A critical review of dimension-specific measures of health-related quality of life in cross-cultural research

Effect of intensity of persistent social isolation on mental health in the late middle-aged and older population: results of the Korea Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2006-2020)

BACKGROUND

Social isolation (SI) was recently identified as a significant public health issue in the United States. Consequently, several studies on the association between SI and mental health were conducted. However, few studies have considered the duration and intensity of SI. In the present study, a longitudinal analysis was conducted to determine the effect of the intensity of persistent SI on the mental health status of late middle-aged and older Koreans.

METHODS

After excluding missing values, data on 6200 participants were analyzed using the group-based trajectory model (GBTM) from the first to fifth Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) to categorise the SI trajectory (SIT). The Chi-square test, t-test, analysis of variance, and time-lagged generalised estimation equations were utilised from the fifth to eighth KLoSA to determine the association between SIT and the incidence of cognitive decline (the group with a Korean version Mini-Mental State Examination score of 23 or lower), cognitive function score, and depression score.

RESULTS

Four SIT groups were identified in the GBTM analysis. These were the non-SIT (21.7%), mild (46.8%), moderate (21.1%), and severe SIT (10.4%) groups. Compared to the non-SIT group, the severe SIT group experienced a greater incidence of cognitive decline (odds ratio = 1.57, P < 0.0001) as well as poorer cognitive function scores (B = -0.63, P < 0.0001) and depression scores (B = 0.90, P < 0.0001). Furthermore, stratified analysis by sex and age showed that mental health status was inversely proportionate to the intensity of SIT, particularly in males and patients, aged 65 years and above.

CONCLUSION

A close association was observed between SIT and mental health. This finding highlighted the need for policies and institutional measures to reduce the incidence of mental health deterioration among vulnerable groups due to the intensity of SI.

Early-life adversity is associated with poor iron status in infancy

Exposure to early-life adversity (ELA) and iron deficiency early in life are known risk factors for suboptimal brain and socioemotional development. Iron deficiency may arise from and co-occur with ELA, which could negatively affect development. In the present study, we investigated whether ELA is associated with iron deficiency in infants receiving no iron supplementation. This study is a secondary analysis of extant data collected in the 1990s; participants were healthy infants from working-class communities in Santiago, Chile (N = 534, 45.5% female). We measured stressful life events, maternal depression, and low home support for child development during infancy and assessed iron status when the infant was 12 months old. Slightly more than half of the infants were iron-deficient (51%), and 25.8% were iron-deficient anemic at 12 months. Results indicated that ELA was associated with lower iron levels and iron deficiency at 12 months. The findings are consistent with animal and human prenatal models of stress and iron status and provide evidence of the association between postnatal ELA and iron status in humans. The findings also highlight a nutritional pathway by which ELA may impact development and present a nutritionally-focused avenue for future research on ELA and psychopathology.

Well-Being in Highly Hypnotizable Persons

Both hypnotizability and well-being are relevant to health. This study aimed to investigate whether high hypnotizability was positively associated with well-being and whether the latter was related to the activity of the behavioral inhibition/approach system (BIS/BAS). ANOVA revealed significantly higher scores on the General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) in highly hypnotizable (highs, n = 31) compared with low hypnotizable participants (lows, n = 53), with medium hypnotizable participants (mediums, n = 41) exhibiting intermediate values. This finding was discussed in relation to other hypnotizability-related traits, such as morpho-functional brain characteristics, equivalence between imagery and perception, and interoceptive sensitivity. A secondary finding was a nonsignificant gender difference in scores on the PGWBI. The highs' higher well-being could be considered a favorable prognostic factor for physical and mental health.

Maternal corticosteroids and depression during gestation and decreased fetal heart rate variability

OBJECTIVE

Maternal depression during gestation is an adverse factor in fetal brain development that manifests in later childhood behavioral problems. Fetal heart rate variability (FHRV) mediated by parasympathetic input is a marker of gestational nervous system development. Biological mediators of adverse effects of maternal depression may involve the mother's corticosteroids; however, links between depression, corticosteroids, and early nervous system development remain inconclusive.

METHODS

Heart rate was recorded in 23 fetuses by transabdominal Doppler at 28-33 weeks gestation. The SD of interbeat intervals over 20 min assessed FHRV. Maternal depression ratings and hair concentrations of cortisol and cortisone were assayed. An auditory sensory gating paradigm assessed newborn development of cerebral inhibition. Parents rated their infant's temperament characteristics on the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised Short Form (IBQ-R).

RESULTS

Maternal depression was associated with lower FHRV, especially for male fetuses, β = -0.633, P = 0.045. Maternal depression was associated with lower cortisol to total corticosteroids ratios, β = -0.519, P = 0.033. Lower cortisol ratios were associated with decreased FHRV, β = 0.485, P = 0.019. Decreased FHRV was associated with increased newborn sensory gating deficits, β = -0.992, P = 0.035, indicating poorer development of cerebral inhibition. Higher FHRV was related to increased infant IBQ-R self-regulatory behaviors, r = 0.454, P = 0.029.

CONCLUSION

Maternal depression is associated via corticosteroids with decreased development of nervous system control of fetal heart rate. Decreased FHRV indicates developmental alterations in gestation that correlate with altered brain function and subsequent regulatory challenges in early infancy.

Mitigating medical student stress and anxiety: Should schools mandate participation in wellness intervention programs?

PURPOSE

Medical students are at increased risk of poor mental health and need to regularly engage in preventive programs to maintain well-being. However, many do not and it remains an open question whether these programs should be mandatory. We implemented a RCT to examine the effectiveness of assigning medical students to a wellness intervention on adherence to engagement in the assigned intervention and on psychological and academic outcomes.

METHOD

Medical students participated in a 12-week randomized controlled intervention involving one-hour wellness sessions of either (1) yoga; (2) mindfulness; or (3) walking, held twice-weekly. Students completed standardized psychological assessments at baseline and following the intervention.

RESULTS

Students randomized to the wellness intervention group engaged in more minutes of assigned activities than students randomized to the control. There was a significant difference in the change from pre- to post- intervention on measures of state anxiety and perceived stress, with better outcomes for the intervention group.

CONCLUSIONS

The assignment of twice-weekly wellness intervention sessions protects medical students from state anxiety and perceived stress with no negative impact on academic performance. Students adhered to the sessions and reported enjoying the sessions once trying them. Actual engagement is more important than wellness activity type.

Age-varying associations between physical activity and psychological outcomes among rural cancer survivors

We examined the prevalence of psychological outcomes (i.e., symptoms of depression and anxiety) by age and age-varying associations between physical activity and psychological outcomes among rural cancer survivors. Participants (N = 219; ages 22-93) completed sociodemographic, psychological, and physical activity questionnaires. Time-varying effect models estimated the prevalence of psychological outcomes and assessed associations between physical activity and psychological outcomes as a flexible function of age. Depression and anxiety symptoms decreased with age among cancer survivors aged 22-40 years and were relatively stable across age among those > 40 years. Positive associations between vigorous physical activity and psychological outcomes in those aged 22-40 years were identified. In those > 70-80 years, there were negative associations between vigorous physical activity and psychological outcomes. Results suggest there is variation across age in the associations between physical activity and psychological outcomes among rural survivors. Future research should further explore these age-varying relationships to identify important intervention targets.

