A-93 Comorbidity or Concussion: Can we Tell the Difference?

Objective To evaluate athletes with comorbid mood disturbances at baseline (without recent concussion) compared to those without mood symptoms tested post-concussion. This study is predicated upon previous findings showing that athletes with comorbidity at baseline demonstrate greater neurocognitive impairment, and report greater symptomatology, than healthy controls. It is currently unclear how athletes with comorbidity at baseline compare to athletes post-concussion. Method 119 college athletes completed objective neurocognitive testing, including measures of depression and anxiety. Athletes were separated into two groups: those with symptoms of comorbid anxiety/depression at baseline (n = 61,M = 35,F = 26) and those without such mood symptoms tested post-concussion (n = 58,M = 52,F = 6). All post-concussion athletes were tested within 14 days of injury. There were no overlapping athletes in these groups. Groups were compared on neurocognitive performance on mean z-score composites of Attention/Processing Speed (A/PS) and Memory. Results Regression results revealed that, on the A/PS composite, the Baseline Comorbid group (M = −0.15,SD = 0.64) did not differ significantly from the Post-Concussion Healthy Mood group (M = 0.05,SD = 0.62), t(117) = 1.75,p = 0.08, though there was a small effect size, d = 0.32. Additionally, on the Memory composite, the Baseline Comorbid Group (M = -0.12,SD = 0.69) did not differ from the Post-Concussion Healthy Mood group (M = -0.11,SD = 0.84), t(117) = 0.08,p = 0.94,d = 0.01. Conclusions These results suggest that athletes with comorbid anxiety/depression tested at baseline perform similarly to recently concussed athletes without mood disturbance, on objective neurocognitive measures. Thus, despite not experiencing recent injury, athletes with comorbidity present with similar neurocognitive profiles as athletes with recent concussions. These findings highlight the impact of comorbid mood disturbance on cognitive performance and demonstrate the importance of accounting for mood symptomatology when conducting neuropsychological assessments.

The effects of social comparison and depressive mood on adolescent social decision-making

Background Based on social comparison theory, two experiments were conducted to explore the effects of depression and social comparison on adolescents, using the ultimatum game (UG). Methods Before the formal experiment began, a preliminary experiment tested the effectiveness of social comparison settings. This study used the UG paradigm to explore adolescents’ social decision-making in the context of gain and loss through two experiments. These experiments were designed as a 2 (group: depressive mood group, normal mood group) × 2 (social comparison: upward, downward) × 3 (fairness level: fair 5:5, unfair 3:7, extremely unfair 1:9) three-factor hybrid study. Results (1) The fairer the proposal was, the higher the sense of fairness participants felt, and the higher their acceptance rate. (2) The acceptance rate of the participants for downward social comparison was significantly higher than that for upward social comparison, but there was no difference in fairness perception between the two social comparisons. (3) Under the context of gain, the acceptance rate of the depressive mood group was higher than that of the normal mood group, but there was no difference in the acceptance rate between the depressive mood group and the normal mood group under the loss context. Depressive mood participants had more feelings of unfairness in the contexts of both gain and loss. (4) The effects of depressive mood, social comparison and the fairness level of distribution on social decision-making interact. Conclusions The interaction of social comparison, depressive mood and proposal type demonstrates that besides one’s emotion, cognitive biases and social factors can also have an effect on social decision-making. These findings indicate that behavioral decision boosting may provide an avenue for appropriate interventions in helping to guide adolescents to make social decisions.

