Prevalence Rates Of Depressive Symptoms Research Articles

Effects of changes in physical activities on depressive symptoms during pregnancy: a cohort study

Objective: To investigate the effect of changes in physical activities on depressive symptoms in the second trimester of pregnancy. Methods: Data from the Chinese Pregnant Women Cohort Study, from July 25, 2017 to November 26, 2018, were used. Women who had effectively completed the survey of physical activity and depressive symptoms in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, were recruited. Both International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were used, respectively. Pregnant women who had completed two surveys were included in our study and were divided into two groups according to the depressive symptoms, measured at the baseline. Among the pregnant women without depressive symptoms at the baseline, logistic regression was used to analyze the effects of changes in physical activity on the prevention of depressive symptoms. Effect on the reduction of depressive symptoms was analyzed, using the same method. Results: The prevalence rates of depressive symptoms were 23.83% and 20.57% in the baseline and second trimester, respectively. After adjusting for age, education level, occupation, family annual income and pre-pregnancy BMI, data from the logistic regression showed that women without depressive symptoms and with increased and adequate physical activities in the baseline, were with lower risks to develop depressive symptoms in the second trimester (OR=0.479, 95%CI: 0.335-0.684;OR=0.566, 95%CI: 0.394-0.815). Among women with depressive symptoms in the baseline survey, association between physical activity and depressive symptoms was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusions: Increased and adequate physical activities showed preventive effects on depressive symptoms during pregnancy, but the remission effect was not obvious in women with depressive symptoms. Pregnant women should be encouraged to increase their physical activities while screening programs should also be carried out to reduce the depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

Mental health status of medical staff in emergency departments during the Coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic in China

BackgroundThe emergency department is considered to be a high-risk area, as it is often the first stop for febrile patients who are subsequently diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019. This study, which employed a cross-sectional design, aimed to assess the mental health of emergency department medical staff during the epidemic in China. MethodsDemographic data and mental health measurements were collected by electronic questionnaires from February 28, 2020 to March 18, 2020. OutcomesA total of 14,825 doctors and nurses in 31 provinces of mainland China completed the survey. The prevalence rates of depressive symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were 25.2% and 9.1%, respectively. Men were more likely to have depressive symptoms and PTSD than women. Those who were middle aged, worked for fewer years, had longer daily work time, and had lower levels of social support were at a higher risk of developing depressive symptoms and PTSD. Working in the Hubei province was associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms, while those working in the Hubei province but residing in another province had a lower risk of depressive symptoms and PTSD. Being a nurse was associated with a higher risk of PTSD. InterpretationThe findings suggest that targeted psychological interventions to promote the mental health of medical staff with psychological problems need to be immediately implemented. Special attention should be paid to local medical staff in Hubei.

Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among people living with HIV attending tertiary care hospitals in Oman.

Introductiondepressive symptoms have been widely reported among people living with HIV (PLHIV) around the world. The extent of this on PLHIV in the Arabian Peninsula is unclear. This study aims to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) in adult Omani patients with HIV attending a tertiary care hospital. It also aims to investigate the relationship between clinical and socio-demographic variables and depressive symptoms.MethodsLHIV, age >18 (n=101), participated in the study who were followed up at a teaching hospital in Muscat, Oman. Participants were identified by a convenient and consecutive sampling of eligible patients who came for consultation on the days that the investigator conducted recruitment. The presence of depressive symptoms was quantified by the Patient Healthcare Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Various socio-demographic backgrounds and risk factors will be also sought as well as activities of daily living (ADL). Chi-square test, Fisher´s exact test, t-test and logistic regression were used to explore which variables were associated with patients having depressive symptoms.Resultsthe prevalence rate of depressive symptoms in this cohort was 41.6%. Depression among PLHIV was found to be significantly associated with age (p <0.001), HIV disease duration (p <0.001), total dependency for ADL (p <0.001) and comorbid hypertension (p <0.001).Conclusiondepressive symptoms are common in Omani patients living with HIV. HIV care providers are urged to be vigilant to recognize depressive symptoms in these mood-vulnerable populations and to call for a multidisciplinary team with mental health professionals, for the prevention and treatment of depressive symptoms among PLHIV in Oman.

Depressive and anxiety symptom prevalence in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review.

