Well-Being and Mental Health of Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

<b><i>Background:</i></b> During the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in well-being and an increase in mental health problems were registered in medical and psychotherapeutic practices, counseling centers, and clinics. According to previous studies, younger people and women seemed to be particularly affected. The aim of this study was to describe mental health problems of students and to draw consequences for the further handling of pandemics and other crises. <b><i>Method:</i></b> Students at the University of Heidelberg, a typical German “full university,” were surveyed online using internationally comparable screening instruments like the Well-Being Index (WHO-5) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). In addition, the students had the opportunity to describe in a narrative form their well-being and to make suggestions how to improve their situation. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Out of a population of 27,162 students who were contacted by email, 2,137 students completed the questionnaire. The salient finding is that according to the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, 72.2% of the respondents feel seriously impaired in their well-being. This corresponds to the finding that 75.8% of the respondents in the PHQ-D show indications of at least one syndrome diagnosis. Depression was found in 41.8% of the respondents in the PHQ-D. Indications of moderate to severe and severe depressive syndromes were present in 31.8%. Signs of somatoform syndromes are found in 25.4% and of anxiety syndromes in 20.0%. 1,089 students gave narrative reports on how they were feeling and made suggestions for improvement. About 75% reported severely reduced well-being. Their main complaints were loneliness and depression and lack of recognition for their specific academic and life situation during the pandemic. By far, the largest proportion of students supposed that their mental health issues were caused and/or intensified by the pandemic-related social contact restrictions. The vast majority of them made reasonable suggestions for controlled relaxation of contact restrictions. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Students suffer severely from the pandemic-related social restriction. In respect to future pandemic outbreaks or other crises leading to social isolation, the dramatic consequences of social lockdowns should be taken into account. Under pandemic conditions, we especially should support persons lacking social networks.

Basic concepts of psychotherapeutic correction in patients with schizophrenia

В рамках проведенной работы обследованы 84 больных, проходивших стационарное лечение в Городской клинической психиатрической больнице г. Ташкента на протяжении 2017-2020 гг. Средний возраст обследуемых составил 35 лет, минимальный возраст – 21 год, максимальный – 57 лет. Средняя длительность заболевания – 6-7 лет, минимальная – 1,5 года, максимальная – 26 лет. Были обследованы больные с непрерывным (F 20.х0), приступообразно-прогредиентным течением (F 20.x1) и приступообразным со стабильным дефектом (F 20.х2), с ведущими параноидным, астеническим и астенодепрессивным синдромами, апатоабулическим и смешанным типом формирующегося дефекта. Разработана и проведена специальная программа психотерапевтической коррекции больных шизофренией. Специфика данной программы – минимум отрицательных эмоций, вызываемых у пациентов; акцент на позитивных сторонах личности; взаимодействие строится в атмосфере взаимного принятия, способствующей самовыражению (физическому и духовному); открытость, четкое модулирование своих эмоций и рефлексии; активная позиция ведущих. As part of the work carried out, 84 patients undergoing inpatient treatment at the City Clinical Psychiatric Hospital of Tashkent during 2017-2020 were examined. The average age of the subjects was 35 years old, the minimum age was 21 years old, and the maximum age was 57 years old. The average duration of the disease is 6-7 years, the minimum is 1.5 years, and the maximum is 26 years. Patients with a continuous (F 20.x0), paroxysmal progressive course (F 20.x1) and paroxysmal with a stable defect (F 20.x2), with leading paranoid, asthenic and astheno-depressive syndromes, apatoabulic and mixed type of developing defect were studied. A special program of psychotherapeutic correction of patients with schizophrenia has been developed and carried out. Specificity of this program: minimum of negative emotions evoked in patients; emphasis on the positive sides of the personality; interaction is built in an atmosphere of mutual acceptance, conducive to self-expression (physical and spiritual); openness, clear modulation of your emotions and reflection; active position of the leaders.

Evaluation of Motor Coordination and Antidepressant Activities of Cinnamomum osmophloeum ct. Linalool Leaf Oil in Rodent Model

Cinnamomum plants (Lauraceae) are a woody species native to South and Southeast Asia forests, and are widely used as food flavors and traditional medicines. This study aims to evaluate the chemical constituents of Cinnamomum osmophloeum ct. linalool leaf oil, and its antidepressant and motor coordination activities and the other behavioral evaluations in a rodent animal model. The major component of leaf oil is linalool, confirmed by GC-MS analysis. Leaf oil would not induce the extra body weight gain compared to the control mice at the examined doses after 6 weeks of oral administration. The present results provide the first evidence for motor coordination and antidepressant effects present in leaf oil. According to hypnotic, locomotor behavioral, and motor coordination evaluations, leaf oil would not cause side effects, including weight gain, drowsiness and a diminishment in the motor functions, at the examined doses. In summary, these results revealed C. osmophloeum ct. linalool leaf essential oil is of high potential as a therapeutic supplement for minor/medium depressive syndromes.

