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

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.

Download Full-text

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

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.634765 ◽

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.

Download Full-text

EEG resting-state large-scale brain network dynamics are related to depressive symptoms

10.1101/619031 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alena Damborská ◽

Miralena I. Tomescu ◽

Eliška Honzírková ◽

Richard Barteček ◽

Jana Hořínková ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Resting State ◽

Large Scale ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

Network Dynamics ◽

Brain Network ◽

Temporal Characteristics ◽

Microstate Analysis ◽

Depressive Episodes

AbstractBackgroundThe few previous studies on resting-state EEG microstates in depressive patients suggest altered temporal characteristics of microstates compared to those of healthy subjects. We tested whether resting-state microstate temporal characteristics could capture large-scale brain network dynamic activity relevant to depressive symptomatology.MethodsTo evaluate a possible relationship between the resting-state large-scale brain network dynamics and depressive symptoms, we performed EEG microstate analysis in patients with moderate to severe depression within bipolar affective disorder, depressive episode, and periodic depressive disorder, and in healthy controls.ResultsMicrostate analysis revealed six classes of microstates (A-F) in global clustering across all subjects. There were no between-group differences in the temporal characteristics of microstates. In the patient group, higher symptomatology on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, a questionnaire validated as measuring severity of depressive episodes in patients with mood disorders, correlated with higher occurrence of microstate A (Spearman’s rank correlation, r = 0.70, p < 0.01).ConclusionOur results suggest that the observed interindividual differences in resting-state EEG microstate parameters could reflect altered large-scale brain network dynamics relevant to depressive symptomatology during depressive episodes. These findings suggest the utility of the microstate analysis approach in an objective depression assessment.

Download Full-text

Dementia and Depression in Elderly Medical Inpatients

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610200006207 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 67-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Emese Linka ◽

György Bartkó ◽

Tamás Agárdi ◽

Katalin Kemény

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Major Depression ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

Total Sample ◽

Semistructured Interview ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Medical Inpatients ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

Hamilton Rating Scale

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and correlation of cognitive impairments, major depression, and depressive symptoms among elderly medical inpatients, and to compare the degree of depressive symptomatology as well as cognitive deterioration in possible vascular dementia and possible Alzheimer's disease. In a department of internal medicine, 100 (36 male, 64 female) 65-year-old or older patients were examined by a semistructured interview, and assessed by the Hachinski Ischemic Scale, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDS), and the Modified Mini-Mental State (MMMS) Examination. In our total sample, the MMMS total score was (±SD) 76.0 ± 15.5 and the HDS total score was (±SD) 12.0 ± 6.1. Based on DSM-IV criteria, major depression was established in 11 patients. Deterioration of cognitive functions was seen in 66 patients; cognitive impairment was mild in 30 patients, moderate in 19, and severe in 17. Forty-six patients had mild depressive symptoms and 27 had severe depressive symptoms. In summary, a high prevalence of cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptomatology was detected in our study, illustrating the importance of psychiatric care in elderly medical inpatients.

Download Full-text

The Role of Coping in the Relationship Between Endorsement of the Strong Black Woman Schema and Depressive Symptoms Among Black Women

Journal of Black Psychology ◽

10.1177/00957984211021229 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 009579842110212

Author(s):

Martinque K. Jones ◽

Tanisha G. Hill-Jarrett ◽

Kyjeila Latimer ◽

Akilah Reynolds ◽

Nekya Garrett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Black Women ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Black Woman ◽

Coping Styles ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Multiple Mediation ◽

Strong Black Woman

The Strong Black Woman (SBW) schema has been consistently linked to negative mental health outcomes among Black women. However, few have begun to explicate the mechanisms by which the endorsement of the SBW schema may influence mental health outcomes. Accordingly, the current study examined coping styles (social support, disengagement, spirituality, and problem-oriented/engagement) as mediators in the association between endorsement of the SBW schema and depressive symptoms in a sample of Black women. Data from 240 Black women ( Mage = 22.0, SD = 4.0 years) were collected assessing SBW schema endorsement, coping styles, and depressive symptoms. Parallel multiple mediation analysis was conducted using PROCESS Macro. Of the four coping styles examined, disengagement coping partially mediated the association between greater endorsement of the SBW schema and greater depressive symptoms. Study findings add depth to our understanding of the association between the SBW schema and mental health outcomes and lend themselves to research and clinical implications.

