Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of depressive and bipolar disorders in Catalonia (Spain) using DSM-5 criteria

Bipolar disorder in the International Classification of Diseases-Eleventh version: A review of the changes, their basis, and usefulness

The World Health Organization’s 11^th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) including the chapter on mental disorders has come into effect this year. This review focuses on the “Bipolar or Related Disorders” section of the ICD-11 draft. It describes the benchmarks for the new version, particularly the foremost principle of clinical utility. The alterations made to the diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD) are evaluated on their scientific basis and clinical utility. The change in the diagnostic requirements for manic and hypomanic episodes has been much debated. Whether the current criteria have achieved an optimum balance between sensitivity and specificity is still not clear. The ICD-11 definition of depressive episodes is substantially different, but the lack of empirical support for the changes has meant that the reliability and utility of bipolar depression are relatively low. Unlike the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5^th edition (DSM-5), the ICD-11 has retained the category of mixed episodes. Although the concept of mixed episodes in the ICD-11 is not perfect, it appears to be more inclusive than the DSM-5 approach. Additionally, there are some uncertainties about the guidelines for the subtypes of BD and cyclothymic disorder. The initial results on the reliability and clinical utility of BD are promising, but the newly created diagnostic categories also appear to have some limitations. Although further improvement and research are needed, the focus should now be on facing the challenges of implementation, dissemination, and education and training in the use of these guidelines.

The Prevalence of Depression Symptoms and Their Socioeconomic and Health Predictors in a Local Community with a High Deprivation: A Cross-Sectional Studies

Depression is a heterogeneous and etiologically complex psychiatric syndrome thatshows a strong sexual dimorphism and often impacts people with a low socioeconomic status (SES). The aim of the study was to estimate the occurrence of depression symptoms in a local community with a high deprivation rate, the example being the inhabitants of the JanówLubelski County in eastern Poland. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 3752 people aged between 35 and 64. The prevalence of depression symptoms was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale. In the screening for depression symptoms in the entire population we studied, the risk of depression symptoms was 16.1% (n = 605), with women having a significantly higher mean score than men (p < 0.001). Significant predictors associated with the achievement of 10 points and more in the PHQ-9 assessment in the case of women and men were: living alone, education and having comorbidities. Moreover, female participants living in rural areas were significantly more likely to exhibit depression symptoms, whereas smoking was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms in men. It was observed that in the case of obese women, the chance of being in the higher category of the PHQ-9 assessment was 1.41 times higher than in women with normal body weight. However, in the case of men, an increase in age by one year increased the chance of being in a higher category by 1.02 times. Moreover, the odds of falling into a higher category, as assessed by the PHQ-9 questionnaire, among men who drink alcohol more than once a week was 1.7 times higher than in men who do not drink or consume alcohol occasionally. Summarising the results of studies conducted in a local community characterised by a high deprivation rate, socioeconomic and health variables related to SES significantly impacted the incidence of depression, but they differ in terms of gender.

Accuracy of Self-Reported Items for the Screening of Depression in the General Population

INTRODUCTION

Though self-reported items (SRD, self-reported depression) are commonly used in health surveys and cohort studies, their metric properties as a depression indicator remain unclear. The aims were to evaluate the measurement properties of SRD using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) as reference and to identify factors related to the agreement between both indicators.

METHODS

Data from the European Health Interview Survey in Spain in 2014/2015 (n = 22,065) were analyzed. Two indicators of depression were considered: SRD based on two items yes/no (positive: both yes), and the PHQ-8 (positive ≥ 10). Socioeconomic factors and use of health services were considered as independent variables. The prevalence of depression, sensitivity, specificity, global agreement, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) of SRDs were evaluated using the PHQ-8 as a reference. Logistic regression models were fitted to determine factors associated with the agreement between indicators.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depression was lower when assessed with PHQ-8 (5.9%) than with SRD (7.7%). SRD sensitivity and PPV were moderate-low (52.9% and 40.4%, respectively) whereas global agreement, specificity, and NPV were high (92.7%, 95.1%, and 97.0%, respectively). Positive agreement was associated with marital status, country of birth, employment status, and social class. Negative agreement was related to all independent variables except country of birth.

CONCLUSIONS

SRD items tend to overestimate the current prevalence of depression. While its use in health surveys and cohorts may be appropriate as a quick assessment of possible depression, due to their low sensitivity, its use in clinical contexts is questionable.

Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics: Analysis of Prescription Patterns and Patient Characteristics in Mental Health from a Spanish Real-World Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) have been widely studied in schizophrenia and evidence suggests that they could be also used for the treatment of bipolar and schizoaffective disorders. Nonetheless, there are no studies evaluating their role in other psychiatric disorders. We aimed to evaluate the use of the newest monthly and 3-monthly LAIs-aripiprazole once monthly, paliperidone 1- and 3-monthly (PP1M, PP3M)-against the 2-weekly LAIs, using the following clinical outcomes: (1) the number of hospital re-admissions, (2) the number of documented suicidal behaviors/attempts, and (3) the use of concomitant treatments, including benzodiazepines, oral antipsychotics, and biperiden.