Construct and criterion validity of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for depression: A clinimetric comparison

BACKGROUND

A number of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have been developed but insufficient attention has been devoted to the assessment of their clinimetric properties. Clinimetrics, the science of clinical measurements, has been considered an emerging approach for evaluating reliability and validity of PROs. This is the first study using clinimetric principles to compare the construct and criterion validity of the Major Depression Inventory (MDI), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5), three of the most widely used PROs for the assessment of depression.

METHODS

Construct validity was evaluated via Item Response Theory (IRT) models (i.e., combining Rasch and Mokken analyses). Using the ICD-10 diagnostic algorithm for any depression as the gold standard, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were performed to examine the criterion validity of PROs.

RESULTS

One hundred healthy subjects (73% females, 32.6 ± 10.5 years) participated in the study, giving a response rate of 90.1%. When using IRT analyses, MDI and WHO-5 were found to be reliable and unidimensional, while BDI-II showed lack of unidimensionality. ROC analyses supported the diagnostic accuracy of MDI and the screening properties of WHO-5.

LIMITATIONS

The main limitations of the present study are that healthy subjects were assessed only via only self-reported measures and a cross-sectional design was used.

CONCLUSIONS

WHO-5 and MDI outperformed BDI-II in terms of construct and criterion validity. WHO-5 should be considered when screening for depression, while MDI should be used as a valid diagnostic instrument and as a unidimensional measure to assess depression severity.

Culture in Cancer Survivorship Interventions for Asian Americans: A Systematic Review and Critical Analyses

Frequently hard to reach and underserved, Asian Americans are the racial group whose chief cause of mortality is cancer. Efficacious survivorship care is important, but little is known about extant intervention efforts for this community and how culture has been integrated into these efforts. This study examined cancer survivorship interventions for Asian Americans and how culture has been addressed, using an integrated framework consisting of goals, theory, methods, and cultural concordance in the persons of the interventions. Mixed methods comprising a systematic review and critical analyses were employed. Results indicate that only 13 interventions have been delivered to this community, with six of them pilot studies, and that they used a narrow range of focus on cancer type, with all interventions focusing on breast cancer survivorship. Applications of theory and methods were incongruent with cultural valuation of emotion expression and help seeking behavior. Cultural concordance was operationalized mostly as the racial ethnic match between interventionists and survivors. Deep culture factors including cultural beliefs and values were rarely specified. Theory and research should move beyond the currently prevalent definition of culture as race, ethnicity, or language, and interventions should consider the role of culture in their goals, theory, methods, and persons. Advances in theory and research are needed, as neither reliance on the Western paradigm nor assumptions about Asian Americans can be appropriate for achieving cultural validity. Future conceptualization and operationalization should consider culture more than race, ethnicity, or language.

Psychometric Data Linking Across HIV and Substance Use Cohorts

Psychometric data linking of psychological and behavioral questionnaires can facilitate the harmonization of data across HIV and substance use cohorts. Using data from the Collaborating Consortium of Cohorts Producing NIDA Opportunities (C3PNO), we demonstrate how to capitalize on previous linking work with a common linked depression metric across multiple questionnaires. Cohorts were young men who have sex with men (MSM), substance-using MSM, HIV/HCV cocaine users, and HIV-positive patients. We tested for differential item functioning (DIF) by comparing C3PNO cohort data with general population data. We also fit a mixed-effects model for depression, entering HIV-status and recent opioid/heroin use as fixed effects and cohort as a random intercept. Our results suggest a minimal level of DIF between the C3PNO cohorts and general population samples. After linking, descriptive statistics show a wide range of depression score means across cohorts. Our model confirmed an expected positive relationship between substance use and depression, though contrary to expectations, no significant association with HIV status. The study reveals the likely role of cohort differences, associated patient characteristics, study designs, and administration settings.

Maternal Prenatal Depression in Pregnancies With Female and Male Fetuses and Developmental Associations With C-reactive Protein and Cortisol

BACKGROUND

Prenatal depression has lasting effects on development in offspring, including later mental illness risk. Maternal responses to depression include inflammation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis stimulation. Effects on development of cerebral inhibitory neurocircuits may differ for female and male fetuses.

METHODS

Mothers (N = 181) were assessed periodically, beginning at 16 weeks' gestation, using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. Maternal prenatal C-reactive protein and hair cortisol and cortisone levels were determined. Cortisone was determined in neonatal hair. Development of cerebral inhibitory neurocircuits was assessed in 162 1-month-old newborns by inhibition of P50 electrophysiological responses to repeated sounds.

RESULTS

Maternal depression was associated with decreased newborn P50 inhibition in both sexes. Maternal C-reactive protein levels were significantly associated with depression only in pregnancies with male fetuses and with decreased newborn P50 inhibition only in male newborns. Maternal cortisol levels were significantly associated with depression only in pregnancies with female fetuses and with decreased newborn P50 inhibition only in female newborns. In pregnancies with male fetuses compared with pregnancies with female fetuses, cortisol was more robustly metabolized to cortisone, which does not activate cortisol receptors.

CONCLUSIONS

This study finds sex-specific associations of C-reactive protein and cortisol levels with prenatal depression in women and with decreased development of newborn P50 inhibition. Sex-based differences in maternal response to depression with inflammation or cortisol and their developmental effects may reflect evolutionary influences to promote survival in adversity. Decreased newborn P50 inhibition is associated with later childhood behavioral problems, and decreased P50 inhibition is a pathophysiological feature of several mental illnesses.

Objective and subjective socioeconomic status associated with metabolic syndrome severity among African American adults in Jackson Heart Study

PURPOSE

To assess independent associations between objective socioeconomic status (OSS) and subjective social status (SSS) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) severity and indicators among African American (AA) adults in the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) at baseline (2000-2004) and eight-year follow-up (2009-2013).

METHODS

Participants included 1724 AA adults from the JHS cohort (64.4 % women; mean age 53.4 ± 11.8). Associations of OSS (annual household income and school years completed) and SSS (measured with MacArthur Scales) with sex- and race/ethnic-specific MetS severity Z-score were examined after adjustment for demographics and MetS risk factors (i.e., nutrition, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and depressive symptoms) at baseline and eight-year follow-up.

PRINCIPAL RESULTS

Independent of OSS, demographic, psychosocial, and lifestyle factors, individuals with lower US-society SSS had more severe MetS at baseline. A significant interaction existed between sex and US-society SSS such that women with lower perceived social status had more severe MetS severity at baseline, and for every one unit increase in US-society SSS, MetS severity Z-score is estimated to decrease by 0.04. Components of MetS driving the relationship between US-society SSS and MetS severity at baseline were the inverse associations of SSS with glucose levels and the positive associations of SSS with HDL-C. Physical activity was independently associated with MetS severity at baseline, but not at eight-year follow-up.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

Though subjective and objective measures of social status are independently associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and MetS severity among AA adults, SSS may be a stronger predictor of MetS severity than OSS, particularly among women. SSS should be considered in conjunction with OSS when exploring social determinants of cardiometabolic health.

Associations between midlife chronic conditions and medication use with anxiety and depression: A cross-sectional analysis of the PREVENT Dementia study

Background

Multimorbidity including physical and mental illness is increasing in prevalence. We aimed to investigate the associations between physical conditions and medication use with anxiety and depression in midlife.

Methods

We conducted an observational cross-sectional study of volunteers in the PREVENT Dementia study. Using logistic and linear regression, we investigated the association between increasing numbers of self-reported chronic physical conditions and medications with self-reported depression and anxiety disorder, and scores on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) state subtest.

