 patients in the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) trial, 29.1% (228) were identified with major depression. After adjusting for significant confounders, compared with mild depression, major depression at baseline was not linked to the incidence of AF (adjusted HR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.46-1.49). Additionally, compared with controls, antidepressant use at baseline did not significantly influence the risk of incident AF in patients with HFpEF and major depression (adjusted HR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.08-2.10). The presence of major depression at baseline did not elevate the risk of incident AF among individuals with HFpEF. Additionally, the use of antidepressants showed no correlation with an increased rate of AF among HFpEF patients with comorbid major depression. URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00094302. Unique identifier: NCT00094302.

The impact of psychiatric comorbidities associated with depression: a literature review.

The comorbidity with anxiety disorders has profound adverse implications on the evolution, prognosis and therapeutic responsiveness of depression, it will prolong the time required to achieve remission of the depressive episode, and patients under treatment will tend to drop out of their therapeutic regimens faster than those with depression but without anxious comorbidity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the importance of the clinical, etiopathogenetic, prognostic and especially therapeutic connotations given by the presence of psychiatric comorbidities in depression. Articles evaluating the presence of psychiatric comorbidities in depression were analyzed using PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Google Academics and WoS databases. To select the articles, we used keywords: psychiatric comorbidity, depression with anxiety disorders, depression with dysthymia, depression with psychoactive substances, depression with personality disorders. From a psychiatric perspective, the comorbidity of mental disorders can be divided into psychiatric comorbidity, when two or more distinct psychiatric conditions are present in the same individual, and medical comorbidity, when a medical-surgical illness is associated with a mental disorder. The presence of major depression is in itself a predictive factor for a later onset of generalized anxiety disorder. The comorbidity of depression in those with substance abuse or addiction has profound implications on their clinical prognosis. The association of personality disorder has a significant impact on the suicidal behavior of patients with major depression.

Discrepancy between Current, Desired, and Ideal Body Mass Index in Persons with Obesity: A Swedish Population-Based Study

Introduction: Body weight dissatisfaction, when current and desired body mass index (BMI) do not align, is common in persons with obesity. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore factors associated with the differences between current and desired BMI, and ideal BMI (defined in the present study as BMI 25 kg/m²), in persons with obesity. Methods: Swedish citizens aged 20–64 years residing in the Stockholm County were randomly selected from the population register at five different and evenly separated occasions in the study period 1998–2000 and invited to provide self-reported data about their current weight, height, desired weight, and other characteristics such as depressive symptoms and alcohol intake. Among the 10,441 participants with a mean BMI of 24 kg/m², differences between desired BMI and ideal BMI were calculated to determine the discrepancy between desired BMI and ideal BMI in participants with obesity (n = 808). The discrepancy between current and desired BMI was also determined. Using linear regression, factors associated with BMI discrepancies were determined. Results: Persons with BMI <40 kg/m² desired a lower BMI than those with BMI ≥40 kg/m² (26 ± 3 vs. 36 ± 14 kg/m², p < 0.001). Women with obesity (n = 425) had a larger discrepancy between current and desired BMI, 32% ± 16, than men with obesity (n = 380), 24% ± 21 (p < 0.001). Persons with obesity and major depression had a 6.9% (95% CI: 2.5–11.4) larger discrepancy between current and desired BMI than persons with obesity but without major depression. Being born abroad, having a university degree, or hazardous alcohol use were not associated with discrepancy between current and desired BMI or desired BMI and ideal BMI (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: Desired BMI and discrepancies between current, desired, and ideal BMI vary according to current BMI, sex, and presence of major depression. This underscores the significance of a patient-centered approach in the management of obesity, where the goals and needs of each patient should be considered.

