Prevalence of Depression among 6–15 Years of Age

Background: Aim: To assess cases of depression in children. Methods:Eighty- nine children age ranged 6-15 years of either gender were included. The level of depression among children was determined with Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).Results:Age group 6-10 years had 24, 10-12 years had 30 and 12-15 years had 35 children. Boys were 55 and girls were 34. Residence was urban in 39 and rural in 50. Family type was joint in 52 and nuclear in 37. A significant difference was observed (P< 0.05). 35% not at all felt little interest or pleasure in doing things, 52% not at all felt down depressed, 46% not at all felt trouble falling or staying asleep, 34% not at all felt tired, 60% not at all felt bad about yourself, 68% not at all felt trouble concentrating on things, 70% not at all felt moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed, 82% not at all felt thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in the some way. Level of depression was not at all in 12%, minimal in 35%, mild in 42%, moderate in 10% and severe in 1%. The difference was significant (P< 0.05).Conclusions:Most of the children had mild and minimal depression. Most of the children had feeling tired.

Biological and clinical correlates of the patient health questionnaire-9: exploratory cross-sectional analyses of the baseline health study

ObjectivesWe assessed the relationship between the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at intake and other measurements intended to assess biological factors, markers of disease and health status.Design, setting and participantsWe performed a cross-sectional analysis of 2365 participants from the Baseline Health Study, a prospective cohort of adults selected to represent major demographic groups in the USA. Participants underwent deep phenotyping on demographic, clinical, laboratory, functional and imaging findings.ImportanceDespite extensive research on the clinical implications of the PHQ-9, data are limited on the relationship between PHQ-9 scores and other measures of health and disease; we sought to better understand this relationship.InterventionsNone.Main outcomes and measuresCross-sectional measures of medical illnesses, gait, balance strength, activities of daily living, imaging and laboratory tests.ResultsCompared with lower PHQ-9 scores, higher scores were associated with female sex (46.9%–66.7%), younger participants (53.6–42.4 years) and compromised physical status (higher resting heart rates (65 vs 75 bpm), larger body mass index (26.5–30 kg/m2), greater waist circumference (91–96.5 cm)) and chronic conditions, including gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (13.2%–24.7%) and asthma (9.5%–20.4%) (p<0.0001). Increasing PHQ-9 score was associated with a higher frequency of comorbidities (migraines (6%–20.4%)) and active symptoms (leg cramps (6.4%–24.7%), mood change (1.2%–47.3%), lack of energy (1.2%–57%)) (p<0.0001). After adjustment for relevant demographic, socioeconomic, behavioural and medical characteristics, we found that memory change, tension, shortness of breath and indicators of musculoskeletal symptoms (backache and neck pain) are related to higher PHQ-9 scores (p<0.0001).ConclusionsOur study highlights how: (1) even subthreshold depressive symptoms (measured by PHQ-9) may be indicative of several individual- and population-level concerns that demand more attention; and (2) depression should be considered a comorbidity in common disease.Trial registration numberNCT03154346.

Validity and reliability of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) among university students of Bangladesh

This study investigated the reliability and factorial validity of General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) in the context of university students in Bangladesh. The research aimed to assess whether the original one-dimensional model or a model containing both somatic and cognitive-emotional factors is appropriate. A repeated cross-sectional survey design based on convenience sampling was used to collect data from 677 university students. The factor structure of the GAD-7 was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and its convergent validity was determined by investigating its correlations with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety-Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS). Results showed excellent reliability of GAD-7 as measured by Cronbach’s α. CFA suggested that a modified one-factor model is appropriate for the sample. This model provided high values of comparative fit index (CFI), goodness of fit index (GFI), and Tucker Lewis Index (TLI), low value of standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) and a non-significant root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). Correlation between GAD-7 and PHQ-9 was 0.751 and 0.934 between GAD-7 and PHQ-ADS. Overall, the study provided support for modified unidimensional structure for GAD-7 and showed high internal consistency along with good convergent validity.

Frequency and Correlation of Depression in Melasma Patients

Background: Melasma is hyper-pigmentation of skin, usually seen in young female adults, and previous studies have established substantial psychosocial burden associated with this disease. Aim: To measure the frequency of depression in melasma patients and its correlation with severity of melasma Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and duration of study: Dermatology OPD, HIT Hospital Taxila from 1st January 2021 to 31st August 2021 Methods: One hundred consecutive patients of melasma diagnosed by a skin specialist were enrolled. Elderly patients aged >60 years, those with previous psychiatric disease or chronic illnesses and on long term streroids were not included. After getting written informed consent, enrolled patients were screened for depression using Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) Results: There were 17 males and 83 females. The mean age was 41.5±8.14 years. On MASI scale for assessing severity of melasma, 38 patients scored mild, 51 scored moderate and 11 scored severe. Using Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) in patients with melasma, 18 patients didn’t have depression, 38 had mild depression, 31 had moderate depression, 6 had moderately severe depression and 7 had severe depression. Conclusion: The frequency of depression is quite high in patients suffering from melasma. It indicates a need for prompt diagnosis, appropriate intervention at correct time to ensure patient’s compliance to therapy to improve his disease outcome. Keywords: Depression, Melasma, Frequency

Saúde mental dos profissionais de saúde do serviço de atendimento móvel de urgência da cidade de Maceió durante a pandemia da Covid-19

A pandemia instituída pela Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS), devido ao surgimento desenfreado da cepa Sars-Cov-2, já existente, porém, não tão presente e/ou conhecido no meio, da família Coronaviridae, desencadeou um número elevado de infectados a nível mundial, principalmente de profissionais de saúde, e morte de milhares de pessoas. O objetivo é identificar os impactos causados durante esse período na saúde mental dos profissionais de saúde que atuam no Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência de Maceió-AL. A pesquisa foi realizada com esses profissionais, no Centro Universitário CESMAC, através de formulários online via Google forms. Os questionários foram divididos em três partes: a primeira tem a finalidade de avaliar a relação entre trabalho exercido e o medo de contrair a COVID-19, incidência de sintomas ansiosos e/ou depressivos durante a pandemia, entre outros; a segunda e terceira partes são utilizadas para aplicação do Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), para rastreamento de depressão, e o General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), para a frequência de sintomas ansiosos, nas últimas semanas. Os participantes da pesquisa apresentaram média de idade de 38,5 anos (DP: 10,5) e eu os mesmos apresentaram e desenvolveram com mais frequência ansiedade e depressão nesse período, principalmente naqueles que com idade menor, além de aumento no consumo de álcool, principalmente entre os profissionais do sexo masculino. Diante dos dados encontrados, faz-se necessária a busca por estratégias de orientação e prevenção quanto à saúde mental desses profissionais.