High Prevalence Of Depressive Symptoms Research Articles

Impact of Social Isolation Strategies Due to COVID-19 on Mental Health and Quality of Life in Brazil

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced social distancing to decelerate the virus spread. This study evaluated the impact of social distancing imposed by COVID-19 on Brazilians’ mental health and quality of life (QoL). Methods: In this cross-sectional community-based online survey, data from 1,156 volunteers were gathered between May 11 and June 3, 2020. We considered independent variables the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the LOT-R for Optimism/Pessimism constructs, and the Brief Scale for Spiritual/Religious Coping. Dependent variables were the PHQ-9 for depressive symptoms; the GAD-7 for anxiety disorder; and the WHOQOL-BREF. The presence of depressive and anxiety disorder was estimated with logistic regression. Multivariate GLM assessed the effects of independent variables on the WHOQOL-BREF domains. Outcomes: There was a high prevalence of depressive symptoms (41.9%) and anxiety disorder (29.0%). Negative spiritual/religious coping was positively correlated with depressive symptoms (OR, 2.14; 95%CI, 1.63-2.80; p<0.001) and anxiety (OR, 2.46; 95%CI, 1.90-3.18; p<0.001), and associated with worse social and environmental QoL (p<0.001). Healthcare professionals showed a lower risk of depressive symptoms (OR, 0.71; 95%CI, 0.55-0.93; p<0.001). Participants with friend/family with COVID-19 scored lower on psychological and environmental QoL (p<0.05). Longer social isolation duration decreased risk of anxiety disorder (OR, 0.99; 95%CI, 0.98-0.99; p=0.004). Interpretation: We found a higher risk of impaired mental health and QoL in Brazil, which has become the pandemic epicenter. Several factors seem to affect the Brazilian population in a particular way, and this knowledge may contribute to local health policies in dealing with COVID-19 consequences. Funding Statement: Not applied. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine of Itajuba, Brazil approved this study (#4,010,466). All participants gave informed consent online. All procedures were carried out under Brazilian ethical regulations and the 1964 Helsinki Declaration

Association of 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 with depressive symptoms in patients with coronary heart disease: A prospective study

Background5-HTTLPR/rs25531 is suspected to be involved in the pathogenesis of both coronary heart disease (CHD)1 and depression. We aimed to investigate the role of 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 in the development of depressive symptoms among CHD patients in a longitudinal design. MethodsN = 265 participants with CHD diagnosis were included while hospitalized in a department of cardiology and genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR/rs25531. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)7 at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. Binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the association of 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 with the prevalence of depressive symptoms at each time point as well as with the incidence and persistence of depressive symptoms at follow-up. Results“LALA” genotype was associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms 12 months after study inclusion. “LALA” genotype was associated with a higher incidence of depressive symptoms 6 and 12 months after study inclusion. There was no association of 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 with the persistence of depressive symptoms. LimitationsInclusion criteria did not demand a particular cardiac event at baseline, which aggravated the interpretation of the time-specific results. The majority of the participants was of male gender which could cause bias. The present study only vaguely differentiated between ethnical groups which might cause bias regarding nationality-dependent allele distributions. ConclusionThe present study suggests a time-dependent association of the “LALA” genotype with depressive symptoms in CHD patients. 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 might be an important marker to detect risk groups for later onset depressive symptoms among CHD patients.

Prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms, and association with epidemic-related factors during the epidemic period of COVID-19 among 123,768 workers in China: A large cross-sectional study

BackgroundCOVID-19 has gained intense attention globally. However, little is known about the COVID-19-ralated mental health status among workers. MethodsThe cross-sectional online survey with 123,768 workers was conducted from February 2, 2020 to February 7, 2020 on a mega-size labor-intensive factory in Shenzhen, China. Oral consent was obtained prior to the questionnaire survey. The information collected in the survey included demographic characteristics, psychological symptoms, COVID-19-related information, and demands for psychological education and interventions. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured by the Zung's Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale. Logistic regression models were performed to determine the association between related factors and mental health status. ResultsThe prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms was 3.4% and 22.8%, respectively. The dominant epidemic-related factors were having confirmed cases in the community (odds ratio [OR], 2.75, 95% CI, 2.37–3.19) and having confirmed friends (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.69–3.52) for the increased risk of anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively. Nevertheless, major traditional risk factors such as general or poor health status and always drinking alcohol were still the dominant factors associated with the increased risk of anxiety and depression symptoms. Overall, 67.3% and 26.8% workers reported desire for psychological education and interventions, respectively. LimitationsAll assessments were self-reported, resulting in a risk of method bias. ConclusionsOur findings show a relatively low prevalence of anxiety symptoms, a relatively high prevalence of depression symptoms, and urgent demand for psychological education and interventions among workers during the COVID-19 outbreak.

