scholarly journals Reduced Hedonic Tone and Emotion Dysregulation Predict Depressive Symptoms Severity during the COVID-19 Outbreak: An Observational Study on the Italian General Population

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 255
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Moccia ◽  
Delfina Janiri ◽  
Giulia Giuseppin ◽  
Benedetta Agrifoglio ◽  
Laura Monti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
General Population ◽  
Emotion Dysregulation ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Hedonic Tone ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Potential Factors

The COVID-19 pandemic has spiked stress-related symptoms worldwide. This study aims to assess depressive symptoms related to the early phase of the COVID-19 outbreak among the Italian general population and to analyze anhedonia and emotion dysregulation as potential predictors of depression severity. Through an online questionnaire, we collected sociodemographic and lockdown-related information; depressive symptoms, hedonic tone, and emotion dysregulation were assessed through the Beck Depression Inventory II, the Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale, and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, respectively. In our sample (n = 500), 122 individuals (24.4%) reported depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 outbreak. Individuals with and without depression differed in gender (X2 = 4.77, df = 1, p = 0.02) and age (X2 = 15.7, df = 4, p = 0.003). Among individuals presenting with depressive symptoms, those reporting close contact with confirmed cases of COVID-19 were at higher risk for severe depression (p = 0.026). Reduced hedonic tone (p = 0.014) and emotion dysregulation (p < 0.001) also predicted depression severity. To the best of our knowledge, these are among the earliest data that focus on the risk for depression among a sizeable sample of the Italian general population during the COVID-19 outbreak. Our results indicate emotion dysregulation and reduced hedonic tone as potential factors predicting COVID-19-related depression severity and provide insight into developing targeted intervention policies.

scholarly journals Variability in Depressive Symptoms of Cognitive Deficit and Cognitive Bias During the First 2 Years After Diagnosis in Australian Men With Prostate Cancer

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-13
Author(s):  
Christopher F. Sharpley ◽  
Vicki Bitsika ◽  
David R. H. Christie
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Bias ◽  
Cognitive Deficit ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Cognitive Symptoms ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression

The incidence and contribution to total depression of the depressive symptoms of cognitive deficit and cognitive bias in prostate cancer (PCa) patients were compared from cohorts sampled during the first 2 years after diagnosis. Survey data were collected from 394 patients with PCa, including background information, treatments, and disease status, plus total scores of depression and scores for subscales of the depressive symptoms of cognitive bias and cognitive deficit via the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. The sample was divided into eight 3-monthly time-since-diagnosis cohorts and according to depression severity. Mean scores for the depressive symptoms of cognitive deficit were significantly higher than those for cognitive bias for the whole sample, but the contribution of cognitive bias to total depression was stronger than that for cognitive deficit. When divided according to overall depression severity, patients with clinically significant depression showed reversed patterns of association between the two subsets of cognitive symptoms of depression and total depression compared with those patients who reported less severe depression. Differences in the incidence and contribution of these two different aspects of the cognitive symptoms of depression for patients with more severe depression argue for consideration of them when assessing and diagnosing depression in patients with PCa. Treatment requirements are also different between the two types of cognitive symptoms of depression, and several suggestions for matching treatment to illness via a personalized medicine approach are discussed.

Correlations between doctors’ and patients’ assessment of depression’ severity and efficacy of treatment

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S534-S534
Author(s):  
V. Medvedev ◽  
K. Retyunsky ◽  
A. Ovchinnikov ◽  
Y. Barilynik ◽  
A. Shmilovich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Outcome ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Prognostic Value ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Psychometric Scales ◽  
Depression Assessment ◽  
Severity Of Depression ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Antidepressive Treatment

