Plasma levels of neurotrophic factors are not associated with the severity of depression

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Impaired neurogenesis is observed in depression. Studying the concentration of biochemical indicators in the blood that may be involved in the pathogenesis of depression, looking for associations with the severity of depressive symptoms can be useful as an objective diagnosis of the disease and predicting the severity of the pathology. We determined plasma concentrations of the monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, and neurotrophic factors involved in neurogenesis (BDNF, CDNF and neuropeptide Y) in depressed patients and healthy volunteers with the same socio-demographic parameters using enzyme immunoassay and mass spectrometry. All study participants were administered the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and the Center for Epidemiological Studies (CES-D). The cumulative scores on the three scales examined were significantly higher in depressed patients than in controls. The concentration of serotonin, dopamine, BDNF, CDNF, and neuropeptide Y in plasma did not differ between the subject groups and was not associated with the scores on the scales. Positive correlations were found between the content of neuropeptide Y and serotonin, BDNF and CDNF in blood plasma. Thus, although these markers are related to the pathophysiology of depression, they do not correlate with the severity of symptomatology and possibly in plasma cannot reflect processes occurring in the brain.

Download Full-text

Motor activity in depressed patients during therapeutic sleep deprivation

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2009.11.004 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 25 (8) ◽

pp. 465-467 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

T.U. Brückner ◽

M.H. Wiegand

Keyword(s):

Motor Activity ◽

Sleep Deprivation ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Mechanisms Of Action ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Hamilton Depression Scale ◽

Depressed Patients ◽

Bidirectional Relationship ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

Insight Into

AbstractProblemBoth sleep and motor activity have a bidirectional relationship with depression. The existing literature on motor activity during therapeutic sleep deprivation in depressed patients is inconsistent and fragmentary. In the present study we measured motor activity continuously during 40 hours of sleep deprivation in depressed patients.MethodThirty-four inpatients suffering from a major depression (DSM-IV) underwent sleep deprivation with a continuous waking period of 40 hours. Motor activity of the patients was continuously recorded using an actigraph on the non-dominant wrist. The effect of sleep deprivation was assessed by the Hamilton Depression Scale (six-item version), thus separating the group into responders and non-responders to sleep deprivation.ResultsWe found no significant differences in motor activity between responders and non-responders on the day before sleep deprivation. During the night, responders to sleep deprivation exhibited a higher motor activity and less periods of rest. On the day after sleep deprivation, responders exhibited a higher activity, too.ConclusionsMotor activity levels differ between the two groups, thus giving more insight into possible mechanisms of action of the therapeutic sleep deprivation. We suggest that higher motor activity during the night prevents naps and leads to better response to sleep deprivation.

Download Full-text

Relationship between depression and non-adherence to anticoagulant therapy after valve replacement

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal ◽

10.26719/2003.9.1-2.12 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 9 (1-2) ◽

pp. 12-19

Author(s):

A. M. El Gatit ◽

M. Haw

Keyword(s):

Valve Replacement ◽

Anticoagulant Therapy ◽

Dose Adjustment ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Mechanical Valve ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Clinic Visit ◽

Depressed Patients ◽

Cardiac Symptoms ◽

Poor Social Support

Management of anticoagulant therapy after mechanical valve replacement is difficult in developing countries because of patient non-adherence. The effect of depression on adherence to drug therapy and to a clinic visit schedule was evaluated for 62 patients who received prostheses. All were prescribed a once-per-day regimen of warfarin and were scheduled for three appointments at the anticoagulant clinic for dose adjustment at 3-week intervals. According to the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, 22 were depressed. Non-depressed patients were more compliant than depressed patients; adherence was inversely correlated with depression scores. While depression had no relationship with age, sex and cardiac symptoms, there was a relationship with anxiety and poor social support

Download Full-text

Characteristics and outcome of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients with depression

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.1065 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S311-S312

Author(s):

E. Peles ◽

A. Sason ◽

E. Malik ◽

S. Schreiber ◽

M. Adelson

Keyword(s):

Suicide Attempts ◽

Methadone Maintenance ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Hamilton Depression Scale ◽