DEPRESSION AND ASSOCIATED SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS AMONG PERSONNEL REPORTING TO A FIELD HOSPITAL FOR ROUTINE MEDICAL CARE

Objective: To determine the prevalence of depression and associated socio demographic factors among personnel reporting to a field hospital in Sudan for routine medical care and analyze socio demographic factors associated with depressive symptoms.&#x0D; Study Design: Cross sectional descriptive study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in a field hospital, from Apr 2015 to Mar 2016 in Sudan.&#x0D; Methodology: The sample population comprised of 226 personnel who reported to the hospital for routine medical care. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to record the presence and severity of depressive symptoms. The following socio-demographic variables (rank, age, gender, ethnicity, education, marital status, socioeconomic status, family type, service in mission area, smoking habits, living conditions, lack of social support) were taken on a separate sheet.&#x0D; Results: Out of 226 subjects 58.4% had no depressive symptoms, 15.5% had mild, 21.2% had moderate and 4.9% had severe depressive symptoms. Unsatisfied with living condition in mission area, having more than 6 months of service and lack of social support were correlated with depressive symptoms. Tobacco smoking was highly associated with depression, while female gender and low education had a weak association with depressive disorder.&#x0D; Conclusion: The high prevalence of depressive symptoms in our study highlights the importance of developing good mental health care facilities for personnel deployed on different missions.

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Telephone-Based Therapy Targeting Depressive Symptoms Among Low-Income People Living with HIV.

People living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) has been reported to have a high prevalence of depressive symptoms. Low-income populations account for a large proportion of PLWH, hence indicating a high level of depressive symptoms in low-income PLWH. Telephone-based therapy has been shown to be effective for treating PLWH's depressive symptoms, but its effects among low-income PLWH remain unclear. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of telephone-based therapy targeting depressive symptoms among low-income PLWH. Six databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Database and Wanfang Data) were searched until May 2020 using search terms related to telephone-based therapy, depressive symptoms, and PLWH. Eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. Both postintervention effects (primary outcome) and long-term effects (secondary outcome) were evaluated using a random effects model. The meta-analysis revealed a small to moderate effect size (ĝ = - 0.29, 95% CI - 0.51, - 0.06) on reducing depressive symptom scores (Z = 2.51, p = 0.01) in telephone-based intervention group compared with the control group at postintervention. However, there was no statistically significant long-term effects (Z = 0.77, p = 0.44) at follow-up. For postintervention effects, calculation of the I2 index indicated moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 50%); sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis were performed to explore the source of heterogeneity. Ethnic group was classified into minority and majority which refers to most of the population were ethnic minority and majority respectively. Between-group differences were found across ethnic groups. The results suggested that there was a slightly stronger effect of telephone-based therapy in low-income PLWH than among PLWH in general, but its long-term effect requires future investigation. The effects of the intervention were better among the ethnic majority subgroups of low-income PLWH. Treatment format and intervention duration might also influence the intervention effects. However, the overall quality of evidence was low and directly impacted on the interpretation of our results, suggesting that more high-quality random controlled trial (RCT)/longitudinal studies with less selection and detection bias, less inconsistency and less indirectness are needed when applying telephone-based therapy to low-income PLWH with depressive symptoms in further studies.