Erectile Dysfunction in Cirrhosis: Its Prevalence and Risk Factors

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in men with cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of ED and the factors associated with ED in men with cirrhosis. 400 men with cirrhosis [Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class A, 44.0%; CTP class B, 41.0%; and CTP class C, 15.0%] having high Karnofsky performance score, and living in a stable monogamous relationship with a female partner were included in the study. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire, and Short-Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36) were used to assess erectile function and the health-related quality of life (HRQOL), respectively. ED was found in 289 (72.3%) patients. Patients with ED reported significantly lower SF-36 scores across all the eight domains of SF-36 (i.e., physical functioning score, role physical score, bodily pain score, general health perception score, vitality score, social functioning score, role emotional score, and mental health score); physical component summary score, and mental physical component summary score, compared with those without ED. On multivariate analysis, factors associated with ED were older age, longer duration of cirrhosis, CTP-C (vs. CTP-A), higher hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), presence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), presence of major depression, and lower appendicular skeletal muscle index measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA ASMI). ED is common in men with cirrhosis, and men with ED have poor HRQOL compared with those without ED. Older age, longer duration of cirrhosis, CTP-C (vs. CTP-A), higher HVPG, presence of GAD, presence of major depression, and lower DEXA ASMI are associated with ED.

Depresión mayor en ancianos de 85 y más años

Depression is considered the most frequent mental illness; it is a cause of disability and constitutes a modifiable risk factor for the future development of dementia. The objective of tis study was to determine the frequency of major depression in elderly aged 85 and over and its possible association with dementia and with sociodemographic and clinical aspects. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 202 elderly who were treated in the protocolized consultation ¨The care of cognitive disorders in the elderly ¨, of the Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital, during the period between February 2016 and May 2016. 2020. 55.9% of the elderly were women and 64.9% were between 85 and 89 years old. A significant association was found between major depression and having comorbidity (p = 0.001), being a smoker (p = 0.003) and being a drinker (p &lt;0.001). Major depression and dementia were diagnosed in 12.9% of the elderly, with no significant relationship (p = 0.731). The frequency of major depression in elderly aged 85 and over who were treated in a care consultation for cognitive disorders in the elderly is considered high. An association was identified between factors that deteriorated health and the presence of major depression, but not between it and dementia.

Evaluation of depression and general health assessment among systemic lupus erythematosus patients in relation to disease activity and damage

BackgroundSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune illness defined by involvement of several systems and a variety of clinical symptoms among them the neuropsychiatric manifestations. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the presence of depression and to assess overall health in individuals with SLE, as well as their relation to SLE disease activity and damage. Sixty adult SLE patients were enrolled, along with sixty age and sex-matched controls. For the presence of major depression, all patients were examined using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) for mental distress. Antinuclear antibody, anti-ds DNA, complements 3 and 4, and anti-ribosomal P antibody were performed for SLE patients. The SLEDAI-2 K and SLEDDI were assessed.ResultsThe 60 patients were 52 (86.7%) females and 8 (13.3%) men, with a mean age of 32.5 ± 11.5 years and disease duration of 3.57 ± 3.55 years. Patients with depression accounted for 43 (71.6%) of the total, whereas controls accounted for just 14 (23.3%). Patients with substantial depression had significantly higher SLEDAI-2 K, SLEDDI, and illness duration than those without major depression (p = 0.047, p = 0.043, and p = 0.033, respectively). The patients’ mean GHQ-12 score was 17 ± 5.96, whereas the control group's was 10.0 ± 67.30, with a p value of 0.002. SLEDAI-2 K, SLEDDI, and depression score had a substantial positive association (p = 0.001, p = 0.042), while BDI-II and GHQ-12 had a significant positive correlation (p 0.001).ConclusionsDepression and psychological distress were both common in SLE patients. Depression severity was linked to illness duration, activity, and damage.

