Depressed Mood Symptoms Research Articles

Prevalence and Characteristics of Chemical Intolerance: A Japanese Population-Based Study

Population-based cross-sectional study was performed to estimate the prevalence of chemical intolerance and to examine the characteristics of the sample. A Web-based survey was conducted that included 7,245 adults in Japan. The criteria for chemical intolerance proposed by Skovbjerg yielded a prevalence of 7.5% that was approximately consistent with that reported from a Danish population-based survey. Female gender, older age, and renovation in the house during the past 7 years were positively associated with chemical intolerance. Improvements in the condition were observed with daily ventilation habits. Medical history of atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, food allergy, multiple chemical sensitivity, and depression were associated with chemical intolerance. Fatigue, depressed mood, and somatic symptoms were also positively correlated with chemical intolerance. Better elucidation of the causes, comorbidities, concomitants, and consequences of chemical intolerance has the potential to provide effective solutions for its prevention and treatment.

The effect of intergenerational programs on the mental health of elderly adults

Objectives: The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of an intergenerational program on elderly persons’ symptoms of depressive mood and in improving their sense of coherence, which is an element for successful coping with stressors.Method: We evaluated an intervention research project (Research of Productivity by Intergenerational Sympathy [REPRINTS]), in which volunteers >65 years old read picture books to children in a school setting. The intervention group (REPRINTS) was recruited through intensive weekly training seminars for three months. The no-contact control group members were also recreated to participate in health checks and surveys for data collection purposes. Eventually, 26 participants in the intervention group and 54 in the control group were included for data analysis.Results: The age or gender was not significantly different between the intervention and control groups. A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA shows a time × group significant interaction effects. Analyses of the simple main effects showed that sense of meaningfulness significantly increased for members of the intervention group at all terms, with no changes in the control group over time. Multiple mediation analysis revealed that participation in the intergenerational program was associated with a sense of manageability which was also significantly related to depressive mood.Conclusion: Intergenerational programs could serve as key health promoters among elderly people by decreasing the risk of social isolation and loneliness due to the greater sense of meaningfulness. However, given our limited sample size, generalizability was restricted and studies with larger cohorts are required to further validate our findings.

Bipolar I disorder and major depressive disorder show similar brain activation during depression.

Despite different treatments and courses of illness, depressive symptoms appear similar in major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar I disorder (BP-I). This similarity of depressive symptoms suggests significant overlap in brain pathways underlying neurovegetative, mood, and cognitive symptoms of depression. These shared brain regions might be expected to exhibit similar activation in individuals with MDD and BP-I during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). fMRI was used to compare regional brain activation in participants with BP-I (n = 25) and MDD (n = 25) during a depressive episode as well as 25 healthy comparison (HC) participants. During the scans, participants performed an attentional task that incorporated emotional pictures. During the viewing of emotional images, subjects with BP-I showed decreased activation in the middle occipital gyrus, lingual gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus compared to both subjects with MDD and HC participants. During attentional processing, participants with MDD had increased activation in the parahippocampus, parietal lobe, and postcentral gyrus. However, among these regions, only the postcentral gyrus also showed differences between MDD and HC participants. No differences in cortico-limbic regions were found between participants with BP-I and MDD during depression. Instead, the major differences occurred in primary and secondary visual processing regions, with decreased activation in these regions in BP-I compared to major depression. These differences were driven by abnormal decreases in activation seen in the participants with BP-I. Posterior activation changes are a common finding in studies across mood states in participants with BP-I.

Manual-assisted cognitive therapy for self-harm in personality disorder and substance misuse: a feasibility trial.

Aims and method To assess the feasibility of conducting a larger, definitive randomised controlled trial of manual-assisted cognitive therapy (MACT), a brief focused therapy to address self-harm and promote engagement in services. We established recruitment, randomisation and assessment of outcome within a sample of these complex patients admitted to a general hospital following self-harm. We assessed symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety and suicidality at baseline and at 3 months’ follow-up.Results Twenty patients were randomised to the trial following an index episode of self-harm, and those allocated to MACT demonstrated improvement in anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation.Clinical implications It is feasible to recruit a sample of these complex patients to a randomised controlled trial of MACT following an index episode of self-harm. There is preliminary support that MACT could be an acceptable and effective intervention in patients with personality disorder and substance misuse.