The Effect of Social Support on Mental Health in Chinese Adolescents During the Outbreak of COVID-19

PurposeThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak impacts physical and mental health. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between the levels of social support and mental health among Chinese adolescents during the outbreak. MethodsA total of 7,202 adolescents aged 14–18 years completed online survceys from March 8 to 15, 2020, in China. Researchers assessed the associations between depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety symptoms (Chinese version of the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale), and social support (Social Support Rate Scale). ResultsCOVID-19 exposure was associated with a higher prevalence of depression symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14–1.66) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04–1.52). Only 24.6% of adolescents reported high levels of social support. Most adolescents (70%) reported medium levels of support, and 5.4% reported low support. Low support was associated with higher prevalence of depression (OR = 4.24, 95% CI: 3.38–5.33) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 3.18, 95% CI: 2.54–3.98), while controlling for gender, grade, living situation, and COVID-19 exposure; similarly, medium support was associated with higher prevalence of depression (OR = 2.79, 95% CI: 2.48–3.15) and anxiety (OR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.94–2.48) symptoms. ConclusionsThis study indicates there is a higher prevalence of mental health problems among adolescents with medium and low levels of social support in China during the outbreak of COVID-19.

Dietary fatty acids, omega-6/omega-3 ratio and cholesterol intake associated with depressive symptoms in low-risk pregnancy

ABSTRACT Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association of dietary fatty acids, cholesterol and omega-6/omega-3 ratio to depressive symptoms in a sample of low-risk pregnant women. Methods: Pregnant women (n = 60) within 20–40 years of age and with 22–24 gestational weeks were evaluated. Food intake was assessed by two 24-h recalls and depressive symptoms according to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 18.3%. The Prevalence Ratio (PR) adjusted by per capita income, history of depression and pregnancy intention, showed a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms among pregnant women with excessive total fatty acid intake (PR: 5.80; CI95% 1.20–27.7) and omega-6/omega-3 ratio above 10:1 (PR: 3.63; CI95% 1.20–10.94). Discussion: Our results indicated a higher risk of depressive symptoms among pregnant women with total fatty acids intake and omega-6/omega-3 ratio above recommendation, but further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism of dietary fatty acids in the onset of maternal depression.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms among nurses in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundDepression is one of the most common mental disorders, profoundly impacting an individual’s performance and quality of life. Due to their unique working conditions, nursing is counted among the occupational groups at high risk for developing depression. Because of the shortage of nursing resources in China, Chinese nurses suffer from heavy daily workloads more than those in many other countries. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and analyse the potential risk factors of depressive symptoms in Chinese nurses.MethodsA systematic literature search in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Chinese BioMedical Literature Database (CBM), the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and the Weipu and Wanfang databases up to Dec 31st, 2019 was performed regarding the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Chinese nurses. Eligibility assessment and data extraction were performed independently by 2 researchers, and meta-analysis was used to synthesize the data. Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran’s Q test and quantified using the I2 statistic. To explore the potential source of heterogeneity, subgroup analyses were also performed. In addition, both funnel plot and Egger’s tests were adopted to assess publication bias.ResultsA total of 102 studies published from 1996 to 2019 covering 22 provinces were included for further analysis. The total number of participants was 52,592, with a range of 46 to 7205 per study. The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms in Chinese nurses was 43.83% (95%CI: 40.26%-47.42%), and 31.12% (95%CI: 27.30%-35.07%) were classified as mild degrees of depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms may be significantly affected by region, province or municipality and department marital status. Moreover, an increasing trend in the prevalence of depressive symptoms was observed in recent years.ConclusionThe results presented a high prevalence of depressive symptoms among Chinese nurses, which suggests interventional programmes by health decision-makers to improving the mental state of nurses is needed urgently, especially in nurses with high risk factors for depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the nationwide investigation of depressive symptoms prevalence should be performed with a standard diagnostic tool, which may be more useful for policy makers and planners.

Cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms in Fabry disease: A follow-up study.

