Prevalence Of Mental Disorders Research Articles

Social anxiety disorder: prevalence and dominant factor among adolescents in urban and rural school

In the age range of 16-18 years, commonly known as adolescence, individuals undergo a period of self-discovery in their socio-emotional development. Failures during this process can lead to individuals experiencing anxiety in social interactions, which can have a negative impact on their mental health. The Indonesia National Adolescent Mental Health Survey (I-NAMHS), findings also indicate that the most prevalent mental disorder among adolescents is anxiety disorder (a combination of social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder), is equivalent to 15.5 million. The widespread use of the internet and social media, on one hand, has led to a high dependency on smartphones among teenagers, causing them to spend more time interacting in the virtual world. Over an extended period, this condition can lead to social anxiety due to the fear of failure and lack of success. The objective of this research is to explore whether there is a difference in social anxiety among teenagers living in rural or urban areas, related to factors such as the duration of smartphone usage, school activities, and so on. The results of this research are crucial for providing feedback to high schools, especially for early detection of potential anxiety symptoms from the beginning, in order to prevent and provide appropriate treatment for social anxiety, thus not affecting students' academic achievements. It is recommended that schools conduct early detection measures.

Raspberry Ketone Prevents LPS-Induced Depression-Like Behaviors in Mice by Inhibiting TLR-4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway via the Gut-Brain Axis.

Depression, a prevalent mental disorder, has significantly impacted the lives of 350 million people, yet it holds promise for amelioration through food-derived phenolics. Raspberries, renowned globally for their delectable flavor, harbor a phenolic compound known as raspberry ketone (RK). However, the impact of RK on depressive symptoms remains ambiguous. This study aims to investigate the impact of RK on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressed mice and elucidates its potential mechanisms, focusing on the gut-brain axis. Through behavioral tests, RK exerts a notable preventive effect on LPS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice. RK proves capable of attenuating gut inflammation, repairing gut barrier impairment, modulating the composition of the gut microbiome (Muribaculaceae, Streptococcus, Lachnospiraceae, and Akkermansia), and promoting the production of short-chain fatty acids. Furthermore, RK alleviates neuroinflammation by suppressing the TLR-4/NF-κB pathway and bolsters synaptic function by elevating levels of neurotrophic factors and synapse-associated proteins. The current study provides compelling evidence that RK effectively inhibits the TLR-4/NF-κB pathway via the gut-brain axis, leading to the improvement of LPS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice. This study addresses the research gap in understanding the antidepressant effects of RK and illuminates the potential of utilizing RK as a functional food for preventing depression.

Exploring Schizophrenia Classification Through Multimodal MRI and Deep Graph Neural Networks: Unveiling Brain Region-Specific Weight Discrepancies and Their Association With Cell-Type Specific Transcriptomic Features.

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a prevalent mental disorder that imposes significant health burdens. Diagnostic accuracy remains challenging due to clinical subjectivity. To address this issue, we explore magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a tool to enhance SZ diagnosis and provide objective references and biomarkers. Using deep learning with graph convolution, we represent MRI data as graphs, aligning with brain structure, and improving feature extraction, and classification. Integration of multiple modalities is expected to enhance classification. Our study enrolled 683 SZ patients and 606 healthy controls from 7 hospitals, collecting structural MRI and functional MRI data. Both data types were represented as graphs, processed by 2 graph attention networks, and fused for classification. Grad-CAM with graph convolution ensured interpretability, and partial least squares analyzed gene expression in brain regions. Our method excelled in the classification task, achieving 83.32% accuracy, 83.41% sensitivity, and 83.20% specificity in 10-fold cross-validation, surpassing traditional methods. And our multimodal approach outperformed unimodal methods. Grad-CAM identified potential brain biomarkers consistent with gene analysis and prior research. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of deep learning with graph attention networks, surpassing previous SZ diagnostic methods. Multimodal MRI's superiority over unimodal MRI confirms our initial hypothesis. Identifying potential brain biomarkers alongside gene biomarkers holds promise for advancing objective SZ diagnosis and research in SZ.

