Self-reported Depressive Symptoms Research Articles

Impact of ataxia aetiology on self-reported mental health, fatigue, cognition and ataxia symptom severity

IntroductionIt has been increasingly recognised that the impact of Ataxia extends beyond physical and motor symptomology. However, it is less known whether self-reported non-motor and ataxia symptom severity varies across ataxias of differing aetiology, which would have important implications for providing more targeted treatment.AimThis study aimed to investigate the impact of ataxia aetiology (hereditary, acquired or idiopathic) on self-reported depression, anxiety, fatigue, cognitive deficits, and ataxia symptom severity. Comparisons were also made between the ataxia sample as a whole and a neurologically healthy control group.MethodResponses were collected using a cross-sectional online survey to recruit a national UK sample of people with ataxia.ResultsThe study recruited 110 participants with ataxia (hereditary = 51, acquired = 16, idiopathic = 43) and 32 healthy controls. No significant differences were found across study variables for different causes of ataxia. However, participants with ataxia did report significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, fatigue, cognitive deficits, and ataxia symptom severity compared to healthy controls.ConclusionThis study found that participants with ataxia self-reported increased non-motor symptoms compared to healthy controls, which was a generally homogenous experience across different causes of ataxia. There was also considerable comorbidity of symptoms which requires further exploration. This study highlights the need for early assessment and intervention to address these non-motor symptoms in ataxia populations.

Fluid Cognition Among Individuals With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

We sought to describe fluid cognition and its correlates among individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Participants (n = 199) were recruited from a population-based cohort for a single study visit (October 2019 to May 2022). Fluid cognition was measured via the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Fluid Cognition Battery (including episodic memory, working memory, attention and inhibitory control, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility domains) and expressed as age-corrected standard scores (mean 100, SD 15). Potential impairment was defined as a standard score >1.5 SD below the mean. Descriptive statistics were calculated and associations of various participant characteristics with the potential fluid cognition impairment were assessed with multivariable logistic regression. Participants' mean age was 46.1 years; most were female (87.4%), Black (86.4%), and non-Hispanic (95.0%). The mean overall fluid cognition score was 87.2; of the individual domains, the participants' mean score was lowest on attention and inhibitory control (82.0). Working status (odds ratio [OR] 0.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.14-0.64) and higher self-reported physical functioning (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.28-0.75) and physical performance (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.87) were associated with lower odds of fluid cognition impairment; lower educational attainment was associated with higher odds (OR 3.82, 95% CI 1.67-8.75). Self-reported forgetfulness, neuropsychiatric damage, and depressive symptoms were not statistically significantly associated with potential impairment. Fluid cognition and, particularly, attention and inhibitory control were low in those with SLE relative to the general US population. Working status, higher physical functioning and performance, and higher educational attainment were associated with lower prevalence of potential impairment. Future work is needed to develop and implement interventions to help support cognition in individuals with SLE.

Impact of depressive symptoms on direct medical cost among medicare recipients with knee osteoarthritis

ObjectiveDepressive symptoms are prevalent among knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients and may lead to additional medical costs. We compared medical costs in Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) respondents with KOA with and without self-reported depressive symptoms. MethodsWe identified a KOA cohort using ICD-9/10 diagnostic codes in both Part A and Part B claims among community-dwelling MCBS respondents from 2003-2019. We determined the presence of depressive symptoms using self-reported data on sadness or anhedonia. We considered three groups: 1) without depressive symptoms, 2) with depressive symptoms, no billable services, and 3) with depressive symptoms and billable services. We used a generalized linear model with log-transformed outcomes to compare annual total direct medical costs among the three groups, adjusting for age, gender, race, history of fall, Total Joint Replacement, comorbidities, and calendar year. ResultsThe analysis included 4,118 MCBS respondents with KOA. Of them, 27% had self-reported depressive symptoms, and 6% reported depressive symptoms and received depression-related billable services. The adjusted mean direct medical costs were $8,598/year for those without depressive symptoms, $9,239/year for those who reported depressive symptoms and received no billable services, and $14,229/year for those who reported depressive symptoms and received billable services. ConclusionWhile over one quarter of Medicare beneficiaries with KOA self-reported depressive symptoms, only 6% received billable medical services. The presence of depressive symptoms led to higher direct medical costs, even among those who did not receive depression-related billable services.

