scholarly journals Standalone Apps for Anxiety and Depression Show Promising Early Efficacy: A Synthesis of Meta-Analytic Results

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas C. Jacobson ◽  
William Chen ◽  
Raphael Huang
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Receive Treatment

Given the high incidence of anxiety and depressive disorders and the very few persons who receive treatment for these disorders (Wilhelm et al., 2019), researchers have become increasingly interested in standalone treatments for anxiety and depression. As the ubiquity of smartphones has grown across the globe, both academia and industry alike are increasingly developing and testing standalone interventions which might treat anxiety and depressive symptoms. In a recent meta-analysis, Weisel et al. (2019) summarized and concluded that apps contribute to significant reductions in depressive symptoms (Hedges’ g = 0.33) but no significant reductions in anxiety symptoms. The paper concludes that “smartphone apps as standalone psychological interventions cannot be recommended based on the current level of evidence”. The current comment further evaluates the evidence base for making these summary claims.

scholarly journals Effects of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation in the Prevention and Treatment of Depressive Disorders—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1070
Author(s):  
Maike Wolters ◽  
Annkathrin von der Haar ◽  
Ann-Kristin Baalmann ◽  
Maike Wellbrock ◽  
Thomas L. Heise ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Treatment Duration ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Pufa Supplementation ◽  
Depressive Symptomology ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Significant Difference

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been suggested to affect depressive disorders. This review aims to determine the effect of n-3 PUFAs on depressive symptoms in people with or without diagnosed depression. Medline, PsycINFO, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the association between n-3 PUFAs and depressive symptoms or disorders as outcomes. A random-effects meta-analysis of standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was performed. Twenty-five studies (7682 participants) were included. Our meta-analysis (20 studies) indicated that n-3 PUFA supplementation lowered depressive symptomology as compared with placebo: SMD = −0.34, 95% CI: −0.55, −0.12, I2 = 86%, n = 5836, but a possible publication bias cannot be ruled out. Subgroup analyses indicated no statistically significant difference by treatment duration of <12 vs. ≥12 weeks, presence of comorbidity, or severity of depressive symptoms. Nevertheless, beneficial effects were seen in the subgroups of studies with longer treatment duration and with no depression and mild to moderate depression. Subgroup analysis by eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) dosage revealed differences in favor of the lower EPA dosage. Sensitivity analysis including studies with low risk of bias seems to confirm the overall result. Supplementation of n-3 PUFA appears to have a modest beneficial effect on depressive symptomology, although the quality of evidence is still insufficient.

scholarly journals Systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of depressive symptoms, dysthymia and major depressive disorders among homeless people

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e040061
Author(s):  
Getinet Ayano ◽  
Asmare Belete ◽  
Bereket Duko ◽  
Light Tsegay ◽  
Berihun Assefa Dachew
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Major Depressive Disorders

ObjectivesTo assess the global prevalence estimates of depressive symptoms, dysthymia and major depressive disorders (MDDs) among homeless people.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesDatabases including PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were systematically searched up to February 2020 to identify relevant studies that have reported data on the prevalence of depressive symptoms, dysthymia and MDDs among homeless people.Eligibility criteriaOriginal epidemiological studies written in English that addressed the prevalence of depressive problems among homeless people.Data extraction and synthesisA random-effect meta-analysis was performed to pool the prevalence estimated from individual studies. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were employed to compare the prevalence across the groups as well as to identify the source of heterogeneities. The Joanna Briggs Institute’s quality assessment checklist was used to measure the study quality. Cochran’s Q and the I2 test were used to assess heterogeneity between the studies.ResultsForty publications, including 17 215 participants, were included in the final analysis. This meta-analysis demonstrated considerably higher prevalence rates of depressive symptoms 46.72% (95% CI 37.77% to 55.90%), dysthymia 8.25% (95% CI 4.79% to 11.86%), as well as MDDs 26.24% (95% CI 21.02% to 32.22%) among homeless people. Our subgroup analysis showed that the prevalence of depressive symptoms was high among younger homeless people (<25 years of age), whereas the prevalence of MDD was high among older homeless people (>50 years of age) when compared with adults (25–50 years).ConclusionThis review showed that nearly half, one-fourth and one-tenth of homeless people are suffering from depressive symptoms, dysthymia and MDDs, respectively, which are notably higher than the reported prevalence rates in the general population. The findings suggest the need for appropriate mental health prevention and treatment strategies for this population group.