Depressed Patients ◽

Scale Scores ◽

First Year Retention ◽

Competing Interest ◽

Retention In Treatment ◽

One Year

IntroductionComorbidity of depression and opioid addiction is highly prevalent, but their outcome in MMT is not consistent.ObjectivesTo compare between depressed and non-depressed MMT patients.MethodsHamilton depression scale scores (taken during a psychiatric assessment) were studied among MMT patients on admission or during treatment (cutoff for depression > 18).ResultsA total of 498 MMT patients were studied. Depression proportion was 22.5%, and 23.2% among 263 who were studied on admission; the depressed vs. non-depressed on admission did not differ in female proportion (19.7% vs. 25.6%), age of admission (43.2 ± 10.4), opiate use onset (21.8 ± 6.3) and education years (9.5 ± 2.8), but had higher proportion of cocaine (55.7% vs. 35.1%, P = 0.005), and benzodiazepine abuse (73.8% vs. 58.4%, P = 0.04). Retention was high and similar (80.3 vs. 82.9% P = 0.7) and of those who stayed one year, cocaine and benzodiazepine were still higher among the depressed patients (cocaine: 43.8% vs. 23.2%, P = 0.03; BDZ: 61.2% vs. 40%, P = 0.01). Compared to the non-depressed, among all study group (n = 498) the depressed patients presented higher proportion of rape history (25% vs. 9.5%, P = 0.001), of suicide attempts (43.8% vs. 25%, P = 0.001) with only a trend of shorter cumulative retention in MMT of mean 9.4y (95% CI 7.8–10.7) vs. 11.5 (95% CI 10.5–12.5, P = 0.07).ConclusionDespite cocaine and benzodiazepine abuse on admission, depressed succeeded similarly to the non-depressed in the first year retention in treatment. Intervention is recommended since admission, as their long-term retention seems to be shorter, later on, and their ability to discontinue cocaine and benzodiazepine abuse is clearly hampered.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Effects of agomelatine and mirtazapine on sleep disturbances in major depressive disorder: evidence from polysomnographic and resting-state functional connectivity analyses

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa092 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (11) ◽

Author(s):

Wei-Feng Mi ◽

Serik Tabarak ◽

Li Wang ◽

Su-Zhen Zhang ◽

Xiao Lin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Major Depressive Disorder ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Depressive Disorder ◽

Sleep Disturbances ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Sleep Onset ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Hamilton Depression Scale ◽

Major Depressive ◽

Depressed Patients

Abstract To investigate effects of agomelatine and mirtazapine on sleep disturbances in patients with major depressive disorder. A total of 30 depressed patients with sleep disturbances, 27 of which completed the study, took agomelatine or mirtazapine for 8 weeks. Subjective scales were administered, and polysomnography was performed at baseline and at the end of week 1 and 8. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed at baseline and at the end of week 8. Compared with baseline, scores on the Hamilton Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Sleep Dysfunction Rating Scale, and Insomnia Severity Index after 8 weeks of treatment significantly decreased in both groups, with no significant differences between groups, accompanied by significant increases in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and significant decrease in wake after sleep onset. Mirtazapine treatment increased N3 sleep at week 1 compared with agomelatine treatment, but this difference disappeared at week 8. The increases in the percentage and duration of N3 sleep were positively correlated with increases in connectivity between right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and right precuneus and between left posterior cingulate cortex and right precuneus in both groups, respectively. Functional connectivity (FC) between right dlPFC and left precuneus in mirtazapine group was higher compared with agomelatine group after 8 weeks of treatment. These findings indicated that both agomelatine and mirtazapine improved sleep in depressed patients, and the effect of mirtazapine was greater than agomelatine with regard to rapidly increasing N3 sleep and gradually improving FC in the brain.

Download Full-text

Plasma nortriptyline and clinical response–a study using changing plasma levels

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291700023163 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 87-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Graham D. Burrows ◽

Kay P. Maguire ◽

Bruce A. Scoggins ◽

James Stevenson ◽

Brian Davies

Keyword(s):

Clinical Response ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Hamilton Depression Scale ◽

The Third ◽

Depressed Patients ◽

Significant Relationships ◽

Severity Of Depression

SynopsisIn a 5-week study of 22 depressed patients treated with nortriptyline, significant changes in plasma levels, both elevated and reduced, were deliberately produced in the third and fourth weeks of each patient's treatment. Correlation of plasma nortriptyline levels and changes in the severity of depression, as measured by the Hamilton Depression Scale, showed no significant relationships. The implications of the study are discussed.