Depressive and anxiety symptoms are common in children and youth and may impact outcomes for individuals with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. Research into the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms and childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus comorbidity has reported conflicting results. To synthesize current knowledge regarding the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. Studies were identified through a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO, LILACS and Web of Science (from database inception to July 2018) using MESH headings and keywords for 'lupus erythematosus', and 'depression' or 'anxiety'. Included studies measured depressive and/or anxiety symptoms prospectively among children and youth aged 8 to 21 years with a diagnosis of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus was included. Studies without use of validated screening tools for major depressive disorder or anxiety disorders were excluded, as were studies where diagnosis was by retrospective analysis of patient charts. Data were extracted by two independent coders and where discrepancies occurred, agreement was reached by consensus. In total, 70 studies met the criteria for full text review and of these, 14 were included in the final analysis. The majority (70%) of studies were of cross-sectional design, with sample sizes ranging from 20 to 100 (mean = 48) participants. The mean age of participants was 15.9 years and participants were predominantly female. Prevalence rates for depressive symptoms ranged from 6.7% to 59%. Anxiety symptom prevalence was 34% to 37%. All studies employed self-report instruments to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms; none of the studies utilized a semi-structured diagnostic interview to make psychiatric diagnoses. Significant heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis of the data. Depressive and anxiety symptoms may be common comorbidities of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus; however, current research is limited by a paucity of studies, small sample sizes and an inability to confirm psychiatric diagnoses. Future research addressing these limitations is needed.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms and its associated factors among healthy community-dwelling older adults living in Australia and the United States.

This study was conducted to estimate prevalence rates and factors associated with depressive symptoms indexed by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D-10) score in a large sample of community-dwelling healthy older adults from Australia and the United States. Convergent and divergent validity of the CES-D-10 were also examined. A total of 19114 individuals aged greater than or equal to 65years old were enrolled from a primary prevention clinical trial. Depressive symptoms were classified using the CES-D-10 score greater than or equal to 8 and greater than or equal to 10. Gender-specific prevalence for subgroups according to sociodemographic characteristics were reported, and factors associated with depressive symptoms were estimated. The overall prevalence rates of depressive symptoms were 9.8%, 95% CI, 8.5-11.2 and 5.0%, 95% CI, 4.0-6.0, according to the CES-D-10 score greater than or equal to 8 and greater than or equal to 10, respectively. Depressive symptoms were more common in women, individuals with less than 12years of education, those living alone or in a residential care, ethnic minorities, current smokers, and former alcohol users. Convergent and divergent validities of the CES-D-10 were confirmed by observing strong negative association with the SF-12 mental health component and a modest negative association with SF-12 physical component, respectively. This study reports the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Australian and US community-dwelling healthy older populations. These findings emphasize the high burden of the condition and factors associated with depressive symptoms, to better inform clinicians and help with early detection and treatment of depression in this age group.

Psychiatric Comorbidity in Neurological Disorders: Towards a Multidisciplinary Approach to Illness Management in the United Arab Emirates.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders in undiagnosed patients attending neurological services, and detect rates of referral to and attendance of psychiatric services. Methods: Depressive symptoms and anxiety were assessed in 395 adult patients with primary diagnoses of neurological disorders. The Patient Health Questionnaire nine-item depression scale (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder seven-item scale (GAD-7) were administered. Demographic details of the patients were recorded. Referral to and attendance of psychiatric services were recorded for patients scoring within the clinical range of depression and anxiety disorders (scores > 10). Results: There was a 39% prevalence rate of depressive symptoms, 34% rate of anxiety, and 35.4% concurrent rate of both disorders in this cohort. The referral rate to psychiatric services was 33.6%, and attendance rate was 47.8%. There was significant association between severity of psychiatric symptoms and referral to psychiatric services, as well as significant association between comorbid psychiatric symptoms and attendance to psychiatric services. Conclusion: Our results indicate similar prevalence rates of comorbid psychiatric symptoms to studies carried out in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and relatively high attendance and referral rates to psychiatric services. Implications: The results shed light on the clinical profile of patients in this region and support the need for integrated collaborative medical services. Moreover, findings have important implications for health care policies pertaining to resource distribution and funding.

