Prevalence Of Depressive Symptoms Research Articles

Associations between joint lifestyle behaviors and depression among children and adolescents: A large cross-sectional study in China

BackgroundLifestyles in children and adolescents are associated with mental health, yet the combined effects of diet-related joint lifestyles on depression are unclear. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2020 in primary and secondary schools in Shanghai, China, with 6478 participants in the analysis. Lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, sleep duration, screen time, and diet quality) and depressive symptoms were measured using validated questionnaires. A series of multivariable logistic regressions were performed to examine the associations between lifestyle behaviors and their combinations and depression. ResultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms 12.2 % (n = 788). Compared to those considered physically active, physically inactive individuals showed higher odds of depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.206). Similarly, insufficient sleep duration (aOR = 1.449), long screen time (aOR = 1.457) and poor diet quality (aOR = 1.892) were all associated with higher odds of depression. Compared to participants with behaviors meeting all guidelines, the odds of depression increased as the number of behaviors not meeting guidelines increased in a dose-response relationship, with an average increase in depression odds of 49 % on average for each additional unhealthy behavior. Moreover, different combinations of behaviors not meeting guidelines showed varied odds of depression. ConclusionsOur research suggests that lifestyle behaviors not meeting guidelines in children and adolescents are associated with poorer mental health, and the risk varies with the number and specific combination of behaviors not meeting guidelines. Diet-related joint behaviors may be overlooked, and practical measures targeting joint lifestyles are needed to prevent and alleviate mental health problems among children and adolescents.

Factorial validity and gender invariance of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) in student-athletes

Background/purpose Depressive symptoms are prevalent in student-athletes. Evidence for the factorial validity of measures assessing depressive symptoms in student-athletes is presently absent from the literature. This study examined the best fitting factorial structure and invariance across sexes of the PHQ-9. Methods Data were collected from 1,524 student-athletes from institutions in the North-Eastern United States. Confirmatory factor analyses of 4 factorial structures of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were conducted, followed by invariance analyses across sexes. Results All tested models showed an excellent fit for all tested models and a unidimensional model of the PHQ-9 was chosen for further analyses. Metric and scalar invariance for the identified model across sexes was supported. The participants in this study reported an unusually low (3.13%) prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms, which may indicate underreporting of symptoms. Conclusion Using a unidimensional, composite score via the PHQ-9 is a valid assessment of depressive symptoms in male and female student-athletes.

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and depression, along with their associated factors, among Eritrean refugees in Dabat town, northwest Ethiopia, 2023

BackgroundRefugee populations are forcibly displaced from their homes as a consequence of natural disasters and armed conflicts. Eritreans, initially displaced to the Maiayni camp within the Tigray region, have faced further relocation to Dabat town due to the conflict between the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) and Ethiopian government forces. Subsequently, another conflict has arisen between the Amhara Popular Force (Fano) and Ethiopian government forces in Dabat town, disrupting its stability. These collective challenges in the new environment may contribute to the development of symptoms such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Currently, there is a lack of available data on these symptoms and their associated variables in Dabat Town. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms, along with associated factors, among Eritrean refugees in Dabat town, northwest Ethiopia. This will provide significant evidence for developing and implementing mental health intervention strategies that specifically address the particular difficulties faced by refugees.MethodA community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from July 25 to September 30, 2023, in the Eritrean refugee camp in Dabat town. A systematic random sampling method was employed to select a total of 399 Eritrean refugees with 100 response rate. Data were collected using the standard validated Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaire, which included socio-demographic characteristics. Summary statistics such as frequency and proportion were utilized to present the data in tables and figures. Binary logistic regression was employed to identify associated factors, and variables with a p-value (p ≤ 0.05) were considered statistically significant factors.ResultThe findings of this study indicated that 45% (95% CI: 35.6-48.23), 33.6% (95% CI: 31.66–37.45), and 37.3% (95% CI: 35.56–40.34) of the participants had symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD, respectively. Sex, age, employment status, lack of food or water, experience of torture or beating, and imprisonment emerged as statistically significant predictors of depression. Employment status, murder of family or friends, rape or sexual abuse, torture or beating, and lack of housing or shelter were statistically significantly associated with anxiety. PTSD was found to be significantly associated with sex, length of stay at the refugee camp, lack of housing, shelter, food, or water, experience of rape or sexual abuse, abduction, employment status, and murder of family or friends.Conclusions and recommendationThe results of this study revealed that more than one-third of Eritreans living in the refugee camp in Dabat town had symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. This prevalence is higher than the previously reported studies. Various factors, including age, gender, monthly income, unemployment, experiences of rape or sexual abuse, witnessing the murder of family or friends, being torched or beaten, imprisonment, and deprivation of basic needs such as food, shelter, and water, were identified as contributors to the development of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. This research underscores the need for both governmental and non-governmental organizations to secure the provision of essential necessities such as food, clean water, shelter, clothing, and education. This study also suggested that Eritrean refugees be legally protected from rape, sexual abuse, arson, detention without cause, and kidnapping. Moreover, the study calls for health service providers to develop a mental health intervention plan and implement strategies to deliver mental health services at healthcare facilities for Eritrean refugees in the Dabat town Eritrean refugee camp.

