Diferencias de sexo en el trastorno depresivo mayor: síntomas somáticos y calidad de vida

Gender differences in transdiagnostic domains and function of adults measured by DSM-5 assessment scales at the first clinical visit: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Measurement-based care has been called for as best practice in psychiatric care and learning health systems and use of transdiagnostic measures was suggested as part of the DSM-5. Our objective is to examine gender differences in first visit socioeconomic, transdiagnostic, and functional characteristics of a dynamic, real-world measurement-based care cohort.

METHODS

Transdiagnostic, functional, and clinical measures were collected from 3,556 patients at first visit in an ambulatory psychiatric clinic. All patients were evaluated at the first visit by board-certified psychiatrists or licensed clinical psychologists. Demographic variables and clinical diagnoses were collected from the Electronic Medical Record. Self-report measures were collected that assessed transdiagnostic symptoms (DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-cutting Measure and Level 2 symptom scales), disability, alcohol use, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, depression, anxiety, mania, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and trauma exposure.

RESULTS

Men and women did not differ in age, BMI, household income, high school graduation rate, race, or ethnicity, but women were more likely to be formerly married and less likely to have commercial insurance. Compared to men, women reported significantly higher overall psychopathology on the transdiagnostic Level 1 Cross-cutting measure and had higher depression, anxiety, sleep, anger, ADHD combined presentation, and suicidality severity. Women also had higher disability scores than men. However, men reported higher alcohol, tobacco and substance use, and more risky behavior than women. Trauma exposure differed significantly by gender; men reported more exposure to accidents, war-related trauma, serious accidents, and major disasters and women reported more unwanted sexual contact.

CONCLUSIONS

This cross-sectional study of a transdiagnostic, ecologically-valid real-word measurement-based care cohort demonstrates gender differences in socioeconomic factors, trauma exposure, transdiagnostic symptoms, and functioning.

Characteristics of somatic symptoms among Chinese patients diagnosed with major depressive episode

PURPOSE

This study aimed to describe the clinical features of somatic symptoms among Chinese patients diagnosed with major depressive episode (MDE).

METHODS

A total of 213 inpatients with MDE from two mental health hospitals were recruited and investigated using the Somatic Symptom Inventory (SSI), Hamilton rating scale for depression, Hamilton rating scale for anxiety, and a demographic questionnaire.

RESULTS

The participants included 142 patients with unipolar depression and 71 patients with bipolar depression. The mean SSI score of all participants was 49.30 (SD = 14.80). "Feeling fatigued, weak, or tired all over" was found to be the most common somatic symptom (61.0% reported moderate levels or above), followed by "feeling of being not in as good physical health as most of your friends" (56.3%), and "feeling weak in parts of the body" (49.3%). "Headache" and "soreness in muscles" were common painful symptoms. Both patients with unipolar and bipolar depression had similar somatic symptoms, including painful and non-painful ones. The somatic symptoms of all participants were closely correlated with the severity of depression and anxiety (P < 0.01). Patients with anxiety, older age, low education, and negative life events in the last year had more somatic symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Inpatients with MDE of somatic symptoms are common, which were significantly correlated with the severity of depression and anxiety. Further efforts should focus on early recognition and integrated care model management of patients based on their characteristics to improve their quality of life and treatment outcomes.

Mediators of gender effects on depression among cardiovascular disease patients in Palestine

BACKGROUND

Among patients suffering from coronary heart disease (CHD) and comorbid depression, women experience a higher burden compared to men. Little is known on the characteristics that differentiate men and women with both diseases and whether these factors mediate gender effects on depression. This study assessed whether women are more likely to suffer from depression and which characteristics mediate gender effects on depression among a cardiac population in Palestine, specifically addressing the role of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional design, patients consecutively admitted with a CHD to one of the four main hospitals in Nablus, Palestine, were interviewed using a structured questionnaire with validated instruments. Data was also obtained from hospital medical records. Patients were assessed for depression using the Cardiac Depression Scale (CDS). Bivariate analysis was conducted to compare characteristics of women and men with and without depressive symptoms. Mediators (direct and indirect effects) of the association between gender and depression were evaluated using a structural equation model (SEM).