Maladaptive Personality Traits Increase Subjectively During the Course of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

We assessed both current maladaptive personality traits (MPTs) and, retrospectively, premorbid MPTs in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). This was to examine whether the patients had the impression that their personality had changed and which traits were affected. We also wanted to determine whether the perceived changes could be explained by SSD psychopathology. MPTs were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, diagnoses, axis II disorders, screening questionnaire and interview, integrating questions on subjective estimation of premorbid MPTs in moderately ill SSD patients. Forty-five patients were included. Premorbid MPTs were remembered as significantly less pronounced than current MPTs for the whole spectrum of personality traits (p < 0.001). Antisocial traits had worsened significantly less (p < 0.001), and borderline and obsessive-compulsive traits had worsened significantly more (both p < 0.01) than the mean increase. Associations between MPT increase and SSD psychopathology were significant for schizotypal, avoidant, and depressive traits. According to the patients' retrospective assessment, MPTs increased through onset and course of SSDs. Memory bias, depressed mood, and SSD symptoms alone could not sufficiently explain these differences. Subjective MPT increase may play a role for the patients' concept of illness, quality of life, and adherence to therapeutic interventions. It should be addressed in SSD treatment.

Apathy among institutionalized stroke patients: prevalence and clinical correlates.

Apathy is a frequent neuropsychiatric consequence of stroke. In the under-researched population of institutionalized stroke patients, we aimed to explore the prevalence of apathy, its clinical correlates, and the relation to the amount of stimulating activities in the nursing home (NH). A cross-sectional, observational study. Dutch NHs. 274 chronic stroke patients. Data were collected through observation lists that were filled out in structured interviews with qualified nurse assistants who knew the residents well. The lists comprised the NH-version of the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES10), the Barthel Index, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, and sections of the Resident Assessment Instrument for Long-Term Care Facilities. Attending physicians and therapists provided additional information. Apathy (AES10 score≥30) was present in 28% of residents. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that this apathy was independently related to (moderate, severe) cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR] 11.30 [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.96-25.74], OR 5.54 [95% CI: 2.48-12.40]), very severe ADL-dependency (OR 12.10 [95% CI: 1.35-108.66]), and being >12 hours per day in bed (OR 2.10 [95% CI: 1.07-4.13]). It was not related to depressive mood symptoms (OR 1.75 [95% CI: 0.91-3.37]). Only in residents aged less than 80 years were a higher amount of activities independently related to a lower AES10 score (-0.70 [95% CI: -1.18 to -0.20] points per four extra activities in a 4-week period). Apathy is prevalent in largely one-quarter of institutionalized stroke patients, and that is most strongly related to cognitive impairment in this explorative study. We discuss the need for research on the relation with distinct dimensions of depression and fatigue as partly overlapping constructs, and on (individualized) stimulating activities as a possible intervention method.

Stressful life events in bipolar I and II disorder: Cause or consequence of mood symptoms?

BackgroundLife events are assumed to be triggers for new mood episodes in bipolar disorder (BD). However whether life events may also be a result of previous mood episodes is rather unclear. Method173 bipolar outpatients (BD I and II) were assessed every three months for two years. Life events were assessed by Paykel׳s self-report questionnaire. Both monthly functional impairment due to manic or depressive symptomatology and mood symptoms were assessed. ResultsNegative life events were significantly associated with both subsequent severity of mania and depressive symptoms and functional impairment, whereas positive life events only preceded functional impairment due to manic symptoms and mania severity. These associations were significantly stronger in BD I patients compared to BD II patients. For the opposite temporal direction (life events as a result of mood/functional impairment), we found that mania symptoms preceded the occurrence of positive life events and depressive symptoms preceded negative life events. LimitationsThe use of a self-report questionnaire for the assessment of life events makes it difficult to determine whether life events are cause or consequence of mood symptoms. Second, the results can only be generalized to relatively stable bipolar outpatients, as the number of severely depressed as well as severely manic patients was low. ConclusionsLife events appear to precede the occurrence of mood symptoms and functional impairment, and this association is stronger in BD I patients. Mood symptoms also precede the occurrence of life event, but no differences were found between BD I and II patients.

Assessment and Management of Late-Life Depression

The diagnosis and treatment of late-life depression is often complicated by its clinical context. As a rule, late-life depression afflicts medically ill, disabled persons living under chronic stress and/or isolation. Symptoms and signs of medical illnesses and behavioral limitations from disability are often difficult to distinguish from depressive symptomatology. Under-reporting of depressed mood and other psychological symptoms is common by older adults and contributes to under-diagnosis of depression. Many antidepressant drugs and some psychotherapies have been found more efficacious than their respective comparison conditions. However, each of these treatments helps less than half of depressed older adults, necessitating a treatment strategy in which failure or intolerance of each treatment step informs the next. Clinical subpopulations of late-life depression — psychotic depression, dysthymic disorder, depression associated with an adverse life event, treatment-resistant depression, and residual symptoms of depression — require special attention.