(349) Shining a Light on Women's Sexual Health: Insights from Patients Presenting with Sexual Dysfunction

Abstract Introduction Sexual health is an essential component of overall health and wellbeing, and its importance in women's lives has often been neglected in clinical practice due to cultural, social, and educational barriers. Fortunately, in recent years, there has been a growing awareness and emphasis on women's sexual health, with increasing research attention dedicated to addressing this issue. Objective In this context, this study aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on women's sexual health by examining the characteristics of women who present for treatment of sexual dysfunction. Methods Women who presented with sexual dysfunction to our clinic from July 2022 to June 2023 were enrolled in this study and administered the PHQ-9 and FSFI surveys. In addition, hormone levels, demographic data, and pertinent medical history were collected at this time. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with presentation for treatment. Results A total of 26 women with a mean age of 52 (SD=2.4) participated in this study. 10 (38.5%) women presented with low estradiol levels, and 4 (15.4%) women with low testosterone, although mean levels thereof were 53.7 (SD=18.9) and 72 (SD=16.8), respectively. Most women (15, 57.7%) reported mild to moderate depressive symptoms on PHQ-9 with a mean score of 7.53 (SD=1.08), but only 2 reported a formal diagnosis of depression. Somewhat expectedly, 24 (92.3%) women report an FSFI score less than 26 (mean=17.9, SD=1.63), corroborating their subjective experience. Additionally, logistic regression demonstrates that depressive symptoms have a strong relationship (R=0.63) with increased pain during intercourse (p=0.014) and decreased sexual satisfaction (p=0.002). Conclusions These results provide valuable insights into the characteristics of women who present for treatment of sexual dysfunction. The findings suggest that low hormone levels, particularly estradiol, may be a contributing factor to sexual dysfunction in some women. The high prevalence of depressive symptoms reported in our study highlights the need for clinicians to recognize and address the mental health concerns of these patients as well. It also underscores the importance of comprehensive sexual health assessments, including hormone level evaluations and mental health screenings, in the management thereof, though our findings are limited by a small sample size and lack of follow up and further studies are still needed. Disclosure Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: AbbVie, Marius, Tolmar, Endo, Petros, Boston Scientific, Coloplast.

Prevalence and predictors of depressive symptoms among breast cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Depressive Symptoms (DS) are a serious condition that negatively impacts the features of being and survival rates of people with advanced Breast Cancer (BC). Among the most common types of cancer that affect women globally is BC. Despite substantial improvements in identification and treatment, BCS often deals with various medical, psychological, and emotional difficulties. The overall health and quality of life of Breast Cancer Survivors (BCS) are negatively impacted by DS, becoming a serious issue. To ascertain the Prevalence and Predictors (PAP) of DS among BCS and identify relevant variables related to the development, this study intended to present a Systematic Review (SR) and Meta-Analysis (MA). To find research from January 2005, a thorough systematic search of Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar (GS), Pub Med, Web of Science (WS), American Doctoral Dissertations (ADD), and Open Grey Databases (OGD) was carried out. These 1220 participants were evaluated in 10 qualifying trials for depressive symptoms; 460 patients satisfied the requirements. The PMP of depression was 37%, as per the random-effects model. DS was more common in patients with metastatic stage than recurrent BCP. The developed BCP includes a sizeable PAP of DS. As BCPs begin getting treatment from their initial diagnosis and receive continuing assistance and counseling to meet their Mental Health (MH) needs, it is crucial to build psychological preventative measures to minimize the PAP of depression.

