Media coverage of celebrity suicide caused by depression and increase in the number of people who seek depression treatment

Monitoring and risk assessment of biogenic amines in Korean commercial fermented seasonings

Fermented seasonings are widely used in Korean cuisine; however, some contain high levels of biogenic amines (BAs). In this study, in order to estimate the potential BA risk from fermented seasoning, the BA contents in 50 commercial brands (n = 292) of five seasonings (soy sauce, Gochujang, Doenjang, Ssamjang, and Cheonggukjang) and their changes due to different cooking methods were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The risk assessment for consumer exposure was evaluated by computing the estimated daily intake (EDI), histamine (HIS) intake, and tyramine (TYR) intake. Maximum contents of HIS detected in Cheonggukjang, soy sauce, Doenjang, and Ssamjang were 318.46, 148.15, 123.65, and 114.07 mg/kg, respectively. However, even in the worst-case scenario, the EDI value and HIS intake results demonstrated that the seasonings had a limited impact on the risk of HIS poisoning due to their low consumption. Cheonggukjang exhibited the highest TYR content (312.89 mg/kg), and the TYR exposure results implied that those taking classical antidepressant monoamine oxidase inhibitors should pay attention to Cheonggukjang. After stir-frying, the total BA retentions in soy sauce and Gochujang were only 51.45% and 57.08%, respectively, which may be caused by high temperature. Based on the results of this study, the five seasonings contained various BAs, which can be influenced by the cooking process, and all five seasonings are safe for the general population in terms of the risk of BAs.

Depression Literacy, Associated Factors, and Correlation of Related Variables in Middle-Aged Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

For the timely treatment and management of depression, a high level of depression literacy (DL) is needed. This study aimed to examine the level of DL and factors associated with DL among middle-aged Korean adults and to verify the relationship between DL, depression, and quality of life (QoL). This cross-sectional study included 485 participants aged 40 to 64 years recruited from five provinces in Korea. DL was measured using a 22-item questionnaire and analyzed by multiple linear regression and correlation analysis. The DL level of the participants was moderate and the correct answer rate was 58.6%. In particular, non-pharmacological treatments, differential symptoms, and pharmacological treatments were low. Out of the participants, 25.2% had depression, and the difference in DL between those with and without depression was not statistically significant. The positive factors associated with DL were being female, having higher education, and being employed. DL was not correlated with depression or psychological QoL. However, higher DL was associated with less heavy drinking, normal body mass index, and not smoking. Improving DL can help individuals seek timely professional help and reduce mental health disparities. Further studies should continue to investigate and develop the association between DL and health-related behaviors as well as depression and QoL to effectively treat and manage depression.

Individual Differences in the Association Between Celebrity Worship and Subjective Well-Being: The Moderating Role of Gender and Age

The association of celebrity worship with mental health concerns has been extensively studied in the past two decades. However, there is a lack of research on basic demographic characteristics that can potentially alter the link between celebrity admiration and different aspects of mental health. The present study investigates the possible moderating role of gender, age, and opposite/same-gender celebrity selection on the association of celebrity worship with general well-being, self-esteem and perceived daytime sleepiness. A total of 1763 Hungarian adults (66.42% men, M age = 37.2 years, SD = 11.4) completed an online survey focusing on attitudes and behaviors relating to celebrities and mental well-being. The moderation analysis showed that (i) the negative association between celebrity worship and self-esteem was slightly stronger for women than for men, and (ii) the association between celebrity worship and perceived daytime sleepiness was slightly stronger for younger individuals than for older ones. Although both gender and age were particularly weak moderators, these results draw the attention to some potential individual differences when interpreting links between celebrity worship and different aspects of mental health.