Genetically predicted fatty liver disease and risk of psychiatric disorders: A mendelian randomization study.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-related liver disease (ArLD) constitute the primary forms of chronic liver disease, and their incidence is progressively increasing with changes in lifestyle habits. Earlier studies have documented a correlation between the occurrence and development of prevalent mental disorders and fatty liver. To investigate the correlation between fatty liver and mental disorders, thus necessitating the implementation of a mendelian randomization (MR) study to elucidate this association. Data on NAFLD and ArLD were retrieved from the genome-wide association studies catalog, while information on mental disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, multiple personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia was acquired from the psychiatric genomics consortium. A two-sample MR method was applied to investigate mediators in significant associations. After excluding weak instrumental variables, a causal relationship was identified between fatty liver disease and the occurrence and development of some psychiatric disorders. Specifically, the findings indicated that ArLD was associated with a significantly elevated risk of developing ADHD (OR: 5.81, 95%CI: 5.59-6.03, P < 0.01), bipolar disorder (OR: 5.73, 95%CI: 5.42-6.05, P = 0.03), OCD (OR: 6.42, 95%CI: 5.60-7.36, P < 0.01), and PTSD (OR: 5.66, 95%CI: 5.33-6.01, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, NAFLD significantly increased the risk of developing bipolar disorder (OR: 55.08, 95%CI: 3.59-845.51, P < 0.01), OCD (OR: 61.50, 95%CI: 6.69-565.45, P < 0.01), and PTSD (OR: 52.09, 95%CI: 4.24-639.32, P < 0.01). Associations were found between genetic predisposition to fatty liver disease and an increased risk of a broad range of psychiatric disorders, namely bipolar disorder, OCD, and PTSD, highlighting the significance of preventive measures against psychiatric disorders in patients with fatty liver disease.

Modeling brain sex in the limbic system as phenotype for female-prevalent mental disorders

BackgroundSex differences exist in the prevalence and clinical manifestation of several mental disorders, suggesting that sex-specific brain phenotypes may play key roles. Previous research used machine learning models to classify sex from imaging data of the whole brain and studied the association of class probabilities with mental health, potentially overlooking regional specific characteristics.MethodsWe here investigated if a regionally constrained model of brain volumetric imaging data may provide estimates that are more sensitive to mental health than whole brain-based estimates. Given its known role in emotional processing and mood disorders, we focused on the limbic system. Using two different cohorts of healthy subjects, the Human Connectome Project and the Queensland Twin IMaging, we investigated sex differences and heritability of brain volumes of limbic structures compared to non-limbic structures, and subsequently applied regionally constrained machine learning models trained solely on limbic or non-limbic features. To investigate the biological underpinnings of such models, we assessed the heritability of the obtained sex class probability estimates, and we investigated the association with major depression diagnosis in an independent clinical sample. All analyses were performed both with and without controlling for estimated total intracranial volume (eTIV).ResultsLimbic structures show greater sex differences and are more heritable compared to non-limbic structures in both analyses, with and without eTIV control. Consequently, machine learning models performed well at classifying sex based solely on limbic structures and achieved performance as high as those on non-limbic or whole brain data, despite the much smaller number of features in the limbic system. The resulting class probabilities were heritable, suggesting potentially meaningful underlying biological information. Applied to an independent population with major depressive disorder, we found that depression is associated with male–female class probabilities, with largest effects obtained using the limbic model. This association was significant for models not controlling for eTIV whereas in those controlling for eTIV the associations did not pass significance correction.ConclusionsOverall, our results highlight the potential utility of regionally constrained models of brain sex to better understand the link between sex differences in the brain and mental disorders.

Unraveling the Role of the Blood-Brain Barrier in the Pathophysiology of Depression: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives.

Depression is a highly prevalent psychological disorder characterized by persistent dysphoria, psychomotor retardation, insomnia, anhedonia, suicidal ideation, and a remarkable decrease in overall well-being. Despite the prevalence of accessible antidepressant therapies, many individuals do not achieve substantial improvement. Understanding the multifactorial pathophysiology and the heterogeneous nature of the disorder could lead the way toward better outcomes. Recent findings have elucidated the substantial impact of compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity on the manifestation of depression. BBB functions as an indispensable defense mechanism, tightly overseeing the transport of molecules from the periphery to preserve the integrity of the brain parenchyma. The dysfunction of the BBB has been implicated in a multitude of neurological disorders, and its disruption and consequent brain alterations could potentially serve as important factors in the pathogenesis and progression of depression. In this review, we extensively examine the pathophysiological relevance of the BBB and delve into the specific modifications of its components that underlie the complexities of depression. A particular focus has been placed on examining the effects of peripheral inflammation on the BBB in depression and elucidating the intricate interactions between the gut, BBB, and brain. Furthermore, this review encompasses significant updates on the assessment of BBB integrity and permeability, providing a comprehensive overview of the topic. Finally, we outline the therapeutic relevance and strategies based on BBB in depression, including COVID-19-associated BBB disruption and neuropsychiatric implications. Understanding the comprehensive pathogenic cascade of depression is crucial for shaping the trajectory of future research endeavors.