IntroductionData on accordance and clinical significancy of objective (doctor, psychometric scales) and subjective (patient with depression) assessment of severity of depression are almost lacking. Aim of the multicenter study “EMOTION” was to compare prognostic value of doctor's and patient's assessment of depressive symptoms severity as for its grading and treatment outcome.MethodStudy sample consist of 107 depressive patients. The study used clinical and psychometric (HDRS, SHAPS, CGI-S, CGI-I, PGI-S, PGI-I, Visual Analog Scale) methods.ResultsOur data suggest that there's statistically significant (Р ˂ 0.001) discrepancy between doctors’ (CGI-S) and patients’ (PGI-S) assessment of depressive symptoms’ severity at first visit. Concordant opinions were found only in “marked depression” (37.49% of doctors and 36.59% of patients) and in “borderline depression” (4.79% of doctors and 3.79% of patients). Otherwise, doctors’ and patients’ opinions were discordant. Doctors’ scores were more extreme (severe and extremely severe depression); patients’ scores were more “moderate”. We have found inconsistence between HDRS and CGI-S scores. In the course of reduction of depression severity during antidepressive treatment (agomelatine) doctors’ and patients’ scores were more and more in line with each other.ConclusionWe have found leveling of prognostic value of psychometric assessment of depression severity by doctors and patients (in terms of reduction of depressive symptoms severity and treatment outcome) during antidepressive therapy. It is possible that in some HDRS items scores were overestimated.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Depression in chronic migraine: severity and clinical features

2005 ◽  
Vol 63 (2a) ◽  
pp. 217-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliane Prieto Peres Mercante ◽  
Mario Fernando Prieto Peres ◽  
Vera Guendler ◽  
Eliova Zukerman ◽  
Marcio Antonini Bernik
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
General Population ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Chronic Migraine ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Suicide Risk Assessment ◽  
Common Medical Condition

INTRODUCTION: Chronic migraine (CM) is a common medical condition affecting 2.4% of the general population. Depression is one of the most frequent comorbid disorders in CM. METHOD: Seventy patients diagnosed with chronic migraine were studied. All patients evaluated filled out the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Depression severity was divided into none or minimal depression, mild, moderate, and severe. RESULTS: BDI ranged from 4 to 55, mean 21 ± 10.7. Moderate or severe depression, were present in 58.7% of the patients . Some degree of depression appeared in 85.8% of patients. The BDI scores correlated with pain intensity (p = 0.02). Severe depression was more frequent in patients with comorbid fibromyalgia and in patients reporting fatigue. CONCLUSION: The BDI is an easy tool to access depression in CM patients. Suicide risk assessment is needed in CM patients. Patients with fibromyalgia and fatigue are at even higher risk for severe depression.

scholarly journals Transdiagnostic Mobile Health: Smartphone Intervention Reduces Depressive Symptoms in People With Mood and Psychotic Disorders

10.2196/13202 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. e13202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dror Ben-Zeev ◽  
Benjamin Buck ◽  
Phuonguyen Vu Chu ◽  
Lisa Razzano ◽  
Nicole Pashka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Mild Depression ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽  
Smartphone Intervention

Background Depression is the most prevalent mental health problem. The need for effective treatments for depression far outstrips the availability of trained mental health professionals. Smartphones and other widely available technologies are increasingly being leveraged to deliver treatments for depression. Whether there are patient characteristics that affect the potency of smartphone interventions for depression is not well understood. Objective This study aimed to evaluate whether patient characteristics including clinical diagnosis, depression severity, psychosis status, and current use of antidepressant medications impact the effects of an evidence-based smartphone intervention on depressive symptoms. Methods Data were collected as part of a 2-arm randomized controlled trial comparing a multimodal smartphone intervention called FOCUS with a clinic-based intervention. Here, we report on 82 participants assigned to 12 weeks of FOCUS treatment. We conducted assessments of depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory-second edition (BDI-II) at baseline, postintervention (3 months), and follow-up (6 months). We tested for differences in the amount of improvement in BDI-II scores from baseline to posttreatment and 6-month follow-up between each of the following patient subgroups using 2 (group) × 2 (time) mixed effects models: diagnosis (ie, schizophrenia spectrum disorder vs bipolar disorder vs major depressive disorder), depression severity (ie, minimal-mild vs moderate-severe depression), psychosis status (ie, presence vs absence of psychotic symptoms), and antidepressant use (ie, taking antidepressants vs not taking antidepressants). Results The majority of participants were male (60%, 49/82), African American (65%, 53/82), and middle-aged (mean age 49 years), with a high school education or lower (62%, 51/82). There were no differences in patient demographics across the variables that were used to stratify the analyses. There was a significant group × time interaction for baseline depression severity (F1,76.8=5.26, P=.02 [posttreatment] and F1,77.4=6.56, P=.01 [6-month follow-up]). Participants with moderate or severe depression had significant improvements (t42=3.20, P=.003 [posttreatment] and t42=4.20, P<.001 [6-month follow-up]), but participants with minimal or mild depression did not (t31=0.20, P=.84 [posttreatment] and t30=0.43, P=.67 [6-month follow-up]). There were no significant group × time interactions for diagnosis, psychosis status, or antidepressant medication use. Participants with minimal or mild depression had negligible nonsignificant improvements (<1 point on the BDI-II). Reduction in depression in all other groups was larger (range 1.7-6.5 points on the BDI-II). Conclusions Our results suggest that FOCUS can be deployed to treat moderate to severe depressive symptoms among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, in concert with antidepressant medications or without them, in both people with and without active psychotic symptoms. The study results are consistent with research on transdiagnostic models in psychotherapy and extend our knowledge about the potential of transdiagnostic mobile health. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02421965; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02421965 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/76pyDlvAS)

