Studies of Depressive Symptoms in Schizophrenia

1981 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. W. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Extrapyramidal Side Effects ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenics ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
Depot Neuroleptic ◽  
Depot Injections ◽  
Higher Doses ◽  
Hamilton Rating Scale

SummaryDepression assessed by clinical examination and Hamilton rating scale was found in half of 37 untreated new acute schizophrenics, and in about a third of chronic schizophrenics who relapsed whether treated with depot injections (89) or not (79). A significant part of depressive illness in schizophrenics is thus not drug-related. However, depression was commoner in those on higher doses of depot neuroleptic (P <.05) or who showed extrapyramidal side effects (P <.001), suggesting that drugs can play a part. Patients maintained in remission on moderate doses of depot drug had the lowest prevalence of depression.

An intervention for depressive symptoms using a commercial game in a mental health impatient setting. (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Rodrigo Guzman Cortez ◽  
Matias Marzocchi ◽  
Neus Freixa Fontanals ◽  
Mercedes Balcells-Olivero
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Pilot Test ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Depressive Episodes ◽  
Hamilton Rating Scale

BACKGROUND Computerized mental health interventions have shown evidence of their potential benefit for mental health outcomes in young users. All of the studied interventions available in the review and scientific literature can be classified as "serious games". Serious games are computerized interventions designed from the start with the objective of improving specific desired health outcomes. Moreover, there are reports of users experiencing subjective benefits in mental health after playing specific commercial games. These were games not intentionally made with a therapeutic objective in the design process. An example is the videogame "Journey", first released for the Playstation 3 console in 2012 which won "Game of the Year" in the 2013 D.I.C.E awards. The creator of the game describes the game as a short, 2-3-hour narrative experience in which the player goes through the "Hero's Journey" following a classic 3-part structure. There were more than 100 testimonials from players describing how the game helped them cope with psychological or personal issues. Some of them explicitly described recovering from depressive episodes through playing the game. OBJECTIVE To conduct a pilot test of the efficacy of the videogame Journey in reducing depressive symptoms in an acute impatient setting METHODS Depressive symptomatology was measured before and after the intervention using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) The intervention was conducted in an isolated room using a Playstation 3 console with the videogame "Journey" developed by Thatgamecompany. No internet access was allowed. The game was played over the course of 4 30-45 min sessions in a two week period. RESULTS The initial score in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) was 30, indicating a very severe depression. After the intervention the HRSD score was 10, showing a mild depression. CONCLUSIONS The Videogame Journey, a commercial game first available for the Playstation 3 console in 2012, was not created as a serious game with potential health benefits. Our pilot test is the first case report of a commercial game showing a potential effect in reducing depressive symptoms, which is consistent with the previous informal reports of users online.

scholarly journals Living With Bipolar Disorder in the Time of Covid-19: Biorhythms During the Severe Lockdown in Cagliari, Italy, and the Moderate Lockdown in Tunis, Tunisia

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Giovanni Carta ◽  
Uta Ouali ◽  
Alessandra Perra ◽  
Azza Ben Cheikh Ahmed ◽  
Laura Boe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Biological Rhythms ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Female Age ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
Depressive Episodes ◽  
Hamilton Rating Scale

Background: Restrictions during Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, in which rhythms of life have been compromised, can influence the course of bipolar disorder (BD). This study follows patients with bipolar disorder living in two geographically close cities (Cagliari and Tunis), but with different lockdown conditions: less severe in Tunis.Methods: Two cohorts were evaluated during lockdown (April 2020, t0) and 2 months later with lockdown lifted for a month (t1). Individuals were: over 18 years old without gender exclusion, BD I or II, in care for at least 1 year, received a clinical interview in the month before the start of the lockdown, stable clinically before the lockdown. The assessment was conducted by telephone by a psychiatrist or psychologist with good knowledge of patients. Diagnoses were made according to DSM-5 criteria. Depressive symptoms were collected through the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression; cut-off 14 indicative of depressive episode. Circadian rhythms were measured using the BRIAN scale.Results: Forty individuals in Cagliari (70%female, age 48.57 ± 11.64) and 30 in Tunis (53.3% Female, age 41.8 ± 13.22) were recruited. In Cagliari at t0 45% had depressive episodes against none in Tunis, a similar difference appeared at t1. At t0 and t1 the Cagliari sample had more dysfunctional scores in the overall BRIAN scale and in the areas of sleep, activities and social rhythms; no differences were found in nutrition, both samples had predominantly nocturnal rhythm. In Cagliari at t0 and t1, the depressive sub-group showed more dysfunctional scores in the BRIAN areas sleep, activity, and nutrition. However, the differences in biological rhythms resulted, through ANCOVA analysis, independent of the co-presence of depressive symptoms.Discussion: A rigid lockdown could expose people with BD to depressive relapse through dysregulation of biological rhythms. The return to more functional rhythms did not appear 1 month after lockdown. The rekindling of the pandemic and the restoration of new restrictive measures will prevent, at least in the short term, the beneficial effect of a return to normality of the two cohorts.This was a limited exploratory study; future studies with larger samples and longer observational time are needed to verify the hypothesis.