Results

Of the 210 participants, 148 (71%) were women and 188 (90%) Caucasian. The mean age was 52 (standard deviation (SD) = 5.5) years. The mean number of physical conditions was 2.2 (SD = 1.9) and medications 1.7 (SD = 2.2). Each additional physical condition was associated with increased odds of self-reported depression (odds ratio (OR) 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.80; p = 0.004, adjusted for age and gender) and anxiety disorder (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.30-2.37; p < 0.001). Increasing medication use was associated with self-reported depression (adjusted OR per additional medication 1.35, 95% CI 1.08-1.71; p = 0.008) but not anxiety disorder. For each additional condition, CES-D scores increased by 0.72 (95% CI 0.11-1.33; p = 0.020) and for each extra medication, by 0.88 (95% CI 0.32-1.44; p = 0.002). There was no significant association between increasing conditions and medications with STAI scores. In models accounting for antidepressant use, all associations were attenuated.

Conclusions

Having more physical conditions is associated with anxiety and depression in midlife, and taking more medications is associated with depression but not anxiety.

Mental Demands at the Workplace-Are Information Load, Time Control, and Exploration Associated With Depressiveness?

OBJECTIVE

According to self-determination theory, autonomy and competence are two essential basic human needs. It is the aim of this study to show that mental demands at the workplace (WPMDs) that address those basic needs can protect employees against depressiveness.

METHODS

Using a sample of 346 working participants (average age 56.2), we derived three WPMDs (Information Load, Time Control, and Exploration) via principal component analysis. We then analyzed how far they predict depressiveness, and how far this mechanism is mediated by perceived fit between job and person (PJF).

RESULTS

Time Control and Exploration significantly reduced depressiveness, and the relationship between exploration and depressiveness was mediated by PJF.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results emphasize the importance of addressing basic human needs at the workplace, and the relevance of PJF for employee mental health.

Occurrence of mood disorders among educationally active older adults in Bialystok, Poland: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Mood disorders in older people are an increasingly serious health and social problem, and their prevalence increases with age. The most common mood disorders are bipolar disorder, which is the occurrence of mania and hypomania, and depressive disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of mood disorders in a group of educationally active elderly people living in Bialystok, Poland.

METHODS

The study included a total of 162 people-residents of Bialystok-aged 60 or older; 135 women (83.33%) and 27 men (16.67%). The study used five standardized psychometric scales: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), Hypomania Check List (HCL-32), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (Zung SDS).

RESULTS

Nearly 90.00% of the respondents obtained GDS scores indicating the presence of mild depressive symptoms; however, on the Zung SDS, which also evaluates depression symptom levels, the result obtained in almost the same number of respondents showed an absence of these symptoms. A similar percentage of respondents also obtained values on the MDQ that allow to determine a lack of bipolar disorder characteristics in the studied population. Over half of the respondents (58.02%) did not show symptoms of hypomania using the HCL-32. There was a significant correlation between the results of the GDS and Zung SDS, the HCL-32 and MDQ, as well as the HCL-32 and Zung SDS in the total studied group.

CONCLUSIONS

Mood disorders, particularly depression, constitute a significant social and health problem in the group of educationally active older adults living in Bialystok. In light of the obtained research results, it is recommended to conduct and improve already realized health education programs for the elderly on the subject of mood disorder prevention and their impact on quality of life. There is a need for further research on mood disorders in the elderly to determine their prevalence on a national scale.

Effects of supervised exercise training during pregnancy on psychological well-being among overweight and obese women: secondary analyses of the ETIP-trial, a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

Women with high body mass index (BMI) have increased risk for symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy and postpartum. In this prespecified secondary analysis from the exercise training in pregnancy trial, our aim was to examine effects of supervised exercise during pregnancy on psychological well-being in late pregnancy and postpartum among women with a prepregnancy BMI ≥28 kg/m².

DESIGN

Single-centre, parallel group, randomised controlled trial.

SETTING

University Hospital, Norway.

PARTICIPANTS

Ninety-one women (age 31.2±4.1 years, BMI 34.5±4.2 kg/m²), 46 in the exercise group, 45 in the control group, were included in the trial.

INTERVENTION

The exercise group was offered 3 weekly supervised exercise sessions (35 min of moderate intensity walking/running and 25 min of resistance training), until delivery.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES MEASURES

Primary analyses were based on intention to treat, with secondary perprotocol analyses. To assess psychological well-being, we used the 'Psychological General Well-Being Index' (PGWBI) at inclusion (gestational week 12-18), late pregnancy (gestational week 34-37) and 3 months postpartum. We assessed postpartum depression using the 'Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale' (EPDS).

RESULTS

Numbers completed data collection: late pregnancy 72 (exercise 38, control 36), postpartum 70 (exercise 36, control 34). In the exercise group, 50% adhered to the exercise protocol. Baseline PGWBI for all women was 76.4±12.6. Late pregnancy PGWBI; exercise 76.6 (95% CI 72.2 to 81.0), control 74.0 (95% CI 69.4 to 78.5) (p=0.42). Postpartum PGWBI; exercise 85.4 (95% CI 81.9 to 88.8), control 84.6 (95% CI 80.8 to 88.4) (with no between-group difference, p=0.77). There was no between-group difference in EPDS; exercise 2.96 (95% CI 1.7 to 4.2), control 3.48 (95% CI 2.3 to 4.7) (p=0.55).

CONCLUSIONS

We found no effect of supervised exercise during pregnancy on psychological well-being among women with high BMI. Our findings may be hampered by low adherence to the exercise protocol.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT01243554.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Turner Syndrome and the Influence of Growth Hormone Therapy: A 20-Year Follow-Up

CONTEXT

The factors that affect the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of women with Turner syndrome (TS) are controversial.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to describe the HRQoL of women with TS with a focus on how given GH treatment and comorbidity influence HRQoL in adulthood and to compare HRQoL of women with TS with that of women in the general population.

DESIGN

Longitudinal cohort study, up to 20 years.

SETTING

The Turner Center at the Section for Endocrinology and Department of Reproductive Medicine at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

Women with TS (n = 200), age range 16 to 78 years, were included consecutively and monitored every fifth year between 1995 and 2018. Women from the World Health Organization MONItoring of trends and determinants for CArdiovascular disease project were used as reference populations.

INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

HRQoL was measured using the Psychological General Well-Being index and the Nottingham Health Profile. Associations with somatic variables were assessed using longitudinal linear regression models.

RESULTS

HRQoL was not associated with GH treatment in TS in spite of a mean 5.7 cm taller height. HRQoL was only associated with height per se in one of 13 subscales (P < 0.01). HRQoL was negatively affected by higher age, higher age at diagnosis, and hearing impairment in TS. Women with TS reported a similar HRQoL to the reference population.

CONCLUSIONS

No association between previous GH treatment and HRQoL was found during the up to 20 years of follow-up in women with TS. HRQoL of women with TS and the reference population was similar.

