scholarly journals Childhood Maltreatment and Its Interaction with Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis Activity and the Remission Status of Major Depression: Effects on Functionality and Quality of Life

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 495
Author(s):  
Neus Salvat-Pujol ◽  
Javier Labad ◽  
Mikel Urretavizcaya ◽  
Aida De Arriba-Arnau ◽  
Cinto Segalàs ◽  
...  

Relationships among childhood maltreatment (CM), hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis disturbances, major depressive disorder (MDD), poor functionality, and lower quality of life (QoL) in adulthood have been described. We aimed to study the roles of the remission status of depression and HPA axis function in the relationships between CM and functionality and QoL. Ninety-seven patients with MDD and 97 healthy controls were included. The cortisol awakening response, cortisol suppression ratio in the dexamethasone suppression test, and diurnal cortisol slope were assessed. Participants completed measures of psychopathology, CM, functionality, and QoL. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to study the relationships between CM and functionality and QoL. Only non-remitted MDD patients showed lower functionality and QoL than controls, indicating that depressive symptoms may partly predict functionality and QoL. Cortisol measures did not differ between remitted and non-remitted patients. Although neither HPA axis measures nor depression remission status were consistently associated with functionality or QoL, these factors moderated the effects of CM on functionality and QoL. In conclusion, subtle neurobiological dysfunctions in stress-related systems could help to explain diminished functionality and QoL in individuals with CM and MDD and contribute to the persistence of these impairments even after the remission of depressive symptoms.

2004 ◽  
Vol 184 (6) ◽  
pp. 496-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart Watson ◽  
Peter Gallagher ◽  
James C. Ritchie ◽  
I. Nicol Ferrier ◽  
Allan H. Young

BackgroundHypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, as variously measured by the responses to the combined dexamethasone/ corticotrophin-releasing hormone (dex/ CRH) test, the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and basal cortisol levels, has been reported to be abnormal in bipolar disorder.AimsTo test the hypothesis that HPA axis dysfunction persists in patients in remission from bipolar disorder.MethodSalivary cortisol levels and the plasma cortisol response to the DST and dex/CRH test were examined in 53 patients with bipolar disorder, 27 of whom fulfilled stringent criteria for remission, and in 28 healthy controls. Serum dexamethasone levels were measured.ResultsPatients with bipolar disorder demonstrated an enhanced cortisol response to the dex/CRH test compared with controls (P=0.001). This response did not differ significantly between remitted and non-remitted patients. These findings were present after the potentially confounding effects of dexamethasone levels were accounted for.ConclusionsThe dex/CRH test is abnormal in both remitted and non-remitted patients with bipolar disorder. Thismeasure of HP Aaxis dysfunction is a potential trait marker in bipolar disorder and thus possibly indicative of the core pathophysiological process in this illness.


2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1021-1028 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. WATSON ◽  
P. GALLAGHER ◽  
D. DEL-ESTAL ◽  
A. HEARN ◽  
I. N. FERRIER ◽  
...  

Background. Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis function in patients with chronic depression has previously been shown to be normal when measured using the dexamethasone suppression test (DST). We examined patients with chronic depression using the sensitive dexamethasone/corticotropin releasing hormone (dex/CRH) test and the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) to establish whether HPA axis abnormalities are present in this group. We also compared the sensitivity of the two tests and compared the results with previous studies in depression that have not specifically selected chronic patients.Method. Twenty-nine patients with the chronic subtype of major depressive disorder and 28 matched controls underwent examination of HPA axis function.Results. Neither the cortisol response to the DST or the dex/CRH test differed significantly between the patient and control groups. There was a trend in favour of more patients than controls having an abnormal response to the dex/CRH test (P = 0.052). Neither the patients with an abnormally enhanced response, nor the magnitude of response could be predicted by any illness or demographic variable.Conclusion. The HPA axis is not overtly abnormal in chronic depression. This contrasts with previous findings in acute depression and bipolar disorder and may suggest that the HPA axis abnormalities present in acute depression resolve, but are not accompanied by symptom resolution. Alternatively, a subgroup of depressives with less HPA dysfunction may progress to chronicity. This has implications for treatment and prognosis. The dex/CRH is a more sensitive test of HPA axis function than the DST in patients with chronic depression.