RESULTS

Women were more likely to suffer from severe depression than men (28.7% vs. 18.8%). Female gender was positively associated with higher PTSD symptoms, comorbidities, somatic symptoms and income, and with lower resilience, self-esteem, quality of life, education, prevalence of smoking and physical activity. Structural equation modeling revealed negative indirect effects of gender on depression (CDS score) through resilience, self-esteem and physical activity, whereas positive indirect effects of gender on depression were observed through PTSD, comorbidities, somatic symptoms and smoking. There was no direct effect of gender on depression.

CONCLUSION

This study found a higher prevalence of severe depression in female patients with cardiac disease compared to male cardiac patients. Our findings provide novel information on mediating factors of the association between gender and depression among cardiac patients, in particular PTSD. The results emphasize the need for further research on potential mediating factors that could account for gender differences in depression and the need to provide support programs for female patients with comorbid CHD and depression to improve their psycho-social well-being.

Cognition and its association with the factors of the EURO-D: Suffering and Motivation. Findings from SHARE Wave 6

The aims of this study were (1) to analyse the relationship between cognition and clinical and sociodemographic variables, (2) to explore the relationship between cognitive tests and factors of EURO-D depression scale (Suffering and Motivation), and (3) to determine the relevance of cognition with respect to clinical and sociodemographic variables in the scores of the EURO-D factors.

METHOD

About 63 755 participants in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) Wave 6 (2015) were included. Instruments are as follows: the SHARE study, the EURO-D scale, and cognitive tests. Bivariate, correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

In the regression analysis with cognition, the variables associated with poor cognition were higher age (β = .29), lower educational level (β = -.26), economic difficulties (β = .17), and depression (β = .10). The correlation between cognition and EURO-D factors was weak in Suffering (r = -0.139) and moderate in Motivation (r = -0.382). In the regression analysis with the EURO-D, loneliness, poor self-perceived physical health, female gender, and low cognition were associated with higher depression levels. The main differences in the predictor variables of each factor were cognition (Motivation = -0.248, P < .001; Suffering = 0.002, P = .648) and the female sex (Motivation = 0.015, P < .001, Suffering = 0.175, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In the EURO-D depression scale, poor cognition was associated with higher scores in the Motivation factor only, while the female gender presented higher scores in the Suffering factor.

Somatoform symptoms profiles in relation to psychological disorders - A population classification analysis in a large sample of general adults

In order to identifying somatoform symptoms profiles, classifying study population and evaluating of psychological disorders in extracted classes, we carried out a cross-sectional study on 4762 Iranian adults. Somatoform symptoms were assessed using a comprehensive 30-items questionnaire and psychological disorders were evaluated by 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires. Factor analysis and factor mixture modeling (FMM) were used for data analysis. Four somatoform symptoms profiles were extracted, including 'psycho-fatigue', 'gastrointestinal', 'neuro- skeletal' and 'pharyngeal-respiratory'. According to FMM results, a two-class four-factor structure, based somatoform symptoms, was identified in our study population. Two identified classes were labeled as "low psycho-fatigue complaints" and "high psycho-fatigue complaints". The scores of psychological disorders profile was significantly associated with four somatoform symptoms profiles in both classes; however the stronger relationship was observed in high psycho-fatigue complaints class. The prevalence of all the somatoform symptoms among participants assigned to the "high psycho-fatigue complaints" class was significantly higher than other class. We concluded that somatoform symptoms have a dimensional-categorical structure within our study population. Our study also provided informative pathways on the association of psychological disorders with somatoform symptoms. These findings could be useful for dealing with treatment's approaches.