Efficacy of a transdiagnostic internet-based program for adolescents with emotional disorders: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveThe Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents (UP-A) is a well-established transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral therapy (T-CBT) intervention. The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy of the program Learn to Manage your Emotions [Aprende a Manejar tus Emociones] (AMtE), a self-applied transdiagnostic internet-delivered program based on the Spanish version of the UP-A. This is the first transdiagnostic internet-based program designed for the treatment of emotional disorders in adolescents. MethodA sample of Spanish adolescents with a primary diagnosis of an anxiety and/or depressive disorder (n = 58; age range = 12-18 years; 78.3% girls; 90% Caucasian) were randomly allocated to receive AMtE (n = 28) or the UP-A via videocall (n = 30). Pre-treatment, post-treatment and 3-month follow-up data were collected using self-reports and clinician-rated measures of anxiety, depression, positive and negative affect, anxiety sensitivity and emotional avoidance. ResultsBased on generalized estimating equations (GEE) models, both intervention programs were effective in significantly reducing self-reported anxiety and depressive disorder symptoms and clinician rated severity of anxiety and depression, as well as self-reported transdiagnostic outcome variables. ConclusionsData provide empirical support for the efficacy of AMtE as a transdiagnostic online CBT treatment for anxiety and depressive disorders in adolescents. No marked nor consistent differences were observed between the UP-A and AMtE, highlighting the potential usefulness of the online self-administered AMtE program.

Associations of mood, stress, and social support with sleep duration and daytime sleepiness among adolescents in semi-rural Georgia

ObjectiveAdolescents are at greater risk for poor sleep compared to childhood; however, there is limited data regarding psychosocial determinants of adverse sleep health among semi-rural adolescents. We investigated associations of mood, stress, and social support with self-reported sleep duration and daytime sleepiness among adolescents. MethodsAdolescents (n=254) in semi-rural Georgia self-reported depressive and anxiety symptoms, stress, social support, sleep duration and daytime sleepiness in November 2020. Multinomial linear and logistic models were fit to examine associations of psychosocial factors with sleep duration and sleepiness; and effect modification by social support was tested after adjustment for covariates. ResultsMost participants were non-Hispanic White (55%), female (53%), and approximately 35% were eligible for free-reduced lunch. Mean sleep duration (±SD) and daytime sleepiness was 8.04 ± 1.36 and 5.17 ± 2.37, respectively; and 42% of participants reported insufficient sleep (<8 hours). Depressive (β = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.18) and anxiety (β = 1.20, 95% CI 0.51, 1.88) symptoms, and stress (β = 1.97, 95% CI 1.21, 2.74) were associated with higher sleepiness scores. The psychosocial factors were associated with higher odds of insufficient sleep duration, but not continuous sleep duration. Higher social support was associated with lower sleepiness, but not sleep duration. There was no observed effect modification by social support. ConclusionsExperiences of psychosocial factors were associated with more sleepiness and insufficient sleep, while social support was associated with less sleepiness. Future studies should explore intervention strategies to enhance mood and social support and reduce stress to improve sleep among semi-rural adolescents.

Anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among early adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anxiety and depression are among the most common and debilitating psychiatric disorders affecting youth, with both related to increased suicide risk. While rates of youth anxiety and depression were increasing before the COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic further negatively impacted adolescent mental health. Unfortunately, few studies have examined prevalence of these concerns among early adolescents (ages 10-13) longitudinally during the pandemic. The current study examined self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms, and suicidal ideation amongst a general pediatrics population of 11- to 13-year-olds (n = 623) from March through September 2020 (early-pandemic) and approximately 7 months later (September 2020 through May 2021; mid-pandemic). Paired samples proportions were used to examine changes in prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation from early- to mid-pandemic. Results highlight high initial rates and stability in anxiety and suicidal ideation, as well as a significant increase in depression (42.9% increase; p < .05) among the full sample during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prevalance of concerns were greatest for females and Hispanic youth during the early-pandemic, and generally highest for females and Medicaid insured youth at mid-pandemic. Results extend recent research and underscore the need for continued monitoring of mental health concerns across development for youth who grew up during the COVID-19 pandemic; highlighting the need for sustainable, effective, and accessible early detection, prevention, and intervention strategies. Improving these services is critical to support youth who experienced pandemic-related stressors, and to prepare for supporting youth during future disruptive and isolating events.