Sex Differences in Depressive Symptoms in 1308 Patients Post-Stroke at Entry to Cardiac Rehabilitation.

The objective of this study was to determine whether a sex difference exists in the prevalence of post-stroke depressive symptoms (PSDS) at entry to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and to determine the correlates of PSDS in all patients, and in women and men separately. People post-stroke at entry to CR from database records (2006-2017) were included. Bivariate analyses identified PSDS correlates (≥16 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) in all patients and women and men separately. Patients (n = 1308, 28.9% women), mean age of 63.9 ± 12.9 yr, were 24.2 ± 9.9 mo post-stroke at CR entry. Among all patients, 30.0% had PSDS. A greater proportion of women than men had PSDS (38.6 vs 26.6%; P < .001). Correlates of PSDS in all patients were sex (women) (OR = 1.6: 95% CI, 1.14-2.12), being unemployed, ≤60 yr old, prescribed antidepressant medication, having lower cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen uptake [V̇ o2peak ]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), higher body mass index (BMI), no transient ischemic attack, and longer time from stroke to CR entry (>12 mo). Correlates in women were being obese (BMI ≥ 30), 51-70 yr old, prescribed antidepressant medication, and not married. Correlates in men were being ≤60 yr old, unemployed, prescribed antidepressant medication, having lower V̇ o2peak , sleep apnea, COPD, and no hypertension. Women were disproportionately affected by PSDS at entry to CR in bivariate and multivariable analyses. Women and men had mostly unique correlates of PSDS, indicating tailored strategies to address PSDS are required. PSDS disproportionately affected patients with longer delay to CR entry, suggesting efforts should target timely referral to facilitate earlier and repeated assessments and management.

“Social support and stressful life events: risk factors for antenatal depression in nulliparous and multiparous women”

ABSTRACT Nulliparous (pregnant women who are giving birth for the first time) and multiparous (women who have multiple children) may have different concerns, which may be associated with risk of antenatal depression. This study aims to examine the role of social support and stressful life events as risk factors for antenatal depression in nulliparous and multiparous women. The sample included 1,524 pregnant women recruited from an obstetrics setting at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy from two Spanish tertiary-care public hospitals. The sample completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the “social support” and “stressful life events” subscales of the Postpartum Depression Predictor Inventory-Revised (PDPI-R). Nulliparous women reported a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms (15.6 percent) compared to multiparous mothers (20.1 percent). In both groups, marriage/partner problems (NP: β = 0.178, p < .01 vs MP: β = 0.164, p < .01) and a perceived lack of instrumental support from friends (NP: β = -0.154, p < .01 vs MP: β = −0.154, p < .01) were significant risk factors for antenatal depression. However, nulliparous women have more risk factors such as unemployment (β = 0.096, p < .05), job change (β = 0.127, p < .01), financial problems (β = 0.145, p < .01) and lack of instrumental support from partner (β = −0187, p < .01). For multiparous women, moving (β = 0.080, p < .05) and lack of instrumental support from family (β = −0.151, p < .01) were risk factors. These results suggest the critical need for screening and designing preventive interventions adapted and taking into consideration parity to provide more effective health care during pregnancy.

Assessment of Depressive Symptoms and Sociodemographic Correlates of Adult Patients Attending a National Health Insurance Clinic at a Tertiary Hospital, Southwest Nigeria.

Depression affects individuals across all age groups, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds. Socio-demographic correlates of depression may include factors such as age, gender, education level, income, and marital status. These factors, including the presence of chronic diseases, have been shown to impact the prevalence and severity of depression. This study assessed the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its association with socio-demographic correlates and co-morbid chronic medical conditions among adult patients attending a National Health Insurance Clinic of a tertiary health facility in Southwest Nigeria. A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between April - May 2023 in which 250 consenting adult patients were recruited using a systematic random sampling technique. Respondents' information on socio-demographic profiles and awareness of co-morbid medical conditions were assessed using semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. Depressive symptoms were determined using the Patient Health Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. The strength of the association between independent and dependent variables was measured using chi-square and the p-value was set as <0.05. The mean age of respondents was 38.96±13.096 years (range: 18-80 years). There were 159 (63.6%) females. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 44.8%. There was a statistically significant association between age, gender, marital status, monthly income, presence of chronic diseases, and depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among adult patients attending the National health insurance clinic was 44.8%. These findings call for health policies to integrate and strengthen mental health in NHIA primary care.