Resilience, depressed mood, and menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women

This study aims to assess resilience, depressed mood, and menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women. In this cross-sectional study, 169 postmenopausal women aged 48 to 68 years were asked to fill out the Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale (WYRS), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10), the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), and a questionnaire containing personal and partner sociodemographic data. The median [interquartile range] age of participating women was 54 [10.0] years. Among the women, 55.6% had increased body mass index, 76.9% had a partner, 17.8% were current smokers, 14.2% had hypertension, 25.4% used psychotropic drugs, and 13.0% used hormone therapy. Forty-five percent of the women had depressed mood (CESD-10 scores ≥10), and 34.9% had severe menopausal symptoms (total MRS scores ≥17). Less resilience (lower WYRS scores) correlated with depressed mood (higher CESD-10 scores) and severe menopausal symptoms (higher total, psychological, and urogenital MRS scores). Multiple linear regression analysis determined that WYRS scores positively correlated with exercising regularly and inversely correlated with CESD-10 scores (depressed mood). CESD-10 scores positively correlated with somatic and psychological MRS subscale scores and inversely correlated with WYRS scores (less resilience). In this postmenopausal sample, depressed mood and participation in regular exercise correlate with lower and higher resilience, respectively. Depressed mood is associated with the severity of menopausal symptoms (somatic and psychological).

Unique and interactive effect of anxiety and depressive symptoms on cognitive and brain function in young and older adults.

Depression and anxiety and are associated with cognitive deficits and brain changes, especially in older adults. Despite the frequent co-occurrence of these conditions, cognitive neuroscience studies examining comorbid depression and anxiety are limited. The goal of the present study was to examine the unique and combined effect of depressive and anxiety symptoms on cognitive and brain functioning in young and older adults. Seventy-one healthy, community-dwelling adults between the ages of 18 and 81 were administered a neuropsychological battery and completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the trait form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T). A subset of 25 participants also underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning while completing the n-back working memory task. Total depressive symptoms, depressed mood symptoms, and somatic symptoms were associated with deficits in speed, working memory and executive functions, especially in older adults. Symptoms of lack of well-being were not associated with any neuropsychological test. Anxiety was associated with better attention and working memory. Moreover, anxiety modified the relationship between depressive symptoms and executive functioning in older adults, as elevated depressive symptoms were associated with worse performance at low levels of anxiety, but not at higher anxiety levels. Similarly, analysis of fMRI data showed that total depressive symptoms and depressed mood symptoms were associated with decreased activity in the superior frontal gyrus at low anxiety levels, but not at high anxiety levels. Results confirm previous reports that subthreshold depression and anxiety impact cognitive and brain functioning and suggest that the interaction of depression and anxiety results in distinct cognitive and brain changes. Findings highlight the importance of assessing and controlling for symptoms of depression and anxiety in research studies of either condition.

A Case of Cotard Syndrome in a Woman With a Right Subdural Hemorrhage

A Case of Cotard Syndrome in a Woman With a Right Subdural Hemorrhage

Affective spectrum disorders and role of serotonergic system of the brain

SUMMARY Aff ective spectrum disorders include mood and anxiety disorders, whereas the term functional somatic syndromes describes disorders in which the main symptom is chronic pain, with no pathognomonic tissue damage, such as fi bromyalgia, irritable colon, tension headache. Pain as a symptom is often present in patients with depression and anxiety, and similarly, depressed mood, anxiety and other psychiatric symptoms are common in patients with functional somatic syndromes. This explains attitudes that aff ective disorders and functional somatic syndromes should be found along the same spectrum, due to a similar neurobiochemicalmehanism and dysfunction of these CNS structures and neurotransmitter systems, which lead to similar symptoms in both groups. The symptoms of aff ective disorders, including somatic are associated with serotonin and serotonergic transmission in the CNS. The existence of depressive and anxiety disorders, such as fatigue, sleep disorders, cognitive disorders, depressed mood, anxiety, and functional somatic syndromes code indicate a similar mechanism of origin. Hypothesis of central neuropathic pain explains the possibility of the descending inhibitory pain mechanisms, including serotonergic and noradrenergic projections and their receptors. Central suprasegmental senzitization in nociceptive pathways, also at the level of the thalamus and the sensory cortex, trigered by an emotional stressors can cause painful symptoms in both groups of disorders. Serotonergic and noradrenergic pathways and voltage sensitive channels of their receptors are included in the mechanism. Modern psychopharmacology can no longer ignore the existence of painful symptoms in aff ective disorder or depressive and anxiety symptoms in functional somatic syndromes and their treatment can improve. Therapeutic eff ects of SSRI and SNRI antidepressants and alpha 2 delta ligands for all kinds of painful symptoms in aff ective disorders - serotonergic spectrum is expected, due to the impact of the dysfunctional neurotransmission in specifi c regions of the CNS, increasing the effi ciency of information processing and reduction of symptoms.