Anxiolytic-Like and Antidepressant Effects of a 13H-indolo[2,3-a]thiopyrano[2,3-g]quinolizine Derivative

Depressive and anxiety disorders constitute some of the most prevalent mental disorders around the world. For years, the development of new lead compounds for drug discovery in this field has been an area of great attention. Recently, a series of tetrahydrocarbazole derivatives have demonstrated important anxiolytic-like activity, associated with their structures and stereochemistry. Here, we present a study of the antidepressant effect and anxiolytic-like activity of a fused thiopyrano-piperidone-tetrahydrocarboline (compound 4). The antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects of 4 (1–50 mg/kg p.o.) were assessed with the tail suspension test and the hole-board test, respectively. This study determined the possible mechanisms involved in the anxiolytic-like actions of 4 using inhibitors or neurotransmission and evaluated its interaction with 5HT2A receptors using a molecular docking study. As an analog to the tetrahydrocarbazole core, the tetrahydrocarboline derivative showed anxiolytic-like activity (ED50 = 13 mg/kg p.o.) in the hole-board test, with a comparable effect to the reference drug, 1.5 mg/kg clonazepam, with the possible participation of the serotonergic system.

ANALYSIS OF THE STATE OF PSYCHIATRIC CARE IN UKRAINE

The aim of the study. To analyze the current state of psychiatric care in Ukraine against the background of its reform; to investigate the dynamics of individual indicators of mental health and the activity of institutions providing psychiatric care for the period 2008-2021. Material and methods. The materials of the study were official statistical data from the reports of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, the Center for Medical Statistics of the Central Health Service of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine for 2008–2021, and the Institute of Health Indicators and Evaluation (IHME, USA) on the global burden of diseases. Bibliographic, epidemiological, medical-statistical, analytical methods were used in the research. The results. The relevance of studying the current state of the organization of psychiatric care in Ukraine is primarily determined by the growing need of the population in connection with the negative impact of the consequences of the war on mental health. It was established that the prevalence of mental disorders in Ukraine in the period from 2008 to 2017 decreased by 17.8% and amounted to 3944.8; primary morbidity decreased by 38.7% and amounted to 300.9 cases per 100,000 population in 2017. Mortality from mental disorders in the period 2008-2017 decreased by 2.7 times to 2.3 cases per 100,000 population. However, in 2021 it was already 2.4. According to the second stage of the health care reform, there is a reduction in inpatient psychiatric facilities and their bed fund (by 40-50% on average). Medical facilities that provide psychiatric care lack qualified specialists (53-73% of positions are filled). Conclusions. Deinstitutionalization, which is carried out in Ukraine, is consistent with the Concept of the state target program of mental health care in Ukraine for the period until 2030. When reducing beds in psychoneurological hospitals, it is necessary to create conditions for alternative treatment of mentally ill patients in order to maintain the availability of care. The dynamics of changes in mental health indicators and the activity of healthcare institutions have regional features that must be taken into account when calculating the need for various types of psychiatric care. Optimizing psychiatric care is hindered by a lack of psychiatrists and psychologists, but the involvement of family doctors in the provision of psychological care and the introduction of mobile interdisciplinary teams will help.