Association among retinal health, self-reported depressive symptoms, and demographic, lifestyle and health markers: the META-KLS cohort analysis

BackgroundRetinal health indices were suggested to be related to psychopathological symptoms, such as depressive symptoms. However, large-scale studies using optical coherence tomography (OCT) are missing to investigate the associations among them. MethodsIn the META-KLS cohort study, 1456 participants (mean age [standard deviation]= 54.6 [11.91] years; n= 680 [47.8%] women) completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to measure depressive symptoms and underwent OCT. Poor-quality OCTs and multivariate outliers were excluded, and principal component analysis was performed to obtain retinal health indices separately for macular (n= 930) and optic nerve head (ONH) thicknesses (n= 800). Linear regressions were run controlling for covariates. Exploratory interaction models were run with demographic, lifestyle and health markers. ResultsAlthough there were no direct significant associations between the retinal indices and depressive symptoms (macular: B= −0.05, 95% CI= [-0.15, 0.05], p= 0.32; ONH index: B= -0.02, 95% CI= [-0.11, 0.08], p= 0.71), their associations were moderated by demographic and health factors, e.g., C-reactive protein (CRP) (macular index: B= −0.03, 95% CI= [-0.05, −0.01], p= 0.002; ONH index: B= 0.05, 95% CI= [0.02, 0.08], p= 0.002). LimitationsStudy was cross-sectional and there were no functional assessments of vision. ConclusionsIn a large cohort, we observed associations between retinal indices and self-reported depressive symptoms depending on demographic and health factors, notably CRP. Following up, the study will investigate the prospective prediction of retinal health on depressive symptoms, especially in persons who may have chronic inflammation.

Prospective Association of Psychological Distress and Sexual Quality of Life Among Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Survivors.

Sexual health concerns are one of the most common late effects facing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) survivors. The current study tested whether self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms before transplant were associated with embedded items assessing two specific areas of sexual health-sexual interest and sexual satisfaction-one year post-HSCT. Of the 158 study participants, 41% were diagnosed with a plasma cell disorder (n = 60) and most received autologous transplantation (n = 128; 81%). At post-HSCT, 21% of participants reported they were not at all satisfied with their sex life, and 22% were not at all interested in sex. Greater pre-HSCT depressive symptomology was significantly predictive of lower sexual interest (β = -.27, p < .001) and satisfaction (β = -.39, p < .001) at post-HSCT. Similarly, greater pre-HSCT trait anxiety was significantly predictive of lower sexual interest (β = -.19, p = .02) whereas higher levels of state and trait anxiety were both predictive of lower satisfaction (β = -.22, p = .02 and β = -.29, p = .001, respectively). Participant sex significantly moderated the relationship between state anxiety and sexual satisfaction (b = -.05, t = -2.03, p = .04). Additional research examining the factors that contribute to sexual health post-HCST is needed to inform and implement clinical interventions to address these commonly overlooked survivorship concerns.

Functional connectivity-hemodynamic (un)coupling changes in chronic mild brain injury are associated with mental health and neurocognitive indices: a resting state fMRI study.