PTSD symptom severity and impulsivity among firefighters: Associations with alcohol use

Firefighters represent a unique population at high risk for trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and alcohol use. This study explored the main and interactive effects of PTSD symptom severity and impulsivity with regard to alcohol use severity. We hypothesized that higher levels of PTSD symptom severity and impulsivity would be related to greater alcohol use severity. Covariates included trauma load, depressive symptom severity, and romantic relationship status. The sample was comprised of 654 firefighters (Mage = 38.65, SD = 8.60) who endorsed exposure to potentially traumatic events and lifetime alcohol use. Firefighters completed an online questionnaire battery. A series of hierarchical regressions was conducted. PTSD symptom severity and impulsivity were significantly, incrementally associated with alcohol use severity, and a significant interactive effect was documented; firefighters with heightened PTSD symptom severity and impulsivity had the highest levels of alcohol use severity. This line of inquiry has great potential to inform prevention and intervention efforts for this vulnerable population. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

Personality profile and health-related quality of life in adults with previous continuous spike-waves during slow sleep syndrome

INTRODUCTION

Epilepsy with continuous spike-waves during slow sleep syndrome (CSWSS) is characterized by various seizure types, a characteristic EEG pattern and neuropsychological disorders. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of CSWSS occurred in childhood and to evaluate the variables that could influence the quality of social adaptation and the personality profile.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This is a prospective study on 24 young adults with previous CSWSS (median age 24.5 yrs) who were enrolled between January and July 2011 at the G. Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy. Patients were divided into two groups: twelve with previous spike-wave index (SWI > 85%) defined as typical CSWSS (T-CSWSS) and twelve with previous SWI = 50-85% defined as atypical CSWSS (A-CSWSS). All the subjects were submitted to Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI), and to a structured interview.

RESULTS

A correlation was observed with the severity of EEG abnormalities expressed by the SWI and outcome. The T-CSWSS group showed a significantly lower perceived well-being. Similarly in the T-CSWSS group the percentage of MMPI-2 clinical scales with T-scores ≥65 was higher than in the A-CSWSS group. Finally, a significant lower schooling in the T-CSWSS group was observed.

CONCLUSION

There seem to be two forms of the same disease, with similar onset and clinical evolution but a different outcome regarding the social and psychological conditions. The outcome of the social adaptation and of the personality consciousness was related with the severity of the EEG abnormalities: more favorable in patients with less intense SWI activity (A-CSWSS) compared those with a more severe EEG impairment (T-CSWSS).

Effect of depressive disorder on cognitive decline

This study longitudinally investigates the effect of depressive disorder on psychiatric disorder in middle aged and aged population from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) from 2006 to 2016 was assessed using longitudinal data analysis and 7515 research samples were included after excluding those with cognitive decline and missing information at baseline (2006). To analyze the association between depressive disorder on cognitive decline in middle aged and aged population, generalized estimating equation (GEE) model and chi-square test were used. The association between depressive symptom during a week and center for epidemiological studies depression (CESD) on cognitive decline was statistically significant, respectively with the following Odds ratio (OR) predicting decreased MMSE score: OR = 0.89 (p < .0001) for 5-7 days vs. less than a day and B = 0.91 (p < .0001) for depression (8-10) vs. healthy (zero). In terms of cognitive decline, depressive symptom was higher for 5-7 days (OR = 3.79, p < .0001) compared to less than a day. This study shows a statistically significant association between depressive disorder and cognitive decline in a Korean middle aged and aged population. These findings suggest the importance of managing depressive disorder for incident cognitive decline.

Comparison between different instruments for measuring health-related quality of life in a population sample, the WHO MONICA Project, Gothenburg, Sweden: an observational, cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

The general aim was to meet the need for empirical comparative studies of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessment instruments, by evaluating and comparing the psychometric properties and results of three different, widely used, generic HRQoL instruments in a population sample. The specific aims were to evaluate the subscales of the different instruments that measure the same domain and to assess the association between the HRQoL measures and a single-item self-rated health scale.

DESIGN

An observational cross-sectional study.

SETTING

A population-based sample from Gothenburg, Sweden, was studied in 2008 in the WHO MONItoring of trends and determinants for CArdiovascular disease.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 414 subjects were included, 77% women, age range 39-78 years.

INTERVENTIONS

The Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), the Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36), the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWB) and a self-rated health scale were used.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Scores were analysed for their psychometric properties, internal consistency (Cronbach's α), construct validity (Spearman's rank correlations and R2 coefficients) and discriminative ability for the presence of self-rated ill-health.

RESULTS

PGWB and SF-36 had higher Cronbach's α scores than NHP. All correlations calculated between the subscales that were conceptually similar were significant (p<0.01). All subscales could differentiate the presence of self-rated ill-health according to the self-rated health scale (p<0.001). The self-rated health scale correlated strongly with all of the three HRQoL instruments used.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a high concordance between the instruments within each domain that was conceptually similar. All three HRQoL instruments (PGWB, SF-36 and NHP) could discriminate the presence of self-rated ill-health. The simple and quick self-rated health scale correlated strongly with the more time-consuming PGWB, SF-36 and NHP. The result supports the existence of a strong association between the self-rated health scale and HRQoL in the general population.

Effect of grip strength on mental health

BACKGROUND

This study is to longitudinally investigate the association between grip strength and mental health disorders in middle aged and aged population from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging.

METHODS

Data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) from 2006 to 2016 was assessed using longitudinal data analysis and out of the 9279 research subjects gathered 1549 (16.7%) participants were reported as Q1 group and 2074 (22.4%) participants were reported as Q5 group. To analyze the association between grip strength and mental health disorders, generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was used.

RESULTS

The association between grip strength and cognitive decline was statistically significant, with the following Odds ratio (OR) predicting decreased cognitive decline: OR = 4.99 (p < .0001) for Q1 group vs. Q5 group. The association between grip strength and MMSE and CESD was also statistically significant, with the following estimate (B) predicting decreased MMSE score: B = -0.12 (p < .0001) for Q1 group vs. Q5 group. In terms of CESD, CESD score was higher for Q1 group (B = 0.34, p < .0001) compared to Q5 group.

CONCLUSION

This study shows a significant association between grip strength and risk of mental illness in Korean middle aged and aged population. Therefore, grip strength should be given more focus in terms of resistance training programs.

Comparing five depression measures in depressed Chinese patients using item response theory: an examination of item properties, measurement precision and score comparability

Background

Item response theory (IRT) has been increasingly applied to patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. The purpose of this study is to apply IRT to examine item properties (discrimination and severity of depressive symptoms), measurement precision and score comparability across five depression measures, which is the first study of its kind in the Chinese context.

Methods

A clinical sample of 207 Hong Kong Chinese outpatients was recruited. Data analyses were performed including classical item analysis, IRT concurrent calibration and IRT true score equating. The IRT assumptions of unidimensionality and local independence were tested respectively using confirmatory factor analysis and chi-square statistics. The IRT linking assumptions of construct similarity, equity and subgroup invariance were also tested. The graded response model was applied to concurrently calibrate all five depression measures in a single IRT run, resulting in the item parameter estimates of these measures being placed onto a single common metric. IRT true score equating was implemented to perform the outcome score linking and construct score concordances so as to link scores from one measure to corresponding scores on another measure for direct comparability.

Results

Findings suggested that (a) symptoms on depressed mood, suicidality and feeling of worthlessness served as the strongest discriminating indicators, and symptoms concerning suicidality, changes in appetite, depressed mood, feeling of worthlessness and psychomotor agitation or retardation reflected high levels of severity in the clinical sample. (b) The five depression measures contributed to various degrees of measurement precision at varied levels of depression. (c) After outcome score linking was performed across the five measures, the cut-off scores led to either consistent or discrepant diagnoses for depression.

Conclusions

The study provides additional evidence regarding the psychometric properties and clinical utility of the five depression measures, offers methodological contributions to the appropriate use of IRT in PRO measures, and helps elucidate cultural variation in depressive symptomatology. The approach of concurrently calibrating and linking multiple PRO measures can be applied to the assessment of PROs other than the depression context.