Download Full-text

A Hidden Link between Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Depression: A literature Review

10.47363/jner/2021(1)101 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Sabitha Challa ◽

◽

Ahmed S Kabeil ◽

Bithiah Inyang ◽

Faisal J Gondal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Subclinical Hypothyroidism ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Normal Thyroid Function ◽

Low T3 ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Hypothalamic Pituitary Axis ◽

Depressive Episodes

The association between Subclinical hypothyroidism and Depression is recognised. It is found that patients with Thyroid disorders are more prone to develop depressive symptoms and depression may be accompanied by various subtle thyroid abnormalities. The most commonly documented abnormalities are elevated T4 levels, Low T3, elevated rT3, a blunted TSH response to TSH, Positive anti thyroid autoantibodies and elevated CSF TRH concentrations. It is also found that thyroid hormone supplements appear to accelerate and enhance the clinical response to antidepressants. It is found out that Depression is associated with changes in Hypothalamic-pituitary axis as thyroid hormones act on the central nervous system. Mild thyroid dysfunction causes depression in younger patients (<60 years old) diagnosed by depressive scale. It was found that differences in age group may cause depressive episodes. Depressive episodes such as anxiety and the risk of committing suicide are considerable factors that differ according to the age of the individuals.SCH was found to be associated with depression in the younger adults (<60 years old). The only difference between SCH and normal thyroid function is TSH.In depressive disorder and subclinical hypothyroidism sex differences have also been recognised. Association between subclinical hypothyroidism and Depression is assessed by various depressive scores such as Beck Depression Inventory and Hamilton depression rating scale. As Subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with low mood, Serum levels of TSH, FT3, FT4 and Hamilton depression, treatment with Levothyroxine showed significant decrease is TSH levels and Hamilton scores were decreased. Since the prevalence of depressive symptoms in hypothyroidism is high TSH cut-off levels is used,TSH cut off value for hypothyroidism is based on associated symptoms,TSH cut-off value is 2.5 MIU/L is optimal

Download Full-text

Combat Deployment Experiences and Soldier Mental Health: Examining the Factor Structure of a Combat Experiences Scale

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/usab456 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Haley Sherman ◽

Nicky Frye-Cox ◽

Mallory Lucier-Greer

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Principal Component Analysis ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Principal Component ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Mental Health Symptoms ◽

Coping With Stress ◽

Health Symptoms

ABSTRACT Introduction Researchers and practitioners are invested in understanding how deployment experiences impact the nearly 193,000 U.S. service members who deploy in a given year. Yet, there remains a need to adequately identify salient deployment experiences through survey measurement tools and understand how differential experiences are uniquely related to mental health outcomes. Therefore, this study examined the factor structure of an established combat experiences measure from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Service members (Army STARRS) dataset to identify underlying survey constructs that reflect nuanced deployment experiences. Then, we examined the association between diverse combat experiences and current mental health symptoms (i.e., anxiety and depressive symptoms) and the mediating role of coping. Materials and Methods Data were drawn from the Army STARRS data (N = 14,860 soldiers), specifically the All Army Study component. A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to examine the dimensionality of the combat experiences scale, and then a path model was conducted to examine the relationships between combat experiences, coping with stress following a deployment, and mental health symptoms while controlling for relevant individual and interpersonal factors. Results Results from the principal component analysis suggested that the Army STARRS combat experiences scale encompasses two components, specifically: “Expected combat experiences” and “Responsible for non-enemy deaths.” Both “Expected combat experiences” and “Responsible for non-enemy deaths” were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively, and “Responsible for non-enemy deaths” was also indirectly linked to these mental health outcomes through coping with stress after deployment. Conclusions These findings provide insight into the dimensionality of combat experiences and offer practitioners a more nuanced understanding of how to process unique combat experiences that differentially relate to mental health symptoms.

Download Full-text

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

Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences ◽

10.1017/s2045796018000227 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 544-562 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

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.