METHODS

A total of 431 patients were included who were treated with the corresponding LAI over at least 12 months and were previously diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. Statistical analyses were performed using an ANCOVA model, Student's t test, and the Pearson's r test.

RESULTS

Our results showed significantly decreased re-admissions using PP3M versus the bi-weekly LAIs and aripiprazole once monthly, while no significant differences were found in suicidal behavior. Furthermore, we found a significantly lower intake of benzodiazepines in PP1M and PP3M groups versus the bi-weekly and aripiprazole once-monthly groups. In addition, patients treated with PP1M and PP3M used a significantly lower dose of haloperidol equivalents versus the bi-weekly LAIs group. Finally, significantly higher doses of biperiden were used by the bi-weekly LAIs group.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, paliperidone LAIs reduced hospital re-admissions and, as aripiprazole once monthly, lowered concomitant psychiatric medication versus the bi-weekly LAIs. Further research and analysis of subgroups are needed; however, these findings might be useful for clinicians.

Comparing eating behaviours, and symptoms of depression and anxiety between Spain and Greece during the COVID-19 outbreak: Cross-sectional analysis of two different confinement strategies

OBJECTIVE

We compared eating behaviours, and depressive and anxiety symptoms in two countries with different confinement strictness strategies and different levels of COVID-19 pandemic.

METHOD

A web-based cross-sectional survey was administered during and shortly after the COVID-19 related lockdown in Spain and Greece. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to identify country differences associated with eating behaviour, and symptoms of depression and anxiety.

RESULTS

This study included 1,002 responders in Spain and 839 in Greece. The mean ± SD of restraint, emotional and external eating was 2.5 ± 0.79, 2.1 ± 0.81 and 2.6 ± 0.65 in Spain, whereas 2.7 ± 0.85, 2.3 ± 0.99 and 2.9 ± 0.74 in Greece. Spanish participants had lower average scores of restraint and external eating compared to Greek participants (p < .001), but no difference was seen for emotional eating. In Spain, 13.6%, and 12.3% of the survey respondents reported moderate to severe depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively, whereas in Greece the respective values were 18.8 and 13.2%. After adjusting for several risk factors, a higher prevalence of anxiety symptoms was observed in Spain compared to Greece (p = .001), but no difference was seen for depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated high scores of inappropriate eating behaviours and a high frequency of depressive and anxiety symptoms in two Mediterranean countries during the COVID-19 outbreak. Our findings revealed that compared to Greek participants, Spanish participants, that faced more severe COVID-19 pandemic and stricter lockdown measures, were associated with lower restraint and external eating and increased anxiety symptoms, but not with depressive symptoms or emotional eating.

Depression in the Peruvian population and its associated factors: analysis of a national health survey

BACKGROUND

To date, the factors associated with the presence of depression or depressive symptoms in the Peruvian population have not been described. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms in the Peruvian population and its associated factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analytical study of secondary data from 2018 Demographic and Family Health Survey was conducted. The survey database includes 31,996 participants over 18 years of age. The dependent variable of the analysis was the presence of depression during the 14 days before the survey measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Factors associated with the presence of depression were estimated with a proportional odds logistic regression model.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms was 6.4% (moderate and severe symptomatology in 3.9% [95% CI: 3.6-4.3] and 2.5% [95% CI: 2.2-2.7], respectively). Being a woman, belonging to the age groups of 45 to 64 years or 65 or older, living in the Andean region, and having high blood pressure or diabetes mellitus or some disability increased the probability of having clinically relevant depressive symptoms.

LIMITATIONS

The use of the PHQ-9 tool to assess depressive symptomatology limits the evaluation to a period of two weeks before the survey, requiring further study for diagnosis confirmation.

CONCLUSION

Six out of 100 Peruvians presented moderate to severe clinically relevant depressive symptoms in 2018. Strategies for depression should contemplate population subgroups , such as women and patients with chronic diseases and disabilities.

Associations of major depressive disorder with chronic physical conditions, obesity and medication use: Results from the PISMA-ep study

BACKGROUND

Life expectancy of people with depression is on average 15 years less than that of the general population. This excess of mortality is largely attributed to a deteriorated physical health. Evidence about the association between major depressive disorder (MDD) and physical health is still lacking in some areas. The aim of this study was to explore the association between MDD and physical health-related variables in southern Spain.

METHODS

The PISMA-ep is a cross-sectional study based on community-dwelling adult population. Our main outcome was current prevalence of MDD. Independent variables explored were: lifetime prevalence of twenty-one chronic physical conditions (CPCs), anthropometric measures (height, weight, body max index, and hip and waist circumferences), general health status, and medication use.