Task-Dependent Brain Activity in Generalized Anxiety Disorder Determined By Bayesian Spatio-Temporal Single Case Model

Introduction: Data obtained from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have a complex structure. Considering the special features of this type of data in analyses is of particular importance. Previous studies on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) as a prevalent mental disorder using functional neuroimaging have had conflicting results. In this study, we apply a Bayesian spatiotemporal model to this type of data which considers both spatial and temporal dependence among regions which is one of the most essential features to consider. Methods: In this single-subject study, we analyze data from a patient with GAD and a healthy participant. Both participants are 24-year-old women who are assigned an emotion reactivity task (matching neutral and negative facial expressions) inside a scanner. The spatial Bayesian variable selection method is used to detect blood oxygen level-dependent activation in fMRI data. Results: Activation areas in neutral and negative facial expressions are provided for both participants by posterior probability map. The results of our study show a greater level of activity in the GAD participant in comparison to the healthy participant in responding to the negative matching task. Conclusion: the GAD patient showed more neural activity in response to negative facial expressions than the healthy participant in brain regions related to emotional response in the areas of the frontal Pole, middle frontal gyrus, insular cortex, and frontal orbital cortex. Moreover, the inferior frontal gyrus in the patient with GAD showed more reaction to negative emotional stimuli.

Burden of Mental Disorders and Suicide Attributable to Childhood Maltreatment

The proportion of mental disorders and burden causally attributable to childhood maltreatment is unknown. To determine the contribution of child maltreatment to mental health conditions in Australia, accounting for genetic and environmental confounding. This meta-analysis involved an epidemiological assessment accounting for genetic and environmental confounding between maltreatment and mental health and 3 cross-sectional national surveys: the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) 2023, National Study of Mental Health and Well-being 2020-2022, and Australian Burden of Disease Study 2023. Causal estimates were derived on the association between childhood maltreatment and mental health conditions from a meta-analysis of quasi-experimental studies. This was combined with the prevalence of maltreatment from the ACMS to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF). The PAF was applied to the number and burden of mental health conditions in Australia, sourced from 2 population-based, nationally representative surveys of Australians aged 16 to 85 years, to generate the number and associated burden of mental disorders attributable to child maltreatment. Physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect prior to age 18 years. Proportion and number of cases, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life-years of mental health conditions (anxiety, depression, harmful alcohol and drug use, self-harm, and suicide attempt) attributable to childhood maltreatment. Meta-analytic estimates were generated from 34 studies and 54 646 participants and applied to prevalence estimates of childhood maltreatment generated from 8503 Australians. Childhood maltreatment accounted for a substantial proportion of mental health conditions, ranging from 21% (95% CI, 13%-28%) for depression to 41% (95% CI, 27%-54%) of suicide attempts. More than 1.8 million cases of depressive, anxiety, and substance use disorders could be prevented if childhood maltreatment was eradicated. Maltreatment accounted for 66 143 years of life lost (95% CI, 43 313-87 314), primarily through suicide, and 184 636 disability-adjusted life-years (95% CI, 109 321-252 887). This study provides the first estimates of the causal contribution of child maltreatment to mental health in Australia. Results highlight the urgency of preventing child maltreatment to reduce the population prevalence and burden of mental disorders.

Examining the connection between weekend catch-up sleep and depression: Insights from 2017 to 2020 NHANES information

BackgroundDepression, a prevalent mental disorder, has shown an increasing trend in recent years, imposing a significant burden on health and society. Adequate sleep has been proven to reduce the incidence of depression. This study seeks to explore how Weekend Catch-up Sleep (WCS) is connected with the prevalence of depression in the American population. MethodsThe National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) provides representative data for the U.S. population. We utilized data from the 2017–2018 and 2019–2020 cycles. Depression was operationally defined as a PHQ-9 score exceeding 10. WCS duration was categorized into five groups: no change in sleep duration (=0 h), decreased sleep duration (<0), short catch-up sleep duration (>0 h, ≤1 h), moderate catch-up sleep duration (>1 h, <2 h), and long catch-up sleep duration (≥2 h). ResultsAmong the 8039 individuals, the distribution of WCS duration was as follows: no change (WCS = 0 h) in 2999 individuals (37.3 %), decreased sleep (WCS < 0 h) in 1199 individuals (14.9 %), short catch-up sleep (0 h < WCS ≤ 1 h) in 1602 individuals (19.9 %), moderate catch-up sleep (1 h < WCS < 2 h) in 479 individuals (6.0 %), and long catch-up sleep (WCS ≥ 2 h) in 1760 individuals (21.9 %). Acting by adjustment for all covariates in a multiple regression analysis, we discovered that persons with 1 to 2 h of weekend catch-up sleep had a substantially low prevalence of depression concerning those with WCS = 0 (OR 0.22, 95 % CI 0.08–0.59, P = 0.007). ConclusionThe prevalence of depression in individuals engaging in weekend catch-up sleep for 1 to 2 h is lower than those who do not catch up on weekends. This discovery on the treatment and prevention of depression provides a new perspective. However, further prospective research and clinical trials are needed for a comprehensive investigation.

