Long-term outcomes in patients with severe depression after in-hospital treatment - study protocol of the depression long-term Augsburg (DELTA) study

Are cytokine profiles associated with the cognitive performance of adults with severe major depression?

Cognitive impairment often occurs in major depressive disorder (MDD). Studies suggest that these cognitive deficits may be associated with inflammatory biomarkers, but data are limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between 48 peripheral blood cytokines and cognitive performance in patients with severe depressive disorder. One hundred consecutive hospitalized adult patients with severe depression who participated in the Depression long-term Augsburg (DELTA) study were included in the present analysis. To test working memory (WM) the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) IV and to assess interference control (IC) the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) were performed. The serum concentrations of the biomarkers were measured using the Bio-Plex Pro™ Human Cytokine Screening Panel 1. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for possible confounders were fitted to examine associations. WM was impaired in 11% of the patients. IC was impaired in 1%-3% of the cases depending on the subtest. Eotaxin, IL-1β, IL-4, MCP-1, G-CSF, and PGF-BB were negatively associated with the WM. Eotaxin, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-16, IL-18, MCP-1, G-CSF, SCF, and MIP-1α were negatively associated with IC. None of these associations remained significant after adjustment for multiple testing. The present study identified eotaxin, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-16, IL-18, MCP-1, G-CSF, SCF, PGF-BB and MIP-1α as being associated with cognitive performance. After confirmation of these results in further studies, these cytokines may be potential targets for new treatments.

The impact of childhood sexual abuse and its associated stigma on depressed women in Egypt

Background

Depression is common in women, childhood sexual abuse and its related stigma in our culture are expected to increase the severity of depression, and it may be a strong risk factor for the presence of suicidal ideations in women. This study aimed to look at the relationship of childhood history of sexual abuse and its related stigma to depression and suicidal ideations in depressed women.

Methods

A consecutive sample of 160 depressed women was enrolled in this study. The structured clinical interview for DSM-5 was used to diagnose depression, and the Beck Depression Inventory, second edition was used to quantify its severity. The Scale for Suicidal Ideations was used to evaluate suicidal ideations, and history taking was used to assess previous suicidal attempts. The history of childhood sexual abuse was evaluated using a self-report questionnaire, the questions of this questionnaire were derived from the National Population Survey, and a Canadian survey of sexual abuse and its related stigma was assessed using a scale for stigma of sexual abuse.

Results

The findings showed that 11.8% of depressed women had a history of childhood sexual abuse under age of 15 years. There was a significant decrease in age of onset of depression, a significant increase in duration of depression, number of hospital admission, the Beck Depression Inventory, second edition BDI-II, the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) mean scores, number of patients with suicidal ideations, and previous suicidal attempts in depressed women with a history of childhood sexual abuse in comparison to those without that history. History of childhood sexual abuse and its related stigma were the most significant predictors for the presence of depression and current suicidal ideations.

Conclusions

The history of sexual abuse in childhood and its related stigma were associated with increased severity of depression and the presence of suicidal ideations in depressed women. Identification of childhood sexual abuse and its related stigma in depressed women is highly important for proper management of depression.

The Impact of Different Types of Abuse on Depression

Despite a large amount of research on depression and abuse, there is still a controversy on how abuse is measured and on childhood trauma's effect on the physiological function of adults. Here, we attempt to clarify the relationship between different types of abuse and depression while focusing on childhood abuse. This article, unlike prior research, provides an overview that addresses physical, psychological, and sexual abuse and their psychological impact on the victims. Results show that abuse is a vulnerability factor for a variety of mental and physical health problems and that psychological abuse is strongly associated with depression. More research is needed to understand (a) the role of abuse in the development and maintenance of depression and, in particular, longitudinal studies that also account for the large number of risk and protective factors that influence this relationship and (b) how different types of abuse can influence response to treatment among survivors with depression, in order to provide effective trauma-focused approaches to manage depressive symptoms.