2006 ◽  
Vol 155 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne R de Rooij ◽  
Rebecca C Painter ◽  
David I W Phillips ◽  
Clive Osmond ◽  
Robert P J Michels ◽  
...  

Objective: The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis has been proposed to be susceptible to fetal programming, the process by which an adverse fetal environment elicits permanent physiological and metabolic alterations predisposing to disease in later life. It is hypothesized that fetal exposure to poor circumstances alters the set point of the HPA axis, leading to increased HPA axis activity and subsequent increased cortisol concentrations. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that prenatal exposure to famine during different periods of gestation is associated with increased activity of the HPA axis. Design and methods: We assessed plasma cortisol concentrations after a dexamethasone suppression and an ACTH1–24-stimulation test in a group of 98 men and women randomly sampled from the Dutch famine birth cohort. Cohort members were born as term singletons around the 1944–1945 Dutch famine. Results: Cortisol profiles after dexamethasone suppression and ACTH1–24 stimulation were similar for participants exposed to famine during late, mid- or early gestation (P=0.78). Cortisol concentrations after dexamethasone suppression test did not differ between those exposed and those unexposed to famine in utero (mean difference −2% (95% confidence interval (CI) −27 to 23)). Neither peak cortisol concentration (20 nmol/l (95% CI −27 to 66)), cortisol increment (−5 nmol/l (95% CI −56 to 47)) or cortisol area under the curve post-ACTH1–24 injection (4% (95% CI −4 to 12)) differed between exposed and unexposed participants. Conclusions: Prenatal famine exposure does not seem to affect HPA axis activity at adult age, at least not at the adrenal level. This does not exclude altered HPA axis activity at the levels of the hippocampus and hypothalamus.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 675-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Díaz-Marsá ◽  
José L. Carrasco ◽  
Elena Basurte ◽  
José I. Pastrana ◽  
Jerónimo Sáiz-Ruiz ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTIntroduction: While both blunted and enhanced cortisol suppression following a dexamethasone suppression test (DST) are described in eating disorders, some evidence suggests that enhanced cortisol suppression might be associated with the presence of trauma history. The objective of this study is to investigate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to a modified DST in eating disorders and its relationship with childhood trauma.Methods: Fifty-two patients with eating disorders were studied with a 0.25 mg DST and with measures of childhood trauma.Conclusion: Patients with bulimia symptoms had significantly greater cortisol suppression than controls and restrictive anorexia patients (F=8.2, P<.05). Cortisol suppression was significantly correlated with intensity of childhood traumatic events (F=0.32, P<.05). Hypersensitive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to DST in eating disorders may be related with a history of childhood trauma and suggests some biological similarities with posttraumatic syndromes that should be further explored.


Crisis ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Sarfati ◽  
Blandine Bouchaud ◽  
Marie-Christine Hardy-Baylé

Summary: The cathartic effect of suicide is traditionally defined as the existence of a rapid, significant, and spontaneous decrease in the depressive symptoms of suicide attempters after the act. This study was designed to investigate short-term variations, following a suicide attempt by self-poisoning, of a number of other variables identified as suicidal risk factors: hopelessness, impulsivity, personality traits, and quality of life. Patients hospitalized less than 24 hours after a deliberate (moderate) overdose were presented with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression and Impulsivity Rating Scales, Hopelessness scale, MMPI and World Health Organization's Quality of Life questionnaire (abbreviated versions). They were also asked to complete the same scales and questionnaires 8 days after discharge. The study involved 39 patients, the average interval between initial and follow-up assessment being 13.5 days. All the scores improved significantly, with the exception of quality of life and three out of the eight personality traits. This finding emphasizes the fact that improvement is not limited to depressive symptoms and enables us to identify the relative importance of each studied variable as a risk factor for attempted suicide. The limitations of the study are discussed as well as in particular the nongeneralizability of the sample and setting.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeng-Rong Luo ◽  
Dong-Shan Liao ◽  
Liang-Wan Chen