Depression and associated factors among HIV-positive smokers receiving care at HIV outpatient clinics in Vietnam: a cross-sectional analysis

ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated factors among people living with HIV (PLWH) who were current cigarette smokers and receiving treatment at HIV outpatient clinics (OPCs) in...

Associations between negative COVID-19 experiences and symptoms of anxiety and depression: a study based on a representative Canadian national sample.

Amid the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a notable increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression has become a pressing concern. This study examined the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in Canada from September to December 2020, assessing demographic and socioeconomic influences, as well as the potential role of COVID-19 diagnoses and related negative experiences. Data were drawn from the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health by Statistics Canada, which used a two-stage sample design to gather responses from 14 689 adults across ten provinces and three territorial capitals, excluding less than 2% of the population. Data were collected through self-administered electronic questionnaires or phone interviews. Analytical techniques, such as frequencies, cross-tabulation and logistic regression, were used to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms, the demographic characteristics of Canadians with increased anxiety and depression symptoms and the association of these symptoms with COVID-19 diagnoses and negative experiences during the pandemic. The study found that 14.62% (95% CI: 13.72%-15.51%) of respondents exhibited symptoms of depression, while 12.89% (95% CI: 12.04%-13.74%) reported anxiety symptoms. No clear differences in symptom prevalence were observed between those infected by COVID-19, or those close to someone infected, compared to those without these experiences. However, there were strong associations between traditional risk factors for depressive and anxiety symptoms and negative experiences during the pandemic, such as physical health problems, loneliness and personal relationship challenges in the household. This study provides insight into the relationship between COVID-19 and Canadians' mental health, demonstrating an increased prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms associated with COVID-19-related adversities and common prepandemic determinants of these symptoms. The findings suggest that mental health during the pandemic was primarily shaped by traditional determinants of depression and anxiety symptoms and also by negative experiences during the pandemic.

Prevalence and correlates of depression and anxiety symptoms among older adults in Shenzhen, China: a cross-sectional population-based study

ObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms among older adults in an urban district in China, as well as their associated factors.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingGeneral communities in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.ParticipantsA...

Depressive symptoms are not associated with clinically important levels of digital home blood pressure in the electronic Framingham Heart Study

BACKGROUNDDepressive symptoms are common and share many biopsychosocial mechanisms with hypertension. Association studies between depressive symptoms and blood pressure (BP) have been inconsistent. Home BP monitoring may provide insight. OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between depressive symptoms and digital home BP METHODSElectronic Framingham Heart Study (eFHS) participants were invited to obtain a smartphone app and digital BP cuff at research exam 3 (2016-2019). Participants with ≥3 weeks of home BP measurements within one year were included. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Multivariable linear mixed models were used to test the associations of continuous CES-D score and dichotomous depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥16) (independent) with home BP (dependent), adjusting for age, sex, cohort, number of weeks since baseline, lifestyle factors, diabetes, and CVD. RESULTSAmong 883 participants (mean age 54 years, 59% women, 91% White), the median CES-D score was 4. Depressive symptoms prevalence was 7.6%. Mean SBP and DBP at exam 3 were 119 and 76 mmHg; hypertension prevalence was 48%. A 1 SD higher CES-D score was associated with 0.9 (95% CI: 0.18 to 1.56, p=0.01) and 0.6 (95% CI: 0.06 to 1.07, p=0.03) mmHg higher home SBP and DBP respectively. Dichotomous depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with home BP(p>0.2). CONCLUSIONDepressive symptoms were not associated with clinically substantive levels of home BP. The association between depression and CVD risk factors warrants more data, which may be supported by mobile health measures.

Counseling in the face of crisis: supporting mental health in Tor Vergata University students during the Covid-19 era.