Patients with Fabry disease (FD) have a high prevalence of depressive symptoms and can suffer from cognitive impairment, negatively affecting their life. The course of cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms in FD is unknown. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to describe changes in cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms and to identify related variables in patients with FD over 1 year. Assessments were conducted twice, using a neuropsychological test battery and the Centre of Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CESD). Eighty‐one patients were included of which 76 patients (94%) completed both assessments (age: 44 years, 34% men, 75% classical phenotype). A significant decrease in cognitive functioning was found in four patients (5%), with patients regressing from excellent to average/good. Changes were not related to sex, phenotype, stroke, IQ or CESD scores. CESD scores ≥16 were present in 29 patients (38%) at baseline. Using the reliable change index a decrease in CESD scores was found in six patients (8%). Decreased CESD scores were independently related to employing a positive and problem solving coping style and increased CESD scores to an avoiding and brooding coping style and worsening health perception. We found no major changes in cognitive functioning in patients with FD during 1 year follow‐up making it an unsuitable outcome in FD treatment trials. Considering the high prevalence of persistent depressive symptoms, assessment of depressive symptoms should be part of routine follow‐up. Altering coping styles and health perception may improve psychological well‐being in FD.

P1560ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Abstract Background and Aims Procedure of haemodialysis (HD) treatment is associated with an impaired quality of life in chronic kidney disease patients. It is due to changes in family, social and professional relationships. These changes can also lead to mental health problems. The purpose of our study is to determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders in hemodialysis patients. Method Fifty chronic hemodialysis patients were enrolled in our cross-sectional study during four months (September -October- November- December 2019). The HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) survey was used to assess depressive and anxiolytic disorder in our hemodialysis population. Were excluded patients aged less than 18 yearsold as well as kidney transplant patients and psychiatric patients. Results The mean age of our patients was 49.5 range (24-79).The sex ratio was 1.27. The prevalence of anxiety syndrome was 40% with a female predominance of 54.5% versus 54,5%. Depressive syndrome was noted in 48% of our patients with a male predominance of 58.3% versus 41,7%. 48% of our HD patients have shown depression in various degrees. It was about mild depression of 20,8% of pts, moderate depression of 41,6% of pts and severe depression of 37,5% of pts. Somatic symptoms of depression in our population were respectively noted in 52,8% of loss of energy, 57,5% fatigue, 63,4% sleep disturbances, and 38,5% changes in appetite. The most common psychological symptoms were: pessimism (79,1%), loss of interest in appearance (41,6%), psychomotor retardation (75%). On the other hand, 37, 5% of patients felt cheerful and 16,6% still enjoy doing some activities. For patients with anxiety syndrom, we noted: concentration disturbance (45,4%), palpitations (50%), abdominal pain (59,09%) and headache (81,8%). With regard to psychological symptoms, the most emphasized were: sudden feelings of panic (54,5%), worrying thoughts (72,7%),77,2% are feeling restless and 59,09% are feeling wound up. On the other hand, 68,1% feel relaxed especially after the hemodialysis session. It seems that gender, marital status and HD duration did not influence significantly in occurrence of depression with respectively (p=0,08, p=0.1 and p= 0.08). Older patients were significantly more depressed in compared to younger patients (p= 0.003). Unemployed patients were significantly more depressed in relation to employed patients(p=0.01). Finally, as the educational level of patients increased, level of depression significantly decreased (p=0,04). Conclusion Depression is the most frequent psychological complication of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Our results showed a high prevalence of depressive symptoms among the study group. The exact prevalence of depression in dialysis patients is unclear because of different criteria utilized for diagnosis of depression. A close collaboration between nephrologists and psychiatrists is needed to ensure a better quality of life in HD patients.

Prevalence of depression and associated factors among hemodialyzed patients in Jazan area, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of depression and associated risk factors among patients on hemodialysis in Jazan area, Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted on 211 randomly selected hemodialysis patients in Jazan area, Saudi Arabia, using an observational cross-sectional design. Patients were screened for depressive symptoms using the depression, anxiety and stress scale 42 (DASS-42). Descriptive statistics were used to present sociodemographic data. Multiple logistic regression was implemented to identify the predictors of depression. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software. The study found the overall prevalence of depression among patients on hemodialysis to be 43.6 per cent. Of them, 12.8 per cent were mildly depressed, 15.6 per cent were moderately depressed and 15.1 per cent fell in the severe or extremely severe category. Depression was significantly associated with marital status, education level and the presence of sleep disturbances. The study indicates a high prevalence of depressive symptoms among patients on hemodialysis in Jazan. A higher rate of depressive symptoms was observed in currently unmarried, lower-educated patients and those with sleep disturbance. Periodic evaluation of patients on hemodialysis for depression is needed to allow for early intervention.

High Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Developing Countries: Results From the International Diabetes Management Practices Study.

OBJECTIVEDepression is common in people with diabetes, but data from developing countries are scarce. We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for depressive symptoms in patients with diabetes using data from the International Diabetes Management Practices Study (IDMPS).RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSIDMPS is an ongoing multinational, cross-sectional study investigating quality of care in patients with diabetes in real-world settings. Data from wave 5 (2011), including 21 countries, were analyzed using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to evaluate depressive symptoms. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors of depressive symptoms.RESULTSOf 9,865 patients eligible for analysis, 2,280 had type 1 and 7,585 had type 2 diabetes (treatment: oral glucose-lowering drugs [OGLD] only, n = 4,729; OGLDs plus insulin, n = 1,892; insulin only, n = 964). Depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score ≥5) were reported in 30.7% of those with type 1 diabetes. In patients with type 2 diabetes, the respective figures were 29.0% for OGLDs-only, 36.6% for OGLDs-plus-insulin, and 46.7% for insulin-only subgroups. Moderate depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score 10–19) were observed in 8–16% of patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Female sex, complications, and low socioeconomic status were independently associated with depressive symptoms. In type 1 diabetes and in the type 2 diabetes OGLDs-only group, depression was associated with poor glycemic control.CONCLUSIONSDepressive symptoms are common in patients with diabetes from developing countries, calling for routine screening, especially in high-risk groups, to reduce the double burden of diabetes and depression and their negative interaction.

Depression and associated factors among geriatric population in Moshi district council, Northern Tanzania

Background Depression in the elderly population has been identified as a significant public health problem associated with adverse outcomes such as decreased quality of life, cognitive decline, and increased rates of suicide. We aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among geriatric population in Moshi district council, northern Tanzania. Methods This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Moshi rural district, northern Tanzania, between June and July 2019. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit 304 elders aged 60 or more years. We used geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) to assess depression. Generalized linear model with Poisson family and log link function was used to estimate prevalence ratio (PR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals for factors associated with geriatric depressive symptoms. Results A total of 304 participants were enrolled, the median age (interquartile range) 67 (62-75.5 years), and about half (51%) were females. The prevalence of geriatric depressive symptoms was 44.4%. Elders with a self-reported history of cognitive impairment had higher prevalence of depressive symptoms (PR = 1.66, 95%CI 1.16, 2.38) while elders with intermediate (PR = 0.56, 95%CI 0.38, 0.82) and strong social support (PR = 0.27, 95%CI 0.17, 0.44) were less likely to have depressive symptoms compared to those with no available social support. Conclusions Nearly one in every two elders had geriatric depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were associated with self-reported history of cognitive impairment and availability of social support. We recommend community screening, awareness creation, and social support interventions for early identification and management of depressive symptoms in this population.

Internalized transphobia and mental health among transgender adults: A nationwide cross-sectional survey in South Korea

Introduction: Transgender people are stigmatized in South Korea (hereafter Korea), where cultural expectations of a biologically-based, binary sex and gender system present fundamental challenges to those whose gender identity does not align with their birth-assigned sex. A growing international body of literature implicates gender minority stress as a key contributor to transgender mental health disparities, but little research has been conducted on this topic in Korea. As in other cultural settings, depression and suicidality are urgent public health concerns for transgender people in Korea, primarily for those who have not initiated gender affirming medical treatment (GAMT), such as cross-sex hormone therapy. In the current study, an international and interdisciplinary team of authors apply the lens of gender minority stress to elucidate the relationships between a key facet of gender minority stress, internalized transphobia (ITP), and outcomes of depressive symptoms and suicidality.Methods: Based on a cross-sectional survey of 207 Korean transgender adults, the current study evaluates the relationships between ITP and depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. ITP was measured with an eight-item, Korean-language questionnaire adapted from the Gender Minority Stress and Resilience Measure through a translation and back-translation process.Results: Korean trans women and trans men mean (mean age = 26.4) were included in the analysis, most of whom had at least one experience of any GAMT. The findings of this study show that Korean transgender adults face similar public health concerns such as high prevalence of depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. As predicted, ITP was significantly related to depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts.Conclusion: The authors suggest potential clinical, policy, and research applications, including institutional interventions, to address structural and cultural barriers to optimal mental health and GAMT as well as mental health interventions to reduce Korean transgender people’s internalized negative beliefs about their gender identity.

