The shared and unique genetic relationship between mental well-being, depression and anxiety symptoms and cognitive function in healthy twins

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1465-1479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kylie M. Routledge ◽  
Karen L. O. Burton ◽  
Leanne M. Williams ◽  
Anthony Harris ◽  
Peter R. Schofield ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110132
Author(s):  
Gritt Overbeck ◽  
Ida Scheel Rasmussen ◽  
Volkert Siersma ◽  
Julie Høgsgaard Andersen ◽  
Jakob Kragstrup ◽  
...  

Aims: Maternal mental distress in pregnancy can be damaging to the mother’s and child’s physical and mental health. This study aimed to provide an insight into mental well-being of pregnant women in Denmark during COVID-19 by assessing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Methods: Data from two cohorts of pregnant women recruited from Danish general practice were compared. A COVID-19 lockdown cohort ( N=330) completed questionnaires between 8 April and 6 May. Responses were compared to those from a control cohort of women from 2016 ( N=1428). Mental well-being was measured with the Major Depression Inventory (MDI) and the Anxiety Symptom Scale (ASS). Results: Questionnaires were returned by 83% of the COVID-19 lockdown cohort and by 93% of the control cohort. Multivariable analysis controlling for age, cohabitation status, occupation, smoking, alcohol use, chronic disease, fertility treatment, parity and children living at home showed no difference in depressive symptoms (MDI). Anxiety symptoms (ASS) were slightly worse in the COVID-19 lockdown cohort (mean difference=1.4 points), mainly driven by questions concerning general anxiety. The largest differences in anxiety were seen in first trimester (adjusted mean difference=4.0 points). Conclusions: Pregnant women questioned during the COVID-19 pandemic showed no change in symptoms of depression and only a modest elevation of anxiety when compared to pregnant women questioned during a non-pandemic period in 2016.


Author(s):  
Abhishek Yadav ◽  
Rajeev Mohan Kaushik ◽  
Reshma Kaushik

Abstract This prospective study assessed the effects of diaphragmatic breathing and systematic relaxation on depression, anxiety, and stress levels, as well as glycemic control, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). One hundred patients with T2DM were randomly assigned to two equal groups: Group A patients received conventional treatment for T2DM, and Group B patients received conventional treatment for T2DM plus training in diaphragmatic breathing and systematic relaxation and home practice of these stress-management techniques for 6 months. Stress, depression, and anxiety levels, blood sugar, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were recorded at baseline and after 6 months of treatment in all patients. Baseline characteristics were compared using the chi-square test and student’s t test. Changes in mental well-being and glycemic status were assessed for their significance in each group using student’s t test and compared between two groups using one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Baseline levels of the respective change outcome and duration of diabetes were used as covariates in the ANCOVA. A significant decrease was seen in depression, anxiety, and stress scores in Group B, but in Group A only the stress score decreased after 6 months. A significant decline occurred in blood sugar (fasting, 2-hour postprandial, and random) and HbA1c in both groups after 6 months. There was a larger decrease in depression and anxiety scores and HbA1c in Group B than in Group A. The decrease in HbA1c was significantly correlated with the decrease in anxiety and stress scores in both groups and with the depression score in Group A. Thus, the addition of diaphragmatic breathing and systematic relaxation to conventional T2DM treatment appears to have led to improvement in mental well-being and glycemic control in patients with T2DM.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Racine ◽  
Rachel Eirich ◽  
Jessica Cookee ◽  
Jenney Zhu ◽  
Paolo Pador ◽  
...  

Parents have experienced considerable challenges and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may impact their well-being. This meta-analysis sought to identify: 1) the prevalence of depression and anxiety in parents of young children (< age 5) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2) sociodemographic (e.g., parent age, minority status) and methodological moderators (e.g., study quality) that explain heterogeneity among studies. A systematic search was conducted across four databases from January 1st, 2020 to March 3st, 2021. A total of 18 non-overlapping studies (9,101 participants), all focused on maternal mental health, met inclusion criteria. Random-effect meta-analyses were conducted. Pooled prevalence estimates for clinically significant depression and anxiety symptoms for mothers of young children during the COVID-19 pandemic were 27.4% (95% CI: 21.5-34.3) and 43.5% (95% CI:27.5-60.9), respectively. Prevalence of clinically elevated depression and anxiety symptoms were higher in Europe and North America and among older mothers. Clinically elevated depressive symptoms were lower in studies with a higher percentage of racial and ethnic minority individuals. In comparison, clinically elevated anxiety symptoms were higher among studies of low study quality and in samples with highly educated mothers. Policies and resources targeting improvements in maternal mental health are essential.