This study aims to present an overview of the clinical experience of the counseling service "Sportello Studenti". The service offers free diagnostic and therapeutic psychological assistance to all Tor Vergata University of Rome students. Preliminary findings on the prevalence of anxious, depressive, and prodromal symptoms in a subset of participants recruited during the initial three-year period of the service's operation (2019-2022) are presented. Beck's Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Prodromal Questionnaire 16 (PQ-16) and Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI) have been used to investigate principle psychopathological dimensions. 261 students aged 18 to 35 completed the assessment (180 female - 69%). Mild widespread depressive symptoms (35.5%) and mild to severe suicide ideation (5.1%) were highlighted. Ninety students (37.2%) result at a higher risk condition for psychosis. A significant statistical correlation between negative psychopathological indicators, such as suicidal thoughts and age, suggests that younger students exhibit higher susceptibility and vulnerability to mental health issues. The increasing prevalence of distress among young individuals represents an urgent public health concern that necessitates immediate intervention. It is crucial for countries to adopt a comprehensive approach to promoting psychological and mental health. University counseling services serve as an effective initial intervention to address the negative impact of mental illness on academic performance, social interactions, and emotional well-being in young individuals. They also play a pivotal role in the early identification of individuals at risk of developing severe psychiatric disorders. Sportello Studenti has proven to be a valuable initiative addressing the mental health needs of University of Tor Vergata students, underscoring the significance of promoting psychological well-being.

Improvement of migraine depressive symptoms is not related to headache frequency: exploring the impact of anti-CGRP therapies.

The present study aimed to describe the prevalence and evolution of depressive symptoms in a cohort of migraine patients treated with anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies. This is an exploratory, prospective, unicentric, one-year longitudinal study. We included migraine patients who started treatment with anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies. Baseline demographic data, medical history, concomitant medication and migraine characteristics were collected. The presence of depressive symptoms was evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory-II quarterly and treatment response was categorized according to the reduction in monthly headache days. A generalized mixed-effect regression model was used to model depression score over a one-year treatment taking into account frequency response rates. We included 577 patients: 84.2% females; median (range) age 47.0 (39.0-53.0)years, 46.1% (266/577) of them presented depressive symptoms at baseline (16.1% mild, 13.3% moderate and 16.6% severe). After six-month treatment, 47.4% (126/266) reduced headache frequency ≥50% after one year and 63.5% (169/266) achieved a clinically significant improvement in depression symptoms. We observed a 30.8% (-50.0%, -3.2%) main reduction in depression score during the first quarter. The improvement in depression symptoms was independently associated with headache frequency response: non-responders, -25.0% (-43.9%, -1.1%); partial responders, -30.2% (-51.3%, -7.6%); and good responders, -33.3% (-54.6%, -7.5%). Anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies targeting CGRP are effective in reducing depressive symptoms in patients with migraine. The main change of depression score happens during the first threemonths of treatment. The reduction in depressive symptoms is independent of migraine frequency improvement.

The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and depressive symptoms in rural left-behind adolescents: A cross-sectional survey

ObjectiveWe assessed the current status of depressive symptoms and the associated factors in rural left-behind adolescents. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and depressive symptoms. MethodsStudents from two rural junior high schools in Huaihua City were enrolled from July to September 2022. Before distributing the questionnaires, guardians of the students were contacted, and consent was obtained from the students themselves. The questionnaires were filled out anonymously and collected on-site. ResultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms among the 325 left-behind teenagers was 23.40%; the rate of emotional abuse in adverse childhood experiences was 17.50%, physical abuse was 15.70%, sexual abuse was 9.50%, emotional neglect was 24.60%, while physical neglect was 27.70%. The five dimensions of adverse childhood experiences were associated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.597, 0.395, 0.410, 0.498, 0.741, p < 0.01). ConclusionsDepressive symptoms were common among rural left-behind adolescents. Adverse childhood experiences were associated with depressive symptoms in rural left-behind adolescents. Occurrence of adverse childhood experiences should be reduced to improve on depressive symptoms.

Depressive symptoms in pregnant women treated at the Hospital Infantil del Estado de Sonora

Introduction. Pregnancy, being a situation of vulnerability and with its inherent changes, places women at a great risk of depression. In Mexico, the prevalence of probable depression in pregnant women treated at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, was 17.8%, assessed using the Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS). To date, there are no data regarding this issue in Sonora. Objective. To determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in pregnant women treated at the Hospital Infantil del Estado de Sonora (México). Method. An observational, descriptive, transversal, and prospective study was conducted in 2021, applying the EPDS in 168 2nd/3rd trimester pregnant women, selected by non-probabilistic sampling by consecutive cases. Sociodemographic variables, pathological/non-pathological, gynecological, and obstetrical personal history were explored. The analysis was performed using measures of central tendency and dispersion for quantitative variables; for qualitative variables, frequency and percentage; χ2 test to assess differences in distribution of depressive symptomatology by age and the rest of variables. Results. A global prevalence of “probable depression” of 14.3% was determined. The majority, within 20-29 age group, with a partner and a planned/desired pregnancy. High school educational level, 50%. History of intimate partner violence, 54.2%. Almost 40%, primigravida. Substance use, denied. Overweight/obesity, in 70%. Discussion and conclusion. There is a high prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy, going unnoticed for reasons such as insufficient knowledge (patient/health care providers), since there is no routine screening. It is imperative to work on prevention, detection and treatment, since it entails multiple consequences at a binomial, family, and social level.