Abstract Background To compare postoperative sexual dysfunction (SD) and quality of life (QOL) in Type A Aortic Dissection (AAD) Patients of Different Ages. Methods From January 2018 to December 2019, 204 AAD postoperative survivors in Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University were selected and were divided into young group (less than 50 years old) and elderly group (more than 50 years old). We evaluated SD according to the male International Erectile Dysfunction Index (IIEF-5) and female sexual function index (FSFI). The Short Form 12 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-12) and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) were used to investigate the QOL, Quick Inventory Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) to investigate depressive symptoms. Results One hundred seventy-five patients completed all the questionnaire (85.8%). The total SD prevalence rate was 38.9% (68 cases), with 27.4% of the young (20 cases) and 47.1% of the elderly (48 cases). The age of non-SD and SD patients was 49.0 ± 11.5 and 56.9 ± 10.8 years, respectively (P = 0.03). Compared with non-SD patients, the total physical health of SD patients was significantly worse (P = 0.04), however, the mental health was not significantly worse (P = 0.77); the depressive symptoms did not expressed a significant difference between the SD and non-SD groups (QIDS-SR P = 0.15, BDI-II P = 0.06). Total physical health scores in the young SD group did not show significant better than elderly SD group (P = 0.24), however, total mental health scores showed significantly worse (P = 0.04), depressive symptoms scores were significantly higher (QIDS-SR P = 0.03, BDI-II P = 0.04). Conclusion The postoperative AAD SD prevalence of elderly is higher than that of young, and the total physical health of SD patients is poorer than those without SD patients. The young SD patients did not show a significant higher physical health scores than the elderly SD patients, instead, the young SD patients were more psychologically affected than the elderly SD patients, whose mental health was worse, and depression symptoms were more obvious, suggesting that the factors affecting the QOL of postoperative SD patients are related to physical factors, but the young postoperative SD patients mainly affected by psychological factors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 275-276
Author(s):  
Jose Aravena ◽  
Jean Gajardo ◽  
Laura Gitlin

Abstract In a scenario of increasing longevity and social inequalities, Latin-America is an important contributor to the worldwide dementia burden. Caregivers’ health is fundamental to maintain the person with dementia quality of life. However, caregiving is a culturally sensible role that requires tailored solutions. The aim is to synthesize the evidence about non-pharmacologic interventions targeted to caregivers of people with dementia in Latin-American contexts. A comprehensive review of interventions in caregivers and persons with dementia in Latin-American countries was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus with studies published until January 27th, 2020. Randomized clinical trials of non-pharmacologic interventions targeted to caregivers of people with dementia or dyads where included. Qualitative synthesis of the evidence was presented and analyzed. Overall, 9 pilot RCT were included for the final analysis (6 Brazil, 1 Colombia, 1 Mexico, 1 Perú). The biggest study recruited 69 caregivers and the smallest 13 dyads, with follow-up range of 3-6 months. 5 control groups received at least some other non-standard care type of intervention. 8 were targeted exclusively to caregivers (4 group intervention, 3 individual, and 1 combined) and 1 multicomponent intervention. Most frequent measured outcomes were caregiver’s burden, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and quality of life, and person with dementia neuropsychiatric symptoms. Individual interventions report better results in caregiver parameters such as burden and depressive symptoms and person with dementia neuropsychiatric symptoms. Group interventions presented mixed results. Nevertheless, the quality of evidence was low. There is a critical need to study interventions for caregivers in Latin-American contexts.


Author(s):  
Kisook Kim ◽  
Hyohyeon Yoon

The study aimed to identify and compare the factors affecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) depending on the occupational status of cancer survivors. This study was a secondary data analysis from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2014 to 2018. Hierarchical multivariate linear regression was used to investigate the factors affecting the HRQoL of each group. Non-working cancer survivors had significantly lower HRQoL than working cancer survivors (p < 0.001). A hierarchical multiple regression model showed that demographic, health-related, and psychological characteristics explained 62.0% of non-working cancer survivors’ HRQoL (F = 4.29, p < 0.001). Among the input variables, health-related characteristics were the most influential factors (ΔR2 = 0.274, F = 9.84, p < 0.001). For working cancer survivors, health-related characteristics were the only variable that was statistically associated with HRQoL (F = 5.556, p < 0.001). It is important to enhance physical activities and manage the chronic disease to improve the HRQoL of working cancer survivors. Further, managing health-related characteristics, including depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, is necessary for non-working cancer survivors. Regarding working survivors, psychological factors such as depressive symptoms and suicidal tendencies did not affect HRQoL. Therefore, an early and effective return to work program should be developed for the improvement of their HRQoL.


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