Prevalence and predictors of diabetes distress among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a facility-based cross-sectional study of Bangladesh

IntroductionDiabetes distress (DD) is common and has considerable impacts on diabetes management. Unfortunately, DD is less discussed and frequently underestimated. This study evaluated the prevalence and predictors of DD in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at several specialized endocrinology outpatient clinics in Bangladesh from July 2019 to June 2020; 259 adults with T2DM participated. Participants’ DD and depression were measured using the 17-item Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS-17) and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively. DDS-17 scores ≥2 and PHQ-9 scores ≥10 were the cutoffs for DD and significant depression, respectively.ResultsThe mean (±SD) age of the participants was 50.36 (±12.7) years, with the majority (54.8%) being male; their median (IQR) duration of diabetes was 6 (3–11) years. Among the study participants, 52.5% had DD (29.7% moderate and 22.8% high DD). The prevalence of emotional burden, physician-related distress, regimen-related distress, and interpersonal distress was 68.7, 28.6, 66, and 37.7%, respectively. Depression was present in 40.5%; 28.6% of the participants had DD and depression. The total DDS-17 score was positively correlated with the PHQ-9 score (r = 0.325, p < 0.001). Rural residence (OR 1.94), presence of any diabetic complication (OR 3.125), insulin use (OR 2.687), and presence of major depression (OR 4.753) were positive predictors of DD. In contrast, age ≥ 40 years at diabetes diagnosis (OR 0.047) and diabetes duration of > 10 years (OR 0.240) were negative predictors of DD (p < 0.05 in all instances).ConclusionsThe prevalence of DD in our setting is notably high; DD and depression frequently overlap. Screening for diabetes distress may be considered, especially in high-risk patients.

Detection and prevalence of depression among adult type 2 diabetes mellitus patients attending non-communicable diseases clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi

BackgroundDepression is associated with chronic physical illnesses and negatively affects health outcomes. However, it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. We investigated the prevalence of depression among adult type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients attending non-communicable diseases (NCD) clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi, and estimated the level of routine detection by NCD clinicians. This study set out to determine the prevalence of major depression and its detection among adult type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients attending NCD clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study design, 323 T2DM patients aged ≥ 18 years were screened for depression with the Patient Health Questionnare-9 (PHQ-9) followed by diagnostic assessment with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). We analysed the association between presence of major depression and sociodemographic factors using logistic regression.ResultsThree quarters of the participants (76%) were females. The participants’ ages ranged from 21–79 years. Of the 323 participants, 58 (18%) met criteria for DSM-IV major depression. None of the cases of major depression had been identified by the NCD clinicians. Major depression was found not to be significantly associated with any of the sociodemographic factors.ConclusionsWe found that depression is common among NCD clinic attendees with T2DM in Malawi, and poorly detected by NCD clinicians. Given the high prevalence and challenges in clinical identification, integration of depression screening with a standardized validated tool should be a high priority so as to link patients to appropriate services.

Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Sleep-Wake Abnormalities in Patients with Cirrhosis

Sleep-wake abnormalities [poor nighttime sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)] are common in patients with cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of sleep-wake abnormalities and clinical factors associated with these abnormalities in a group of patients with cirrhosis. 1098 patients with cirrhosis [Child Turcotte Pugh (CTP) class A, 22.2%; CTP class B, 29.2% and CTP class C, 48.6%], with either no ascites or mild ascites controlled on diuretics, and no history of or current overt hepatic encephalopathy were included in the study. Poor nighttime sleep and EDS were found in 569 (51.8%) and 489 (44.5%) patients respectively. On multivariate analysis, factors associated with poor nighttime sleep were CTP class C (vs. class A), presence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), intermediate or evening type of diurnal preference category (vs. morning type), high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), diuretic use, presence of major depression, and presence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Factors associated with EDS on multivariate analysis were CTP class B and C (vs. class A), intermediate or evening type of diurnal preference category (vs. morning type), high risk for OSA, presence of major depression, and presence of GAD. Sleep-wake abnormalities are common in patients with cirrhosis. CTP status, diurnal preference chronotype, risk of OSA, major depression and GAD are associated with both poor nighttime sleep and EDS. MHE and diuretic use are associated with poor nighttime sleep, but not with EDS.