scholarly journals Overgeneral and Specific Autobiographical Memory Predict the Course of Depression: An Updated Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David John Hallford ◽  
Danielle Rusanov ◽  
Joseph Yeow ◽  
Tom Joseph Barry
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Process ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Moderating Variables ◽  
Analytic Review ◽  
Course Of Depression

Impairments in retrieving event-level, specific autobiographical memories, termed overgeneral memory (OGM) are recognised as a feature of clinical depression. A previous meta-analytic review (Sumner, Griffith, &amp; Mineka, 2010) assessing how OGM predicts the course of subsequent depressive symptoms showed small, but robust effects for correlations and regression analyses when baseline depressive symptoms were controlled for. We aimed to update this study and examine whether their findings replicate given the decade of research that has been published since. A systematic literature review using the same eligibility criteria as the previous meta-analysis lead to a doubling of eligible studies (31 vs. 15). The results provided more precise estimates of effect sizes, and largely support the finding that OGM predicts the course of depressive symptoms. The effects were generally small, but significantly larger among clinical samples, compared to studies with non-clinical samples. Higher age was associated with stronger effects, while longer follow-up with associated with weaker effects. The findings on other moderating variables that were analysed were mixed. Continued research into this modifiable cognitive process may help to provide an avenue to better understand and treat highly prevalent and impactful depressive disorders.

scholarly journals Additional effects of psychological interventions on subjective and objective outcomes compared with exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation alone in patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 1035-1049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Albus ◽  
Christoph Herrmann-Lingen ◽  
Katrin Jensen ◽  
Matthes Hackbusch ◽  
Nina Münch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Total Mortality ◽  
Lifestyle Change ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Cardiac Morbidity

Background Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (ebCR) often includes various psychological interventions for lifestyle change or distress management. However, the additional benefit of specific psychological interventions on depression, anxiety, quality of life, cardiac morbidity and cardiovascular or total mortality is not well investigated. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods Randomized controlled trials and controlled cohort trials published between January 1995 and October 2017 comparing ebCR with or without pre-specified psychosocial interventions were selected and evaluated on the basis of predefined inclusion and outcome criteria. Results Out of 15,373 records, 20 studies were identified, including 4450 patients with coronary artery disease (88.5%) or congestive heart failure (11.5%), respectively. Studies were of low to moderate quality and methodological heterogeneity was high. As compared with ebCR alone, additional psychological interventions for lifestyle change or distress management showed a trend to reduce depressive symptoms (standardized mean difference –0.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) –0.30; 0.05). Furthermore, during a follow-up of five years, distress management was associated with a trend to reduce cardiac morbidity (risk ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.51; 1.07). There was no evidence for an additional impact of either psychological lifestyle change interventions or distress management on anxiety, quality of life, cardiovascular or total mortality. Conclusions Specific psychological interventions offered during ebCR may contribute to a reduction of depressive symptoms and cardiac morbidity, but there remains considerable uncertainty under which conditions these interventions exert their optimal effects. (CRD42015025920).

scholarly journals Effects of Psychological Interventions on the Prevention of Sports Injuries: A Meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 232596712092832
Author(s):  
Shanshan Li ◽  
Qianjin Wu ◽  
Zichao Chen
Keyword(s):  
Sports Injuries ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Random Effects Model ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Subgroup Analyses ◽  
Substantial Heterogeneity