The prevalence rate and associations of depressive symptoms and smoking among applied medical science students in a large university in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Background: Depression among health professional students is a topic of concern. Often, it is associated with other unhealthy habits such as smoking. This study aimed to find the prevalence rate of depressive symptoms and smoking among applied medical science (AMS) students and their associations with each other. Methodology: In this descriptive-analytic, cross-sectional study, a stratified proportionate sampling strategy was used to select the study sample from the AMS school students, Saudi Arabia, during the academic year 2012–2013. The students were screened for depressive symptoms and smoking status using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI II) and a sociodemographic form, which included the smoking status. Results: The instruments were administered to 461 AMS students, representing 27.6% of the total school students (1672). Overall, 46% of the total sample (43% of males and 48% of females) had depressive symptoms. The rate of smoking currently was 11.5%, and it was much lower among female students (2.2%) as compared to their male counterparts (20.3%). There was a higher mean BDI score among current smokers compared to nonsmokers (P = 0.049). This association was statistically significant among the female students (P = 0.029) but not among the male students (P = 0.072). Conclusion: The rate of depressive symptoms in this study is alarmingly high. The association between the presence of depressive symptoms and smoking is in line with the literature on this topic. A qualitative study in this population is recommended to explore students' perception of the factors associated with smoking, depression, and stress and their coping strategies.

Wybrane zasoby osobiste a nasilenie symptomów depresyjnych u dzieci ? badanie pilotażowe

Introduction. Depression is one of the most serious mental problems in children and adolescents. Over recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of depression and a reduction in the age of onset of the first symptoms of the disease. Aim. To investigate the relationship of the locus of control and a sense of self-efficacy with the intensity of symptoms depression in children. Material and methods. The study was designed for 45 students (24 boys and 21 girls) attending the 5th grade primary school. Each child completed the Children’s Depression Inventory (Kovacs), Scale Sense of Personal Competence (self-efficacy) (Juczyński) and the Scale of Locus of Control ? Primary Schools (Mathiak, Seget, Karzel). Pearson’s were conducted to investigate correlation the variables with the intensity of depressive symptoms. Results. The prevalence rate of depressive symptoms in the group of investigate children was high and amounted to 37.8%. Both variables remained in correlation to the intensity of childhood depression. It was found that as the internal sense of control increased, the intensity of depressive symptoms decreased. Children with high level of self-efficacy of their own competence have manifest fewer depressive symptoms. Conclusions. Many children in the untreated group manifest symptoms of depression. high self-efficacy and internal sense of control are conducive to maintaining mental health in children. The promotion of these personal resources should constitute an important element of preventive strategies and programs, because strengthening the health potential of children will balance and reduce the impact of risk factors.

Impact of Physical Activity and Sleep Duration on Depressive Symptoms in Hypertensive Patients: Results from a Nationally Representative Korean Sample.

Depressive symptoms among individuals with hypertension may increase the risk of cardio-cerebrovascular disease, disease burden, and mortality. However, few studies have examined the relationships among physical activity, sleep duration, and depressive symptoms. Thus, this cross-sectional study examined the associations of physical activity and sleep duration with depressive symptoms in individuals with hypertension. We analyzed data collected as part of the 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which included 846 patients with hypertension aged 19 or older. The prevalence rate of depressive symptoms was around 11.2%. A logistic regression analysis showed that moderate to vigorous physical activity (odds ratio (OR) = 4.42; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.19–8.89) and short (OR = 2.18; 95% CI = 1.11–4.28) and long sleep duration (OR = 4.09; 95% CI = 1.83–9.13) increased the risk of depressive symptoms after adjusting for confounding factors. Additionally, older age and low educational levels were associated with depressive symptoms. Our findings highlight that physical activity and sleep duration should be key components of lifestyle modification among hypertensive patients with depressive symptoms. Further investigation might benefit from validating these findings using a longitudinal design and examining the mediating effects of physical activity and/or sleep duration on the relationship between individual characteristics and depressive symptoms.

The impact of major physical diseases and its outcomes on depressive symptoms among Chinese population

Background: Depression was common among people with physical diseases. Evidence was lacked on the impact of outcomes of physical diseases on mental health.Aim: Using a national representative data of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we aimed to explore the impact of major physical diseases and its outcomes on mental health among Chinese population.Methods: Using a multi-stage cluster sampling design, the CHARLS survey collected information of 19 549 subjects in the 2013/2014 follow-up survey. Depressive symptoms were measured by the 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D).Results: The prevalence rate of depressive symptoms in the study population was 21.2%. Major physical diseases were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Compared to people who did not experience major physical diseases, participants who fully recovered after hospitalization were at similar level of developing depressive symptoms (OR = 1.16), participants who experienced major physical diseases but were not admitted to hospitals were more likely to develop depressive symptoms (OR = 2.14), and those who discharged from hospitals without recovery were also more likely to have depressive symptoms (OR = 2.24).Conclusions: Screening for depression among hospitalized population and training among general practitioners were necessary. During hospitalization, collaborative care for both physical and mental health could be beneficial.