Neurocognitive functioning in MDR-TB patients with and without HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Optimising medication adherence is one of the essential factors in reversing the tide of a TB-HIV syndemic in sub-Saharan Africa, especially South Africa. Impairment in key neurocognitive domains may impair patients' ability to maintain adherence to treatment, but the level of cognition and its relationship to HIV status has not been examined in individuals with drug-resistant TB. We therefore investigated performance on several key neurocognitive domains in relationship to HIV status in a multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients (MDR-TB) sample. We enrolled microbiologically confirmed MDR-TB inpatients at a TB-specialist referral hospital in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. We collected cross-sectional data on sociodemographic, clinical and neurocognitive function (e.g. attention, memory, executive functioning, language fluency, visual-spatial, eye-hand coordination). For the primary analysis, we excluded participants with major depressive episode/substance use disorder (MDE/SUD). We fitted adjusted Poisson regression models to explore the association between HIV and neurocognitive function. We enrolled 200 people with MDR-TB; 33 had MDE/SUD, and data of 167 were analysed (151 HIV+, 16 HIV-). The mean age of participants was 34.2years; the majority were female (83%), and 53% had not completed secondary school. There was evidence of impaired neurocognitive functioning across all domains in both HIV+/- study participants. Based on the regression analyses, individuals with co-infection (MDR-TB/HIV+), as well as those who had longer duration of hospital stays experienced significantly lower cognitive performance in several domains. Poor cognitive performance was significantly related to older age and lower educational attainment. The presence of major depression or substance use disorders did not influence the significance of the findings. Adults with MDR-TB have significant neurocognitive impairment, especially if HIV positive. An integrated approach is necessary in the management of MDR-TB as cognitive health influences the ability to adhere to chronic treatment, clinical outcomes and functionality.

Evaluation of Chronotype Among Children and Associations With BMI, Sleep, Anxiety, and Depression.

Objectives: To evaluate possible associations between chronotype, weight, sleep problems, anxiety, and depression among children from 6 to 12 years of age.Method: One-hundred children aged between 6 and 12 years were randomly recruited in five pediatrician clinics in the capital city of Beirut, Lebanon. The protocol was approved by the ethics committee of Saint-Joseph University and Hotel-Dieu Hospital and an informed written formal consent was obtained from one of the parents. The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (CCTQ), the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS)-Parent version, and the Children's Chronotype Questionnaire (CCTQ) were used.Results: The majority of the sample (47%) presented an intermediate chronotype. There was a shift toward evening chronotype with increased age and a significant association between electronic devices use and an evening chronotype. Higher sleep disturbances were also observed among children with an evening chronotype. In particular, disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep, non-restorative sleep, excessive somnolence, and total SDSC were significantly higher among evening type children in our study. Finally, major depression domain scores were significantly higher among children with an evening chronotype.Conclusions: Several findings of this study are important and explain factors associated to chronotype in children. Two important future perspectives can be highlighted: limiting electronic devices use among children in an effort to reduce circadian rhythm disturbances and identifying and treating sleep problems associated with eveningness, taking into account the possible presence of major depression among this population.

How sex differences in schooling and income contribute to sex differences in depression, anxiety and common mental disorders: The mental health sex-gap in a birth cohort from Brazil

BackgroundReasons for the higher rates of depression, anxiety and common mental disorders among women are unclear. We investigated the mediating effect of schooling and personal income and the effect modification of maternal schooling and family income at baseline. MethodsIn 1982, the maternity hospitals of Pelotas (Southern Brazil) were daily visits and those livebirths whose family lived in the urban area of the city were examined and their mothers interviewed. At 30 years, the presence of major depression (MD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was assessed using the Mini-International Psychiatric Interview, and common mental disorders (CMD) with the self-rated questionnaire. We used Mantel-Haenszel test to assess effect modification and a counterfactual framework using inverse probability weights (IPW) and G-computation to analyze mediation. ResultsIncome at 30 years captured part of the association of sex with MD (16.5%), GAD (14.2%), and CMD (18.0%). Schooling at 30 years was higher in women (p<0.001), and therefore inversely mediated the association with MD (-5.4%), GAD (-4.8%), and CMD (-6.7%). If we fixed the mediator to earning more than 3 minimum salaries, the effect of sex, was reduced in 64.9%, 56.7% and 31.4%, for MD, GAD and CMD, respectively, and 62.4%, 13.6% and 23.8%, if fixed to 12 or more years of schooling. LimitationsWe were not able to evaluate mental health and socioeconomic changes, or assess a bidirectional effect ConclusionPersonal income and schooling at 30 years, are important mediators and effect modifiers of the association between sex and MD, GAD, and CMD.