Download Full-text

A faith-based mind–body intervention to improve psychosocial well-being among rural adults

Translational Behavioral Medicine ◽

10.1093/tbm/ibz136 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 546-554

Author(s):

Scherezade K Mama ◽

Nishat Bhuiyan ◽

Melissa J Bopp ◽

Lorna H McNeill ◽

Eugene J Lengerich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Underserved Populations ◽

Well Being ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Faith Based ◽

Rural Adults

Abstract Churches are well positioned to promote better mental health outcomes in underserved populations, including rural adults. Mind–body (MB) practices improve psychological well-being yet are not widely adopted among faith-based groups due to conflicting religious or practice beliefs. Thus, “Harmony & Health” (HH) was developed as a culturally adapted MB intervention to improve psychosocial health in urban churchgoers and was adapted and implemented in a rural church. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of HH to reduce psychosocial distress in rural churchgoers. HH capitalized on an existing church partnership to recruit overweight or obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥25.0 kg/m2) and insufficiently active adults (≥18 years old). Eligible adults participated in an 8 week MB intervention and completed self-reported measures of perceived stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and positive and negative affect at baseline and postintervention. Participants (mean [M] age = 49.1 ± 14.0 years) were mostly women (84.8%), non-Hispanic white (47.8%) or African American (45.7%), high socioeconomic status (65.2% completed ≥bachelor degree and 37.2% reported an annual household income ≥$80,000), and obese (M BMI = 32.6 ± 5.8 kg/m2). Participants reported lower perceived stress (t = −2.399, p = .022), fewer depressive symptoms (t = −3.547, p = .001), and lower negative affect (t = −2.440, p = .020) at postintervention. Findings suggest that HH was feasible, acceptable, and effective at reducing psychosocial distress in rural churchgoers in the short-term. HH reflects an innovative approach to intertwining spirituality and MB practices to improve physical and psychological health in rural adults, and findings lend to our understanding of community-based approaches to improve mental health outcomes in underserved populations.

Download Full-text

Persistent and aggressive interactions with the police: potential mental health implications

Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences ◽

10.1017/s2045796019000015 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J.L. Hirschtick ◽

S.M. Homan ◽

G. Rauscher ◽

L.H. Rubin ◽

T.P. Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Low Income ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Future Research ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Potential Health ◽

Health Implications ◽

Aggressive Interactions ◽

Current Ptsd

Abstract Aims Little is known about the potential health impact of police encounters despite a ubiquitous police presence in many disadvantaged urban environments. In this paper, we assess whether persistent or aggressive interactions with the police are associated with poor mental health outcomes in a sample of primarily low-income communities of colour in Chicago. Methods Between March 2015 and September 2016, we surveyed 1543 adults in ten diverse Chicago communities using a multistage probability design. The survey had over 350 questions on health and social factors, including police exposure and mental health status. We use sex-stratified logistic regression to examine associations between persistent police exposure (defined as a high number of lifetime police stops) or aggressive police exposure (defined as threat or use of police force during the respondent's most recent police stop) and the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depressive symptoms. Results Men reporting a high number of lifetime police stops have three times greater odds of current PTSD symptoms compared with men who did not report high lifetime police stops (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3–7.6), after adjusting for respondent age, race/ethnicity, education, history of homelessness, prior diagnosis of PTSD and neighbourhood violent crime rate. Women reporting a high number of lifetime police stops have two times greater odds of current PTSD symptoms, although the results are not statistically significant after adjustment (OR 2.0, 95% CI 0.9–4.2). Neither persistent nor aggressive police exposure is significantly associated with current depressive symptoms in our sample. Conclusions Our findings support existing preliminary evidence of an association between high lifetime police stops and PTSD symptoms. If future research can confirm as causal, these results have considerable public health implications given the frequent interaction between police and residents in disadvantaged communities in large urban areas.

Download Full-text

Bidimensional Measurement of Acculturation in a Sample of Pregnant Latinas and Their Biological Partners

Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences ◽

10.1177/0739986317709429 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 336-348

Author(s):

Jason J. Burrow-Sánchez ◽

Paul Florsheim

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Teen Pregnancy ◽

Mexican Americans ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

Future Research ◽

Latent Factor ◽

Confirmatory Factor

Acculturation has been linked to a number of health outcomes for Latinos including depression, anxiety, self-esteem, substance use, and teen pregnancy. The Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans–II (ARSMA-II) is one of the most frequently cited instruments for measuring acculturation in Latinos but empirical investigation of the latent factor structure has lagged behind its use. The main purpose of this study is to confirm the latent factor structure of a brief version of the ARSMA-II in a sample ( N = 205) of pregnant Latina adolescents and their male partners. Analyses revealed via confirmatory factor analysis that a 10-item bidimensional structure of this measure produced the best fit for the sample. Furthermore, a path analysis indicated direct effects between each of the latent factors and the health outcomes of substance use and depressive symptomatology. Implications of the results and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Download Full-text