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

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

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

10.47363/jone/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

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

10.2196/preprints.13890 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Pablo Rodrigo Guzman Cortez ◽

Matias Marzocchi ◽

Neus Freixa Fontanals ◽

Mercedes Balcells-Olivero

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Serious Games ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

Pilot Test ◽

Potential Health ◽

Depressive Episodes ◽

Hamilton Rating Scale

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.

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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.

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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.

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Lurasidone for the treatment of depressive symptoms in schizophrenia: analysis of 4 pooled, 6-week, placebo-controlled studies

CNS Spectrums ◽

10.1017/s1092852914000285 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 140-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Henry A. Nasrallah ◽

Josephine B. Cucchiaro ◽

Yongcai Mao ◽

Andrei A. Pikalov ◽

Antony D. Loebel

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Antipsychotic Agent ◽

Pooled Analysis ◽

Double Blind ◽

Madrs Score ◽

Level Data ◽

Post Hoc ◽

Major Depressive Episodes ◽

Depressive Episodes

ObjectiveDepressive symptoms are common in schizophrenia and can worsen outcomes and increase suicide risk. Lurasidone is an atypical antipsychotic agent indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia and for the treatment of major depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder. This post hoc analysis evaluated the effect of lurasidone on depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.MethodsPatient-level data were pooled from 4 similarly designed, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week registration studies of lurasidone (40–160 mg/d) in adult patients with an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. Changes in depressive symptoms, measured by the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), were analyzed for the overall sample and for subgroups of patients stratified by baseline MADRS scores.ResultsMADRS assessments at baseline and endpoint (day 42 or last observation carried forward [LOCF]) were available for 1330 patients. Patients receiving lurasidone experienced significantly greater decreases in MADRS score (–2.8, least-squares [LS] mean change, LOCF) compared with patients receiving placebo (–1.4, P < .001, effect size 0.24). Analysis of change in MADRS score (LOCF) by baseline symptom severity (MADRS score of ≥12, ≥14, ≥16, ≥18) showed significantly greater improvement for lurasidone-treated patients across all severity groups; effect sizes ranged from 0.25 to 0.34. Among patients with a baseline MADRS score of ≥12, depressive symptom remission (defined as MADRS score <10 at LOCF endpoint) was attained by 45.0% of lurasidone-treated patients and 36.3% of patients receiving placebo (P < .05).ConclusionsIn a pooled analysis of short-term, placebo-controlled studies, lurasidone significantly improved depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

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Response style and severity and chronicity of depressive disorders in primary health care

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.12.002 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

K. Riihimäki ◽

M. Vuorilehto ◽

P. Jylhä ◽

E. Isometsä

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Depressive Disorders ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Response Styles ◽

Related Phenomenon ◽

Eysenck Personality Inventory ◽

Primary Care Patients ◽

Depressive Episodes

AbstractBackgroundResponse styles theory of depression postulates that rumination is a central factor in occurrence, severity and maintaining of depression. High neuroticism has been associated with tendency to ruminate. We investigated associations of response styles and neuroticism with severity and chronicity of depression in a primary care cohort study.MethodsIn the Vantaa Primary Care Depression Study, a stratified random sample of 1119 adult patients was screened for depression using the Prime-MD. Depressive and comorbid psychiatric disorders were diagnosed using SCID-I/P and SCID-II interviews. Of the 137 patients with depressive disorders, 82% completed the prospective five-year follow-up with a graphic life chart enabling evaluation of the longitudinal course of episodes. Neuroticism was measured with the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI-Q). Response styles were investigated at five years using the Response Styles Questionnaire (RSQ-43).ResultsAt five years, rumination correlated significantly with scores of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (r = 0.54), Beck Depression Inventory (r = 0.61), Beck Anxiety Inventory (r = 0.50), Beck Hopelessness Scale (r = 0.51) and Neuroticism (r = 0.58). Rumination correlated also with proportion of follow-up time spent depressed (r = 0.38). In multivariate regression, high rumination was significantly predicted by current depressive symptoms and neuroticism, but not by anxiety symptoms or preceding duration of depressive episodes.ConclusionsAmong primary care patients with depression, rumination correlated with current severity of depressive symptoms, but the association with preceding episode duration remained uncertain. The association between neuroticism and rumination was strong. The findings are consistent with rumination as a state-related phenomenon, which is also strongly intertwined with traits predisposing to depression.

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A comparison of the symptomatic profile between two consecutive depressive episodes in patients with bipolar disorder type I

Acta Neuropsychiatrica ◽

10.1111/j.1601-5215.2010.00496.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 280-283 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marcia B De Macedo-Soares ◽

Elisa Brietzke ◽

Rodrigo Da Silva Dias ◽

Tiago Mendonça ◽

Camila Moreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Type I ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms ◽

Paranoid Symptoms ◽

Loss Of Appetite ◽

Depressive Episodes ◽

Disorder Type

de Macedo-Soares MB, Brietzke E, da Silva Dias R, Mendonca T, Moreira C, Lafer B. A comparison of the symptomatic profile between two consecutive depressive episodes in patients with bipolar disorder type I.Objective:To compare the variability of patterns of depressive symptoms between two consecutive depressive episodes in patients with bipolar disorder type I.Methods:Review of prospectively collected data from 136 subjects of an out-patient bipolar unit from 1997 to 2007. Binomial statistics was used for the analysis of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)-31 items of the first and second episodes, and the correlation of the HDRS-31 item scores of both episodes was determined using the Spearman coefficient.Results:Ten depressive symptoms showed a significant correlation between index and subsequent episodes: psychological anxiety, somatic anxiety, somatic symptoms, diurnal variation, paranoid symptoms, obsessive and compulsive symptoms, hypersomnia, loss of appetite and helplessness. Only four symptoms were stable in both statistical tests: paranoid symptoms, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, loss of appetite and hypersomnia.Conclusions:Paranoid and obsessive–compulsive symptoms, loss of appetite and hypersomnia tended to be found in successive episodes. However, the moderate correlations of the symptoms across two depressive recurrences suggested that clinical presentations in bipolar depression may not be predicted by symptom profiles presented in previous episodes.