scholarly journals Assessing Knowledge, Preventive Practices, and Depression among Chinese University Students in Korea and China during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Cross-Sectional Study

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 433
Author(s):  
Bo Zhao ◽  
Fanlei Kong ◽  
Eun Woo Nam
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
University Students ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Preventive Practices ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
Chinese University Students

To investigate the knowledge, preventive practices, and depression of Chinese university students living in South Korea and Mainland China during the COVID-19 outbreak and explore the determinants of depression among these students, an online cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted from 23 March to 12 April 2020. The online questionnaire included questions on knowledge and preventive practices related to COVID-19, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to diagnose depressive symptoms. A total of 420 Chinese university students were finally included in the study (171 students from South Korea and 249 students from Mainland China). The majority of these students had a good level of knowledge of COVID-19. Students living in South Korea displayed better preventive practices than those living in Mainland China; however, the proportion of students (28.7%) with moderate-to-severe depression in this group was relatively higher than that (18.9%) of the Mainland Group (χ2 = 5.50, p < 0.05). More severe depression was related to high levels of concern about family members and contracting COVID-19 as well as suspecting themselves of having come into contact with patients. Displaying more preventive behaviors decreased the depressive symptoms in both groups. These data could be used as a reference for further studies in different regions to take measures (e.g., psychological counseling and encouragement for physical activities) to reduce depressive symptoms in university students.

scholarly journals Transdiagnostic Mobile Health: Smartphone Intervention Reduces Depressive Symptoms in People With Mood and Psychotic Disorders (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dror Ben-Zeev ◽  
Benjamin Buck ◽  
Phuonguyen Vu Chu ◽  
Lisa Razzano ◽  
Nicole Pashka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Mild Depression ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽  
Smartphone Intervention