Burden of postpartum depression in sub-Saharan Africa: An updated systematic review

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant public health concern in resource-constrained sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Efforts to combat this burden are hampered by the region’s wide variation in reported prevalence. This review aimed to systematically synthesize up-to-date data on PPD in SSA. The review was structured per the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. Included in the review were studies that reported the prevalence of PPD in SSA. A search was undertaken of PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, and PsycINFO. A random-effect model was fitted to estimate the pooled burden of postpartum depressive symptoms in SSA. We conducted subgroup analyses to estimate the distribution of postpartum depressive symptoms based on important study characteristics: sample size, the timing of diagnosis, design, study setting/region, instrument, and income/ economy. The prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms ranged from 3.8% to 69.9%, with a pooled estimate of 22.1% (CI 18.5–26.2; I2 = 98.2; Tau = 0.848; p&lt;0.001). There was a significant variation in postpartum depressive symptoms with sample size (p&lt;0.001). The highest prevalence (25.6% CI 21.5–30.1) was obtained within 12 weeks postpartum. The prevalence estimate was highest (23.3%; CI 20.1–26.8) with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). South Africa (30.6%; CI 23.6–38.7) and Zimbabwe (29.3%; CI 22.2–37.5) reported the highest prevalence rates, while Tanzania (13.5%; CI 10.1–17.9) reported the lowest prevalence estimates. Upper-middle SSA countries presented the highest prevalence rates (30.6%; CI 23.6–38.7). The prevalence was highest within the period 2010–2015. PPD constitutes a significant health burden in SSA and is fast becoming an epidemic in southern Africa. Significance: Given that PPD is a recurring mental health challenge among women in sub-Saharan Africa, there is an urgent need for strategic policy provisions to ameliorate its burden. An increase in prevalence of PPD from 2005–2010 to 2015–2021 is indicative of the need for national governments to intensify efforts targeted at achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 5 in the region. In SSA, the prevalence of PPD is highest (approximately 30%) in Southern Africa, precisely South Africa and Zimbabwe, where it is fast becoming an epidemic; hence strategies are needed to curtail its growing trend. There is a need to characterise and stratify the risk factors of PPD in sub-Saharan to guide policy development of predictive algorithms and implementation strategies.

Evaluation of COVID-19 Effect on Mental Health, Self-Harm, and Suicidal Behaviors in Children and Adolescents Population

Objectives: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological state of the under-18 population includes an increased risk of psychopathological symptoms development and exacerbation of already present psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of mental health problems in Polish children and adolescents with a focus on suicidal and self-harm behavior with the impact of the pandemic. Methods: The questionnaire collected demographic data, information regarding mental states and psychopathological symptoms, history of self-harm and suicidal behaviors, as well as the experience of psychological, and physical violence, and suicidal self-harm behaviors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: In the final analysis, 782 responses were included. Self-evaluation of general and mental health scores was significantly lower during the pandemic among children (both p &lt; 0.001) and adolescents (both p &lt; 0.001). Moreover, general and mental health scores were lower among adolescents compared to children before (both p &lt; 0.001) and during (both p &lt; 0.001) the pandemic. The frequency of seeking help because of mental health problems increased during the pandemic among children and adolescents, while no changes were observed in the prevalence of psychiatric hospitalizations in either of the populations (p = 0.317 and p = 1.00, respectively). Out of autoregressive behaviors among children during the pandemic period, only the frequency of thinking about death increased (p = 0.038). No suicidal attempts were undertaken by children in either of the evaluated time periods. The presence of all autoaggressive behaviors was greater among adolescents compared to children both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (all p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: A subjective decrease in psychophysical well-being, an increase in the frequency of seeking mental health help during the pandemic, as well as an increased prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms were observed in the under-18 population as a potential consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and related socioeconomic changes. The marked increase in self-harm behavior in the adolescent population (age &gt; 12) and the marked increase in the frequency of death thinking in children (age ≤ 12) suggests the need for greater awareness and easier access to professional help from mental health specialists, particularly in a time of unprecedented stress and social isolation.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression literacy (D-Lit) among Saudi postgraduate students

