Is alexithymia a personality trait increasing the risk of depression? A prospective study evaluating alexithymia before, during and after a depressive episode

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (12) ◽  
pp. 1717-1722 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Marchesi ◽  
S. Bertoni ◽  
A. Cantoni ◽  
C. Maggini
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Study ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Personality Trait ◽  
Depressive Episode ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Hospital Anxiety ◽  
State Dependent ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Care Evaluation

BackgroundWhether alexithymia is a personality trait that increases the risk of major depression (MD) is still debated. In this prospective study, alexithymic levels were evaluated before, during and after a depressive episode.MethodThe alexithymic levels, the presence of MD and the severity of anxious-depressive symptoms were evaluated at intervals of about 1 month in pregnant women attending the Centers for Prenatal Care, using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).ResultsSixteen women affected by MD, 21 affected by subthreshold depression and 112 non-depressed women were included in the study. Women who developed depression, compared to non-depressed women, showed similar TAS and HADS scores during the pre-morbid phase, a significant increase in the scores during depression and a significant decrease after remission, whereas no change was observed in non-depressed women.ConclusionsOur data suggest that in pregnant women alexithymia does not represent a personality trait that increases the risk of developing a depressive episode, and they support the hypothesis that alexithymia is a state-dependent phenomenon in depressed pregnant women.

scholarly journals Perceptions of prognosis and goal of treatment in patients with malignant gliomas and their caregivers

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 490-497
Author(s):  
Deborah A Forst ◽  
Kit Quain ◽  
Sophia L Landay ◽  
Maya Anand ◽  
Emilia Kaslow-Zieve ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Malignant Gliomas ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Primary Treatment ◽  
Treatment Goal ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Hospital Anxiety ◽  
Treatment Perceptions ◽  
Multivariable Regression ◽  
A Prospective Study

Abstract Background Patients with malignant gliomas have a poor prognosis. However, little is known about patients’ and caregivers’ understanding of the prognosis and the primary treatment goal. Methods We conducted a prospective study in patients with newly diagnosed malignant gliomas (N = 72) and their caregivers (N = 55). At 12 weeks after diagnosis, we administered the Prognosis and Treatment Perceptions Questionnaire to assess understanding of prognosis and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to evaluate mood. We used multivariable regression analyses to explore associations between prognostic understanding and mood and McNemar tests to compare prognostic perceptions among patient-caregiver dyads (N = 48). Results A total of 87.1% (61/70) of patients and 79.6% (43/54) of caregivers reported that it was “very” or “extremely” important to know about the patient’s prognosis. The majority of patients (72.7%, [48/66]) reported that their cancer was curable. Patients who reported that their illness was incurable had greater depressive symptoms (B = 3.01, 95% CI, 0.89-5.14, P = .01). There was no association between caregivers’ prognostic understanding and mood. Among patient-caregiver dyads, patients were more likely than caregivers to report that their primary treatment goal was cure (43.8% [21/48] vs 25.0% [12/48], P = .04) and that the oncologist’s primary goal was cure (29.2% [14/48] vs 8.3% [4/48], P = .02). Conclusions Patients with malignant gliomas frequently hold inaccurate perceptions of the prognosis and treatment goal. Although caregivers more often report an accurate assessment of these metrics, many still report an overly optimistic perception of prognosis. Interventions are needed to enhance prognostic communication and to help patients cope with the associated distress.

scholarly journals Psychometric properties of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in Mexican pregnant women

Salud Mental ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-146
Author(s):  
David Luna ◽  
Dulce Vanesa Castañeda-Hernández ◽  
Alicia Lisbeth Guadarrama-Arteaga ◽  
Rosa Paola Figuerola-Escoto ◽  
Alejandra García-Arista ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Mexican Women ◽  
Hospital Anxiety ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Treatment Objective