Download Full-text

Biases of Happy Faces in Face Classification Processing of Depression in Chinese Patients

Neural Plasticity ◽

10.1155/2020/7235734 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Yuying Tong ◽

Gang Zhao ◽

Jinbo Zhao ◽

Nianxiang Xie ◽

Dong Han ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Response Time ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Event Related Potential ◽

Chinese Patients ◽

Control Group ◽

Hamilton Depression Scale ◽

Depressed Patients ◽

Face Classification ◽

Depression Group ◽

The Difference

We explored the face classification processing mechanism in depressed patients, especially the biases of happy faces in face classification processing of depression. Thirty patients with the first episode of depression at the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University were selected as the depression group, while healthy people matched for age, gender, and educational level were assigned to the control group. The Hamilton Depression Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Scale were used to select the subjects; then, we used the forced face classification paradigm to collect behavioral (response time and accuracy) and event-related potential (ERP) data of the subjects. The differences between the groups were estimated using a repeated measurement analysis of variance. The total response time of classified faces in the depression group was longer than that in the control group, the correct rate was lower, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). N170 component analysis demonstrated that the latency of the depression group was prolonged, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). When classifying happy faces, the depressed patients demonstrated a decrease in N170 amplitude and a prolongation of latency in some brain regions compared with the healthy individuals. The cognitive bias in depression may be due to prolonged processing of positive facial information and difficulty in producing positive emotional responses.

Download Full-text

Gender Differences in Depression in the General Population of Indonesia: Confounding Effects

Depression Research and Treatment ◽

10.1155/2021/3162445 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Andi Agus Mumang ◽

Saidah Syamsuddin ◽

Ida Leida Maria ◽

Irawan Yusuf

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Cultural Orientation ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Self Report ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Orientation Scale ◽

Study Participants

Background. Research findings on gender differences in depression are inconsistent. This study investigated gender and depression in the Indonesian population and considered possible confounding effects. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study. Participants completed the following self-report measures: demographic characteristic questions, the Cultural Orientation Scale, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Gender differences in depression were examined using a generalized linear model. Results. After withdrawals, 265 men and 243 women remained. Women and men did not differ in overall scores and four-factor depression symptoms even after adjusting for cultural orientation and demographic confounding factors, except for the depression symptoms “crying,” “cannot get going,” and “people were unfriendly.” Gender differences in depression became significant after adjusting for stereotypical symptom variance. Men reported being lonelier than women. Conclusions. Possible confounding effects on the association between gender and depression are methodological issues, cultural orientation transition, and stereotypical symptoms. Low depression scores found for gender may reflect dimension-counterpart coping strategies.

Download Full-text

Ethnicity And Depression Among Maritime University Students In Canada

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.1531 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S423-S424

Author(s):

A. Steenbeek ◽

D. Langille ◽

K. Wilson ◽

A. Muir

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

University Students ◽

Ethnic Groups ◽

Online Survey ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Mental Illnesses ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Competing Interest ◽

Ethnic Students

IntroductionDepression is among the most common mental illnesses in Canada. Although many factors contribute to depression, stress is among the most commonly reported. Studies suggest that marginalized groups often experience high levels of stress.ObjectiveTo examine associations between ethnicity and depressive symptoms among university students.AimTo identify if ethnic groups, particularly Aboriginal students, are at greater risk of depression.MethodsOnline survey data were collected from students attending eight universities in the Canadian Maritime Provinces (n = 10,180). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 12-item version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Ethnicity was organized into five groups: Caucasian only, Aboriginal only, Aboriginals with other ethnicities, Mixed Ethnicity (not including Aboriginal), and Other (single ethnicity not including Aboriginal or Caucasian). Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess associations between ethnicity and elevated depressive symptoms. Adjusted models accounted for demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioural characteristics.ResultsIn adjusted analyses for men, Mixed (OR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.12–3.63) and Other ethnic students (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.11–1.96) were more likely to have elevated depressive symptoms than Caucasians. There were no differences between those who were Aboriginal and those who were Caucasian. In unadjusted and adjusted analyses for women, depressive symptoms in ethnic groups (including Aboriginals) were not significantly different from Caucasians.ConclusionAmong male university students in the Maritime, ethnicity (other than being Aboriginal) was associated with depressive symptoms in comparison to Caucasians, after adjusting for covariates. However, among women, ethnicity was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Suicidal Behavior in German Adolescents

