Sexual and physical abuse and depressive symptoms in the UK Biobank

Depressive symptoms and neuroticism mediate the association between traumatic events and suicidality - A latent class mediation analysis of UK Biobank Database

BACKGROUND

Mental disorders that follow traumatic experience may increase risk of suicidality, but a comprehensive approach to understand how these mental disorders mediate the association between psychological traumatic experience and suicidality should be elucidated. In this study, we attempted to provide comprehensive evidence on how depressive symptoms and neuroticism can mediate the association between psychological traumatic experiences and suicidal behaviours including suicidal ideation, suicidal planning, and suicide attempts.

METHODS

We analyzed 111,931 participants from UK Biobank who had completed mental health web-based questionnaire from 2016 to 2017. "Self-harm and suicidal behaviour and ideation (SSBI) score" was calculated by the response from suicidal behaviours and self-harm questionnaires. Conducting multivariate linear regression, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and neuroticism were selected as potential mediators. We constructed a latent class mediation model estimated direct effect of psychological traumatic events on suicidality and indirect effect of psychological traumatic events mediated by depressive symptoms and neuroticism.

RESULTS

Psychological traumatic events were positively associated with suicidal behaviours. Depressive symptoms and neuroticism significantly mediated the effect of psychological traumatic events on suicidality. Anxiety symptoms did not mediate the association between psychological traumatic events and suicidality.

CONCLUSION

Psychological traumatic events, irrespective of life stage of occurrence, are associated with suicidality. The association between psychological traumatic events and suicidality can be partially explained by depressive symptoms and neuroticism of those who were exposed to psychological trauma.

Characterization of depression subtypes and their relationships to stressor profiles among middle-aged and older adults: An analysis of the canadian longitudinal study on aging (CLSA)

The current diagnostic criteria for depression do not sufficiently reflect its heterogeneous clinical presentations. Associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), allostatic load (AL), and depression subtypes have not been extensively studied. Depression subtypes were determined based on clinical presentations, and their relationships to AL biomarkers and ACEs were elucidated in a sample of middle-aged and older adults. Participants from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging who screened positive for depression were included (n = 3966). Depression subtypes, AL profiles and ACE profiles were determined with latent profile analyses, and associations between them were determined using multinomial logistic regression. Four depression subtypes were identified: positive affect, melancholic, typical, and atypical. Distinct associations between depression subtypes, stressor profiles and covariates were observed. Among the subtypes compared to positive affect, atypical subtype had the most numerous significant associations, and the subtypes had unique relationships to stressor profiles. Age, sex, smoking status, chronic conditions, marital status, and physical activity were significant covariates. The present study describes distinct associations between depression subtypes and measures of stress (objective and self-reported), as well as related factors that differentiate subtypes. The findings may inform more targeted and integrated clinical management strategies for depression in individuals exposed to multiple stressors.

Prevalence of violence against children in the United Kingdom: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Violence against children can have extensive, long-term, and far-reaching adverse impacts on survivors and society. There is currently little consensus in the United Kingdom around the prevalence of violence against children: maltreatment, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, bullying, and community violence, and most existing studies focus on only a single or a few forms of violence. This study aims to produce data to highlight the current magnitude of the problem in the UK, to inform policy, drive action and allow for monitoring of progress over time.

OBJECTIVE

To produce weighted prevalence estimates by violence type, as well as gender and age sub-categories, to give as full a picture as possible of the current prevalence of violence against children in the UK.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The prevalence of violence against children from 23 self-report studies conducted in the United Kingdom was gathered through a systematic review.

METHODS

Databases were searched from inception to 24th June 2022. Studies were reviewed systematically for appropriate data and meta-analyses were conducted to give pooled prevalence data based on a quality effects model.

RESULTS

The most prevalent self-reported experience of childhood violence was community violence at 27.33 % (95 % CI [9.84, 48.97]). Prevalence of bullying was also high at 22.75 % (95 % CI [13.25, 33.86]). The most prevalent forms of child maltreatment were domestic violence exposure at 11.9 % (95 % CI [6.34, 18.84]) and emotional maltreatment at 11.84 % (95 % CI [5.58, 19.89]).