BACKGROUND Depression is the most prevalent mental health problem. The need for effective treatments for depression far outstrips the availability of trained mental health professionals. Smartphones and other widely available technologies are increasingly being leveraged to deliver treatments for depression. Whether there are patient characteristics that affect the potency of smartphone interventions for depression is not well understood. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate whether patient characteristics including clinical diagnosis, depression severity, psychosis status, and current use of antidepressant medications impact the effects of an evidence-based smartphone intervention on depressive symptoms. METHODS Data were collected as part of a 2-arm randomized controlled trial comparing a multimodal smartphone intervention called FOCUS with a clinic-based intervention. Here, we report on 82 participants assigned to 12 weeks of FOCUS treatment. We conducted assessments of depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory-second edition (BDI-II) at baseline, postintervention (3 months), and follow-up (6 months). We tested for differences in the amount of improvement in BDI-II scores from baseline to posttreatment and 6-month follow-up between each of the following patient subgroups using 2 (group) × 2 (time) mixed effects models: diagnosis (ie, schizophrenia spectrum disorder vs bipolar disorder vs major depressive disorder), depression severity (ie, minimal-mild vs moderate-severe depression), psychosis status (ie, presence vs absence of psychotic symptoms), and antidepressant use (ie, taking antidepressants vs not taking antidepressants). RESULTS The majority of participants were male (60%, 49/82), African American (65%, 53/82), and middle-aged (mean age 49 years), with a high school education or lower (62%, 51/82). There were no differences in patient demographics across the variables that were used to stratify the analyses. There was a significant group × time interaction for baseline depression severity (F1,76.8=5.26, P=.02 [posttreatment] and F1,77.4=6.56, P=.01 [6-month follow-up]). Participants with moderate or severe depression had significant improvements (t42=3.20, P=.003 [posttreatment] and t42=4.20, P<.001 [6-month follow-up]), but participants with minimal or mild depression did not (t31=0.20, P=.84 [posttreatment] and t30=0.43, P=.67 [6-month follow-up]). There were no significant group × time interactions for diagnosis, psychosis status, or antidepressant medication use. Participants with minimal or mild depression had negligible nonsignificant improvements (<1 point on the BDI-II). Reduction in depression in all other groups was larger (range 1.7-6.5 points on the BDI-II). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that FOCUS can be deployed to treat moderate to severe depressive symptoms among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, in concert with antidepressant medications or without them, in both people with and without active psychotic symptoms. The study results are consistent with research on transdiagnostic models in psychotherapy and extend our knowledge about the potential of transdiagnostic mobile health. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02421965; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02421965 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/76pyDlvAS)

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Primary Care and the Role of Depression Severity and Treatment Attendance

Mindfulness ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matilde Elices ◽  
Víctor Pérez-Sola ◽  
Adrián Pérez-Aranda ◽  
Francesc Colom ◽  
Maria Polo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Therapy ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Symptom Improvement ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Mild Depression ◽  
Treatment Attendance ◽  
Pre Treatment

Abstract Objectives Evidence suggests the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to prevent depression relapse and decrease depressive symptoms during the acute phase. However, the effectiveness of MBCT in real-world heterogeneous samples treated in clinical health settings, including primary care, has received little attention. This study had two aims: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of MBCT delivered in primary care considering pre-treatment depression scores and (2) to explore the role of participants’ characteristics on symptom improvement. Methods Data were obtained from 433 individuals who received MBCT. Participants completed the Personality Inventory for ICD-11 (PiCD) pretreatment and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) pre- and post-treatment. Results Sixty percent presented moderate-to-severe depression according to scores on the BDI-II, 18.1% presented mild depression, and 21.7% were in the non-depressed range. The severity of pre-treatment depressive symptoms was associated with outcomes. Most individuals who lacked depressive symptoms at baseline remained in the non-clinical range after the treatment. Those in the severe group benefited the most from the intervention, since 35.6% were considered recovered. Rates of deterioration ranged from 2.1 to 2.7%, depending on the depression-baseline scores. Depression severity at the entrance, attendance, and age, but not personality traits, appear to be related to symptom improvement. Conclusions According to our results, MBCT can be effectively and safely delivered in primary care.

scholarly journals DEPRESSION SEVERITY AND OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA IN OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S167-S167
Author(s):  
Nicholas C Boston ◽  
Ryan Bennett ◽  
Nikolas Cirillo ◽  
Andrew Solow ◽  
Nicole Fornalski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Muscle Tone ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Mild Depression ◽  
Obstructive Sleep