The cross-interaction between global and age-comparative self-rated health on depressive symptoms-considering both the individual and combined effects

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies suggesting the relation between self-rated health (SRH) and depression have been reported using different measures. Therefore, we attempted to determine the difference in a depressive scale based on the different ways of measuring health between global SRH (SRH-global) and age-comparative SRH (SRH-age). Then, the combined effect of SRH-global and SRH-age on depressive symptoms was further investigated.

METHODS

Data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) from 2008 to 2012 were analyzed. We divided the SRH-global and SRH-age into three levels-high, middle, and low-and combined each into nine new categories (SRH-combi). The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10 Korean edition was used as the dependent variable.

RESULTS

A total of 8621 participant were enrolled at baseline. Individuals with lower SRHs-age compared to SRH-global tended to be more vulnerable to depressive symptoms. Low SRH-global with low (b = 0.654, p < 0.001) and middle SRH-age (b = 0.210, p = 0.003) showed association with higher CESD scores. Participants with high SRH-global × low SRH-age also had higher scores (b = 0.536, p < 0.001) compared to the "middle SRH-global × middle SRH-age" reference group. In contrast, among the middle (b = -0.696, p < 0.001) and high SRH-global (b = -0.545, p < 0.001) groups, participants with superior SRH-age had statistically lower CESD scores than the reference group.

CONCLUSIONS

Although a sole general SRH has historically been widely used, it has been suggested that use of both general and age-comparative SRH would be more powerful and easy when we consider analyzing depression in old age.

Endoscopic transphenoidal surgery for acromegaly improves quality of life

BACKGROUND

Acromegaly has important effects on quality of life (QOL). This is the first study to measure QOL in acromegalic patients after endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETSS).

METHODS

We prospectively collected the RAND-36, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D), and Pituitary QOL validated questionnaires and patients' demographics, clinical presentation, endocrine laboratory results, radiological studies, development of complications and remission rates from 20 consecutive acromegalic patients who had undergone endoscopic transphenoidal surgery.

RESULTS

The eleven females and nine males had an average age of 42 years; 90 percent had macroadenomas and 70% had cavernous sinus invasion on their preoperative imaging. Ninety percent had improved symptoms post-operatively and 80% stated that treatment improved their QOL. Biochemically, 35% were cured, 35% had discordant results and 30% were not cured, while pan-hypopituitarism occurred in 4 patients. Physical health subscales and pituitary-related symptoms were similar to norms. "Social," "emotional health," and "energy levels" were significantly lower than norms. Seventy percent stated that their relationship with their physician "very much so" affected their quality of life. Pan hypopituitarism and adjuvant therapy were the most significant predictors of lower QOL subscale scores.

CONCLUSION

Transsphenoidal surgery improves QOL in acromegaly. Attempts to achieve a cure, avoidance of surgically induced pan-hypotpituitarism and adjuvant therapy, will improve quality of life. Our study demonstrates the important role of the patient-physician relationship to QOL and the need to measure QOL in addition to the traditional measures of outcome.

A clinimetric analysis of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R) in general population studies (Denmark, Norway, and Italy)

BACKGROUND

Although the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R) is one of the most widely used self-reported scales covering several psychopathological states, the scalability of the SCL-90-R has been found to be very problematic.

AIMS

We have performed a clinimetric analysis of the SCL-90-R, taking both its factor structure and scalability (i.e. total scale score a sufficient statistic) into account.

METHODS

The applicability of the SCL-90-R has been found acceptable in general population studies from Denmark, Norway and Italy. These studies were examined with principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the factor structure. The scalability of the traditional SCL-90-R subscales (i.e. somatization, hostility, and interpersonal sensitivity) as well as the affective subscales (i.e. depression and anxiety and ADHD), were tested by Mokken's item response theory model.

RESULTS

Across the three general population studies the traditional scaled SCL-90-R factor including 83 items was identified by PCA. The Mokken analysis accepted the scalability of both the general factor and the clinical SCL-90-R subscales under examination.

CONCLUSION

The traditional, scaled, general 83 item SCL-90-R scale is a valid measure of general psychopathology. The SCL-90-R subscales of somatization, hostility, and interpersonal sensitivity as well as the affective subscales of depression, anxiety, and ADHD were all accepted by the Mokken test for scalability, i.e. their total scores are sufficient statistics.

A post-earthquake psychopathological investigation in Armenia: methodology, summary of findings, and follow-up

The post-earthquake psychopathological investigation (PEPSI) was designed to probe the short-and long-term effects of the earthquake in northern Armenia on 7 December 1988 on survivors' mental and physical health. Four phases of this study have been conducted to date, and, overall, more than 80 per cent of a sub-sample of 1,773 drawn from an initial cohort of 32,743 was successfully followed during 2012. This paper describes the methodology employed in the evaluation, summarises previous findings, details the current objectives, and examines the general characteristics of the sample based on the most recent follow-up phase outcomes. Despite a significant decrease in psychopathology rates between 1990 and 2012, prevalence rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression among study participants in 2012 were greater than 15 and 26 per cent, respectively. The paper also notes the strengths and limitations of the study vis-à-vis future research and highlights the importance and potential practical implications of similar assessments and their outcomes.

Domestic Violence and Women's Mental Health in Chile

Domestic violence against women is a pervasive, global health problem. This study investigates the correlates and psychological outcomes of domestic abuse among women in a semi-industrial country. The participants included 215 mothers residing in working-class communities located on the outskirts of Santiago, Chile. We utilized structural equation modeling to test the hypothesis that poverty and other structural inequalities would be related to incidents of domestic abuse in Chile, as they are in the United States. Our results suggest that lower socioeconomic status, even within poor communities, and stressful life events have a direct relationship to domestic conflict. Domestic abuse was, in turn, associated with women's mental health such that greater domestic conflict was related to higher reports of depressive affect and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. The importance of identifying similarities and differences in the occurrence of domestic violence in developing countries as compared to industrialized countries is discussed.

Depression Trajectories of Antenatally Depressed and Nondepressed Young Mothers: Implications for Child Socioemotional Development

OBJECTIVES

This study explores the longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms in young mothers and investigate the consequences of maternal depression for children's birth outcomes and behavioral adjustment.

HYPOTHESIS

Antenatal depression puts children of young mothers at risk for adjustment difficulties by adversely impacting birth outcomes and maternal symptoms after birth.

METHODS

Data were drawn from a three-wave randomized, controlled trial of a statewide home visiting program for young primiparous women. A subsample of women (n = 400) who were prenatal at intake was used in the analysis. Mothers were divided into an antenatally depressed group (ADG; 40%) and a healthy group (HG) based on their symptoms at intake. Mothers reported depressive symptoms at intake and 12- and 24-month follow-up, and filled out a checklist of child behavior problems at 24 months follow-up. Perinatal and birth outcomes were derived from the Electronic Birth Certificate collected by the State Department of Public Health at discharge from the hospital.

RESULTS

ADG and HG had similar pregnancy characteristics and birth outcomes, but ADG reported more child behavioral problems. Multigroup latent growth curve analysis provided evidence for distinct depression trajectories. A mediation hypothesis was not supported. In both groups, steeper increase in symptoms over time predicted more mother-reported child behavioral problems.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings are consistent with studies linking antenatal depression with post-birth symptoms, underscoring the importance of prenatal screening for depression.

A Cross-Cultural Study of the Cognitive Model of Depression: Cognitive Experiences Converge between Egypt and Canada

INTRODUCTION

Models of depression that arise in the West need to be examined in other regions of the world. This study examined a set of foundational hypotheses generated by Beck's cognitive model of depression among depressed individuals in Egypt and Canada.