Depressive scores in newly diagnosed HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected pregnant women.

BackgroundPrevalence rates of HIV infection in KwaZulu-Natal are high, with a significant amount of those infected being women of reproductive age. A diagnosis of HIV infection has been associated with an increased risk for the development of depression. Antenatal depression is a serious health concern, having the potential to cause wide-reaching adverse consequences for mother and unborn child.AimTo compare depressive scores between newly diagnosed HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected pregnant women.SettingAntenatal clinics at two regional hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire-based analysis of 102 newly HIV-tested black African pregnant women (HIV infected: n = 40; HIV uninfected: n = 62) was conducted. Women’s socio-demographic and clinical data were recorded, before being assessed for depressive symptomology using an isiZulu version of the Edinburgh Depression Scale.ResultsAbout 9.8% of women suffered from significant depressive symptoms, irrespective of HIV status. Prevalence rates of antenatal depressive symptoms did not differ significantly between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected cohorts (p = 0.79). A new diagnosis of HIV infection (p < 0.0001) and maternal age (p = 0.03) were risk factors for antenatal depression. Unemployment was a borderline risk factor (p = 0.09) for the development of antenatal depression.ConclusionPrevalence rates of depressive symptoms were low. Knowledge of a new diagnosis of HIV infection at the first antenatal visit places women at an increased risk for the development of depression during pregnancy. Younger age and unemployment influence depression. This study provides an important step in documenting the need for screening for antenatal depression in HIV-associated pregnancies in a South African population group.

Effects of supervised exercise on depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BackgroundThe reported prevalence rate of depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients is 40%. Although appropriate management of these symptoms is important, they remain under-recognized and under-treated in hemodialysis patients. Here, we systematically reviewed relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of supervised exercise training on depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients.MethodsMEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and PEDro databases were searched from the start until June 2016 for RCTs published in English evaluating the effects of supervised exercise training in hemodialysis patients. The main outcome measures were depressive symptoms.ResultsFrom a total of 10,923 screened references, five trials were included in the analysis. Exercise training was shown to significantly improve depressive symptoms in comparison with controls (standardized mean difference, SMD = − 1.19; P < 0.001) under a random effects model. Subgroup analyses indicated that aerobic exercise and interventions lasting ≥ 6 months significantly reduced depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients (P = 0.016, P < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsThe meta-analysis found that supervised exercise training tends to alleviate depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients. As our database search identified only a small number of studies on the association between exercise and depressive symptoms, we would surmise that additional high-quality studies are required to explore further this association.Trial registrationPROSPERO, CRD42015020701.

Depressive symptoms and correlates among village doctors in China

Village doctors are primary care physicians at the grass root-level of rural medical and health institutions in China. Their depression can increase medical errors and affect quality of medical care services. This study aims to examine depressive symptoms and their correlates among Chinese village doctors. A total of 616 village doctors were recruited from Zoucheng County of Shandong province. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Duke Social Support Index (DSSI) and the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ) were used to measure depressive symptoms in the last week, social support and coping styles, respectively. Logistic regression model was conducted to identify the associated factors of depressive symptoms among village doctors. The prevalence rate of depressive symptoms was 27.4% (28.54% for males, 24.69% for females). Logistic regression analysis found that body mass index (BMI), poor physical health, low educational level, and negative coping styles were associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms. Positive coping styles were associated with decreased risk of depressive symptoms in village doctors. Depressive symptoms are prevalent among village doctors in China. They need to adopt more positive coping strategies to respond to negative emotions. More professional and medical trainings may be important to reduce risk of depressive symptoms and improve their quality of healthcare among village doctors in China.