Follow up study on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder patients with and without comorbid mood disorders receiving Non Stimulant medication

Article Outline Abstract Introduction Patients and methods Procedure Statistical analysis Results Discussion Conclusion References Background Irritability is common in Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) which is sometimes associated with Mood symptoms. Results from community samples suggest that 4.3–23.5% of those with ADHD meet Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder diagnostic criteria. The Aim of this study: To compare the prognostic outcome of ADHD symptoms in ADHD children with comorbid mood disorders compared to those without comorbid mood disorders receiving non-stimulant medication. Patients and Methods This is An observational prognostic prospective study in which two groups of ADHD patients were included in the study, group 1 includes 40 ADHD patients without comorbid mood disorders and group 2 includes 40 ADHD patients with comorbid mood disorders, they were assessed using; The Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia for School Age Children Rating scales as Conners’ Parent Rating Scale-Revised Long Version, Pediatric behavior rating scale and Children Depression Inventory. Results ADHD symptoms (hyperactivity and inattention) were found to be improved regarding the hyperactivity in a statistically significant way in the mood group after 1 week of receiving non stimulant medications, while there was no significant change in the non-mood group, Also there was significant improvement of the inattention symptoms among the two groups after receiving non stimulant medication. Meanwhile severity of depressive symptoms showed an improvement in the mood group while there was no change in severity in the non-mood group. As regards the irritability symptoms it showed insignificant change in both groups among the two follow-ups. Conclusion There is a more significant decrease in inattention symptoms in ADHD children with comorbid mood disorder who received non-stimulant treatment for one week more than the children without comorbid mood disorder. Moreover the depressive symptoms decreases among patients with ADHD and mood disorders after one week of receiving non-stimulant treatment.

The Football Boost? Testing Three Models on Impacts on Sports Spectators’ Self-Esteem

To explain the wide attraction to sports, self-esteem impacts of a live American college football game were investigated; testing hypotheses were derived from mood-as-information, social identity, and sociometer frameworks along with previous research on sports and self-esteem. A three-wave field study measured mood, group affiliation, and self-esteem among 174 students at two different universities, immediately before and on 2 consecutive days after the football teams of these universities played in a much anticipated game. Both self-esteem and mood were affected 2 days after the game; however, fans of the winning team showed increased self-esteem (with no related mood improvement) while fans of the defeated team showed decreases in mood (with no related self-esteem deflation). Both the game outcome and the social viewing context influenced self-esteem. Impacts on self-esteem were mediated by both mood and group affiliation changes.

An investigation into the efficacy of a cognitive behavioural therapy group for low self-esteem in a primary care setting

Self-esteem refers to how an individual appraises themselves and is associated with good mental health. A number of studies have identified the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in the treatment of low self-esteem based on the formulation and treatment trajectory developed by Fennell (1999). However, there has been little empirical enquiry into the efficacy of the programme delivered in primary care. The current study investigated the effectiveness of a CBT programme for low self-esteem delivered within primary care. Fifty-four participants attended a 9-week ‘Boost Your Mood’ group programme. Paired sample t-tests were conducted on pre- and post-group scores on measures of depression, anxiety and self-esteem. Results indicated that there were statistically significant improvements in levels of depression, anxiety and self-esteem post-treatment. Findings are consistent with the suggestion that group CBT may be effective at increasing levels of self-esteem and reducing levels of depression and anxiety when delivered in a primary care setting.

Induced Positive Mood and Cognitive Flexibility: Evidence from Task Switching and Reversal Learning

Positive mood often facilitates cognitive functions. Facilitation is hypothesized to be due to an increase in dopamine occurring in positive mood states. However, facilitation has not been consistently found in studies of cognitive flexibility. This inconsistent relationship may reflect the numerous ways cognitive flexibility is measured. Moreover, there is evidence that the role of dopamine in cognitive flexibility performance depends on the type of measure used. In the current study, we employed a probabilistic two-card reversal learning task (n = 129) and a Stroop-like task switching procedure (n = 188) in a college student population. We used a standardized set of mood videos to induce a positive, negative, or neutral mood state. Negative mood states were included to account for possible effects of arousal on performance, which is seen in both positive and negative mood inductions. Based on current theories of positive mood and cognition, we hypothesized that there would be differences in the effects of a positive mood induction on cognitive flexibility as assessed by task switching and reversal learning tasks. The mood induction successfully induced high levels of amusement and increased valence in the positive mood group and high levels of repulsion and decreased valence in the negative mood group. However, there were no differences in cognitive flexibility across any of the mood groups, as assessed by switch costs in task switching and correct choices after the reversal in reversal learning. Overall, these findings do not support the hypothesis that positive mood improves cognitive flexibility.