METHOD

We recruited 29 depressed and 29 non-depressed Egyptians and compared their results with those of 35 depressed and 38 non-depressed Canadians. Depression status was ascertained using a structured interview, scores on the Beck Depression Inventory, and scores on the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire. Participants completed questionnaires designed to measure the frequency of negative and positive automatic thoughts (ATQ-N, BHS, and ATQ-P), and dysfunctional attitudes (DAS).

RESULTS

Depressed individuals in both countries had significantly more negative thoughts about self and future, greater frequency of dysfunctional attitudes, and diminished positive self-thoughts in comparison to non-depressed individuals. Egyptians generally showed significantly more dysfunctional attitudes than their Canadian counterparts.

DISCUSSION

The four hypotheses that were tested were supported among the depressed Egyptian sample, which is consistent with the cognitive model. Implications for the cognitive-behavioral model and treatment for this group of sufferers are discussed.

Race/ethnic Differences in Post-stroke Depression (PSD): Findings from the Stroke Warning Information and Faster Treatment (SWIFT) Study

OBJECTIVE

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is common and associated with poor stroke outcomes, but few studies have examined race/ethnic disparities in PSD. Given the paucity of work and inconsistent findings in this important area of research, our study aimed to examine race/ethnic differences in depression in a multi-ethnic cohort of stroke patients.

DESIGN

Longitudinal.

SETTING

Prospective trial of a post-stroke educational intervention.

PARTICIPANTS

1,193 mild/moderate ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We used the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale to assess subthreshold (CES-D score 8-15) and full (CES-D score ≥ 16) depression at one month ("early") and 12 months ("late") following stroke. Multinomial logistic regression analyses examined the association between race/ethnicity and early and late PSD separately.

RESULTS

The prevalence of subthreshold and full PSD was 22.5% and 32.6% in the early period and 22.0% and 27.4% in the late period, respectively. Hispanics had 60% lower odds of early full PSD compared with non-Hispanic Whites after adjusting for other covariates (OR=.4, 95% CI: .2, .8). Race/ethnicity was not significantly associated with late PSD.

CONCLUSIONS

Hispanic stroke patients had half the odds of PSD in early period compared with Whites, but no difference was found in the later period. Further studies comparing trajectories of PSD between race/ethnic groups may further our understanding of race/ethnic disparities in PSD and help identify effective interventions.

Psychometric Limitations of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale for Assessing Depressive Symptoms among Adults with HIV/AIDS: A Rasch Analysis

The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale is a widely used measure of depressive symptoms, but its psychometric properties have not been adequately evaluated among adults with HIV/AIDS. This study used an item response theory approach (Rasch analysis) to evaluate the CES-D's validity and reliability in relation to key demographic and clinical variables in adults with HIV/AIDS. A convenience sample of 347 adults with HIV/AIDS (231 males, 93 females, and 23 transgenders; age range 22-77 years) completed the CES-D. A Rasch model application was used to analyze the CES-D's rating scale functioning, internal scale validity, person-response validity, person-separation validity, internal consistency, differential item functioning (DIF), and differential test functioning. CES-D scores were generally high and associated with several demographic and clinical variables. The CES-D distinguished 3 distinct levels of depression and had acceptable internal consistency but lacked unidimensionality, five items demonstrated poor fit to the model, 15% of the respondents demonstrated poor fit, and eight items demonstrated DIF related to gender, race, or AIDS diagnosis. Removal of misfitting items resulted in minimal improvement in the CES-D's substantive and structural validity. CES-D scores should be interpreted with caution in adults with HIV/AIDS, particularly when comparing scores across gender and racial groups.

Reduced Quality of Life in Patients with Pituitary Dysfunction After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Prospective Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVE

Pituitary dysfunction (PD) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has been demonstrated in several studies. Given the similarities between psychological symptoms and reduced quality of life (QoL) in patients with PD and fatigue commonly seen in patients after SAH, we investigated the relationship between QoL and PD after SAH.

METHODS

There were 51 patients with aneurysmal SAH prospectively recruited and evaluated for health-related QoL using the Psychological General Well-Being Index. Evaluations were conducted 3-6 months (n = 45), 6-12 months (n = 44), and 12-24 months (n = 44) after SAH, with concomitant assessment of endocrine function. The study protocol also included a magnetic resonance imaging examination 3 months after SAH.

RESULTS

Mean general well-being scores showed a positive trend from 97.3 at 3-6 months to 104.3 at 12-24 months for all patients. Multiple regression analysis identified age, sex, Hunt and Hess grade, and PD as independent predictors for general well-being. Patients with PD had significantly lower scores compared with patients with normal pituitary function at 3-6 months (85.4 vs. 101.7) and 6-12 months (90.4 vs. 105.3). This result was due to central hypoadrenalism (score 81.6 at 3-6 months and score 82.2 at 6-12 months) but not other types of PD. The extent of magnetic resonance imaging lesions had a significant negative correlation to Glasgow Outcome Scale score at all follow-up evaluations. All patients with hypothalamic magnetic resonance imaging lesions had evidence of PD at some point during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

The results support PD, and central hypoadrenalism in particular, as a contributing factor for impaired health-related QoL in patients after SAH.

Patient-reported outcome measures in vascular surgery

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after vascular surgery are becoming increasingly important in the current era of health care reform. Although a number of general quality of life instruments exist, vascular disease-specific instruments may provide more targeted data on how patients feel after specific interventions. Here we provide a review of both generic and disease-specific instruments focused on arterial conditions, including peripheral arterial disease, carotid arterial disease, and aortic disease, which have been described in the literature. While many different tools currently exist, there is a paucity of well-validated, specific instruments that accurately reflect functional and objective measures of patients' arterial disease burden. A full understanding of the existing tools available to assess patients' perceived lifestyle impact of their disease and its treatments is essential for both research and clinical purposes, and to highlight the need for additional work on this topic.

Psychometric properties of the Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised Short-Form in a South African population

The Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised Short-Form (SPSI-R:SF) has been used in several countries to identify problem-solving deficits among clinical and general populations in order to guide cognitive-behavioural interventions. Yet, very few studies have evaluated its psychometric properties. Three language versions of the questionnaire were administered to a general population sample comprising 1000 participants (771 English-, 178 Afrikaans- and 101 Xhosa-speakers). Of these participants, 210 were randomly selected to establish test-retest reliability (70 in each language). Principal component analysis was performed to examine the applicability of the factor structure of the original questionnaire to the South African data. Supplementary psychometric analyses were performed, including internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Collectively, results provide initial evidence of the reliability and validity of the SPSI-R:SF for the assessment of problem solving deficits in South Africa. Further studies that explore how the Afrikaans language version of the SPSI-R:SF can be improved and that establish the predictive validity of scores on the SPSI-R:SF are needed.

In vivo β-adrenergic receptor responsiveness: ethnic differences in the relationship with symptoms of depression and fatigue

BACKGROUND

Depressive symptoms and fatigue frequently overlap in clinical samples and the general population. The link of depressive symptoms and fatigue with increased risk of cardiovascular disease has been partly explained by shared biological mechanisms including sympathetic overactivity. Prolonged sympathetic overactivity downregulates the responsiveness of the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR), a receptor that mediates several end-organ sympathetic responses.

PURPOSE

The authors studied whether depression and fatigue are related to reduced β-AR responsiveness within the human body (in vivo) in an ethnically diverse sample of African and Caucasian Americans.