Copattern of depression and alcohol use in medical care patients: cross-sectional study in Germany.

ObjectiveTo predict depressive symptom severity and presence of major depression along the full alcohol use continuum.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingAmbulatory practices and general hospitals from three sites in Germany.ParticipantsConsecutive patients aged 18–64 years were proactively approached for an anonymous health screening (participation rate=87%, N=12 828). Four continuous alcohol use measures were derived from an expanded Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT): alcohol consumption in grams per day and occasion, excessive consumption in days per months and the AUDIT sum score. Depressive symptoms were assessed for the worst 2-week period in the last 12 months using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8). Negative binomial and logistic regression analyses were used to predict depressive symptom severity (PHQ-8 sum score) and presence of major depression (PHQ-8 sum score≥10) by the alcohol use measures.ResultsAnalyses revealed that depressive symptom severity and presence of major depression were significantly predicted by all alcohol use measures after controlling for sociodemographics and health behaviours (p<0.05). The relationships were curvilinear: lowest depressive symptom severity and odds of major depression were found for alcohol consumptions of 1.1 g/day, 10.5 g/occasion, 1 excessive consumption day/month, and those with an AUDIT score of 2. Higher depressive symptom severity and odds of major depression were found for both abstinence from and higher levels of alcohol consumption. Interaction analyses revealed steeper risk increases in women and younger individuals for most alcohol use measures.ConclusionFindings indicate that alcohol use and depression in medical care patients are associated in a curvilinear manner and that moderation by gender and age is present.

Are Socioeconomic Disadvantages Leading Women to a Higher Risk of Depression, Anxiety and Common Mental Disorders? Disentangling the Role of Schooling and Income in a Birth Cohort Study from Brazil

Background: Reasons for the higher risk of depression, anxiety and common mental disorders among women are unclear. In the present study, we investigated the mediating effect of schooling and personal income in adulthood and the effect modification of maternal schooling and income at birth. Methods: In 1982, the maternity hospitals of Pelotas (Southern Brazil) were daily visits and those livebirths whose family lived in the urban area of the city were examined and their mothers interviewed. These subjects have been followed-up for several time. At 30 years, the presence of major depression (MD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was assessed using the Mini-International Psychiatric Interview, and common mental disorders (CMD) with the self-rated questionnaire. We used Mantel-Hanszel test for effect modification and a counterfactual framework using inverse probability weights (IPW) and G-computation to analyse mediation. Outcomes: Income at 30 years captured part of the association of sex with MD (16.5%), GAD (14.2%), and CMD (18.0%). Schooling at 30 years was higher in women (p<0.001), and inversely mediated the association with MD (-5.4%), GAD (-4.8%), and CMD (-6.7%). If we fixed the mediator to earning more than 3 minimum salaries, the effect of sex, was reduced in 64.9%, 56.7% and 31.4%, for MD, GAD and CMD, respectively, and 62.4%, 13.6% and 23.8%, if fixed to 12 or more years of schooling. Interpretation: Personal income and schooling at 30 years, are mediators and effect modifiers of the association between sex and MD, GAD and CMD. Funding: Wellcome Trust. Declaration of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Ethical Approval: We obtained ethical approval for the study from the ethics committee of the ‘Universidade Federal de Pelotas’, all participants signed an informed consent.