RESULTS

MDD was significantly associated with any CPC (OR = 2.60; 95% CI: 2.01-3.35; p < 0.001). Increases in BMI were associated with MDD in women (OR=1.08; 95% CI: 1.05-1.11; p < 0.001), but not in men (OR=0.99; 95% CI: 0.95-1.05; p = 0.916). Variables associated with MDD in the multivariate model were: female gender, obesity, general health status, cancer, peptic ulcer, tinnitus and vertigo. 21.4% of participants with MDD received antidepressant treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

MDD is associated with CPCs, obesity, and increased use of medication. The high rates of comorbidity between MDD and CPCs call for a more holistic management of patients in the clinical practice. The low rate of antidepressant use may be indicating underdiagnosis. Anthropometric variables were differently associated with MDD depending on gender, suggesting a strong influence of psychosocial factors.

Diagnostic accuracy and treatment approach to depression in primary care: predictive factors

OBJECTIVE

The study assessed the predictive factors of diagnostic accuracy and treatment approach (antidepressants versus active monitoring) for depression in primary care.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study that uses information from a naturalistic prospective controlled trial performed in Barcelona (Spain) enrolling newly diagnosed patients with mild to moderate depression by GPs. Treatment approach was based on clinical judgement. Diagnosis was later assessed according to DSM-IV criteria using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) interview by an external researcher. Patients (sociodemographic, psychiatric diagnosis, severity of depression and anxiety, health-related quality of life, disability, beliefs about medication and illness and comorbidities) and GP factors associated with diagnostic accuracy and treatment approach were assessed using multilevel logistic regression. Variables with missing data were imputed through multiple imputations.

RESULTS

Two hundred sixty-three patients were recruited by 53 GPs. Mean age was 51 years (SD = 15). Thirty percent met DSM-IV criteria for major depression. Mean depression symptomatology was moderate-severe. Using multivariate analyses, patients' beliefs about medicines were the only variable associated with the antidepressant approach. Specialization in general medicine and being a resident tutor were associated with a more accurate diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical depression diagnosis by GPs was not always associated with a formal diagnosis through a SCID-I. GPs' training background was central to an adequate depression diagnosis. Patients' beliefs in medication were the only factor associated with treatment approach. More resources should be allocated to improving the diagnosis of depression.

Prevalence of major depressive disorder and association with personal and socio-economic factors. Results for Spain of the European Health Interview Survey 2014-2015

BACKGROUND

Depression is a prevalent and most burdensome mental disorder. The objectives of this study are: to assess the prevalence of major depressive disorder in the adult population of Spain; and to analyse its association with personal and socio-economic factors.

METHODS

Data from the European Health Interview Survey in Spain (2014-2015) were analysed (n = 21,546). DSM-IV Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) was assessed with the PHQ-8. Personal (age, marital status, and country of birth) and socio-economic (educational level, residence area, employment status and occupational social class) factors were also measured. Prevalence by gender and by personal and socio-economic factors was estimated. Crude (OR) and adjusted (aOR) Odds Ratio and their 95% Confidence Intervals (95%CI) were calculated using logistic regression models. All analyses were stratified by gender.

RESULTS

Prevalence of MDD was 8.0% (95%CI: 7.3-8.6) among women and 4.1% (95%CI: 3.7-4.6) among men. For both genders, MDD was more prevalent among unemployed and among those in more disadvantaged social classes. Among women only, MDD was more prevalent for those widowed or separated, those with lower educational level, those retired, pre-retired or homemakers and in older ages. Among men only, MDD was more prevalent among those that were born in Spain.

LIMITATIONS

Data are cross-sectional and the sensitivity and specificity of PHQ-8 are not perfect.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of MDD in Spain is high, especially among women, and is strongly associated with personal variables and socio-economic disadvantage. Intersectoral interventions aimed at diminishing the impact of socio-economic disadvantage may help decreasing the societal burden of depression.

Prevalence and correlates of major depression in Granada, Spain: Results from the GranadΣp study

BACKGROUND

Major depression is one of the world's leading causes of disability. Up-to-date information about the epidemiology of this disorder is key to health care planning.

AIM

The aim of our study is to report prevalence and correlates of current major depressive disorder (MDD) in the province of Granada, Southern Spain.

METHODS

The GranadΣp is a cross-sectional study based on a community-dwelling adult population living in the province of Granada, Southern Spain. Community-dwelling adults aged 18-80 years ( n = 810) were interviewed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). A variety of exposure assessments were also undertaken.

RESULTS

Point (2 weeks) prevalence of MDD in the Granada population was 5.6%. Positive family history of mental illness, high degree of neuroticism, high number of life threatening events (LTE), poor physical health status, cognitive impairment and cannabis use were independently associated with MDD in the multivariate regression model. Being female was also associated with MDD, but the significance disappeared after adjusting for neuroticism and physical health.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of MDD in the Granada population is higher than expected. The effects of the financial crisis could be partially accountable for this excess in prevalence. Six variables were found to be independently associated with MDD. Association between female sex and depression may be partially explained by the confounding effect of neuroticism.