To examine hemodynamic and functional connectivity alterations and their association with neurocognitive and mental health indices in patients with chronic mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and neuropsychological assessment of 37 patients with chronic mTBI were performed. Intrinsic connectivity contrast (ICC) and time-shift analysis (TSA) of the rs-fMRI data allowed the assessment of regional hemodynamic and functional connectivity disturbances and their coupling (or uncoupling). Thirty-nine healthy age- and gender-matched participants were also examined. Patients with chronic mTBI displayed hypoconnectivity in bilateral hippocampi and parahippocampal gyri and increased connectivity in parietal areas (right angular gyrus and left superior parietal lobule (SPL)). Slower perfusion (hemodynamic lag) in the left anterior hippocampus was associated with higher self-reported symptoms of depression (r =  - 0.53, p = .0006) and anxiety (r =  - 0.484, p = .002), while faster perfusion (hemodynamic lead) in the left SPL was associated with lower semantic fluency (r =  - 0.474, p = .002). Finally, functional coupling (high connectivity and hemodynamic lead) in the right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)) was associated with lower performance on attention and visuomotor coordination (r =  - 0.50, p = .001), while dysfunctional coupling (low connectivity and hemodynamic lag) in the left ventral posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and right SPL was associated with lower scores on immediate passage memory (r =  - 0.52, p = .001; r =  - 0.53, p = .0006, respectively). Uncoupling in the right extrastriate visual cortex and posterior middle temporal gyrus was negatively associated with cognitive flexibility (r =  - 0.50, p = .001). Hemodynamic and functional connectivity differences, indicating neurovascular (un)coupling, may be linked to mental health and neurocognitive indices in patients with chronic mTBI.

Association between sickness presenteeism and depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional study using the 6th Korean working conditions survey.

This study aimed to reveal the relationship of the days of experiencing sickness presentism and depressive symptoms among Korean workers. Sickness presenteeism which defined as the act of going to work despite being feeling unhealthy triggers various adverse effects on mental health, including increased risks of depression. Furthermore, Sickness presenteeism is a major social issue causing substantial socioeconomic costs. The data of 25120 participants from sixth Korean Working Condition Survey was utilized in this cross-sectional study. Sickness presenteeism was defined using a self-reported questionnaire and depressive symptoms were assessed by WHO well-being index. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to calculate the odd ratios for depressive symptoms regarding the number of days experiencing sickness presenteeism. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for depressive symptoms after categorizing participants into three groups based on the duration of experiencing sickness presenteeism, using cut-off values of 3 and 5days. Workers who have experienced sickness presenteeism for more than 5days were at highest risk for depressive symptoms than referent group (OR 2.87; 95% CI 2.17-3.76 in male, OR 3.86; 95% CI 3.02-4.91 in female). Furthermore, there was a trend of increasing risk for depressive symptom as the duration of experiencing sickness presenteeism extended. This study presents the association between experiencing sickness presenteeism in the previous 12months and depressive symptoms. Based on the results, we provide individual and organizational strategies of reducing sickness presenteeism. Also, screening for workers who have experienced sickness presenteeism are needed to ensure good mental health.

Change in symptoms of depression and eating disorders in adolescents with obesity participating in a clinical trial

Depression and eating disorder (ED) risk are heightened during adolescence(1) and both were exacerbated during COVID-19 lockdowns. This analysis reports changes in self-reported symptoms of depression and eating disorders throughout the Fast Track to Health trial. Fast Track to Health was a 52-week multi-site randomised-controlled trial, conducted 2018-2023, comparing intermittent (IER) and continuous energy restriction (CER) in adolescents with obesity and ≥1 associated comorbidity(2). The Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-revised 10-item version for adolescents (CESDR) was used to assess symptoms of depression (no symptoms, sub-threshold, or possible, probable, major depressive episode). Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) was used to assess ED risk; defined as global score ≥2.7, ≥2 episodes of binge eating with/without loss of control, or ≥1 episode of purging within the last 28-days. The Binge Eating Scale (BES) assessed severity of binge eating (no binge eating, mild/moderate, severe). Adolescents were monitored for disordered eating during dietetic consults. Linear mixed models, retaining all data consistent with intention-to-treat analysis, were used to estimate the change in outcomes from baseline to week-52. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the number of participants meeting screening criteria at baseline and week-52. One hundred and forty one adolescents were enrolled and 97 completed the trial, with median (IQR) EDE-Q score 2.28 (1.43 to 3.14), CESDR 9.00 (4.0 to 14.5) and BES 11.0 (5.0 to 17.0) at baseline. EDE-Q (change in estimated marginal means [SE], IER −0.63 [0.18], CER −0.56 [0.17]) and CESDR (IER −2.70 [1.15], CER −3.87 [1.07]) scores reduced between baseline and week-52 in both groups (p&lt;0.05) with no difference between groups. There was a between group difference (p = 0.019) in change in BES. The IER group had a reduction between baseline and week-52 (−3.72 [1.27]) and the CER group had no change. At baseline, 31 (22%) adolescents were classified as having a possible/probable/major depressive episode, 110 (78%) met ≥1 ED criteria and 28 (21%) as mild/moderate or severe binge eating, reducing to 8 (9%), 56 (61%) and 15 (16%) respectively at week-52. A small sub-group of adolescents required additional support for disordered eating. Overall, treatment-seeking adolescents with obesity have symptoms of depression and ED. Although symptoms reduce for most, some required additional support. Screening and monitoring for depression and ED are important to ensure early intervention.