Acculturation, Optimism, and Relatively Fewer Depression Symptoms among Mexican Immigrants and Mexican Americans

2008 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 566-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia González ◽  
Gerardo M. González
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Relative Deprivation ◽  
Mexican Immigrants ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Mexican Origin ◽  
Relative Lack ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
Native Status

The mental health of individuals of Mexican origin may vary as a function of native status (i.e., Mexican born or USA born). Some have reported that Mexican Americans tend to display more depressive symptoms than Mexican immigrants. The present goal was to estimate the associations among acculturation and native status, and explore relative deprivation in the prevalence of depression. Participants included 153 individuals of Mexican origin who completed the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans, the Beck Depression Inventory–II, the Revised Generalized Expectancy for Success Scale, and relative deprivation questions. Analyses indicated women and those scoring low on acculturation were significantly more likely to report depressive symptoms. Participants who felt they had relatively better family happiness than Euro-Americans reported lower depressive symptoms. So participants' sex, acculturation, and relative lack of depressive symptoms allow better understanding of depressive symptoms among these Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants.

Effects of ECT on Prolactin, LH, FSH and Testosterone in Males with Major Depressive Illness*

1989 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 814-817 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J. Cooper ◽  
R. Finlayson ◽  
V.R. Velamoor ◽  
R.V. Magnus ◽  
Z. Cernovsky
Keyword(s):  
Luteinizing Hormone ◽  
Sexual Functioning ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Follicle Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Serum Prolactin ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Treatment Changes ◽  
Severity Of Depression ◽  
Hamilton Rating Scale

Fourteen males with major depressive illness (DSM-III) received a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Serum prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T), were measured 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after each treatment. The severity of depression was assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) two to three days before the first and two to three days following the last treatment. Post-ECT levels of PRL and LH were significantly higher than pre-ECT levels across every treatment. Changes in FSH and testosterone were not significant. There were no relationships between hormone levels (first versus last ECT) and severity of depression, including sexual functioning. It is argued that the relatively greater increases of LH than FSH is due to an acute antidopaminergic action of ECT which acts selectively on the secretion of the former. The blunted testosterone response to the increase of gonadotropins may be due to ECT-induced hyperprolactinemia.

scholarly journals Empirical evidence for definitions of episode, remission, recovery, relapse and recurrence in depression: a systematic review

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 544-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. L. de Zwart ◽  
B. F. Jeronimus ◽  
P. de Jonge
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Depressive Episode ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
The Past ◽  
Duration Threshold ◽  
Hamilton Rating Scale

Aims.For the past quarter of a century, Frank et al.’s (1991) consensus-based definitions of major depressive disorder (MDD) episode, remission, recovery, relapse and recurrence have been the paramount driving forces for consistency in MDD research as well as in clinical practice. This study aims to review the evidence for the empirical validation of Frank et al.’s proposed concept definitions and to discuss evidence-based modifications.Methods.A literature search of Web of Science and PubMed from 1/1/1991 to 08/30/2017 identified all publications which referenced Frank et al.’s request for definition validation. Publications with data relevant for validation were included and checked for referencing other studies providing such data.Results.A total of 56 studies involving 39 315 subjects were included, mainly presenting data to validate the severity and duration thresholds for defining remission and recovery. Most studies indicated that the severity threshold for defining remission should decrease. Additionally, specific duration thresholds to separate remission from recovery did not add any predictive value to the notion that increased remission duration alleviates the risk of reoccurrence of depressive symptoms. Only limited data were available to validate the severity and duration criteria for defining a depressive episode.Conclusions.Remission can best be defined as a less symptomatic state than previously assumed (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, 17-item version (HAMD-17) ⩽4 instead of ⩽7), without applying a duration criterion. Duration thresholds to separate remission from recovery are not meaningful. The minimal duration of depressive symptoms to define a depressive episode should be longer than 2 weeks, although further studies are required to recommend an exact duration threshold. These results are relevant for researchers and clinicians aiming to use evidence-based depression outcomes.