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 826-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence Ashley

In a previous article, I argued that assessment requirements for transgender hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are unethical and dehumanising. A recent response published by the Journal of Medical Ethics criticises this proposal. In this reply, I advance that their response misunderstood core parts of my argument and fails to provide independent support for assessment requirements. Though transition-related care may have similarities with cosmetic surgeries, this does not suffice to establish a need for assessments, and nor do the high rates of depression and anxiety justify assessments, especially given the protective role HRT plays towards mental well-being.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhavna Mukund ◽  
Rejani Thudalikunil Gopalan

Background: People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) manifest a wide range of stress responses ranging from disbelief, denial, fear to extreme conditions of anxiety disorders, depression and even suicidal thoughts. These complications can have a significant impact on daily functioning and greatly diminish quality of life. Mental wellbeing and Quality of Life can help in better management of stress and facilitate adaptive coping among PLWHA. Aim: The research examined the impact of mental wellbeing and Quality of Life on Depression, Anxiety and Stress among people living with HIV/AIDS infection. Research Design: Cross sectional survey design was used. Sample: A sample of 60 people (males and females of equal number) over the age of 18 years and with the diagnosis for HIV/AIDS for more than six months participated in the study. Tools used: To assess the depression, anxiety and stress among PLWHA, DASS scale was used and to assess their psychological wellbeing, Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being scale was used. In order to assess their present status of QOL regarding the illness, WHO’s QOL HIV-BREF Scale was used. Results: Majority of the PLWHA had moderate level of anxiety and mild level of depression after being diagnosed. Most of the participants have positive mental well-being and had enhanced quality of life. Conclusion: A direct effect of mental wellbeing has been found on the depression, anxiety and stress among PLWHA indicating that higher the mental wellbeing of the PLWHA, the greater is the likelihood that they do not suffer from depression, exhibit less anxiety and are living a stress free life and vice versa. The study also found direct impact of QOL on psychological distress, depression and anxiety among PLWHA i.e. poor QOL of PLWHA makes them more prone to and vulnerable to stress, depression and anxiety and vice versa.


2021 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2020-002463
Author(s):  
Darya Nesterova ◽  
Junjia Zhu ◽  
Courtney Kramer ◽  
Monali Vasekar ◽  
Cristina Truica ◽  
...  

BackgroundCancer diagnosis can adversely affect mental well-being and overall clinical outcome. We evaluated the efficacy of a group-led creative writing workshop (CWW) on mood in patients with cancer prospectively.MethodsWe conducted a single-institution phase II study. Sixty adult patients with cancer (any type or stage) were randomised 2:1 to CWW (4×CWW sessions, bimonthly over 8 weeks) versus active control (AC) (independent writing at home with the help of a book, four sessions, bimonthly over 8 weeks). The total study duration was 6 months with a follow-up of up to 3 months. Primary objective: changes in overall mood, depression and anxiety symptoms before and after intervention in both arms. Emotional Thermometer Scale (ETS) was used to assess changes in patients’ mood. Additionally, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and General Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD)-7 were used to evaluate depression and anxiety symptoms.ResultsOf 50 evaluable patients (CWW 34, AC 17), 26 patients in the CWW arm attended at least one class and 19 attended at least four classes. Patients in CWW had significant immediate improvement in the overall ETS (post vs preclass scores; p<0.0001, 95% CI −4.31 to −2.47). Four of the five subscale ETS scores were significantly lower for the CWW arm: distress (p=0.0346, 95% CI −2.6 to −0.1), anxiety (p=0.0366, 95% CI −4.1 to −0.2), depression (p=0.0441, 95% CI −3.9 to −0.1) and anger (p=0.0494, 95% CI −3.3 to 0). No significant differences were seen in the AC arm. No significant differences were observed in the PHQ-9 or the GAD-7 scores.ConclusionCWW had a positive effect on mood based on ETS scores, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit among patients with cancer.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e24125-e24125
Author(s):  
Lia Head ◽  
Nicole Yun ◽  
Sanjib Basu ◽  
Lauren Rynar ◽  
Jill Elizabeth Feldman ◽  
...  