Exploring the Role of Perceived Stress in a Patient’s Experience of Fibromyalgia

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine cross-sectional relationships between perceived stress and fibromyalgia impact. Also, we sought to examine the mediating effects of key fibromyalgia symptoms including pain, fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, dyscognition, depressed mood and autonomic symptoms on this relationship. Data from 705 patients meeting Fibromyalgia Research Survey Criteria who completed a battery of self-report measures was used. Bivariate correlations revealed that stress was associated with fibromyalgia impact (r=0.49). Stress was also associated with all symptoms assessed (rs=0.29-0.77) and fibromyalgia impact was also associated with these symptoms (rs=0.33-0.59). Mediation modeling revealed that the total effect of stress on fibromyalgia impact was statistically significant (B=0.35,p<0.001), however, the direct effect was not significant when controlling for all mediators (B=0.03,p<0.05) and the total indirect effect of all mediators (B=0.32,p<0.05) was statistically significant and fully explained the association between stress and fibromyalgia impact. Specifically, pain, fatigue, negative mood, and autonomic dysregulation had significant indirect effects on this relationship. Our results demonstrate that perceived stress is associated with the patient’s experience of exacerbated individual fibromyalgia symptoms. Also, the patient reported symptoms serve to explain the relationship between perceived stress and a patient’s report of overall impact of fibromyalgia on day-to-day living.

What contributes to a good quality of life in early dementia? Awareness and the QoL-AD: a cross-sectional study.

BackgroundSelf-report quality of life (QoL) measures for people with dementia are widely used as outcome measures in trials of dementia care interventions. Depressed mood, relationship quality and neuropsychiatric symptoms predict scores on these measures, whereas cognitive impairment and functional abilities typically do not. This study examines whether these self-reports are influenced by personality and by the person’s awareness of his/her impairments. A strong negative association between QoL and awareness of deficits would have implications for the validity of self-report in this context and for therapeutic interventions aiming to increase adjustment and coping.MethodsParticipants were 101 individuals with early‒stage dementia and their family carers participating in the Memory Impairment and Dementia Awareness (MIDAS) Study. QoL was assessed using the QoL-AD scale, and awareness was assessed in relation to memory, activities of daily living and social functioning. Self-concept, conscientiousness, quality of relationship and mood were assessed and a brief neuropsychological battery administered. Carers rated their own stress and well-being and reported on neuropsychiatric symptoms. A series of regression analyses predicting QoL-AD were carried out, identifying key variables in each domain of assessment to take forward to an overall model.ResultsCognitive impairment was not related to QoL. The final model accounted for 57% of the variance in QoL-AD scores, with significant contributions from depressed mood, severity of irritability shown by the person with dementia, self-concept, quality of relationship (rated by the person with dementia) and male gender. The bivariate relationships of QoL-AD with awareness of memory function, awareness of functional abilities and conscientiousness were mediated by both depressed mood and self-concept.ConclusionsThis study reports the most comprehensive approach to evaluation of awareness to date. Most of the indices of awareness used are not related to self-reported QoL. Discrepancies in evaluative judgements of memory function and functional abilities between people with dementia and carers are related to QoL, but this relationship is mediated by both depressed mood and self-concept, which have a much stronger relationship with QoL. The validity of self-report measures of QoL in people with early stage dementia is supported by these results.