Brief Communication The movement of hostility during recovery from depression

1978 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. C. Lyketsos ◽  
Ivy M. Blackburn ◽  
J. Tsiantis
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scale ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Depression Score ◽  
National Norms ◽  
Hamilton Rating Scale ◽  
Over Time

SynopsisSixteen depressed in-patients from a hospital in Athens were assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale and the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire. Comparison of admission, discharge and mid-treatment scores showed that:(1) There was a larger drop in depression score in the first half of treatment.(2) Hostility scores, except for extrapunitiveness, decreased significantly over time, larger changes occurring in the first half of treatment.(3) Comparisons with British scores showed that during illness there were no significant differences between British and Greeks, though the latter tended to be more extrapunitive. At recovery, the Greeks were significantly more extrapunitive.The movement of hostility in depressive illness, the validity of the HDHQ and need for national norms are discussed.

Pramipexole: Augmentation in the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjay Gupta ◽  
Jennifer L. Vincent ◽  
Bradford Frank
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Treatment Regimen ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Bipolar Depression ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Unipolar Depression ◽  
Off Label Use ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Off Label ◽  
Hamilton Rating Scale

ABSTRACTWe describe a retrospective case series of three patients, two with bipolar depression and one with unipolar depression. Pramipexole is a Food and Drug Administration-approved antiparkinsonian agent, which, when used to augment antidepressants, would be considered an off-label use and should be discussed with the patient. These patients had robust responses to pramipexole augmentation of their treatment regimen. All three patients had been taking an atypical antipsychotic. The depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

A Clinical Trial of ICI 58,834 – A Potential Anti-Depressant

1973 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
pp. 624-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malcolm Peet
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Response ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Antidepressant Activity ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Blood Levels ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Single Blind ◽  
Hamilton Rating Scale

Twenty-four in-patients with depressive illness were treated with either ICI 58,834 or imipramine for twenty-one days in a single-blind controlled trial. No statistically significant difference in response was found between the two groups, as assessed by the Hamilton Rating Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. Blood levels of ICI 58,834 at one hour were not correlated with clinical response. Nausea and vomiting occurred in three patients taking ICI 58,834. It is concluded that further investigation of the apparent antidepressant activity of this new drug is indicated.

Rating Scales as Predictors of Response to Tricyclic Antidepressants

1976 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham D. Burrows ◽  
George Foenander ◽  
Brian Davies ◽  
Bruce A. Scoggins
Keyword(s):  
Tricyclic Antidepressants ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Predictors Of Response ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
Nortriptyline Hydrochloride ◽  
Hamilton Rating Scale ◽  
Predict Treatment Response

Fifty-three patients suffering from depressive illness were classified as ‘responders’ or ‘non-responders’ on the basis of an “amelioration score” of the Hamilton Rating Scale for depression after six weeks treatment with nortriptyline hydrochloride at 150 mgs. daily. A multivariate analysis of variance was performed on the four psychological rating scale scores used, to determine whether rating scales could predict treatment response to tricyclic antidepressants. There was a significant difference between the two groups after adjustment for age. Subjects were then classified as ‘non-responders’ and ‘responders’ on the basis of their discriminant scores. The prediction of response to tricyclic antidepressants was found to be at 75% probability.

Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression with Medical In-Patients

1967 ◽  
Vol 113 (494) ◽  
pp. 83-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Schwab ◽  
Martin R. Bialow ◽  
Roy S. Clemmons ◽  
Charles E. Holzer
Keyword(s):  
Patient Population ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Medical Patients ◽  
Antidepressant Medications ◽  
Results Of Treatment ◽  
Severity Of Depression ◽  
Hamilton Rating Scale ◽  
Comprehensive Study

This report evaluates the use of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRS) (5) in a general medical in-patient population; it is one part of a comprehensive study of depression in these patients (10, 11). The Hamilton Rating Scale was designed to measure the severity of depression in patients already diagnosed as having depressive illness. Hamilton (5) states, “the scale quantifies the results of an interview and is of practical value in assessing the results of treatment.” Recently, the HRS has been used for measuring psychiatric patients' responses to antidepressant medications (7, 9, 12), but there are no reports of its use with medical patients.

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