Effects of depressive mood of female high school students on dysmenorrhea and sleep quality

BackgroundThis research aimed to identify the effects of depressive mood of female high school students on dysmenorrhea and sleep quality.MethodsThis research was conducted for 2 months from September 2015 to October 2015. A total of 3 types of self-reported questionnaire were adopted for the research. Control group was separated by Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (ZSDS). Each group adopted a self-made questionnaire for research on menstruation and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for research on sleep. Chi2 test and AVOVA analysis through SPSS-21 were used as statistics methods.ResultsAnalysis was made on 72 female students who submitted clear answers to the questionnaire. There were 34 students from normal mood group and 38 from depressive mood group. Depressive group presented meaningful results on regularity, pain severity, and drug treatment history of menstruation. Particularly, depressive group had 51.4% among subjects having severe menstrual pain of grade 3 by VMS (verbal multidimensional scoring system), way higher than 27.6% among subjects in the normal group. PSQI for sleep showed a meaningful result that 20.8% of those in the normal group were diagnosed with sleep disorder compared to 86.8% for the depressive group. A meaningful difference was seen in sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep disturbance, use of sleep medication, daytime functional disturbance among 7 items of PSQI.ConclusionThis research showed that female high school students with depressive mood had high frequency and severity in dysmenorrhea and sleep quality disturbance.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Identifying Individuals With Generalised Anxiety Disorder: A Receiver Operator Characteristic Analysis of Theoretically Relevant Measures

This article appraises the ability of several measures, assessing symptomatology theoretically relevant to generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), to accomplish successful classification of individuals with DSM-IV GAD and individuals with mood or other anxiety disorders. Participants were 197 individuals (average age = 36.43; 67.5% female) receiving treatment at a clinic, who completed pretreatment self-report measures. Receiver operator characteristic analyses and logistic regression analyses were employed to determine the classificatory abilities, including sensitivity and specificity, of several GAD relevant measures. The Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) accomplished significant classification in both comparison group dyads: GAD-Anxiety and GAD-Mood. Whereas the general distress of depression subscale of the Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire (MASQ) accomplished significant classification in the GAD-Anxiety group dyad, both the general distress of anxiety and anxious arousal subscales of the MASQ did so in the GAD-Mood group dyad. Only the PSWQ significantly predicted the presence of GAD, while controlling for other symptom variables. Though evidence supports the uniqueness of some symptoms of GAD, including worry, often considered pathognomonic to GAD, the modest areas under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity of the measures afford tenuous support for the utility of these measures. The lack of highly sensitive and specific symptomatology comport with critiques of GAD as a diagnostically delimited category.

Serum Soluble Adhesion Molecules and Markers of Systemic Inflammation in Elderly Diabetic Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Depressive Symptoms

The aim of the study was to determine the serum levels of soluble adhesion molecules and hs-CRP in elderly diabetics with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) alone or with depressive symptoms.Methods. 219 diabetics elders were screened for psychiatric disorders and divided: group 1, MCI without depressive mood; group 2, MCI with depressive mood; group 3, controls. Data of biochemical parameters and biomarkers were collected.Results. In groups 1 and 2 levels of all biomarkers were significantly higher as compared to controls. The highest level of hs-CRP and sICAM-1 was detected in group 2. SVCAM-1 and sE-selectin levels were also the highest in group 2; however they did not significantly differ as compared to group 1. MoCA score was negatively correlated with all biomarkers in group 1. The logistic regression model showed that variables which increased the likelihood of having depressive syndrome in MCI patients were older age, stroke, neuropathy, increased number of comorbidities, and higher sICAM-1 level.Conclusions. We first demonstrated that elderly diabetic patients with MCI, particularly those with depressive mood have higher levels of soluble adhesion molecules and markers of low-grade systemic inflammation. Coexisting depressive syndrome in patients with MCI through common inflammatory pathways may result in augmentation of psychiatric disorders.