Prevalence of Depressive Syndromes in Patients with Chronic Lumbosacral Radiculopathy

Study Objective: To study the prevalence of depressive syndromes in patients with chronic lumbosacral radiculopathy and pain syndrome, and to identify correlations between neuropathic pain and psychoemotional disturbances. Study Design: open perspective study. Materials and Methods. The study included 126 patients (45 (35.7%) males and 81 (64.3%) females) of 19 to 78 years old with verified unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy of L4, L5, S1 radicules resulting from degenerative damage of the spine lasting for more than 12 weeks. For assessment, we used the Pain Detect Questionnaire, visual analogue scale for pain syndrome, Oswestry Disability Index, and Beck Depression Inventory. Study Results. Among patients with chronic lumbosacral radiculopathy, depressive syndromes were diagnosed in 74 (587%) cases as follows: 26 (20.6%) patients had mild (subclinical) depression, 33 (26.2%) cases were of moderate intensity, 12 (9.5%) patients had marked, and 3 (2.4%) had severe depression. We used Spearmen’s rank-order correlation to identify statistically significant correlations between Beck Depression Inventory score and neuropathic pain syndrome intensity (Pain Detect Questionnaire) (r = 0.861; p = 0.006). Pain Detect Questionnaire and Oswestry score correlated as well (r = 0.745; p = 0.001). Conclusion. Chronic pain syndrome in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy resulting from degenerative damage of the spine is characterised by high comorbidity with depression. The results justify inclusion of psychoemotional assessment into a routine screening program for patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy. Keywords: depression, chronic back pain, lumbosacral radiculopathy, neuropathic pain syndrome.

Association of Late Life Depression, (Non-) Modifiable Risk and Protective Factors with Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease: Literature Review on Current Evidences, Preventive Interventions and Possible Future Trends in Prevention and Treatment of Dementia

The number of people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is growing rapidly, making dementia one of the biggest challenges for this century. Many studies have indicated that depression plays an important role in development of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease; depression, especially, during the late life may either increase the risk of dementia or even being its prodromal stage. Despite a notably large number of carried observational studies and/or clinical trials, the association between the late life depression and dementia remains, due to the complexity of their relationship, still unclear. Moreover, during past two decades multiple other (non-)modifiable risk and possibly protective factors such as the hypertension, social engagement, obesity, level of education or physical (in)activity have been identified and their relationship with the risk for development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease has been extensively studied. It has been proposed that to understand mechanisms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease pathogeneses require their multifactorial nature represented by these multiple factors to be considered. In this review, we first summarize the recent literature findings on roles of the late life depression and the other known (non-)modifiable risk and possibly protective factors in development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Then, we provide evidences supporting hypotheses that (i) depressive syndromes in late life may indicate the prodromal stage of dementia (Alzheimer’s disease) and, (ii) the interplay among the multiple (non-)modifiable risk and protective factors should be considered to gain a better understanding of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease pathogeneses. We also discuss the evidences of recently established interventions considered to prevent or delay the prodromes of dementia and provide the prospective future directions in prevention and treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease using both the single-domain and multidomain interventions.

Medications associated with development of drug-induced depression

More than 60 % of all depressive syndromes are reactive depression, which occurs in response to internal and external influences. One of the variants of reactive depression is drug-induced (drug-induced) or iatrogenic depression, which is a possible side effect of a number of medications. Depressogenic effect is described in both psychotropic and somatotropic drugs. Depressions that occur when using psychotropic drugs are most often associated with the duration of administration and large doses of the drug. Some antihypertensive, antiarrhythmic, hypolipidemic drugs, antibiotics, hormones, antiparkinsonian drugs and antineoplastic agents are most often mentioned in the series of somatotropic drugs that have a depressogenic effect. Drug-induced depression is one of the most controversial issues. this article presents a systematization of available literature data on depression associated with taking various drugs.

Chaihu-Shugan-San Reinforces CYP3A4 Expression via Pregnane X Receptor in Depressive Treatment of Liver-Qi Stagnation Syndrome

Backgrounds. Chaihu-Shugan-San (CSS) is a classic traditional Chinese herbal prescription for treating depression. However, the underlying mechanism of the Chinese syndrome-specific efficacy of CSS is poorly understood. Aim of the Study. From traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacogenetics perspectives, the present study aimed to investigate the antidepressant effects of CSS on a mouse model of Liver-Qi Stagnation (LQS) syndrome and its underlying mechanisms. Methods and Materials. We used two main mouse models of depressive syndromes in the study, including LQS and liver stagnation and spleen deficiency (LSSD) syndrome. Tail suspension and forced swimming tests were used to evaluate the effects of CSS on animal behaviour. The expression level of the CYP450 enzyme from liver microsomes was analysed by western blot (WB) analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). More specifically, we analysed the key compounds of CSS that are responsible for CYP450 regulation via bioinformatics. Ultimately, luciferase assays were employed to confirm the prediction in vitro. Results. CSS remarkably reduced the immobile time in LQS rather than in LSSD mice. Although CSS significantly upregulated CYP2C9 in mice with both syndromes, activated translation of CYP3A4 induced by CSS was only observed in the LQS group. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the unique regulation of CYP3A4 was responsible for the effects of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) from CSS. Further luciferase assays confirmed the enhancement of CYP3A4 expression via the pregnane X receptor (PXR) pathway in vitro. Conclusions. CSS specifically upregulates the translation of CYP3A4 via the PXR pathway in depressed LQS mice. GA, a bioactive compound that originates from CSS, contributes to this activation. This work provides novel insight into Chinese syndrome-based therapy for depression.