IntroductionThe prevalence of any disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) is 34.2% in Saudi Arabia over the course of a person's lifetime. Young Saudis are more likely to develop major depressive disorder than older Saudis. Globally, postgraduate students are more vulnerable to developing depression compared to the general population. According to a national study carried out in Saudi Arabia, a small proportion of individuals experiencing psychiatric disorders over a period of 12 months receive any kind of treatment. This highlights the importance of community education aimed at enhancing mental health awareness.MethodsA web-based Arabic cross-sectional survey was conducted among Saudi postgraduate students from October 2019 to August 2020. The survey included questions related to sociodemographic characteristics, sources of information, depression literacy (D-Lit), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression, and the participants’ attitudes toward depression.ResultsA total of 517 participants took part in the survey, with 46% of them screened positive for depression. The mean D-Lit score was 10.65, which was lower than that reported in studies conducted among medical students and hospital staff. No significant differences were found in D-Lit scores across all sociodemographic characteristics, except for gender and specialty (p = 0.002 and <0.001, respectively). The Internet, awareness posters, a doctor (previously diagnosed with depression), and awareness activities related to depression showed significant differences in the mean score of D-Lit (p < 0.001, 0.005, < 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionIn Saudi Arabia, this study found that postgraduate students have a notably higher occurrence of depression compared to the general population. However, despite their higher educational level, these students lacked sufficient awareness and understanding of depression to recognize it and seek help. Consequently, it is important to initiate awareness campaigns aimed at enhancing the mental well-being of postgraduate student

P979 Diet, disease activity and extraintestinal symptoms in IBD outpatients

Abstract Background Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) show higher rates of fatigue and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Growing evidence reports a beneficial influence of plant- based diets on IBD as well as psychological disorders. The Mediterranean diet shows favorable characteristics in this regard and is simple to implement. We aimed to examine adherence to a Mediterranean diet as well as its associations with disease activity, quality of life and fatigue or affective symptoms in outpatients with IBD. Methods We delivered questionnaires to IBD outpatients, assessing adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MEDAS), symptoms of depression and anxiety (HADS), as well as fatigue (FACIT-F) and quality of life (SHS). Disease activity was measured with HBI or pMS, respectively. Associations between the parameters were determined using spearman correlation. Results We collected data of n=281 patients. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was generally low in our sample with a median MEDAS score of 6 (0-13). The greatest deficit was observed in the regular consumption of fish (10 %) and fruit (16.6 %). However, we found a very high adherence for olive oil as the main source of fat (81.9 %), as well as a preference for white meat over red meat and processed meats (63.7 %). The prevalence of depressive symptoms (HADS-D ≥ 8) was 22.4 %, while symptoms of anxiety (HADS-A ≥ 8) were found in 35.9 % of the participants. Severe fatigue (FACIT &amp;lt; 30) was present in 33.8 % of the patients. Patients with clinically active disease were more likely to experience fatigue (ρ=-.231, p=&amp;lt;.001), symptoms of anxiety (ρ=.132, p=.010), depressive symptoms (ρ=.216 p=&amp;lt;.001), and reduced quality of life (ρ=.359, p&amp;lt;.001), all Figure 1a. There were no significant associations between the MEDAS score and disease activity (ρ=.033, p=.522), fatigue (ρ=-.009, p=.831), anxiety symptoms (ρ=.049, p=.294), or depressive symptoms (ρ=-.035, p=.461). Women showed significantly higher adherence to Mediterranean diet (mean MEDAS score 5.2 vs. 6, p=.003). We found a negative correlation between adherence to Mediterranean diet and level of calprotectin (ρ=-.146, p=.023, Figure 1b). Conclusion The preliminary analysis of our sample suggests low levels of adherence to the Mediterranean diet in our patient population. Contrary to our expectation, there were no statistically significant associations between diet and disease activity, quality of life, or psychological complaints. However, the inverse correlation between adherence to Mediterranean diet and level of calprotectin can support the anti-inflammatory characteristics this diet. It remains unclear, to which intent an anti-inflammatory diet can impact the course of disease and clinical symptoms in patients with IBD.