Mental health symptoms and inflammatory markers among HIV infected patients in Tanzania

Abstract Background HIV and mental disorders are predicted to be the leading causes of illness worldwide by the year 2030. HIV-infected patients are at increased risk of developing mental disorders which are significantly associated with negative clinical outcomes and propagation of new HIV infections. There is little evidence that links inflammation to development of mental disorders among HIV patients. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to evaluate if mental health symptoms were associated with biomarkers of inflammation in HIV infected subjects. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Dar es Salam, Tanzania from March to May 2018. Standardized tools were used to collect data based on the World Health Organisation's (WHO) stepwise approach for non-communicable diseases (NCD) surveillance. A total of 407 HIV+ patients on antiretroviral therapy were recruited. The WHO stepwise approach for NCD surveillance was used to collect data together with anthropometric measurements. Mental health symptoms were determined based on self-reported thoughts of helplessness, suicide ideation, depression, despair, discouragement, and feelings of isolation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to test for inflammatory markers:- C-reactive protein (CRP), Iinterleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-18 (IL-18), soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor-I (sTNFR-I), and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor-II (sTNFR-II). Bivariate and multi-variate analysis was conducted to examine the association between biomarkers and mental health symptoms. Results The prevalence of self-reported mental health symptoms was 42% (n = 169). Participants with self-reported symptoms of mental health had elevated CRP, were less likely to walk or use a bicycle for at least 10 minutes, were less likely to participate in moderate-intensity sports or fitness activities, and had poor adherence to HIV treatment (p < 0.005). CRP remained significant in the sex adjusted, age-sex adjusted, and age-sex-moderate exercise adjusted models. In the fully adjusted logistic regression model, self-reported mental health symptoms were significantly associated with a higher quartile of elevated CRP (OR 4.4; 95% CI 1.3–5.9) and sTNFR-II (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.4–6.6) and the third quartile of IL-18 (OR 5.1;95% CI 1.5–17.5) as compared with those reporting no mental health symptoms. The significance of sTNFR-II and IL-18 in the fully adjusted model is confounded by viral load suppression rates at the sixth month. Conclusion High CRP and sTNFR II were important contributors to the prevalence of mental health symptoms. This study is among the minimal studies that have examined mental health issues in HIV, and therefore, the findings may offer significant knowledge despite the potential reverse causality. Regardless of the nature of these associations, efforts should be directed toward screening, referral, and follow-up of HIV patients who are at-risk for mental health disorders.

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Correction: Mental disorders and mental health symptoms during imprisonment: A three-year follow-up study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0231593 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. e0231593

Author(s):

Caroline Gabrysch ◽

Rosemarie Fritsch ◽

Stefan Priebe ◽

Adrian P. Mundt

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Follow Up Study

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Acute-Stage Mental Health Symptoms by Natural Disaster Type: Consultations of Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Teams (DPATs) in Japan

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182312409 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (23) ◽

pp. 12409

Author(s):

Yoshifumi Takagi ◽

Sho Takahashi ◽

Yasuhisa Fukuo ◽

Tetsuaki Arai ◽

Hirokazu Tachikawa

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Health Information ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Acute Stage ◽

Population Characteristics ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Mental Health Information

This study analyzed the support activities that the Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Team (DPAT) in Japan provided following four previous disasters (a volcanic eruption, a mudslide, a flood, and an earthquake) to identify links between the disaster type and the characteristics of acute stage mental disorders observed. Using Disaster Mental Health Information Support System database records of consultations with patients supported by the DPAT during the survey period from 2013 (when DPAT was launched) to 2016, we performed cross-tabulations and investigated significant differences using chi-squared tests. For expected values less than 5, Fisher’s exact test was performed. Frequently occurring acute-stage symptoms after a disaster include anxiety, sleep problems, mood and affect, and physical symptoms. The affected population characteristics, victim attributes, severity of damage sustained, and evacuation status were the chief factors that influenced acute-stage mental health symptoms. The psychiatric symptoms detected in our study together with the results of diagnoses are important for determining the types of early interventions needed during the acute stage of a disaster. By sharing baseline mental health information, together with disaster-related characteristics highlighted in this study, mental health providers are better able to predict future possible mental disorders and symptoms.

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Acculturative stress, mental health symptoms, and the role of salivary inflammatory markers among a Latino sample.

Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology ◽

10.1037/cdp0000177 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 277-283 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Adriana Maldonado ◽

Andrea Preciado ◽

Melissa Buchanan ◽

Kim Pulvers ◽

Devan Romero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Acculturative Stress ◽

Inflammatory Markers ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms

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Inflammatory markers in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis and systematic review of 170 studies

Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry ◽

10.1136/jnnp-2018-319148 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 90 (5) ◽

pp. 590-598 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Xue-Ning Shen ◽

Li-Dong Niu ◽

Yan-Jiang Wang ◽

Xi-Peng Cao ◽

Qiang Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Inflammatory Markers ◽

Tumour Necrosis ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Tumour Necrosis Factor Receptor ◽

And Control ◽

Necrosis Factor

ObjectiveInflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Our study aimed to analyse previous inconsistent results of inflammatory markers in AD and MCI quantitatively.MethodsStudies reporting concentrations of peripheral or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers were included, and eligible data on AD, MCI and control were extracted. Pooled Hedges’s g was adopted to illustrate comparisons, and various confounding factors were used to explore sources of heterogeneity.ResultsA total of 170 studies were included in the meta-analysis and systematic review, which demonstrated increased peripheral levels of high-sensitivity C reactive protein (Hedges’s g 0.281, p<0.05), interleukin-6 (IL-6) (0.429, p<0.005), soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNFR1) (0.763, p<0.05), soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNFR2) (0.354, p<0.005), alpha1-antichymotrypsin (α1-ACT) (1.217, p<0.005), IL-1β (0.615, p<0.05) and soluble CD40 ligand (0.868, p<0.005), and CSF levels of IL-10 (0.434, p<0.05), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (0.798, p<0.005), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (1.009, p<0.05), soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells2 (sTREM2) (0.587, p<0.001), YKL-40 (0.849, p<0.001), α1-ACT (0.638, p<0.001), nerve growth factor (5.475, p<0.005) and visinin-like protein-1 (VILIP-1) (0.677, p<0.005), in AD compared with the control. Higher levels of sTNFR2 (0.265, p<0.05), IL-6 (0.129, p<0.05) and MCP-1 (0.779, p<0.05) and lower levels of IL-8 (−1.293, p<0.05) in the periphery, as well as elevated concentrations of YKL-40 (0.373, p<0.05), VILIP-1 (0.534, p<0.005) and sTREM2 (0.695, p<0.05) in CSF, were shown in MCI compared with the control. Additionally, increased peripheral sTNFR1 (0.582, p<0.05) and sTNFR2 (0.254, p<0.05) levels were observed in AD compared with MCI.ConclusionSignificantly altered levels of inflammatory markers were verified in comparison between AD, MCI and control, supporting the notion that AD and MCI are accompanied by inflammatory responses in both the periphery and CSF.

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Correction to: Mental health symptoms and inflammatory markers among HIV infected patients in Tanzania

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11487-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Peter Memiah ◽

Lillian Nkinda ◽

Mtebe Majigo ◽

Felix Humwa ◽

Zelalem T. Haile ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Inflammatory Markers ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms

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The Impact of Mindfulness Training on Police Officer Stress, Mental Health, and Salivary Cortisol Levels

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.720753 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Daniel W. Grupe ◽

Jonah L. Stoller ◽

Carmen Alonso ◽

Chad McGehee ◽

Chris Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Police Officers ◽

Salivary Cortisol ◽

Inflammatory Markers ◽

Mindfulness Training ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Health Symptoms ◽

Waitlist Control ◽

Mindfulness Intervention

Unaddressed occupational stress and trauma contribute to elevated rates of mental illness and suicide in policing, and to violent and aggressive behavior that disproportionately impacts communities of color. Emerging evidence suggests mindfulness training with police may reduce stress and aggression and improve mental health, but there is limited evidence for changes in biological outcomes or the lasting benefits of mindfulness training. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 114 police officers from three Midwestern U.S. law enforcement agencies. We assessed stress-related physical and mental health symptoms, blood-based inflammatory markers, and hair and salivary cortisol. Participants were then randomized to an 8-week mindfulness intervention or waitlist control (WLC), and the same assessments were repeated post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Relative to waitlist control, the mindfulness group had greater improvements in psychological distress, mental health symptoms, and sleep quality post-training, gains that were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Intervention participants also had a significantly lower cortisol awakening response (CAR) at 3-month follow-up relative to waitlist control. Contrary to hypotheses, there were no intervention effects on hair cortisol, diurnal cortisol slope, or inflammatory markers. In summary, an 8-week mindfulness intervention for police officers led to self-reported improvements in distress, mental health, and sleep, and a lower CAR. These benefits persisted (or emerged) at 3-month follow-up, suggesting that this training may buffer against the long-term consequences of chronic stress. Future research should assess the persistence of these benefits over a longer period while expanding the scope of outcomes to consider the broader community of mindfulness training for police.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov#NCT03488875.

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