Depressive Symptoms, Symptom Dimensions, and White Matter Lesion Volume in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study

White matter lesions (WMLs) are associated with depressive symptoms in older adults. However, it is not clear whether different symptom dimensions of depression have distinct associations with WMLs. The authors assessed the longitudinal relationships of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) total score and subscale scores with WML volume in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Using a prospective observational design, the authors examined WML volume and depressive symptoms at 1- to 2-year intervals for up to 9 years in 116 dementia-free participants (mean age: 68.78 ± 7.68). At each visit, depressive symptoms were measured with the CES-D and WML volumes were quantified from structural magnetic resonance imaging scans. Higher CES-D full-scale scores were associated with greater WML volume and with a faster rate of volume increases over time in women, especially at older ages. Higher depressed mood and somatic symptoms subscale scores were associated with greater increases in WML volume over time at older ages. In men, depressed mood and somatic symptoms were associated with larger WML volume at baseline. Findings confirm an association between WMLs and depressive symptoms and suggest that depressed mood and somatic symptoms may be stronger predictors of depression-related brain changes than lack of well-being. Age and sex may moderate the relationships between depressive symptoms and WMLs. Understanding particular symptom dimensions of depressive symptoms has implications for treatment and may lead to targeted interventions and more precise knowledge of mechanisms underlying depression.

A nationwide survey to elucidate the population susceptible to chemicals in Japan: trends in population characteristics in recent decades

Susceptibility to chemical exposure may be related to the induction of medically unexplained syndromes such as sick building syndrome (SBS), multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), and idiopathic environmental intolerance. SBS in housing is called Sick House Syndrome (SHS) in Japan. These syndromes have been issues of concern in the field of public health during the past two decades. The government ministries have taken effective measures such as guidelines for indoor air quality. We conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey to examine trends in the characteristics of the susceptible population to chemicals in the recent decade. A web based-survey was conducted in January 2012. Questionnaires to obtain information on symptoms, psychosomatic states, and the Quick Environment Exposure Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI) were administered to a general adult population randomly selected from approximately one million monitors registered in a leading online research company on the basis of Japanese demographic data. A total of 7245 individuals responded. The proportion of respondents diagnosed with MCS and SHS was 1.02% and 0.97%. The combined cut-off scores of three scales provided by Miller indicated that the prevalence of high susceptibility to chemical exposure was 4.4% among the general population, while the scores of two scales indicated that the prevalence of moderate susceptibility to chemical exposure was 7.7%. Our previous study conducted in July 2000 by means of an interview indicated that the corresponding percentages were 0.81%, 0.53%, 0.74%, and 2.1%, respectively. Lack of vigor, irritability, fatigue, anxiety, depressed mood, and somatic symptoms significantly increased with an increase in scores of the three scales (p &lt; 0.001). QEESI scores were influenced by the psychosomatic state. Our study suggests that the prevalence of MCS and SHS as well as high susceptibility to chemical exposure still exist among the general population after a gap of 11 years.

More insight into the concept of apathy: a multidisciplinary depression management program has different effects on depressive symptoms and apathy in nursing homes

Apathy is common in nursing home (NH) residents and it overlaps with depression. This study examines the effects of a multidisciplinary depression program on apathy and depressive motivational and mood symptoms. Secondary analyses of a stepped-wedge cluster-randomized controlled trial were conducted with six measurements. Sixteen dementia NH units and 17 somatic units were enrolled. In the intervention condition, a program containing depression assessment procedures and multidisciplinary treatment (activating strategies, psychotherapy, and medication) was introduced. Usual care was provided in the control condition. Outcomes were assessed using the 10-item Apathy Evaluation Scale and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. Intention-to-treat analyses showed that the whole depression management program reduced apathy in dementia units (p < 0.001; Cohen's d, -0.35), and depressive motivational symptoms in somatic units (p = 0.008; Cohen's d, -0.40). Depressive mood symptoms were not affected in both unit types. The effect on apathy in dementia units was mainly attributed to activating strategies (p < 0.001; Cohen's d, -0.73). The effect on motivational symptoms in somatic units was mainly attributed to psychotherapy (p = 0.002; Cohen's d, -0.80). Apathy worsening was associated with pharmacological depression treatment in both unit types (p = 0.009; Cohen's d, 0.35). Depression management may affect apathy and depressive symptoms differently, which underpins the position of apathy as a distinct syndrome. NH professionals can effectively use activating strategies in dementia units, and psychotherapy in somatic units. More research is needed on treating depressive mood symptoms, and on effects of antidepressants in NHs.

