scholarly journals Workplace bullying and depressive symptoms among employees in Germany: prospective associations regarding severity and the role of the perpetrator

Author(s):  
Stefanie Lange ◽  
Hermann Burr ◽  
Uwe Rose ◽  
Paul Maurice Conway

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of self-reported workplace bullying on depressive symptoms in a prospective study among a representative sample of employees from Germany. We focused specifically on the role of the perpetrator (co-workers and superiors), which was never done before in a longitudinal design. Methods We used data from a nation-wide representative panel study with a 5-year follow-up (N = 2172). Data on bullying exposure were obtained separately for different perpetrators (co-workers and superiors) and degree of severity (severe bullying, i.e., at least weekly). Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). We used logistic regression analyses to examine the effect of workplace bullying at baseline on depressive symptoms at follow-up. Results After adjusting for baseline depressive symptoms, severe bullying by co-workers significantly increased the 5-year risk of depressive symptoms (OR = 2.50). Severe bullying by superiors had a nonsignificant effect. Conclusions Workplace bullying is a risk factor for depressive symptoms among employees in Germany. The type of perpetrator seems to be an important factor to consider, as indicated by the elevated risk of depressive symptoms when bullying is perpetrated by co-workers.

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 840-848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Altaf Saadi ◽  
Kigocha Okeng’o ◽  
Maijo R Biseko ◽  
Agness F Shayo ◽  
Theoflo N Mmbando ◽  
...  

Background Evidence suggests that social networks improve functional recovery after stroke, but this work has not been extended to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Post-stroke depression interferes with functional outcome but is understudied in LMICs. Aims To determine the relationships between social networks, disability, and depressive symptoms in patients surviving 90-days post-stroke in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods Participants ≥ 18 years, admitted ≤ 14 days of stroke onset, were enrolled. Disability was measured using the modified Rankin Scale, social networks by the Berkman-Syme social network index, and depressive symptoms by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) by telephone interview at 90 days. A Kruskal-Wallis test or Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to assess the associations between social networks, depressive symptoms, and disability. Results Of 176 participants, 43% (n = 75) died, with an additional 11% (n = 20) lost to follow-up by 90 days. Among 81 survivors, 94% (n = 76, 57% male, average age 54 years) had complete information on all scales (mean and median follow-up time of 101 and 88 days). Thirty percent (n = 23, 41.9%, 95% confidence interval 20.2) had at least mild depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 5 points). Nearly two-thirds (n = 46, 61%) reported ≥ 3 close friends. A higher social network index score was associated with fewer depressive symptoms (p < 0.0001) and showed a trend towards significance with lower disability (p = 0.061). Higher depressive symptom burden was correlated with higher disability (r = 0.52, p < 0.0001). Conclusion Post-stroke social isolation is associated with more depressive symptoms in Tanzania. Understanding social networks and the associated mechanisms of recovery in stroke is especially relevant in the context of limited resources.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1034
Author(s):  
Vincenza Gianfredi ◽  
Annemarie Koster ◽  
Anna Odone ◽  
Andrea Amerio ◽  
Carlo Signorelli ◽  
...  

Our aim was to assess the association between a priori defined dietary patterns and incident depressive symptoms. We used data from The Maastricht Study, a population-based cohort study (n = 2646, mean (SD) age 59.9 (8.0) years, 49.5% women; 15,188 person-years of follow-up). Level of adherence to the Dutch Healthy Diet (DHD), Mediterranean Diet, and Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension (DASH) were derived from a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and annually over seven-year-follow-up (using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire). We used Cox proportional hazards regression analyses to assess the association between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms. One standard deviation (SD) higher adherence in the DHD and DASH was associated with a lower hazard ratio (HR) of depressive symptoms with HRs (95%CI) of 0.78 (0.69–0.89) and 0.87 (0.77–0.98), respectively, after adjustment for sociodemographic and cardiovascular risk factors. After further adjustment for lifestyle factors, the HR per one SD higher DHD was 0.83 (0.73–0.96), whereas adherence to Mediterranean and DASH diets was not associated with incident depressive symptoms. Higher adherence to the DHD lowered risk of incident depressive symptoms. Adherence to healthy diet could be an effective non-pharmacological preventive measure to reduce the incidence of depression.


2020 ◽  
Vol 127 (12) ◽  
pp. 1651-1662
Author(s):  
Julia Brandt ◽  
Katharina Warnke ◽  
Silke Jörgens ◽  
Volker Arolt ◽  
Katja Beer ◽  
...  