Introduction. Anxiety and depression in pregnant women are a public health problem. Their adequate detection requires valid and reliable instruments that are also useful for prevention and treatment. Objective. To identify the psychometric properties of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in a sample of Mexican pregnant women. Method. The HADS was applied to 716 pregnant women between 13 and 46 years old (M = 26.55; SD = 6.56) attended in a public hospital in Mexico City. Results. With a sample of 358 participants, a parallel analysis indicated a bifactorial structure for HADS, identified by exploratory factor analysis (Factor 1: anxiety, Factor 2: depression). The factors explained 53% of the variance and correlated positively (r = .36). The global internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .81; ordinal α = .93) and by factor (anxiety: Cronbach’s α = .79; ordinal α = .88; depression: Cronbach’s α = .79; ordinal α = .87) was acceptable. With data from the remaining 358 participants, a confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable fit for the structure detected (χ2/gl = 2.72; RMSEA = .06 [IC .05, .08]; GFI = .93; AGFI = .90; TLI = .90; CFI = .92). Discussion and conclusions. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale has adequate psychometric properties to be used in pregnant Mexican women. Its use in routine pregnancy controls would be useful to prevent, detect, and timely treat these conditions.

Course of distress, anxiety, and depression in hematological cancer patients: Association between gender and grade of neoplasm

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiane Decat Bergerot ◽  
Karen Lynn Clark ◽  
Alexandre Nonino ◽  
Sarah Waliany ◽  
Marco Murilo Buso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Hospital Anxiety ◽  
Hematological Cancer ◽  
Physical Problems ◽  
Male Patients ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

AbstractObjective:The aim of our study was to explore the impact of gender and hematological cancer grade on distress, anxiety, and depression in patients receiving chemotherapy.Methods:A prospective study was done in a cohort of 104 patients with hematological cancer. We employed the (1) Distress Thermometer (DT) and the Problem List (PL) and (2) the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for assessments at baseline (T1), the halfway timepoint (T2), and completion of chemotherapy (T3).Results:The proportion of patients experiencing significant distress (DT ≥ 4) decreased from the first to the last timepoint; the proportion experiencing anxiety and depression (as assessed by HADS) also decreased. Specifically, 50% of participants reported significant distress levels, 47.1% anxiety, and 26% depression at T1. At T2, the proportion of patients experiencing distress was reduced by 60.8%, by 76% for anxiety, and by 48.5% for depression; at T3, the reduction was close to 80% for all assessments compared with T1. Emotional and physical problems were most commonly reported. Significant reductions were discovered for distress and problem-related distress levels over time, and a significant interaction was found between gender and practical and physical problems (p < 0.05).Significance of results:Our findings suggest that female patients reported more distress, anxiety, and depression than male patients. Gender differences were related to problem-related distress but not to grade of neoplasm. We observed that, over the course of chemotherapy, the distress levels of patients with hematological cancer decrease over time.

scholarly journals Level of awareness and treatment of anxiety and depression during pregnancy in southeast Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ezeme M. Sunday ◽  
Paul C. Okoli ◽  
Vincent O. Dinwoke
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Antenatal Clinic ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
State University ◽  
Hospital Anxiety ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: Anxiety and depressive disorders are somewhat masked by features of pregnancy; hence many women are ignorant of them and are untreated.Aim: To determine the level of awareness and treatment of anxiety and depression in pregnancy.Setting: The study was carried out at the antenatal clinic of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.Method: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study of 200 pregnant women in consecutive attendance of the antenatal clinic using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a sociodemographic questionnaire.Results: Of the participants, 23.5% had anxiety and/or depression, 7.5% of them were aware of their condition and only 0.5% of all the participants or 6.7% of those who were aware of their problem received treatment.Conclusion: Anxiety and depression are prevalent among pregnant women. Because of overlap of symptoms of anxiety and depression with those of pregnancy, the awareness is very low; hence many of them suffer immensely without treatment.

scholarly journals PECULIARITIES OF THE PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL STATE OF PREGNANT WOMEN WITH DRUG ADDICTION

2020 ◽  
pp. 16-20
Author(s):  
Ірина Володимирівна Малишева
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Drug Addiction ◽  
Emotional State ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Main Group ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Hospital Anxiety ◽  
Low Level

Introduction. The article considers the features of the psycho-emotional state of pregnant women with drug addiction.Aim. To study the features of the psycho-emotional state of pregnant women with drug addiction using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale HADS and SWLS Life Satisfaction Scales.Materials and methods. The study included 156 pregnant women, including 96 women with drug addiction (main group). The control group included 60 pregnant women.Results. A higher frequency of subclinically expressed anxiety and depression in pregnant women with drug addiction 62.5% (60 women) compared with women of the control group 8.3% (5 women). Life satisfaction in women the main group was at a low level, namely almost dissatisfied with life 40.6% (39 women) or dissatisfied with life 50% (48 women).Conclusions. The study showed the presence of psycho-emotional changes areas in the form of increased anxiety and depression, as well as decreased levels life satisfaction in pregnant women with drug addiction.