e24125 Background: Project PRIORITY, a collaborative research study between The EGFR Resisters and the LUNGevity Foundation, found that 29% of United States respondents had clinical depression. While tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) prolong lives, the impact of an oncogene driven lung cancer diagnosis on emotional well-being is not well studied nor are resource utilization and potential contributing factors to psychosocial distress. Methods: Our primary objective was to study cancer related distress in patients (pts) with newly diagnosed oncogene driver lung cancer. The secondary objective was to correlate distress with neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and body mass index loss (BMI) as a surrogate for cancer cachexia/precachexia to gauge the relationship to psychosocial distress. We retrospectively reviewed pts treated with TKI between 1/1/2008 and 2/1/2021. Sample size was based on estimates of depression in this population. A diagnosis of depression or anxiety was defined by documentation in the visit problem list, and active symptoms were based on progress note documentation. Depression and anxiety were recorded at 6 time points from diagnosis to progression on TKI, and their associations with treatment toxicities, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Association with serial BMI and NLR were assessed using longitudinal statistical models. Results: We studied 78 pts: 71.8% female, 62.8% Caucasian, 15.4% African American, 15.6% Hispanic/LatinX, and 11.5% Asian. 94.9% had an EGFR mutation, and 5.1% had an ALK mutation. Prevalence of depression at diagnosis and progression was 11.5% and 25%, with anxiety prevalence 28.2% and 40.6%, respectively. Of these pts, 22.2% had active depression symptoms and 54.5% had active anxiety symptoms at diagnosis, although symptoms were not addressed in 33.3% and 22.7%, respectively. At progression, 68.8% had active depression symptoms and 46.2% had active anxiety symptoms, but symptoms were not addressed in 6.3% and 26.9%, respectively. At diagnosis and progression, 24.4% and 35.9%, respectively, were on treatment for anxiety and/or depression. Social work and psychology evaluated 12.8% and 10.3% of all pts at diagnosis and 10.9% and 17.2% at progression. NLR > 3.5 and > 5 were not associated with depression or anxiety. A more rapid longitudinal decrease in BMI was associated with depression. Grade ≥3 toxicities were not associated with depression or anxiety. Shorter PFS and OS were associated with higher rates of depression, but not anxiety. Conclusions: In this retrospective study of an ethnically diverse patient group at an academic medical center, we found a prevalence of depression and anxiety consistent with the Project PRIORITY findings. We saw an association between depression and more rapid weight loss but did not see correlation with NLR. Prospective evaluation with accurate documentation is needed to better address these questions in future studies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseba Wulff ◽  
Agneta Malmgren Fänge ◽  
Connie Lethin ◽  
Carlos Chiatti

Abstract Background Around 50 million people worldwide are diagnosed with dementia and this number is due to triple by 2050. The majority of persons with dementia receive care and support from their family, friends or neighbours, who are generally known as informal caregivers. These might experience symptoms of depression and anxiety as a consequence of caregiving activities. Due to the different welfare system across European countries, this study aimed to investigate factors associated with self-reported depression and anxiety among informal dementia caregivers both in Sweden and Italy, to ultimately improve their health and well-being. Methods This comparative cross-sectional study used baseline data from the Italian UP-TECH (n = 317) and the Swedish TECH@HOME (n = 89) studies. Main outcome variables were the severity of self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms, as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). HADS scores were investigated using descriptive and bivariate statistics to compare means and standard deviations. Linear regressions were used to test for associations between potential factors and self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. Results Italian informal caregivers reported more severe symptoms of depression and anxiety than Swedish caregivers. In Italy, a higher number of hours of caregiving was associated with anxiety symptoms (β = − 1.205; p = 0.029), being 40–54 years-old with depression symptoms (β = − 1.739; p = 0.003), and being female with symptoms of both depression (β = − 1.793; p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = 1.474; p = 0.005). In Sweden, a higher number of hours of caregiving and being < 39 years-old were associated with depression symptoms (β = 0.286; p < 0.000; β = 3.945; p = 0.014) and a higher number of hours of caregiving, the lack of additional informal caregivers and dementia severity were associated with anxiety symptoms (β = 0.164; p = 0.010; β = − 1.133; p = 0.033; β = − 1.181; p = 0.031). Conclusion Multiple factors are associated with self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety among informal caregivers in Sweden and Italy. Factors found in this study partly differ between the two countries, suggesting the important role of cultural and social factors affecting the experience of caregiving. A deeper knowledge of these factors may increase the knowledge on potential protective and risk factors, provide information to policymakers and ultimately improve the psychological well-being of informal caregivers to people with dementia across Europe.


2020 ◽  
Vol 294 ◽  
pp. 113510
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Vásquez ◽  
Ellen E. Lee ◽  
Weihui Zhang ◽  
Xin Tu ◽  
David J. Moore ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 369-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Singh ◽  
Patty Ghazvini ◽  
Natalie Robertson ◽  
Angela J. Massey ◽  
Otis Kirksey ◽  
...  

Sleep is essential not only for our physical well-being but also for our mental well-being. Researchers, however, have determined that specific alterations in sleep patterns do exist among patients with psychiatric illnesses. The causes of these abnormalities include both direct and indirect mechanisms. These abnormalities lead to declines in both cognitive function and quality of life. Management should include both nonpharmacological and pharmacological methods. This article will review the types of sleep abnormalities associated with schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders and will additionally review treatment options available for each illness.


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