The prevalence of common mental disorders across 18 ethnic groups in Britain during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence for Equality National Survey (EVENS)

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted mental health in the general population in Britain. Ethnic minority people suffered disproportionately, in terms of health and economic outcomes, which may contribute to poorer mental health. We compare the prevalence of depression and anxiety across 18 ethnic groups in Britain during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsSecondary analysis of cross-sectional data (February–November 2021) from 12,161 participants aged 18–60 years old (N with data on outcomes = 11,540 for depression & 11,825 for anxiety), obtained from the Evidence for Equality National Survey (EVENS). Data were weighted to account for selection bias and coverage bias. Weighted regression models examined ethnic differences in depression (Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) and anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7). Effect modification analyses explored whether ethnic differences in outcomes were consistent within age and sex sub-groups. ResultsCompared to White British people, greater odds of anxiety caseness (and greater anxiety symptoms) were observed for Arab (OR = 2.57; 95 % CI = 1.35–4.91), Mixed White and Black Caribbean (1.57; 1.07–2.30), any other Black (2.22, 1.28–3.87) and any other Mixed (1.58; 1.08–2.31) ethnic groups. Lower odds of depression caseness (and lower depressive symptoms) were identified for Chinese (0.63; 0.46–0.85), Black African (0.60; 0.46–0.79), and any other Asian (0.55; 0.42–0.72) ethnic groups. LimitationsCross-sectional data limits the opportunity to identify changes in ethnic inequalities in mental health over time. ConclusionsWe have identified certain ethnic groups who may require more targeted mental health support to ensure equitable recovery post-pandemic. Despite finding lower levels of depression for some ethnic groups, approximately one third of people within each ethnic group met criteria for depression.

Role of a mental health physician in the management of oncology patients: a case vignette and the need for collaboration.

There is an interplay between oncology and mental health, resulting in a high prevalence of mental disorders among cancer patients. Out of the several interventions developed to target cancer specifics, collaborative care is indicated due to its efficacy. The perspective delves into the efficacy of collaborative care models, spotlighting a culturally informed strategy designed to harmonize mental and physical health interventions to bolster the overall wellbeing and resilience of individuals battling cancer. Central to our discussion is a compelling case vignette of Raliat, a patient diagnosed with ovarian cancer whose narrative exemplifies the multifaceted challenges cancer patients face, including stigma, psychological distress, and social isolation. Raliat's story illuminates the profound impact of cultural beliefs on patient experiences and the critical importance of a sensitive, holistic approach to care that respects cultural contexts. Through this lens, our analysis reveals that addressing emotional and situational stressors through collaborative care can significantly reduce oxidative stress, potentially decelerating the progression of both cancer and accompanying mental health disorders. We advocate for integrating mental health services into oncological care, drawing on the case vignette to argue for policies that facilitate such merger by employing validated collaborative care models. We conclude with a call for public education to diminish cancer stigma and improve social outcomes, emphasizing the use of a culture-informed PACER (physical, affective, cognitive, environmental, and relationship) strategy in providing comprehensive care for cancer patients and their families.

Qatar's National Mental Health Study-The World Mental Health Qatar.

We provide an overview of Qatar's first epidemiological study on prevalence, predictors, and treatment contact for mood and anxiety disorders. We highlight the importance of the three-pronged study, its aims, and its key components. The first component comprised a probability-based representative survey of Qatari and non-Qatari (Arab) adult males and females recruited from the general population and interviewed using the International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI version 3.3). The second component, a clinical reappraisal study, assessed concordance between diagnoses based on the CIDI and independent clinical assessments conducted by trained clinical interviewers. The third component comprised a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study of healthy survey respondents who were matched to patients with psychosis. 5000 survey interviews provided data on prevalence and treatment of common mental disorders. Clinical re-interviews (N=485) provided important diagnostic validity data. Finally, state-of-the art structural and functional brain markers for psychosis were also collected (N=100). Descriptive epidemiological data were collected to inform future mental health priorities in Qatar and situates these within a global context. The study fills important gaps in regional and global estimates and establish necessary baseline to develop comprehensive risk estimates for mental health in Qatar's young population.