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Patients with higher vitamin D levels show stronger improvement of self-reported depressive symptoms in psychogeriatric day-care setting

Journal of Neural Transmission ◽

10.1007/s00702-021-02385-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Linda D. Zech ◽

Maike Scherf-Clavel ◽

Christine Daniels ◽

Michael Schwab ◽

Jürgen Deckert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Day Care ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Therapy Response ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Geriatric Population ◽

Vitamin D Levels

AbstractDepression is a common psychiatric disorder among geriatric patients that decreases the quality of life and increases morbidity and mortality. Vitamin D as a neuro-steroid hormone might play a role in the onset and treatment of depression. In the present study, the association between depressive symptoms and vitamin D concentration in serum was evaluated. 140 patients of a psychogeriatric day-care unit were included. The geriatric depression scale (GDS) and the Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) were assessed at the beginning and end of treatment, GDS scores additionally 6 weeks after discharge from the day-care unit. Vitamin D levels were measured at the beginning of the treatment, routinely. Patients with levels below 30 µg/L were treated with 1000 IU vitamin D per day. There was no association between the severity of depressive symptoms and the concentration of vitamin D at the beginning of the treatment. Patients with higher vitamin D levels showed a stronger decline of depressive symptoms measured by the GDS during their stay in the day-care unit. We provide evidence that vitamin D serum levels might influence antidepressant therapy response in a geriatric population. Prospective studies are necessary to determine which patients may profit from add-on vitamin D therapy.

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The progression of 102 Brazilian patients with bipolar disorder: outcome of first 12 months of prospective follow-up

Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy ◽

10.1590/2237-6089-2012-0048 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 16-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Fernanda Novis ◽

Patricia Cirillo ◽

Rafael Assis da Silva ◽

Ana Letícia Santos ◽

Luciana Angélica Silva Silveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

First Episode ◽

First Year ◽

International Studies ◽

Hamilton Depression Scale ◽

Adequate Treatment ◽

Depressive Episodes

INTRODUCTION: Prospective studies have shown that the course of bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by the persistence of symptoms, predominantly depression, along most of the time. However, to our knowledge, no studies in Latin America have investigated it. OBJECTIVES: To replicate international studies using a Brazilian sample to prospectively analyze treatment outcomes in the first year and to determine potential chronicity factors. METHODS: We followed up 102 patients with BD for 12 months and evaluated the number of months with affective episodes and the intensity of manic and depressive symptoms using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D17). Sociodemographic and retrospective clinical data were examined to determine possible predictors of outcome. RESULTS: Almost 50% of the patients had symptoms about half of the time, and there was a predominance of depressive episodes. Disease duration and number of depressive episodes were predictors of chronicity. Depressive polarity of the first episode and a higher number of depressive episodes predicted the occurrence of new depressive episodes. CONCLUSION: In general, BD outcome seems to be poor in the first year of monitoring, despite adequate treatment. There is a predominance of depressive symptoms, and previous depressive episodes are a predictor of new depressive episodes and worse outcome.

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The Role and the Effect of Magnesium in Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12061661 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 1661 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Andrea Botturi ◽

Valentina Ciappolino ◽

Giuseppe Delvecchio ◽

Andrea Boscutti ◽

Bianca Viscardi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Depressive Disorders ◽

Ad Hoc ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Plasma Magnesium

Introduction: Magnesium is an essential cation involved in many functions within the central nervous system, including transmission and intracellular signal transduction. Several studies have shown its usefulness in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Furthermore, it seems that magnesium levels are lowered in the course of several mental disorders, especially depression. Objectives: In this study, we wish to evaluate the presence of a relationship between the levels of magnesium and the presence of psychiatric pathology as well as the effectiveness of magnesium as a therapeutic supplementation. Methods: A systematic search of scientific records concerning magnesium in psychiatric disorders published from 2010 up to March 2020 was performed. We collected a total of 32 articles: 18 on Depressive Disorders (DD), four on Anxiety Disorders (AD), four on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), three on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), one on Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD), one on Schizophrenia (SCZ) and one on Eating Disorders (ED). Results: Twelve studies highlighted mainly positive results in depressive symptoms. Seven showed a significant correlation between reduced plasma magnesium values and depression measured with psychometric scales. Two papers reported improved depressive symptoms after magnesium intake, two in association with antidepressants, compared to controls. No significant association between magnesium serum levels and panic or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) patients, in two distinct papers, was found. In two other papers, a reduced Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) score in depressed patients correlated with higher levels of magnesium and beneficial levels of magnesium in stressed patients was found. Two papers reported low levels of magnesium in association with ADHD. Only one of three papers showed lower levels of magnesium in ASD. ED and SCZ reported a variation in magnesium levels in some aspects of the disease. Conclusion: The results are not univocal, both in terms of the plasma levels and of therapeutic effects. However, from the available evidence, it emerged that supplementation with magnesium could be beneficial. Therefore, it is necessary to design ad hoc clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of magnesium alone or together with other drugs (antidepressants) in order to establish the correct use of this cation with potential therapeutic effects.

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