Manualised Individual Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for mood disorders in people with mild to moderate intellectual disability: A feasibility randomised controlled trial

BackgroundEvaluation of complex interventions, including standardisation of the intervention, types of outcomes selected and measures of change, is a fairly novel concept in the field of intellectual disabilities. Our aim was to explore these issues in a feasibility study of Manualised Individual Cognitive Behaviour Treatment (M-iCBT) compared to the treatment as usual alone (TAU). MethodsService users with mild to moderate intellectual disability experiencing a mood disorder or symptoms of depression and/or anxiety (mini PAS-ADD total score >10 or 7 respectively) were randomly assigned to either. ResultsIn total, 32 participants were randomly assigned to 16 sessions of M-iCBT (n=16) in addition to TAU or TAU alone (n=16). We explored recruitment and accrual rates, willingness to participate, acceptability of the intervention and suitability of assessment tools. Mean change (95% CI) in the Beck Depression Inventory-Youth (BDI-Y) score from baseline to the 16 week endpoint (primary variable) was 0.10 (95% CI: −8.56, 8.76) and in the Beck Anxiety Inventory-Youth (BAI-Y) 2.42 (95% CI: −5.27, 10.12) in favour of TAU. However, there was a clear trend in favour of CBT in depressed participants with or without anxiety. LimitationsThe intervention targeted both depression and anxiety following a transdiagnostic model. This may have impacted the anticipated size of change in the primary outcome. The precise impact of cognitive limitations on ability to use therapy effectively is not fully understood. ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that it is feasible to carry out a pragmatic randomised controlled trial of M-iCBT for people with mild to moderate intellectual disability. However, uncertainties about its clinical and cost effectiveness can only be fully answered by further examination of its superiority against other treatments.

The Relation between Insomnia Symptoms, Mood, and Rumination about Insomnia Symptoms

Research suggests that rumination may play an important role in insomnia. Whereas some have suggested that rumination mainly relates to depression, the evidence suggests that there may be insomnia-specific rumination. This paper explores insomnia symptom rumination across two distinct samples of varying levels of depressed mood and insomnia symptom severity. The first sample consisted of nonclinical participants (N = 327) with a range of insomnia and depressed mood symptoms, and the second sample consisted of those who met both Major Depressive Disorder and Insomnia diagnoses (N = 66). Rather than relying on a measure developed for those with depression, we developed and tested an insomnia-specific measurement scale based on items from previous rumination studies and the addition of items derived from common daytime insomnia symptoms. Internal consistency was highly acceptable across the two samples for the new insomnia-specific rumination measure (Cronbach α was 0.93 and 0.94). In the first study, poor sleepers reported significantly higher levels of daytime symptom rumination than did good sleepers. Across both studies, rumination about daytime insomnia symptoms and depression were significantly correlated; however, insomnia rumination scores predicted insomnia even after controlling for depression. Moreover, in Study 2, insomnia-specific rumination was related to insomnia, but general depressive rumination was not predictive of insomnia. The findings provide support for the use of this insomnia-specific rumination scale; moreover the findings support previous observances regarding rumination about daytime insomnia symptoms that are not exclusive to depression.

The 5HTT and MAO-A polymorphisms associate with depressive mood and climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal women

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the 44-bp polymorphism in the 5HTTLPR (SLC 6A4) (serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region, solute carrier family 6 member 4) promoter region and the 30-bpVNTR (variable number of tandem repeats) polymorphism in the MAO-A (monoamine oxidase A) promoter region on the prevalence of depressive mood and the severity of climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal women. The study involved 630 women from northern Poland who had their last menstrual period at least one year before the study. The women did not abuse alcohol or cigarettes, had not been diagnosed as having endocrinological, cancerous or mental diseases, and had not received psychiatric treatment by the time. This survey-based study was performed using the following research instruments: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), to evaluate depressive symptoms, and the Blatt-Kupperman Menopausal Index, to measure the severity of climacteric symptoms. The average age of the women was 57.5 ± 6.4 years. Depressive symptoms of different severity according to the BDI were diagnosed in 29.2% of the women (minor-18.6%, moderate-7.1%, severe-3.5%) and according to the Blatt-Kupperman Menopausal Index were diagnosed in 42% of the women (minor-24.1%, moderate-9.2%, severe-8.7%). Allele 'l' was significantly more common in the women without climacteric symptoms than those with minor, moderate or severe climacteric complaints (p ≤ 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the severity of climacteric and depressive symptoms (p ≤ 0.05). The women who had severe climacteric symptoms also had more severe depressive symptoms. 1. The 5HTTLPR gene polymorphism contributes to climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal women. 2. The Blatt-Kupperman Menopausal Index is an instrument which can not only be used for the measurement of the severity of climacteric symptoms but also the early detection of perimenopausal women at the risk of developing depressive symptoms.