Exploring a Potential Interaction Between the Effect of Specific Maternal Smoking Patterns and Comorbid Antenatal Depression in Causing Postpartum Depression.

To explore a potential interaction between the effect of specific maternal smoking patterns and the presence of antenatal depression, as independent exposures, in causing postpartum depression (PPD). This case-control study of participants with singleton term births (N = 51220) was based on data from the 2017-2018 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Multivariable log-binomial regression models examined the main effects of smoking patterns and self-reported symptoms of antenatal depression on the risk of PPD on the adjusted risk ratio (aRR) scale and tested a two-way interaction adjusting for covariates selected in a directed acyclic graph (DAG). The interaction effects were measured on the additive scale using relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), the attributable proportion of interaction (AP), and the synergy index (SI). Causal effects were defined in a counterfactual framework. The E-value quantified the potential impact of unobserved/unknown covariates, conditional on observed covariates. Among 6841 women in the sample who self-reported PPD, 35.7% also reported symptoms of antenatal depression. Out of 3921 (7.7%) women who reported smoking during pregnancy, 32.6% smoked at high intensity (≥10 cigarettes/day) in all three trimesters and 36.6% had symptoms of antenatal depression. The main effect of PPD was the strongest for women who smoked at high intensity throughout pregnancy (aRR 1.65; 95% CI: 1.63, 1.68). A synergistic interaction was detected, and the effect of all maternal smoking patterns was augmented, particularly in late pregnancy for Increasers and Reducers. Strong associations and interaction effects between maternal smoking patterns and co-occurring antenatal depression support smoking prevention and cessation interventions during pregnancy to lower the likelihood of PPD.

Frontal alpha asymmetry is associated with chronic stress and depression, but not with somatoform disorders

Cardinal characteristics of somatoform disorders (SFDs) are worry of illness, and impaired affective processing. We used relative frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA), a method to measure functional lateralization of affective processing, to investigate psychobiological correlates of SFDs. With alpha activity being inversely related to cortical network activity, relative FAA refers to alpha activity on the right frontal lobe minus alpha activity on the left frontal lobe. Less relative left frontal activity, reflected by negative FAA scores, is associated with lower positive and greater negative affectivity, such as observed in depression. Due to its negative affective component (illness anxiety), we expected to find less relative left frontal activity pattern in SFDs, and positive associations with self-reported chronic stress and depression symptoms. We recorded resting-state EEG activity with 64 electrodes, placed in a 10–10 system in 26 patients with a primary SFD, 23 patients with a major depressive disorder and 25 healthy control participants. The groups did not differ in FAA. Nevertheless, across all participants, less relative left frontal activity was associated with chronic stress and depression symptoms. We concluded that FAA may not serve as an indicator of SFDs. As the relationship of FAA and depressive symptoms was fully mediated by chronic stress, future studies have to clarify whether the association between FAA and chronic stress may represent a shared underlying factor for the manifestation of mental health complaints, such as depression.

Age-related differences in the impact of resilience on mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong.