METHODS

The chronotropic25 dose (CD25) was used to determine in vivo β-AR responsiveness in 93 healthy participants. Psychometric measures included the Center of Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale and the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory.

RESULTS

Hierarchical regression analyses (adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, blood pressure, smoking, and ethnicity) revealed that mental fatigue was significantly related to reduced β-AR responsiveness (i.e., higher CD25 values) in the whole sample. Moderation analyses indicated significant ethnicity × depression/fatigue interactions. Depressive symptoms, total fatigue, emotional fatigue, mental fatigue, and physical fatigue were related to reduced β-AR responsiveness in Caucasian American but not in African Americans.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that symptoms of depression and fatigue are related to decreased in vivo β-AR responsiveness in Caucasian Americans. The lack of this association in African Americans highlights the importance for considering ethnicity as a potential moderator in research focusing on associations between psychological variables and cardiovascular function.

Sense of coherence in young people with congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVE

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have been found to play a role in the development of clinical complications. Hence, it is crucial to understand why some patients do well in terms of PROs and others do not and to identify these groups of patients. Sense of coherence (SOC), capturing a person's outlook on life, is associated with PROs in adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD). Therefore, we (1) examine how SOC develops in young people with CHD, (2) identify subgroups of SOC development, and (3) characterize subgroups in terms of demographic and clinical variables and PROs.

METHOD

In this 4-wave longitudinal study, 429 adolescents with CHD (53.4% boys; median age = 16.3 years) completed assessments of SOC (SOC-13). PROs included quality of life (linear analog scale), loneliness (UCLA-8), depression (CES-D), and perceived health (PedsQL). Latent class growth analysis was used to identify clinically meaningful subgroups of SOC development.

RESULTS

Patients with CHD had a moderate SOC that slightly decreased over the first 18 months. Four subgroups of SOC development emerged: Consistently High (27%), Intermediate Stable (41%), Intermediate Decreasing (25%), and Chronically Low (7%). Subgroups differed in terms of sex and PROs, but not in terms of age, disease complexity, primary diagnosis, or surgical history.

CONCLUSION

Patients with a strong and stable SOC over time showed a better adaptation than patients with a lower and/or decreasing SOC. Our results can guide the identification of patients at risk for adverse health outcomes and the development of interventions to enhance optimal living in patients with CHD.

Correlates of lifetime trauma exposure among pregnant women from Cape Town, South Africa

A cross-sectional survey of 298 pregnant women from Cape Town, South Africa was conducted to examine socio-demographic, reproductive health, mental health, and relationship correlates of lifetime trauma exposure and whether these correlates vary as a function of age. Overall, 19.8% of participants reported trauma exposure. We found similarities and differences in correlates of trauma exposure among women in emerging adulthood and older women. Prior termination of pregnancy was associated with trauma exposure in both age groups. Difficulties in resolving arguments, lifetime substance use, and a prior sexually transmitted infection were associated with trauma exposure among women in emerging adulthood. In contrast, depression and awareness of substance abuse treatment programmes were associated with trauma exposure among older women. These findings highlight the need for interventions that prevent and treat trauma exposure among vulnerable women. Such interventions should be tailored to address the correlates of trauma exposure in each age group.

Using nature-based rehabilitation to restart a stalled process of rehabilitation in individuals with stress-related mental illness

After a period of decrease, sick leave in Sweden due to psychiatric diagnoses is on the increase. The lack of established rehabilitation programmes for patients with stress-related mental disorders (SRMD) has opened up for the use of garden/nature in a multimodal rehabilitation context (Nature-Based Rehabilitation, NBR). Region Västra Götaland (VGR) started an NBR to offer additional rehabilitation for its employees on long-term sick leave due to SRMD, where initial care had not been sufficient. The aim was to explore whether the mental health and well-being of NBR participants had improved at the end of the NBR and at three follow-ups, and to explore the development of sick leave and health care utilization according to the NBR model (n = 57) and an occupational health service (OHS) model (n = 45). Self-assessment instruments for measuring burnout, depression, anxiety and wellbeing, and data from regional and national registers were used. Results showed decreased scores on burnout, depression and anxiety, and increased well-being scores and significantly reduced health care utilization in the NBR group. A large movement from ordinary sickness benefit to rehabilitation benefit was observed, which was not observed in the OHS group. The two groups were in different rehabilitation phases, which limited comparisons. The results point to beneficial effects of using NBR for this patient group and for enhancing a stalled rehabilitation process.

Accurately measuring the quality and effectiveness of lumbar surgery in registry efforts: determining the most valid and responsive instruments

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Prospective registries have emerged as a feasible way to capture real-world care across large patient populations. However, the proven validity of more robust and cumbersome patient-reported outcomes instruments (PROis) must be balanced with what is feasible to apply in large-scale registry efforts.

PURPOSE

To determine the relative validity and responsiveness of common PROis in accurately determining effectiveness of lumbar fusion for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis in registry efforts.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Fifty-eight patients undergoing transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis

OUTCOME MEASURES

Patient-reported outcome measures for pain (numeric rating scale for back and leg pain [NRS-BP, NRS-LP]), disability (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]), general health (Short Form [SF]-12), quality of life (QOL) (EuroQol five dimensions [EQ-5D]), and depression (Zung depression scale [ZDS]) were assessed.

METHODS

Fifty-eight patients undergoing primary TLIF for lumbar spondylolisthesis were entered into an institutional registry and prospectively followed for 2 years. Baseline and 2-year patient-reported outcomes were assessed. To assess the validity of PROis to discriminate between effective and noneffective improvements, receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for each outcomes instrument. An area under the curve (AUC) of ≥0.80 was considered an accurate discriminator. The difference between standardized response means (SRMs) in patients reporting meaningful improvement versus not was calculated to determine the relative responsiveness of each instrument.

RESULTS

For pain and disability, ODI had AUC=0.94, suggesting it as an accurate discriminator of meaningful improvement. Oswestry Disability Index was most responsive to postoperative improvement (SRM difference: 2.18), followed by NRS-BP and NRS-LP. For general health and QOL, SF-12 physical component score (AUC: 0.90), ZDS (AUC: 0.89), and SF-12 mental component score (AUC: 0.85) were all accurate discriminators of meaningful improvement, however, EQ-5D was most accurate (AUC: 0.97). EuroQol five dimensions was also most responsive (SRM difference: 2.83).

CONCLUSIONS

For pain and disability, ODI was the most valid and responsive measure of effectiveness of lumbar fusion. Numeric rating scale-BP and NRS-LP should not be used as substitutes for ODI in measuring effectiveness of care in registry efforts. For health-related QOL, EQ-5D was the most valid and responsive measure of improvement, however, SF-12 and ZDS are valid alternatives with less responsiveness.

Improving symptom communication through personal digital assistants: the CHAT (Communicating Health Assisted by Technology) project

BACKGROUND

Communication problems impede effective symptom management during chemotherapy. The primary aim of this pilot randomized controlled trial was to test the effects of a personal digital assistant-delivered communication intervention on pain, depression, and fatigue symptoms among breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Secondary aims included assessment of 1) study feasibility, 2) patient and clinician responses to study participation, and 3) intervention effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and communication self-efficacy.

METHODS

Intervention group participants (n = 27) completed symptom inventories at baseline, once per week during treatment, and at posttreatment. Depending on symptom severity, they viewed race-concordant videos on how to communicate about pain, depression and/or fatigue, using the personal digital assistant. Symptom records were tracked and shared with clinicians. Control group participants (n = 23) received usual care. Longitudinal random effects modeling assessed the changes in average symptom scores over time. Descriptive statistics assessed study feasibility and intervention effects on HRQoL and communication self-efficacy. Postintervention focus groups, interviews, and surveys assessed responses to study participation.