The Symptom Structure of Postdisaster Major Depression: Convergence of Evidence from 11 Disaster Studies Using Consistent Methods

Background: Agreement has not been achieved across symptom factor studies of major depressive disorder, and no studies have investigated depressive symptom structures in disaster-exposed samples. This study examined the symptom structure of major depression across two databases of 1,181 total survivors from 11 disasters studied using consistent research methods and full diagnostic assessment, addressing limitations of prior symptom scale studies. Methods: The sample included 808 directly-exposed survivors of 10 different disasters assessed 1-6 months of the disasters and 373 employees of 8 New York City organizations affected by the September 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorist attacks 3 years after the attacks. Depressive symptom profiles were compared across the two databases to determine the consistency of findings across different disasters and settings. Outcomes: Consistent symptom patterns predicting postdisaster major depression were not identified across the 10-disaster and 9/11 databases, and both database factor analyses suggested cohesive grouping of all 9 depression symptoms without separation into subgroups of symptoms clustering together. The 10-disaster and 9/11 databases identified different symptoms predicting postdisaster major depression. Interpretation: These findings do not suggest a starting point for identification of a subsample of symptoms that can be used to indicate the presence of major depression following a disaster or evidence to guide the construction and validation of a screening instrument for postdisaster major depression. This study surmounted prior methodologic challenges and provided initial findings to inform further studies needed to identify depressive symptom patterns and factors that can be used to improve detection and treatment of major depressive disorder. Funding Statement: This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (Grants MH40025, MH68853, and MH094822). Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: Advance approval for the research was obtained from the Institutional Review Boards of the participating research institutions, and all members of the study sample provided written informed consent for participation.

Why do teachers leave? A comprehensive occupational health study evaluating intent‐to‐quit in public school teachers

AbstractPurposeUtilizing data from an online comprehensive occupational health survey, this study aimed to systematically evaluate the factors most strongly associated with intent‐to‐quit the profession for public school teachers.MethodsA total of 2,588 teachers from 46 Texas school districts responded to a comprehensive occupational health survey. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify specific demographic, occupational, and health factors associated with intentions to quit the teaching profession within 1 year.ResultsTeachers with fewer years’ experience and alternative certificates were more likely to quit the profession. Teachers with lower organizational commitment, lower job involvement, lower perceived support, lower job control, poorer school climate, and more school problems indicated higher likelihood of leaving the profession. Poorer mental quality of life, higher levels of stress, and the presence of major depression, panic disorder, anxiety disorder, and somatization disorder were significantly related to higher intentions to quit (all ps &lt; 0.05). The key factors related to intent‐to‐quit to be low organizational commitment, low job control, female gender, and the presence of major depressive disorder.ConclusionsWhile some of the factors associated with intent‐to‐quit are not modifiable, interventions focusing on improving workplace factors, decreasing stress, and improving mental health may help reduce attrition for public school teachers.

Is there an association between depression and periodontitis? A birth cohort study.

To investigate the association between depression and periodontitis among adults enrolled in the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort, Brazil. Major depressive episode (MDE) and severity of depressive symptoms obtained in 2012 were considered the exposure of this study. In 2013, periodontitis, the outcome of interest, was clinically assessed and two different case definitions were used: the CDC/AAP and a combination of clinical attachment loss (CAL) and bleeding on probing (BOP) simultaneously. Serum levels of C-reactive protein and frequency of dental flossing were defined as mediators while confounders comprised a set of variables collected throughout the life-course of the participants. The parametric g-formula was used to test the direct, indirect and total effects of depression on periodontitis. 539 participants were clinically examined. Individuals with depressive symptoms presented higher risk of periodontitis (risk ratio [RR] 1.19). The presence of depressive symptoms was also associated with moderate/severe periodontitis (total effect RR 1.18). None of the associations was mediated by flossing or C-reactive protein levels. Finally, neither the presence of depressive symptoms nor the presence of major depression was associated with the combination of CAL+BOP. A positive association between depressive symptoms and periodontitis and moderate/severe periodontitis was found. MDE was not associated with periodontitis.