Depressive Symptoms and the Link with Academic Performance among Rural Taiwanese Children.

Previous studies reflect a high prevalence of depressive symptoms among Taiwanese adolescents (ages 13–18), but there is an absence of literature related to the risk of depression of children in Taiwan (ages 6–12), particularly among potentially vulnerable subgroups. To provide insight into the distribution of depressive symptoms among children in rural Taiwan and measure the correlation between academic performance, we conducted a survey of 1655 randomly selected fourth and fifth-grade students at 92 sample schools in four relatively low-income counties or municipalities. Using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) we assessed the prevalence of depressive symptoms in this sample, in addition to collecting other data, such as performance on a standardized math test as well as information on a number of individual and household characteristics. We demonstrate that the share of children with clinically significant symptoms is high: 38% of the students were at risk of general depression (depression score ≥ 16) and 8% of the students were at risk of major depression (depression score > 28). The results of the multivariate regression and heterogeneous analysis suggest that poor academic performance is closely associated with a high prevalence of depressive symptoms. Among low-performing students, certain groups were disproportionately affected, including girls and students whose parents have migrated away for work. Results also suggest that, overall, students who had a parent who was an immigrant from another country were at greater risk of depression. These findings highlight the need for greater resource allocation toward mental health services for elementary school students in rural Taiwan, particularly for at-risk groups.

Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation of the Vague Nerve X Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Currently, some techniques such as nerve stimulation have been used as a treatment to reduce inflammation levels in the organism. Inflammation is present in both metabolic syndrome and depression. In brain stimulation through the vagus nerve, the main neurotransmitter acetylcholine modulates the actions of various peptides, hypothalamic incretins and cholecystokinin, consequently modulating the actions of the Autonomic Nervous System. According to the World Health Organization, depression occurs in people of all genders and ages, affects 350 million people worldwide, is among the leading causes of disability. This study aimed to verify the impact of transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve on depressive symptoms in patients with metabolic syndrome. This is the analysis of patients with metabolic syndrome who underwent transcutaneous electrical stimulation in the left ear once a week for 30 minutes for a period of 8 weeks. Pre‐ and post‐Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation analyzes were performed through interviews with the application of three psychometric depression assessment scales of Beck I (IDB), Hamilton (HAM‐D) and Montgomery‐Asberg (MADRS). Nine patients with Metabolic Syndrome from the city of São Paulo, Brazil, were interviewed. Of the 09 respondents, the study showed in the IDB Scale there are 06 (66.6%) with depression, HAM‐D 08 (88.8%) and MADRS all 08 (88.8%) with depression before Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation. The results showed a significance level of 55.5% for depression scores after Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation. A high prevalence of depressive symptoms was observed in the study sample. The research allowed us to reflect on the Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation of the vagus nerve as an alternative treatment for individuals with Metabolic Syndrome and depressive symptoms aiming to prevent or mitigate the effects of these pathologies.Support or Funding InformationWithout funding.

Maternità e migrazione: rischio psicosociale e sintomi depressivi nel periodo del post partum

Due to the phenomenon of immigration, many women live motherhood far from their places of origin. The perinatal period is a very complex phase of life and literature shows that the process of transition to motherhood may be at higher risk for immigrant women. The study aims to compare the prevalence of depressive and anxious symptoms, the quality of social support, and the main risk factors for perinatal mental distress in immigrant and Italian women in the first months after childbirth. Italian (N=308) and immigrant (N=108) women attending vaccination services, were administered a psychosocial risk form, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Analyses showed higher prevalence of depressive symptoms and increased psychosocial risks in immigrant women. Statistically significant differences were found with respect to younger age, increased number of children, absence of partner, lower social support, lower education, unemployment, and limited use of local services. The results of the study confirmed that immigrant women are at higher risk of experiencing emotional distress in the postpartum and highlighted the co-presence of different personal, family and contextual risk factors. These indicators can be useful in forging effective interventions aimed at reaching foreign women.