AbstractDepression and coronary heart disease (CHD) are prevalent and often co-occurring disorders. Both have been associated with a dysregulated stress system. As a central element of the stress system, the FKBP5 gene has been shown to be associated with depression. In a prospective design, this study aims to investigate the association of FKBP5 with depressive symptoms in CHD patients. N = 268 hospitalized CHD patients were included. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) at four time points (baseline, and after 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months). The functional FKBP5 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1360780 was selected for genotyping. Linear regression models showed that a higher number of FKBP5 C alleles was associated with more depressive symptoms in CHD patients both at baseline (p = 0.015) and at 12-months follow-up (p = 0.025) after adjustment for confounders. Further analyses revealed that this effect was driven by an interaction of FKBP5 genotype with patients’ prior CHD course. Specifically, only in patients with a prior myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization, more depressive symptoms were associated with a higher number of C alleles (baseline: p = 0.046; 1-month: p = 0.026; 6-months: p = 0.028). Moreover, a higher number of C alleles was significantly related to a greater risk for dyslipidemia (p = .016). Our results point to a relevance of FKBP5 in the association of the two stress-related diseases depression and CHD.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinmeng Liu ◽  
Xia Liu ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Yemiao Gao

Abstract Background: Previous studies have suggested negative parenting environments, especially harsh parenting, is a specific risk factor for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, the potential mechanism between harsh parenting and NSSI has not been explored. Based on the experiential avoidance model and empirical researches, we aimed to examine if depressive symptoms are a mediator between harsh parenting and NSSI. Moreover, the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism related to depressive symptoms may also exert a moderating effect on NSSI, thus, the interaction between harsh parenting and COMT were also considered in our study.Method:373 junior high school students were recruited for the study by using a longitudinal design. Adolescents answered self-report questionnaires and provided Saliva samples for DNA genotyping.Result:The results revealed that harsh parenting was positively associated with NSSI after 18 months, and this association was mediated by depressive symptoms. Moreover, the moderating role of COMT in the direct and indirect effect of harsh parenting on NSSI only among adolescents with two Val alleles. However, the relationship was not significant for Met carriers.Conclusion: Genetic variations of COMT Val158Met may be a critical candidate in understanding the development of depression and NSSI. We conclude that the Val homozygotes of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism play a susceptible role both in depressive symptoms and NSSI.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone C. Behrens ◽  
Konrad Lenhard ◽  
Florian Junne ◽  
Katrin Ziser ◽  
Jessica Lange ◽  
...  

Abstract Background It has been suggested that psychosocial functioning improves after bariatric surgery, but the mechanism of this effect remains unclear. We propose that body image mediates the association between %EWL and improvement in depressive symptoms. Materials and Methods To investigate this hypothesis, we conducted a mediation analysis in longitudinal data from 52 patients after LSG. Results %EWL had no direct effect on depressive symptoms as assessed through the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), but a small indirect effect that was mediated through negative evaluation of the body (BIQ-20). Conclusions We interpret this observation in the context of complex individual etiologies of obesity and argue for a stronger focus on psychological interventions in aftercare regimes. This may be specifically relevant for patients with eating disorders or a desire for body contouring surgery.


Author(s):  
Shalini Dalal

This chapter describes a prospective study published in 2002 evaluating the role of octreotide in the symptomatic management of advanced cancer patients with bowel obstruction that cannot be treated surgically. The chapter describes the basics of the study, including funding, year study began, year study was published, study location, who was studied, who was excluded, how many patients, study design, study intervention, follow-up, endpoints, results, and criticism and limitations. The chapter briefly reviews other relevant studies and information, gives a summary and discusses implications, and concludes with a relevant clinical case. Topics covered include octreotide, bowel obstruction, vomiting, and abdominal distention.


1994 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 293-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Cervera-Enguix ◽  
A Rodriguez-Rosado

SummarySeveral studies have reported immune cellular and humoral dysfunction during depression. We specifically focused on the study of the monocyte as it has a key role in the activation of the immune response. To examine the association between severity of depressive symptoms and values of monocyte parameters (HLA-DR, CD35, phagocytic activity and vimentin filaments), we used a longitudinal design and assessed monocyte markers at intake and at follow-up 12 weeks after discharge from the hospital in 49 depressed patients. Seventy percent of patients showed pretreatment a marked monocyte dysfunction (82.5% had at least one parameter altered). After treatment, alterations in immunological variables were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with depression scores higher than 15. The findings indicate that the monocyte dysfunction is temporally associated with the state of depression. Before and after treatment the immunoreactive vimentin filaments significantly increased (P < 0.01) after incubation of monocytes with naloxone, suggesting that an increased opioid activity might account for the monocyte dysfunction.


2014 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
pp. 263
Author(s):  
S. Radhakrishnan ◽  
S. Shah ◽  
K. Haarberg ◽  
A. Safdi ◽  
W. Wegner ◽  
...  

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