Zeitschrift für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie ◽

10.1024/1422-4917/a000331 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 39-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Joana Straub ◽

Ferdinand Keller ◽

Nina Sproeber ◽

Michael G. Koelch ◽

Paul L. Plener

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Behavior ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Present Sample ◽

Manic Symptoms ◽

Symptoms Of Depression ◽

Adolescent Sample ◽

History Of ◽

Sum Scores

Objective: Research in adults has identified an association between bipolar disorder and suicidal behavior. This relationship, however, has been insufficiently investigated in adolescents to date. Methods: 1,117 adolescents from 13 German schools (mean age = 14.83, SD = .63; 52.7% females) completed an extended German version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), which assesses depressive and manic symptoms during the last week, as well as the Self-Harm Behavior Questionnaire (SHBQ) for the assessment of lifetime suicidal behavior. Results: In the present sample 39.4% of the girls and 23.1% of the boys reported lifetime suicidal thoughts and 7.1% of the girls as well as 3.9% of the boys a lifetime history of suicide attempts. 18.7% of the adolescent sample revealed elevated symptoms of depression and 9% elevated levels of mania symptoms. Elevated sum scores of depression and mania were associated with a higher number of suicidal ideations and suicide attempts. A block-wise regression analysis revealed that sum scores of depression and mania predicted suicidal ideations best. Concerning suicide attempts, the best predictors were age as well as depression and mania sum scores. Conclusions: Suicidal behavior was reported more often when adolescents demonstrate symptoms of mania as well as symptoms of depression than when they demonstrate only depressive symptoms. The presence of bipolar symptoms in adolescents should alert clinicians to the heightened possibility of suicidal behavior.

Download Full-text

Zur Anwendung der CES-D bei älteren Menschen: Dimensionsstruktur und Meßartefakte

Diagnostica ◽

10.1026//0012-1924.46.1.29 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 29-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Herbert Matschinger ◽

Astrid Schork ◽

Steffi G. Riedel-Heller ◽

Matthias C. Angermeyer

Keyword(s):

Mental State ◽

Latent Class ◽

Mini Mental State Examination ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Partial Credit ◽

Examination Score ◽

State Examination

Zusammenfassung. Beim Einsatz der Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) stellt sich das Problem der Dimensionalität des Instruments, dessen Lösung durch die Konfundierung eines Teilkonstruktes (“Wohlbefinden”) mit Besonderheiten der Itemformulierung Schwierigkeiten bereitet, da Antwortartefakte zu erwarten sind. Dimensionsstruktur und Eignung der CES-D zur Erfassung der Depression bei älteren Menschen wurden an einer Stichprobe von 663 über 75-jährigen Teilnehmern der “Leipziger Langzeitstudie in der Altenbevölkerung” untersucht. Da sich die Annahme der Gültigkeit eines partial-credit-Rasch-Modells sowohl für die Gesamtstichprobe als auch für eine Teilpopulation als zu restriktiv erwies, wurde ein 3- bzw. 4-Klassen-latent-class-Modell für geordnete Kategorien berechnet und die 4-Klassen-Lösung als den Daten angemessen interpretiert: Drei Klassen zeigten sich im Sinne des Konstrukts “Depression” geordnet, eine Klasse enthielt jene Respondenten, deren Antwortmuster auf ein Antwortartefakt hinwiesen. In dieser Befragtenklasse wird der Depressionsgrad offensichtlich überschätzt. Zusammenhänge mit Alter und Mini-Mental-State-Examination-Score werden dargestellt. Nach unseren Ergebnissen muß die CES-D in einer Altenbevölkerung mit Vorsicht eingesetzt werden, der Summenscore sollte nicht verwendet werden.

Download Full-text