Background: Studies have shown that preventive psychological interventions can reduce the occurrence of sports injuries. Purpose: To systematically evaluate the published literature on the effects of psychological interventions on rates of sports injuries and propose a set of psychological interventions to reduce such injuries. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: A total of 11 randomized controlled trials and intervention control trials involving 1287 participants were included. A random-effects model was used to analyze the data. Pooled results were expressed as effect sizes and 95% CIs. Bias and heterogeneity among the studies were assessed, and sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed. Results: Meta-analysis suggested that preventive psychological interventions effectively prevented the occurrence of sports injuries (effect size = –0.55; P < .001), although the studies showed substantial heterogeneity ( I 2 = 94.2%; P < .001), which could not be attributed to specific variables. Nevertheless, sensitivity analysis suggested that overall results were reliable. No significant risk of publication bias was found. Conclusion: Preventive psychological interventions moderately reduced the risk of sports injuries. Risk screening also significantly reduced the risk of sports injuries. These interventions should focus on cognitive behavior and be administered in 1 to 6 sessions over 7 to 12 weeks for 60 minutes per session.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Anxiety and Depression in Youth With Epilepsy

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia J Scott ◽  
Louise Sharpe ◽  
Max Loomes ◽  
Milena Gandy
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Control Sample ◽  
Separation Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Pooled Prevalence

Abstract Objective The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide an estimate of the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders in youth with epilepsy (YWE). It also aimed to calculate the overall magnitude of observed differences in anxiety and depressive symptoms reported by YWE compared with healthy controls and investigate whether any factors moderated anxiety and depression outcomes in YWE. Methods Following prospective registration, electronic databases were searched up until October 2018. Studies were included if they reported on the rate of anxiety or depression in samples of YWE, and/or if they used valid measures of anxious or depressive symptomatology in YWE compared with a healthy control sample. Results Twenty-three studies met inclusion criteria. The overall pooled prevalence of anxiety disorders in YWE was 18.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.0%–28.5%), and for depression the pooled prevalence was 13.5% (95% CI 8.8%–20.2%). In samples of YWE compared with healthy controls, significantly higher anxiety (d = 0.57, 95% CI 0.32–0.83, p &lt; .000) and depressive (d = 0.42, 95% CI 0.16–0.68, p &lt; .000) symptomatology was reported. Conclusions YWE report anxiety and depressive disorders and symptoms to a significantly higher degree than youth without epilepsy. There is also evidence that certain anxiety disorders (e.g. generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder) are particularly elevated, perhaps reflecting the unique impact of epilepsy on youth psychopathology. Research is needed to understand the risk factors associated with anxiety and depressive disorders in epilepsy, and better understand how these symptoms change across development.

scholarly journals Cognitive Vulnerabilities for Depression and Anxiety in Childhood: Specificity of Anxiety Sensitivity and Rumination

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah M. Brown ◽  
Richard Meiser-Stedman ◽  
Harriet Woods ◽  
Kathryn J. Lester
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Anxiety Sensitivity ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Childhood Anxiety ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Cognitive Vulnerabilities ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Therapies ◽  
Shared Cognitions ◽  
Development Of Anxiety

Background: Childhood anxiety and depression frequently co-occur. Exploring specificity in cognitive processes for anxiety and depression in childhood can provide insight into cognitive vulnerabilities contributing to the development of anxiety and depressive disorders and inform targeted psychological interventions. Anxiety sensitivity and rumination are robust cognitive vulnerabilities for anxiety and depression, respectively. However, despite conceptual similarities, they are rarely considered together within a single study. Aims: The current study explored specific and shared associations between anxiety sensitivity subscales and rumination and anxiety and depressive symptoms in unselected children. Method: Multiple regression analyses explored to what extent specific self-reported anxiety sensitivity subscales (physical, social and mental concerns) and rumination predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms in 147 unselected children, aged 7–11 years. Results: Physical and social concern subscales of anxiety sensitivity were specifically associated with anxiety, whilst rumination was specifically associated with depressive symptoms. The mental concerns subscale of anxiety sensitivity was independently associated with both anxiety and depressive symptoms. These associations were only partially mediated by rumination. Conclusions: Anxiety and depression in young people are characterized by specific and shared cognitions. Evidence for shared and specific associations between the cognitive vulnerabilities of anxiety sensitivity and rumination, and anxiety and depression highlight the utility of transdiagnostic research and confirm that cognitive therapies may benefit from targeting cognitive concerns relating specifically to the patient's presenting symptoms.

scholarly journals Development and Feasibility Testing of a Physical Activity Intervention For Youth With Anxiety and Depression: a Study Protocol