Associations between serotonin transporter and behavioral traits and diagnoses related to anxiety

The role of the serotonin transporter promoter-linked polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in psychiatric disease remains unclear. Behavioral traits could serve as alternative outcomes that are stable, precede psychopathology, and capture more sub-clinical variation. We test associations between 5-HTTLPR and (1) behavioral traits and (2) clinical diagnoses of anxiety and depression. Second and third generation participants (N=203, 34.2±13.8 years, 54% female) at high- or low- familial risk for depression (where risk was defined by the presence of major depression in the 1st generation) were assessed longitudinally using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-lifetime interview, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11, Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory. High (but not low)-risk offspring with two risk (short, s) alleles had higher impulsivity (+13%), hostility (+31%) and neuroticism (+23%). SS was associated higher rates of panic (OR=7.05 [2.44, 20.38], p=0.0003) and phobic (OR=2.68[1.04, 6.93], p=0.04), but not other disorders. Impulsivity accounted for 16% of associations between 5-HTTLPR and panic, and 52% of association between 5-HTTLPR and phobias. We show that 5-HTTLPR predicts higher impulsivity, hostility, and neuroticism, and that impulsivity could serve as a useful independent outcome or intermediary phenotype in genetic studies of anxiety.

A Study of the Coupling of FET Temperament Traits with Major Depression.

Objective: Temperament and mental illness have been linked to the same systems of behavioral regulation. A temperament model, carefully structured to respond to subtle differences within systems of behavior regulation, should exhibit distinct temperament patterns in the presence of mental illness. Previous comparisons of temperament profiles in mental disorders used mostly emotionality-related traits. In contrast, the Functional Ensemble of Temperament (FET) model differentiates not only between emotionality traits, but also between traits related to physical, verbal, and mental aspects of behavior and maps 12 functional aspects of behavior to temperament traits as well as to symptoms of mental illnesses. This article reports on the coupling of sex, age, and temperament traits with Major Depression (MD) using the FET framework.Method: Intake records of 467 subjects, ages 17–24, 25–45, 46–65, 66–84 were examined, with temperament assessed by the Structure of Temperament Questionnaire (based on the FET).Results: The presence of MD was associated with changes in mean temperament scores on 9 of the 12 traits. The results were in line with the DSM-5 criteria of fatigue (patients with MD reported a significant decrease in three types of endurance – motor-physical, social-verbal, and mental), of psychomotor retardation (a significant decrease in physical and social-verbal tempo) and of worthlessness (as low Self-Confidence). The results also showed that three new symptoms, high Impulsivity, high Neuroticism, and diminished Plasticity, should be considered as depressive symptoms in future versions of the DSM. As a significant negative result, no interaction of age or sex (with the exception of the Self-Confidence scale) with MD was found for temperament traits.Conclusion: The value of differentiating between physical, social, and mental aspects of behavior is demonstrated in the differential effects of major depression and gender. The value of differentiating between endurance, dynamical and orientation-related aspects of behavior is also demonstrated. The deleterious impact of MD on temperament scores appeared to be similar across all age groups. The appearance of high impulsivity, neuroticism, and low plasticity deserve further study as associated factors in future versions of the DSM/ICD.

The influence of genetics polymorphisms of serotonin transporter on the EEG and fMRI correlates of trait anxiety in Stop-Signal paradigm in the Siberian Mongoloids and Caucasians

The role of the serotonin transporter promoter-linked polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in psychiatric disease remains unclear. Behavioral traits could serve as alternative outcomes that are stable, precede psychopathology, and capture more sub-clinical variation. We test associations between 5-HTTLPR and (1) behavioral traits and (2) clinical diagnoses of anxiety and depression. Second and third generation participants (N=203, 34.2±13.8 years, 54% female) at high- or low- familial risk for depression (where risk was defined by the presence of major depression in the 1st generation) were assessed longitudinally using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-lifetime interview, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11, Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory. High (but not low)-risk offspring with two risk (short, s) alleles had higher impulsivity (+13%), hostility (+31%) and neuroticism (+23%). SS was associated higher rates of panic (OR=7.05 [2.44, 20.38], p=0.0003) and phobic (OR=2.68[1.04, 6.93], p=0.04), but not other disorders. Impulsivity accounted for 16% of associations between 5-HTTLPR and panic, and 52% of association between 5-HTTLPR and phobias. We show that 5-HTTLPR predicts higher impulsivity, hostility, and neuroticism, and that impulsivity could serve as a useful independent outcome or intermediary phenotype in genetic studies of anxiety.