RESULTS

Mean age of the participants was 51.0 years; 42 participants (84%) were white. In comparison with control, intervention group participants reported lower average pain severity over time (P = .015). Mean pain interference scores over time were marginally different between groups (P = .07); mean depression and fatigue scores over time were statistically nonsignificant. Feasibility outcomes and perspectives about study participation were positive. Mean pre-post decreases in HRQoL were generally higher among intervention group participants; pre-post changes in communication self-efficacy were equivalent.

CONCLUSION

Mixed findings of the study indicate the need for future research.

Two-year comprehensive medical management of degenerative lumbar spine disease (lumbar spondylolisthesis, stenosis, or disc herniation): a value analysis of cost, pain, disability, and quality of life

Object

Current health care reform calls for a reduction of procedures and treatments that are less effective, more costly, and of little value (high cost/low quality). The authors assessed the 2-year cost and effectiveness of comprehensive medical management for lumbar spondylolisthesis, stenosis, and herniation by utilizing a prospective single-center multidisciplinary spine center registry in a real-world practice setting.

Methods

Analysis was performed on a prospective longitudinal quality of life spine registry. Patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis (n = 50), stenosis (n = 50), and disc herniation (n = 50) who had symptoms persisting after 6 weeks of medical management and who were eligible for surgical treatment were entered into a prospective registry after deciding on nonsurgical treatment. In all cases, comprehensive medical management included spinal steroid injections, physical therapy, muscle relaxants, antiinflammatory medication, and narcotic oral agents. Two-year patient-reported outcomes, back-related medical resource utilization, and occupational work-day losses were prospectively collected and used to calculate Medicare fee–based direct and indirect costs from the payer and societal perspectives. The maximum health gain associated with medical management was defined as the improvement in pain, disability, and quality of life experienced after 2 years of medical treatment or at the time a patient decided to cross over to surgery.

Results

The maximum health gain in back pain, leg pain, disability, quality of life, depression, and general health state did not achieve statistical significance by 2 years of medical management, except for pain and disability in patients with disc herniation and back pain in patients with lumbar stenosis. Eighteen patients (36%) with spondylolisthesis, 11 (22%) with stenosis, and 17 (34%) with disc herniation eventually required surgical management due to lack of improvement. The 2-year improvement did not achieve a minimum clinically important difference in any outcome measure. The mean 2-year total cost (direct plus indirect) of medical management was $6606 for spondylolisthesis, $7747 for stenosis, and $7097 for herniation.

Conclusions

In an institution-wide, prospective, longitudinal quality of life registry that measures cost and effectiveness of all spine care provided, comprehensive medical management did not result in sustained improvement in pain, disability, or quality of life for patients with surgically eligible degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis, stenosis, or disc herniation. From both the societal and payer perspective, continued medical management of patients with these lumbar pathologies in whom 6 weeks of conservative therapy failed was of minimal value given its lack of health utility and effectiveness and its health care costs. The findings from this real-world practice setting may more accurately reflect the true value and effectiveness of nonoperative care in surgically eligible patient populations.

Equity of access to mental health care for anxiety and depression among different ethnic groups in four large cities in the Netherlands

PURPOSE

This study explored (in)equities between ethnic groups in the Netherlands regarding their access to health care for symptoms of common mental disorders (CMD).

METHODS

Data were used from a health survey conducted in four Dutch cities in 2008, including 11,678 Dutch, 700 Turkish, 571 Moroccans, 956 Surinamese and 226 Antilleans/Arubans. The prevalence of a medium to high risk of having CMD per ethnic group and of health care consumption by ethnic groups of people, likely having CMD, was calculated, using SPSS Complex Samples weighting for gender, age and district. Logistic regression models were used for assessing the association between health care utilisation and need, demographic factors, social structure and enabling resources.

RESULTS

The prevalence of a medium to high risk of having CMD was 42.9 % (Dutch), 50.3 % (Turkish), 37.3 % (Moroccans), 51.5 % (Surinamese) and 44.9 % (Antilleans/Arubans). The 1-year prevalence of contacts with the general practitioner by ethnic groups of people who were likely having CMD was 81.2 % (Dutch), 87.2 % (Turkish), 88.4 % (Moroccans), 88.6 % (Surinamese) and 76.6 % (Antilleans/Arubans). Concerning specialised mental health care, this one-year prevalence was 15.9 % (Dutch), 25.8 % (Turkish), 19.7 % (Moroccans), 17.1 % (Surinamese) and 20.5 % (Antilleans/Arubans). The elevated use of health care by some ethnic minority groups was partly associated with need and demographic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

There are no indications for an inequitable access to health care for symptoms of CMD among different ethnic groups in the Netherlands.

Do HIV-positive women receive depression treatment that meets best practice guidelines?

This study addressed whether psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatment of depressed HIV+ women met standards defined in the best practice literature, and tested hypothesized predictors of standard-concordant care. 1,352 HIV-positive women in the multi-center Women's Interagency HIV Study were queried about depressive symptoms and mental health service utilization using standards published by the American Psychiatric Association and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to define adequate depression treatment. We identified those who: (1) reported clinically significant depressive symptoms (CSDS) using Centers for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale scores of ≥16; or (2) had lifetime diagnoses of major depressive disorder (MDD) assessed by World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interviews plus concurrent elevated depressive symptoms in the past 12 months. Adequate treatment prevalence was 46.2 % (n = 84) for MDD and 37.9 % (n = 211) for CSDS. Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that adequate treatment was more likely among women who saw the same primary care provider consistently, who had poorer self-rated role functioning, who paid out-of-pocket for healthcare, and who were not African American or Hispanic/Latina. This suggests that adequate depression treatment may be increased by promoting healthcare provider continuity, outreaching individuals with lower levels of reported role impairment, and addressing the specific needs and concerns of African American and Hispanic/Latina women.

Establishing a common metric for depressive symptoms: linking the BDI-II, CES-D, and PHQ-9 to PROMIS depression

Interest in measuring patient-reported outcomes has increased dramatically in recent decades. This has simultaneously produced numerous assessment options and confusion. In the case of depressive symptoms, there are many commonly used options for measuring the same or a very similar concept. Public and professional reporting of scores can be confused by multiple scale ranges, normative levels, and clinical thresholds. A common reporting metric would have great value and can be achieved when similar instruments are administered to a single sample and then linked to each other to produce cross-walk score tables (e.g., Dorans, 2007; Kolen & Brennan, 2004). Using multiple procedures based on item response theory and equipercentile methods, we produced cross-walk tables linking 3 popular "legacy" depression instruments-the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (Radloff, 1977; N = 747), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996; N = 748), and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (Kroenke, Spitzer, & Williams, 2001; N = 1,120)-to the depression metric of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS; Cella et al., 2010). The PROMIS Depression metric is centered on the U.S. general population, matching the marginal distributions of gender, age, race, and education in the 2000 U.S. census (Liu et al., 2010). The linking relationships were evaluated by resampling small subsets and estimating confidence intervals for the differences between the observed and linked PROMIS scores; in addition, PROMIS cutoff scores for depression severity were estimated to correspond with those commonly used with the legacy measures. Our results allow clinicians and researchers to retrofit existing data of 3 popular depression measures to the PROMIS Depression metric and vice versa.