This study investigated changes in mental health in Hong Kong over two years and examined the role of resilience and age in mitigating the negative effects of public health emergencies, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic. Complete data of interest from two telephone surveys conducted in 2020 (n=1182) and 2021 (n=1108) were analysed. Participants self-reported depressive and anxiety symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire 4-item version (PHQ), psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) using three items from the Prodromal Questionnaire Brief (PQB), and resilience using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 2-item version (CD-RISC-2). We observed an increase in the percentage of participants with high depressive and anxiety symptoms and PLEs from 1.6% to 6.5% between 2020 and 2021. The likelihood of having high depressive and anxiety symptoms or PLEs depended on resilience and age, with no significant between-year differences. Resilience and age interaction effects were significant when comparing the high PHQ-high PQB group to the low PHQ-low PQB group only in 2021 but not in 2020. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in Hong Kong, emphasising the age-dependent nature of resilience in mitigating negative effects. Future research should explore the mechanisms by which resilience promotes mental health and well-being and identify ways to enhance resilience among older individuals during public health crises.

Prospective bidirectional relations between depression and metabolic health: 30-year follow-up from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Coronary Artery Disease in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.

This study investigated prospective bidirectional relationships between depressive symptoms and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the moderating effects of race, sex, and health behaviors in a diverse cohort followed for 30 years. Data were analyzed from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Coronary Artery Disease in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a 30-year prospective study of young adults (N = 5,113; Mage = 24.76 [SD = 3.63] at baseline; 45% male) who were tested every 5 years between 1985 and 2015. Measures included biological assessments of MetS components and self-reported depressive symptoms based on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD) scale. Data analyses included bidirectional general estimating equations analyses of time-lagged associations between depressive symptoms and MetS. There was a consistent, bidirectional relationship between depressive symptoms and MetS over time. Individuals with more CESD depressive symptoms were more likely to develop MetS over time compared to those reporting fewer symptoms, Wald χ²(1) = 7.09, p < .008, and MetS was similarly predictive of CESD. MetS more consistently predicted CESD scores at each 5-year exam than CESD predicted MetS. Race and sex moderated these relationships, with White females, White individuals overall, and females overall demonstrating significant relationships between CESD depressive symptoms and MetS. Health behaviors were not related to associations between CESD and MetS. In a diverse young adult population prospectively followed into late middle age, MetS more consistently predicted depressive symptoms over time than depressive symptoms predicted MetS. The relation between MetS and depressive symptoms was moderated by race and sex, but not health behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Inferring Depression and Its Semantic Underpinnings from Simple Lexical Choices

Spatial demonstratives are highly frequent linguistic universals, with at least two contrastive expressions (proximal (“this”) vs. distal (“that”)) indicating physical, social, or functional proximity of the speaker to the referent object. Recent evidence based on the Demonstrative Choice Task (DCT), in which participants couple words with a spatial demonstrative with no context provided, suggests that demonstrative use is also indicative of experienced or emotional proximity to the self in an imagined mental space. As depression is characterized by increased and maladaptive focus on the self, the DCT may be a simple and reliable way to elicit behaviors that enable inference on the presence of severe depressive states and allow descriptions of the semantic characteristics of individual differences in such states. In two independent cross-sectional studies, including 775 and 879 participants, respectively, we showed that DCT-based classification models reliably capture semantic characteristics of experiential states that are predictive of self-reported depression symptom severity, as measured by PHQ-9. In both samples, DCT classifiers outperformed baseline models and replicated semantic patterns of negative affect previously observed to be associated with depression. This indicates that the paradigm captures semantic characteristics of the experiential states underlying depression symptoms and may be used to map individuals along a broad semantic space, potentially providing novel insights into individual differences in depressive states.

Self-Reported Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Patients with Rheumatic Diseases Reported at Rheumatology Centres: A Study of Prevalence and Correlation