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arne Kodal ◽  
John J. Reilly ◽  
Fiona Muirhead ◽  
Gro Janne H. Wergeland ◽  
Paul Joachim Bloch Thorsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Large Strain ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Medical Council ◽  
Somatic Comorbidity

Abstract Background: Anxiety and depressive disorders in children and adolescents are highly prevalent and account for more than half of all youth psychiatric disorders. Left untreated, anxiety and depression leads to numerous detrimental outcomes, including reduced quality of life, psychiatric and somatic comorbidity and even reduced lifespan. This puts a large strain on child and adolescent mental healthcare services (CAMHS) to provide effective treatments. However, even when provided the best evidence based treatment, between 40-50 % continue to report significant symptom burdens. Thus, there is an immediate need for supplemental and/or new treatment approaches. Physical activity as a supplementary treatment may be such an approach. However, research investigating this approach within this population is scant. This protocol paper describes the development and feasibility trial of a physical activity based intervention targeting anxiety and depressive symptoms in youth treated in CAMHS.Methods/design: The study is based on the UK Medical Council Research Framework (MRC) for developing and evaluating complex interventions. Feasibility and acceptability of the physical activity intervention (Confident, Active and Happy Youth) will be evaluated in an uncontrolled open-label trial using qualitative and quantitative data. Twenty youths with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms will be recruited. Acceptability of assessment procedures, the intervention, and perceived benefits and barriers to participation will be assessed, and qualitative interviews with participants, caregivers and referring specialists will explore contextual and practical factors associated with intervention delivery. Physical activity will be measured using the Actigraph GT3X+ monitor at baseline and post-intervention and change in anxiety and depression will be assessed. Discussion: This study will contribute to the development of supplementary physical treatment interventions for youth with anxiety and depression in contact with CAMHS. The goal is to examine new avenues of treatment that ultimately may improve upon current treatment outcomes of anxiety and depression. This work will be in preparation for a future definitive RCT of this approach, in line with the MRC framework.Trial registration: ClnicalTrials.gov, NCT05049759. Registered 19 August 2021 - Retrospectively registered.

The prevalence of antenatal and postnatal co-morbid anxiety and depression: a meta-analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 2041-2053 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Falah-Hassani ◽  
R. Shiri ◽  
C.-L. Dennis
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Clinical Diagnosis ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Unpublished Studies ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Antenatal Anxiety

To date, the precise prevalence of co-morbidity of anxiety and depression in the perinatal period is not well known. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of co-morbid anxiety and depression in the antenatal and postnatal periods. Systematic searches of multiple electronic databases were conducted for studies published between January 1950 and January 2016. We included 66 (24 published and 42 unpublished) studies incorporating 162 120 women from 30 countries. Prevalence of self-reported antenatal anxiety symptoms and mild to severe depressive symptoms was 9.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 7.8–11.2, 17 studies, n = 25 592] and of co-morbid anxiety symptoms and moderate/severe depressive symptoms was 6.3% (95% CI 4.8–7.7, 17 studies, n = 27 270). Prevalence of a clinical diagnosis of any antenatal anxiety disorder and depression was 9.3% (95% CI 4.0–14.7, 10 studies, n = 3918) and of co-morbid generalized anxiety disorder and depression was 1.7% (95% CI 0.2–3.1, three studies, n = 3085). Postnatally between 1 and 24 weeks postpartum, the prevalence of co-morbid anxiety symptoms and mild to severe depressive symptoms was 8.2% (95% CI 6.5–9.9, 15 studies, n = 14 731), while co-morbid anxiety symptoms and moderate/severe depressive symptoms was 5.7% (95% CI 4.3–7.1, 13 studies, n = 20 849). The prevalence of a clinical diagnosis of co-morbid anxiety and depression was 4.2% (95% CI 1.9–6.6, eight studies, n = 3251). Prevalence rates did not differ with regard to year of publication, country income, selection bias and attrition bias. The results suggest that co-morbid perinatal anxiety and depression are prevalent and warrant clinical attention given the potential negative child developmental consequences if left untreated. Further research is warranted to develop evidence-based interventions for prevention, identification and treatment of this co-morbidity.

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