scholarly journals Do Anxiety and Depression Predict Persistent Physical Symptoms After a Severe COVID-19 Episode? A Prospective Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Bottemanne ◽  
Clément Gouraud ◽  
Jean-Sébastien Hulot ◽  
Anne Blanchard ◽  
Brigitte Ranque ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Study ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Physical Symptom ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Background: Persistent physical symptoms are common after a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) episode, but their pathophysiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between anxiety and depression at 1-month after acute infection and the presence of fatigue, dyspnea, and pain complaints at 3-month follow-up.Methods: We conducted a prospective study in patients previously hospitalized for COVID-19 followed up for 3 months. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD-S) was administered by physicians at 1-month follow-up, and the presence of fatigue, dyspnea, and pain complaints was assessed at both 1 month and 3 months. Multivariable logistic regressions explored the association between anxiety and depression subscores and the persistence of each of the physical symptom at 3 months.Results: A total of 84 patients were included in this study (Median age: 60 years, interquartile range: 50.5–67.5 years, 23 women). We did not find any significant interaction between anxiety and the presence of fatigue, dyspnea, or pain complaints at 1 month in predicting the persistence of these symptoms at 3 months (all p ≥ 0.36). In contrast, depression significantly interacted with the presence of pain at 1 month in predicting the persistence of pain at 3 months (OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.02–2.51, p = 0.039), with a similar trend for dyspnea (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 0.99–2.28, p = 0.052).Discussion and Conclusion: Contrary to anxiety, depression after an acute COVID-19 episode may be associated with and increased risk of some persistent physical symptoms, including pain and dyspnea.

Anxiety and depression are negatively correlated with art success: prospective study using hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS)

2011 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. S153
Author(s):  
H. Matsubayashi ◽  
T. Sakai ◽  
A. Tsukamoto ◽  
A. Satoh ◽  
Y. Takahashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Study ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Hospital Anxiety

The hidden burden of anxiety and depression in ovarian cancer: A prospective study from diagnosis.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (7_suppl) ◽  
pp. 155-155
Author(s):  
Penelope M Webb ◽  
Vanessa Beesley ◽  
Anna deFazio ◽  
Andreas Obermair ◽  
Peter T. Grant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Cancer Prognosis ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Prior History ◽  
Persistent Symptoms ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Time Point

155 Background: Women with ovarian cancer (OC) report high rates of anxiety (A) and depression (D), but most studies have used a cross-sectional design at a single time-point, not considered prior history and not included affected women who are symptom-free due to medication. Our goals were to quantify (i) the total burden of A and D among women with newly diagnosed OC; the proportions who (ii) experience symptoms only after their OC diagnosis and (iii) with persistent symptoms; and (iv) use of appropriate medication/services by those affected. Methods: The OPAL (Ovarian Cancer Prognosis & Lifestyle) Study is a prospective study of Australian women diagnosed with OC from 2012-15 who agreed to complete questionnaires at baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36 & 48 months after diagnosis. At baseline, they were asked if they had ever been diagnosed with A or D and if they took medication for this in the year before their OC diagnosis. At follow-up they completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and were asked about current medication use. Results: Of 893 women with data for ≥1 time point, 216 (24%) reported clinical levels (HADS > 10) of anxiety (18%) and/or depression (15%) on at least one occasion during the first 3 years after diagnosis, with another 157 (18%) reporting use of anxiolytic or antidepressant medications. A further 167 (19%) reported subclinical (HADS 8-10) A or D. Of those with clinical levels of A/D and/or taking medication, 225 (60%) reported this at ≥3 time-points, 216 (58%) reported no prior history of A or D, and 271 (73%) reported no use of anxiolytic/antidepressant medication in the year before diagnosis. When women reported clinical levels of A or D, only 45% reported taking medication (37%) and/or seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist (19%). Conclusions: More than 40% of women with OC experienced clinical levels of A or D during treatment or the first 3 years of follow-up, for 25% this persisted. For 24% this was their first experience of distress and > 50% of those affected did not receive appropriate medication or psychological support. The hidden burden of anxiety and depression in this population is much greater than previously reported but is amenable to effective intervention if recognized.

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