Depressive Symptoms, Suicidal Ideation, and Mental Health Service Use of Industrial Workers: Evidence from Vietnam.

Background: Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation substantially reduce industrial workers’ productivity and performance. This study was performed to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation and identify associated factors among industrial workers in different provinces of Vietnam. Materials and Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in industrial zones of four provinces of Vietnam. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was employed to screen depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine factors related to depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Results: Of 1200 industrial workers, 30.5% and 33.6% industrial workers had positive depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in the last two weeks, respectively. There were 38.3% ever using mental health services in the last 12 months. High school education (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.44–0.95); living in dormitory (OR = 3.07, 95% CI = 1.51–6.24), living with siblings (OR = 2.98; 95% CI = 1.32–6.75), having two children or more (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.03–2.03), high years of experience (OR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.89–0.98), suffering from burnout, alcohol use disorder (OR = 2.38; 95% CI = 1.72–3.28), and smoking status (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.23–0.61) were associated with positive depressive symptoms. Living with children, working in mechanical/metallurgy/electronics factories, completely exhausted and often thinking of quitting, and alcohol use disorder were positively related to suicidal ideation. Conclusions: This study found a high prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among industrial workers in Vietnam. Regular screening and detecting high-risk groups, along with interventions to reduce health risk behaviors, burnout and on-site medical service quality improvement, are recommended to alleviate the burden of depression in industrial workers.

Factors related to depressive symptoms and self-reported diagnosis of depression in community-dwelling older Chileans: A national cross-sectional analysis.

The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence of screening-positive depression and to identify the frequency and factors related to self-reported depression diagnosis in people with screen-positive depression. Using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), 4065 older Chileans were screened for depression. Social and health variables were included. Self-reported depression diagnosis and antidepressant use were analyzed according to screen-positive depression (GDS-15 ≥ 5). Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors related to screen-positive depression, and self-reported diagnosis and current antidepressant use. Overall, mean age was 71.0 years, 60.9% women, and 71.4% had ≤8 years of education. 28.3% of the population screened positive for depression (mild: 21.7%; moderate-severe: 6.5%). Only 35.9% of screen-positive depression individuals self-reported a depression diagnosis (mild: 32.6%; moderate-severe: 47.0%), with significant differences between the sexes (women: 42.2%; men: 22.5%; P < .01). No education (OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.20-3.32), multimorbidity (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.42-2.48), dependence (OR = 4.14, 95% CI = 3.11-5.51) and pain (OR = 2.49, 95% CI = 2.01-3.07) were related to screen-positive depression. In people screen-positive depression, men (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.35-0.65) and 80 years or older were less likely to self-report depression diagnosis (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.23-0.54), and current antidepressant use (OR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.14-0.70). A high prevalence of depressive symptoms and low agreement with self-reported depression is observed. There is a need to increase the diagnosis of depression especially in men and people 80 years or older.

Characteristics and Prevalence of Depression Symptoms in Caregivers of Patients Undergoing Palliative Care

Family role in taking care of patients undergoing palliative care leads to complex, multidimensional responsibility which may have consequences to the mental health of primary caregivers. Studies have shown that 40 to 70 percent of caregivers experience symptoms of depression. The general objective of this study was to determine the characteristics and prevalence of depressive symptoms among caregivers of patients in palliative care. The population comprised of caregivers of patients undergoing palliative care at the Kenyatta National Hospital. A cross-sectional study was used where questionnaires were administered using Beck‘s Depression Inventory and a researcher designed socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire for the caregivers. The results showed that 62.7% of the caregivers presented with symptoms of depression. This is four times higher as compared to the general population. The severity of the depressive symptoms ranged from mild to severe with the majority experiencing symptoms of severe depression. Spousal caregivers had the highest prevalence of depressive symptoms followed by those who were taking care of their children. The recommendations include having healthcare providers do routine screening for depression in family caregivers and not just on patients alone.