Lifetime prevalence, risk, and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders in Qatar's national mental health study.

To estimate lifetime prevalence, risk, and treatment for mental disorders and their correlates in Qatar's general population for the first time. We conducted a national phone survey of 5,195 Qatari and Arab residents in Qatar (2019-2022) using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Version 3.3 and estimated lifetime mood and anxiety defined diagnoses. Survival-based discrete time models, lifetime morbid risk, and treatment projections were estimated. Lifetime prevalence of any disorder was 28.0% and was associated with younger cohorts, females, and migrants, but lower formal education. Treatment contact in the year of disorder onset were 13.5%. The median delay in receiving treatment was 5years (IQR=2-13). Lifetime treatment among those with a lifetime disorder were 59.9% for non-healthcare and 63.5% for healthcare; it was 68.1% for any anxiety and 80.1% for any mood disorder after 50years of onset.Younger cohorts and later age of onset were significantly predictors of treatment. Lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in Qatar is comparable to other countries. Treatment is significantly delayed and delivered largely in non-healthcare sectors thus the need for increased literacy of mental illness to reduce stigma and improve earlier help-seeking in healthcare settings.

Exploring the interplay between coronary microvascular dysfunction and mental health

BackgroundThe intricate relationship between mental health disorders, notably anxiety and depression, and chest pain associated with non-obstructive coronary artery disease has become a focus of investigation. MethodsThis study from the Coronary Microvascular Disease Registry (CMDR) evaluated the association of mental health disorders and coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) among patients with angina with no obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA)who had undergone comprehensive invasive physiological testing for CMD. Clinical data regarding baseline characteristics, comorbidities, and noninvasive cardiac testing were obtained from chart review. The primary outcome of interest was the potential relationship between mental health diagnoses and the presence of CMD. ResultsOf patients included in the CMDR, 27 % (41/152) had at least one documented mental health disorder diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes) and CMD. There was no difference in mental health diagnosis prevalence between CMD-positive and CMD-negative patients (21.1 % vs. 28.9 %, p = 0.34). The most common mental health diagnoses were depression (15.8 %) and anxiety (15.8 %). Furthermore, 46.3 % (19/41) of patients with mental health disorders were prescribed psychiatric medications, with the most common being benzodiazepines (26.8 %). ConclusionPatients with chest pain not due to CMD did not have an increased prevalence of mental health disorders compared with patients with ANOCA due to CMD, challenging the notion of a psychosomatic component in the pathogenesis of ANOCA.Clinical Trial Registration: Coronary Microvascular Disease Registry, clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05960474.

Twelve-month prevalence, persistence, severity, and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders in Qatar's national mental health study.

To estimate 12-month prevalence, persistence, severity, and treatment of mental disorders and socio-demographic correlates in Qatar. We conducted the first national population-based telephone survey of Arab adults between 2019 and 2022 using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and estimated 12-month DSM-5 mood and anxiety disorders and their persistence (the proportion of lifetime cases who continue to meet 12-month criteria). The 12-month prevalence of any disorder was 21.1% (10.4% mild, 38.7% moderate, and 50.9% severe) and was associated with: younger age, female, previously married, and with persistence of any disorder. Persistence was 74.7% (64.0% mood and 75.6% anxiety) and was significantly associated with secondary education or lower. Minimally adequate treatment received among those with any 12-month mental disorder was 10.6% (74.6% in healthcare and 64.6% non-healthcare sectors). Severity and the number of disorders significantly associated with each other and with treatment received (χ2=7.24, p=0.027) including adequate treatment within the mental health specialty sector (χ2=21.42, p<0.001). Multimorbidity and sociodemographics were associated with 12-month mental disorder. Treatment adequacy in Qatar are comparable to high-income countries. Low treatment contact indicate need for population-wide mental health literacy programes in addition to more accessible and effective mental health services.