Abstract Objective: The connection between obstructive sleep apnea and depression in older adults is well documented; however, to date the relationship between severity of these depressive symptoms in this population remains under-explored. As such, the current analysis examined a potential relationship between varying levels of depression severity among older adults with sleep apnea. Participants and Methods: Data was derived from a de-identified database of older adults (age&gt;=65) from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC). The sample (N=90; 50% female; 97.8% Caucasian; Mage=77 years; SDage=10.4 years) was sorted into three groups using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q): 1) Mild Depression [n=56], 2) Moderate Depression [n=29], and 3) Severe Depression [n=5]. Results: A univariate analysis revealed an overall significant omnibus effect between sleep apnea and depression severity (F[2,4041])=16.231, p&lt;.001), while controlling for age, race, and sex. Post-hoc comparison found that those with severe depression had significantly higher levels of sleep apnea compared to those with mild (Mdif =-.499, p = .029) and moderate (Mdif =-.597, p = .009). Conclusions: These data support the possible association between depression severity and obstructive sleep apnea. Results may be attributable to two different theories: that low serotonin levels may simultaneously influence depression, respiratory muscle-tone, and sleep disturbance, and that intermittent hypoxia may create a cascade effect of neurovascular pathology resulting in depressive symptoms. Implications of the current findings suggest it may prove beneficial to keep in mind the risks associated with sleep apnea, and more severe depression, should an individual present with either.

Association of severity of depressive symptoms with sleep quality, social support and stress among Pakistani medical and dental students: A cross-sectional study

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-220
Author(s):  
Ahmed Waqas ◽  
Aqsa Iftikhar ◽  
Zahra Malik ◽  
Kapil Kiran Aedma ◽  
Hafsa Meraj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Dental Students ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Poor Sleep Quality ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical And Dental Students

AbstractObjectivesThis study has been designed to elucidate the prevalence of stress, depression and poor sleep among medical students in a Pakistani medical school. There is a paucity of data on social support among medical students in Pakistan; an important predictor of depressive symptoms. Therefore, this study was also aimed to demonstrate the direct and indirect impact of social support in alleviating depressive symptoms in the study sample.MethodsThis observational cross-sectional study was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan, where a total of 400 students at a medical school were approached between 1st January to 31st March 2018 to participate in the study. The study sample comprised of medical and dental students enrolled at a privately financed Pakistani medical and dental school. The participants responded to a self-administered survey comprising of five parts: a) demographics, b) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), c) Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), d) Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and e) Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4). All data were analysed using SPSS v. 20. Linear regression analysis was used to reveal the predictors of depression.ResultsIn total, 353 medical students participated, yielding a response rate of 88.25%. Overall, poor sleep quality was experienced by 205 (58.1%) students. Mild to severe depression was reported by 83% of the respondents: mild depression by 104 (29.5%), moderate depression by 104 (29.5%), moderately severe depression by 54 (15.3%) and severe depression by 31 (8.8%) respondents. Subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, daytime dysfunction and stress levels were significantly associated with depression symptoms. Social support was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms in the regression model (Beta = -0.08, P < 0.09); however, it acted as a significant mediator, reducing the strength of the relationship between depressive symptoms and sleep quality and stress.ConclusionsAccording to our study, a large proportion of healthcare (medical and dental) students were found to be suffering from mild to moderate depression and experienced poor sleep quality. It is concluded that social support is an important variable in predicting depressive symptomatology by ameliorating the effects of poor sleep quality and high stress levels.

scholarly journals Relationships between Physical and Social Behavioural Changes and the Mental Status of Homebound Residents in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6653
Author(s):  
Ben Y. F. Fong ◽  
Martin C. S. Wong ◽  
Vincent T. S. Law ◽  
Man Fung Lo ◽  
Tommy K. C. Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Physical Strain

In Hong Kong, social distancing has been adopted in order to minimise the spread of COVID-19. This study aims to examine the changes in physical health, mental health, and social well-being experienced by local residents who were homebound during the pandemic. An online questionnaire in both Chinese and English versions was completed by 590 eligible participants from 24 April to 13 May 2020. The questionnaire found that individuals aged 18 to 25 years spent more time resting and relaxing but experienced more physical strain. Working status was associated with social contact, with participants working full-time jobs scoring higher in “maintaining social communication via electronic means” and “avoiding social activities outside the home”. Additionally, approximately one third of the participants (29.7%) had moderate to severe depression, and participants aged 18 to 25 were found to have higher scores in PHQ-9. Changes in physical health and social contact were significantly associated with developing depressive symptoms. From the results, it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to exert a negative impact on the mental health status of individuals.

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