Background: The intersection of rheumatic diseases with psychological factors such as stress, resilience, and social support plays a crucial role in shaping the quality of life for patients. Understanding these dynamics is essential for developing holistic care strategies that address both the physical and psychological aspects of arthritis. Objective: This study aims to explore the prevalence of stress, resilience, and social support among patients with arthritis and examine their correlation with life satisfaction. Methods: A total of 58 male and female arthritis patients aged 18 to 90 were selected from three hospitals in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan, using a stratified random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse socio-demographic variables. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS), Resilience Scale (RS), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) assessed psychological factors. Pearson correlation, t-tests, and regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25 to explore relationships among variables and the mediation effect of resilience between stress, social support, and life satisfaction. Results: The mean scores for perceived stress (M = 23.31, SD = 5.67), life satisfaction (M = 43.60, SD = 8.28), resilience (M = 74.15, SD = 11.42), and social support (M = 46.32, SD = 18.69) were calculated. Gender differences were non-significant for stress and resilience. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between perceived stress and life satisfaction (r = -.339, p &lt; .01), while resilience showed a strong positive correlation with social support (r = .621, p &lt; .01). Regression analysis highlighted that resilience did not significantly mediate the relationship between perceived stress and life satisfaction (ΔR² = .02), nor between social support and life satisfaction (ΔR² = .006). Conclusion: The study underscores the profound impact of psychological factors on the quality of life in arthritis patients. While stress negatively affects life satisfaction, resilience and social support emerge as crucial for enhancing well-being. These findings advocate for integrated psychological interventions in arthritis management to improve patient outcomes.

Health, Wellbeing and Empowerment E-workshops for Mothers of Children with Disabilities: A Non-randomised Comparison Study.

Mothers of children with disabilities can experience compromised health. Targeted interventions require investigation to determine effectiveness. Healthy Mothers Healthy Families (HMHF) is a health, wellbeing and empowerment program that addresses mothers need to protect, and or, recover their own health due to caregiving impacts. This study compared the effectiveness of HMHF e-workshops online compared to no intervention. The HMHF e-workshops were delivered to 290 mothers across the 2020-2022 Covid-19 pandemic and 172 participated in research. The HMHF e-workshops included 3 online 2- hour workshops facilitated by credentialled peer-facilitators, closed online group chat, e-workbook and online learning package. Participants in both groups completed surveys pre and post the workshops (or control) over 8-10weeks. Mothers who participated in HMHF significantly increased health help seeking behaviours (p < .001), and improved mental health and health behaviors over time: health behavior (p < .001), positive wellbeing (p < .004) and depression (p < .001) and stress symptoms (p = .005). Compared to controls, HMHF e-workshop participants significantly improved health behaviours (p < .001) and self-reported symptoms of depression (p = .002) and stress (p = .005) over 8-10weeks. E-workshops were accessible and effective for mothers of children with high care needs and family responsibilities across the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to no intervention, the HMHF intervention was more effective for improving healthy behaviours and mental health.

Mental Health Education and Self-Reported Depressive Symptoms Among College Athletes

Depression among college athletes is a subject of growing research interest. The time demands and performance-related pressures college athletes face increase the risk for possible mental health diagnoses. It is recommended college athletes receive training on mental health issues to learn about symptoms or identify early warning signs. This study investigated whether receiving or not receiving pre-sport mental health education influenced reported depressive symptoms of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) college athletes. This quantitative, cross-sectional study included voluntary college athletes aged 18-years-old (n = 361). Most participants (n = 229, 63.7%) indicated they did not receive mental health training from their college or university prior to sport participation. A web-based instrument that consisted of a demographic questionnaire and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to identify college athletes who reported depressive symptoms. College athletes who did not receive pre-sport mental health training scored in a higher category of depression symptoms than college athletes who did receive mental health training. It is recommended college athletic programs explore the importance of mental health training sessions to prepare student-athletes to recognize and respond promptly and appropriately to mental health challenges.&#x0D; Keywords: mental health literacy, college athletes, depression, NAIA

Associations between immune biomarkers and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease: A preliminary longitudinal analysis

Innate immunity may influence the onset of affective symptoms and alter sleep patterns in chronic inflammatory conditions. Here, we tested the prospective associations between baseline serum C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and CRP/albumin ratio (CAR, i.e., an emerging biomarker of disease activity), and self-reported symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia at 1-year follow up in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease (n = 17). After controlling for baseline values, CAR (ρ = 0.591, p = 0.026) predicted anxiety symptoms, while albumin predicted both anxiety (ρ = -0.687, p = 0.007) and insomnia symptoms (ρ = -0.648, p = 0.012). Current findings preliminarily suggest that inflammation may influence anxiety and sleep disturbance in paediatric IBD.