Demographic and Life Styles Determinants of Somatic Complaints' Structures: A Cross-sectional Study on a Large Sample of Iranian Adults Using Factor Mixture Model

Background:

To identify somatic complaints dimensions, classify studied population and study the association of demographic and lifestyle factors with somatic complaints dimensions.

Methods:

In a cross-sectional study conducted on 4763 Iranian adults, somatic complaints were assessed using a comprehensive 30-item questionnaire. Self-administered standard questionnaires were used to assess demographic and lifestyle factors. Factor mixture modeling (FMM) was used to identify somatic complaints dimensions and classify studied population.

Results:

The mean age of participants was 36.58 ± 0.13 years, 55.8% were females, 81.2% were married, and 57.2% had college education. About 9.4% of individuals were obese, and 34.8% of participants had regular physical activity. Four domains of somatic complaints were extracted, including “psychological,” “gastrointestinal,” “neuro-skeletal,” and “pharyngeal-respiratory.” Females, obese and inactive participants, and those in low educations had significantly greater scores in terms of four domains than the others (P < 0.05). A two-class, four-factor structure fitted to the somatic complaints based on FMM. Two classes were labeled “high psychological complaints” (519 individuals (11%) and “low psychological complaints” (4243 individuals (89%). There were no significant differences between two classes in terms of demographic and lifestyle factors, except in educational level.

Conclusions:

This study suggested that somatic complaints had a dimensional-categorical structure within studied population so that it could be useful for dealing with diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The results did not show any association between somatic complaints dimensions and demographic, lifestyle factors, except in educational level.

Depression and associated variables in people over 50 years in Spain

INTRODUCTION

Depression is a common and disabling psychiatric disorder in adulthood and is associated with higher mortality and functional disability.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the association between clinical and sociodemographic variables with depression in a sample of people over 50 years old living in Spain, and compare the prevalence of depression with the other Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement (SHARE) countries.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 5,830 participants in the Spanish sample of the Wave 5, 2013, of SHARE. Tools used: EURO-D (Depression) and CASP-12 (Quality of Life).

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Bivariate, and binary logistic.

RESULTS

The variables associated with depression in the binary logistic regression (EURO-D ≥4) were poor self-perceived physical health (OR=13.34; 95% CI: 9.74-18.27), having more than 2 difficulties in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) (OR=4.46; 95% CI: 3.13-6.34) and female gender (OR=2.16; 95% CI: 1.83-2.56). Depression was more common among participants with Alzheimer (76.4%), emotional disorders (73.9%), Parkinson (57.4%), hip fracture (55.4%), and rheumatism (50.9%). Compared with other European countries, Spain had a percentage of people with depression (29.3%) that was higher than the European average (27.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

The most important variables associated with depression were poor perceived physical health, presence of difficulties in ADL, and female gender.

[Validation of the Spanish version of the Screening for Somatoform Symptoms-2 scale for use in Primary Care]

OBJECTIVE

To study the diagnostic validity and to provide the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the Spanish version of the Screening for Somatoform Symptoms-2 (SOMS-2) scale in a PC population sample.

DESIGN

Validation study.

SETTING

PC centres in Aragon and Balearic Islands, Spain.

PARTICIPANTS

A sample of 109 patients from a clinical trial with somatoform disorders and 56 patients without somatoform disorder were included for the scale validation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and Cronbach's α coefficient.

RESULTS

Of the total sample of 165 subjects, 75% were women and 60% had a diagnosis of somatization disorder and/or anxiety or depressive disorder. The 53-item version of the SOMS-2 with a cut-off point of 4 showed a sensitivity of 97%, a specificity of 68%, a positive predictive value of 85%, a negative predictive value of 92%, and high internal consistency (Cronbach α=0.926).

CONCLUSIONS

The Spanish version of the SOMS-2 seems to be a reliable screening tool, easy to complete and useful for the assessment of somatoform disorders in PC settings. The results for specificity, sensitivity, and internal consistency are similar to previous studies in other European languages.