English

Urinary catheters are used to relieve urinary retention. Its prolonged use has been associated with poor quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial distress among patients. We sought to evaluate the QoL and prevalence of depressive symptoms among patients on prolonged indwelling urinary catheters. A cross- sectional study of patients with indwelling urinary catheters at an outpatient urology clinic of a tertiary hospital in South west, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty-six patients completed a structured questionnaire. QoL was assessed with adapted quality of life assessment index question of International prostate symptoms score. Patients were screened for depressive symptoms using Patient Health Questionnaire 9(PHQ-9). Bi-variate analysis of QoL with route of urinary catheterization and type of bladder drainage; and correlation of duration of catheterization, QoL and PHQ-9 scores were done using chi- square and Spearman Rank&rsquo;s correlation respectively with p value at 0.05. All patients were males with urinary retention as the major indication for urinary catheterization. Average duration of catheterization was 21 months. Poor QoL reported in majority of the patients, worse in younger age group and patients on urethral catheters. The prevalence rate of depressive symptoms was 46.1%. A weak negative correlation exists between duration of catheterization and QoL scores; and between duration of catheterization and depressive symptoms; however, strong correlation existed between QoL scores and depressive symptoms. Prolonged indwelling urinary catheter was related with poor QoL worsened in younger age group and those on urethral catheters with a high prevalence rate of depressive symptoms which correlated with the QoL. Key words: &nbsp;Urinary catheterization, quality of life, depressive symptoms, Nigeria.

Health professions' students have an alarming prevalence of depressive symptoms: exploration of the associated factors.

BackgroundThere is a need to better understand the depression phenomenon and to clarify why some students become depressed and others don’t. The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of depressive symptoms among health professions’ (HP) students, and to explore the association between socio-demographic factors (e.g. year of study, discipline, gender) and depressive symptoms.MethodsIn this descriptive–analytic, cross-sectional study, stratified proportionate sampling strategy was used to select the study sample during the academic year 2012–2013. The students from four health professions’ schools situated within a large, public university located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were screened for depressive symptoms using the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI II). Chi-square test, student t-test and ANOVA were used to compare different categorical variables.ResultsThe overall response rate was 79.0 %, the highest among dental students 86.1 %, and lowest among nursing (49.7 %). The overall prevalence rate of depressive symptoms was 47.0 %; it was highest among dentistry students (51.6 %), followed by medicine (46.2 %), applied medical sciences (AMS) (45.7 %) and lowest among nursing students (44.2 %). A statistically significant association was found between the presence and severity of depressive symptoms on one hand and the female gender (p = 0.000) and year of study on the other hand.ConclusionThis study seems to indicate an alarming rate of depressive symptoms. Female gender, dentistry, the third year for all schools and fifth year for medicine and dentistry have the highest association with depressive symptoms. Future studies may be needed to explore further the reasons and explanations for the variation in the prevalence of depressive symptoms among these groups. The factors that deserve exploration include curricular variables and personal factors such as the students’ study skills.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12909-016-0794-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Frequent Exacerbator: The Phenotype at Risk of Depressive Symptoms in Geriatric COPD Patients.

Depression is associated with a poorer quality of life and higher rate of COPD exacerbations and mortality. However, with multiple confounding factors, 'independent' risk factor for depression among COPD patients remains ambiguous. Our study aims to identify independent risk factors for depression by specifically evaluating for any independent relationship between frequent exacerbations and various domains of the BODE index on depression. This study is a cross-sectional study, conducted in Hong Kong SAR. Age and comorbidity-matched COPD and control subjects were recruited. Depressive symptoms were measured by a validated Chinese version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15 items). Prevalence rates of depressive symptoms were compared between COPD and control groups. Predictors for depression (GDS≥8) were determined using univariate and multivariate analyses. A total of 161 patients (89 and 72 patients, mean ages 75.2 and 75.6 in COPD and control group, respectively) were recruited. Higher prevalence rate of significant depressive symptoms was seen in COPD patients (20.2 vs. 4.2%, p=0.006*). Univariate analysis suggested that predictors for depression in COPD patients included (i) exacerbation frequencies in prior year, (ii) dyspnea level, (iii) BMI, (iv) functional status (Barthel index, 6MWD, activity domain of SGRQ), and (v) BODE index. In multivariate analysis, only the 'exacerbation frequencies in prior year' (OR 1.46, p=0.042*) and 'dyspnea level' (MMRC) (OR 2.75, p=0.001*) remained significant independent predictors for depression in COPD patients. A high prevalence of depressive symptoms was observed in COPD patients. 'Frequent exacerbation phenotype' remained a significant independent predictor for depressive symptoms in COPD. Among the BODE index domains, dyspnea level is the most important predictor for depression in COPD patients.

The Prevalence of Current Depressive Symptoms in an Urban Adult Population

Objective We sought to provide prevalence rates of depressive symptoms in the adult population of the city of Leipzig, Germany (18 - 79 years; N = 8,861). Methods Data were derived from the Leipzig population-based study of adults (LIFE-ADULT-Study). The German version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to assess depressive symptoms using a cut-off score ≥ 23 points. Results The prevalence of current depressive symptoms was 6.4 % (95 %-KI = 5.4 - 7.4). Significantly higher prevalence rates were found in females than in males, in individuals in middle age (40 - 59 years) than in younger and older adults as well as in those individuals with lower socioeconomic status (SES). Conclusion The study findings did not indicate a generally increased risk of depressive symptoms in urban-living adults.