The HPA Axis as Target for Depression.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a stress-related mental disorder with a lifetime prevalence of 20% and, thus, is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders worldwide. Many studies with a large number of patients support the notion that abnormalities of the hypothalamus-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis are crucial for the development of MDD. Therefore, a number of strategies and drugs have been investigated to target different components of the HPA axis: 1) corticotrophinreleasing hormone (CRH) 1 receptor antagonists; 2) vasopressin V1B receptor antagonists, 3) glucocorticoid receptor antagonists, and 4) FKBP5 antagonists. Until now, V1B receptor antagonists and GR antagonists have provided the most promising results. Preclinical data also support antagonists of FKBP5, which seem to be partly responsible for the effects exerted by ketamine. However, as HPA axis alterations occur only in a subset of patients, specific treatment approaches that target only single components of the HPA axis will be effective only in this subset of patients. Companion tests that measure the function of the HPA axis and identify patients with an impaired HPA axis, such as the dexamethasone-corticotrophin-releasing hormone (dex-CRH) test or the molecular dexamethasonesuppression (mDST) test, may match the patient with an effective treatment to enable patient-tailored treatments in terms of a precision medicine approach.

The influence of economic policies on social environments and mental health.

Despite increased advocacy and investments in mental health systems globally, there has been limited progress in reducing mental disorder prevalence. In this paper, we argue that meaningful advancements in population mental health necessitate addressing the fundamental sources of shared distress. Using a systems perspective, economic structures and policies are identified as the potential cause of causes of mental ill-health. Neoliberal ideologies, prioritizing economic optimization and continuous growth, contribute to the promotion of individualism, job insecurity, increasing demands on workers, parental stress, social disconnection and a broad range of manifestations well-recognized to erode mental health. We emphasize the need for mental health researchers and advocates to increasingly engage with the economic policy discourse to draw attention to mental health and well-being implications. We call for a shift towards a well-being economy to better align commercial interests with collective well-being and social prosperity. The involvement of individuals with lived mental ill-health experiences, practitioners and researchers is needed to mobilize communities for change and influence economic policies to safeguard well-being. Additionally, we call for the establishment of national mental wealth observatories to inform coordinated health, social and economic policies and realize the transition to a more sustainable well-being economy that offers promise for progress on population mental health outcomes.

Physical Fitness and Risk of Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents

With the rising prevalence of mental disorders among children and adolescents, identifying modifiable associations is critical. To examine the association between physical fitness and mental disorder risks. This nationwide cohort study used data from the Taiwan National Student Fitness Tests and National Health Insurance Research Databases from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2019. Participants were divided into 2 cohorts targeting anxiety and depression (1 996 633 participants) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; 1 920 596 participants). Participants were aged 10 to 11 years at study entry and followed up for at least 3 years, had a nearly equal gender distribution, and an average follow-up of 6 years. Data were analyzed from October 2022 to February 2024. Assessments of physical fitness included cardiorespiratory fitness (CF), muscular endurance (ME), muscular power (MP), and flexibility, measured through an 800-m run time, bent-leg curl-ups, standing broad jump, and sit-and-reach test, respectively. Kaplan-Meier method calculated the cumulative incidence of anxiety, depression, and ADHD across fitness quartiles. Additionally, multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used that included all 4 fitness components and explored sex and income as modifiers. The anxiety and depression cohort had 1 996 633 participants (1 035 411 participants were male [51.9%], and the median [IQR] age was 10.6 [10.3-11.0] years), while the ADHD cohort had 1 920 596 (975 568 participants were male [51.9%], and the median [IQR] age was 10.6 [10.3-11.0] years). Cumulative incidence of mental disorders was lower among participants in better-performing fitness quartiles, suggesting a dose-dependent association. Gender-specific analyses, controlling for confounders, revealed that improved CF, indicated by a 30-second decrease in run times, was associated with reduced risks of anxiety, depression, and ADHD in female participants, and lower risks of anxiety and ADHD in male participants (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] for ADHD risk for female participants, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.90-0.94; P < .001; for male participants, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.92-0.94; P < .001). Enhanced ME, marked by an increase of 5 curl-ups per minute, was associated with decreased risks of depression and ADHD in female participants, and lower anxiety and ADHD risks in male participants (aHR for ADHD risk for female participants, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.92-0.97; P < .001; for male participants, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.95-0.97; P < .001). Improved MP, reflected by a 20-cm increase in jump distance, was associated with reduced risks of anxiety and ADHD in female participants and reduced anxiety, depression, and ADHD in male participants (aHR for ADHD risk for female participants, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91-1.00; P = .04; for male participants, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94-0.99; P = .001). This study highlights the potential protective role of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, and muscular power in preventing the onset of mental disorders. It warrants further investigation of the effectiveness of physical fitness programs as a preventive measure for mental disorders among children and adolescents.