Latent growth curves and predictors of depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescent earthquake survivors

The objective of this longitudinal study was to identify growth curves and related predictors of depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescent earthquake survivors. A total of 1573 adolescent survivors of the 8-magnitude Wenchuan earthquake were assessed through the Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children (cutoff for probable clinical depression: 15), Social Support Rate Scale, Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist, and a self-designed questionnaire covering earthquake exposure and demographic information at 6-, 12-, 18-, 24- and 30-months after the earthquake. Data were analyzed using growth mixture modeling (GMM) and multinomial logistic regression. The prevalence rates of depressive symptoms were 27.6%, 40.6%, 30.9%, 37.5% and 29.8% at 6-, 12-, 18-, 24- and 30-months, respectively. GMM analysis showed four patterns of growth curves for depressive symptoms: chronic depression (25.6% of the sample), recovery (1.7%), delayed depression (4.3%), and resilience (68.4%). Female gender was related with decreased probability of resilience. Direct witness of tragic scenes during the earthquake was related with higher risk for chronic depression. More negative life events and fewer social support were also common predictors of not developing the resilience pattern. The need of providing appropriate individualized interventions for high-risk adolescent earthquake survivors is indicated.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms and factors associated with it in type 2 diabetic patients: a cross-sectional study in China.

BackgroundDepressive symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have attracted much attention in recent years, and negatively affect the health of diabetic patients in numerous ways. This study evaluated the prevalence rate of depressive symptoms in T2DM patients in Shanghai, and the potential factors that may be associated with depressive symptoms in this select population.MethodsA total of 865 T2DM patients were recruited from Longhua Street, Xuhui, Shanghai by simple random sampling, and all the patients were assessed with the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale to screen for depressive symptoms. Factors associated with depressive symptoms were analyzed by logistic regression.ResultsAmong the 865 patients (403 were male, 462 were female, average age 70.13 ± 20.33 years), 304 (35.1%) patients were categorized as having depressive symptoms. Rates of myocardial infarction and stress in one month were higher in the depressive symptoms group than in the non-depressive symptoms group by the X2 test. Rates of patients having a job, having a college education or above, and sleeping less than 7 h/24 h day were also higher in the depressive symptoms group by the X2 test. Body mass index, and levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, urea, creatinine, uric acid, and homocysteine were higher in the depressive symptoms group by the independent samples t test and non-parametric test. Sleeping hours, history of myocardial infarction, stress in one month, working status, and total cholesterol were significantly associated with depressive symptoms (p < 0.05).ConclusionsIn the Chinese population analyzed in this study, the prevalence rate of depressive symptoms in patients with T2DM was high. Further research on the relationship between diabetes and depressive symptoms is necessary in a wider Chinese population.

The epidemiological characteristics of depressive symptoms in the left-behind children and adolescents of Chongqing in China

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence rate of depressive symptoms in left-behind participants aged 7–17 years and to explore the associated socio-demographic and communication factors. MethodsParticipants were 4857 left-behind children and adolescents in Chongqing. They were screened for depressive symptoms using a 27-item Children׳s Depression Inventory (CDI) and social-demographic variables were evaluated with a structured scale. Uncorrected Pearson chi-square test and logistic regression were applied to analyzing the data. ResultsThe total prevalence rate of depressive symptoms was 24.8%. Significant difference was found in the prevalence rate of depressive symptoms among groups of different income, grade, age, left-behind subtypes, and different frequency, ways and topics of parent-child communication. We found that the risk factors for depression were absence of parents, low frequency of parent-child communication, and communication by letter or about sensitive topics. The grade group 2–3 and age group 16–17 were at a higher risk of depression than all other grade and age subgroups. The protective factors for depression were high-income, high frequency of parent-child communication, communication by telephone or about such topic as learning experience, school life, and feelings. LimitationsSelf-report bias and cross-sectional nature of the sampling are major limitations of this study. ConclusionsThe prevalence rate of depressive symptoms among left-behind children and adolescents in Chongqing is much higher than previously reported prevalence in other regions of China. The risk and protective factors for depression among left-behind children and adolescents are worthy of public attention.