CONCLUSION

National child maltreatment surveys are needed in the UK, using a comprehensive and conceptually robust approach, and valid and reliable instruments, to provide data for researchers and policymakers on the prevalence of all types of violence against children including exposure to multiple types. This allows monitoring of trends over time, can inform strategies for prevention, and can enable monitoring of future progress in reducing violence against children and its associated health and economic burden.

Lifetime and current depression in the German National Cohort (NAKO)

OBJECTIVES

The present study introduces the assessment of depression and depressive symptoms in the German National Cohort (NAKO), a population-based mega cohort. Distribution of core measures, and associations with sociodemographic factors are examined.

METHODS

The current analysis includes data from the first 101,667 participants (NAKO data freeze 100,000). Depression and depressive symptoms were assessed using a modified version of the depression section of the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), self-reported physician's diagnosis of depression, and the depression scale of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).

RESULTS

A lifetime physician's diagnosis of depression was reported by 15.0% of participants. Of those, 47.6% reported having received treatment for depression within the last 12 months. Of the subset of 26,342 participants undergoing the full depression section of the modified MINI, 15.9% were classified by the MINI with a lifetime depressive episode. Based on the PHQ-9, 5.8% of the participants were classified as currently having a major or other depression by the diagnostic algorithm, and 7.8% according to the dimensional assessment (score ≥ 10). Increased frequency of depression measures and higher depression scores were observed in women and participants with lower education level or a family history of depression.

CONCLUSIONS

The observed distributions of all depression measures and their associations with sociodemographic variables are consistent with the literature on depression. The NAKO represents a valuable epidemiologic resource to investigate depression, and the range of measures for lifetime and current depression allows users to select the most suitable instrument for their specific research question.

Predictors of depression among school adolescents in Northwest, Ethiopia, 2022: institutional based cross-sectional

BACKGROUND

Adolescent depression is a serious mental disorder that makes family problems, learning challenges, drug addiction, and increases absenteeism from school. It also has a major impact on a person's ability to manage his or her daily tasks. In the end, the condition may result in self-destruction. Research is scarce among high schools in the study setting. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and its associated factors of depression among high school adolescent students in Bahirdar City, Northwest Ethiopia in 2022.

METHODS

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was done from June 18 to July 16, 2022, among public and private high school adolescent students in Bahir Dar City, Amhara region, Ethiopia. A two-stage sampling technique was utilized. First, stratification by school type was made and schools were selected 30-40% by using a simple random sampling technique. Finally, an updated sampling frame was taken from each school director to select a sample of 584 study participants after proportional allocation by simple random sampling from six high schools. Patient Health Questionnaires were used to assess depression in high school students. The independent variables, like substance-related factors, were assessed by yes-or-no questions, and the academic stressor by academic stress in secondary education, was assessed by structured questionnaires. Binary and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with depression. Statistical significance was declared at a 95% confidence interval when the value of p was less than or equal to 0.05.

RESULTS

The response rate of the participants was 96.9%. The overall magnitude of adolescent depression was found to be 22.1% (95%CI 18.7, 25.7%). Being female (AOR: 3.43; 95%CI 2.11, 5.56), small family size (AOR: 3.01; 95%CI 1.47, 6.15); ever alcohol use (AOR: 2.40; 95%CI 1.51, 3.81); attending a public school (AOR: 3.01; 95%CI 1.68, 5.40), and having a history of abuse (AOR: 1.92; 95%CI 2.2, 3.08) were associated with depression.

CONCLUSION

In this study, the magnitude of depression among high school students in Bahir Dar City was higher than the national threshold. There was a significant association between sex, family size of parents, ever alcohol use, public schools, and having a history of abuse with depression among adolescents. Hence, it is better for schools to screen and provide intervention for depression in public high school students and offer therapies, especially in females and those with a history of abuse, small family size, or alcohol use.

Measuring childhood trauma in young adults with depression: A latent profile analysis

Childhood traumas are important risk factors for depression in young adults. However, the co-occurrence of childhood traumas is complex, and the specific effects of different types of childhood traumas on depression need further exploration. The aim of this study was to assess the co-occurrence of childhood traumas and the impact of different profiles of childhood trauma on depression. A total of 1053 young adults with depression in China participated. PHQ-9, SHAPS, GAD-7, CTQ-SF, and NLES were evaluated. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify profiles of childhood trauma. The effects of different childhood trauma profiles on depression, anxiety, and anhedonia were assessed using stepwise linear regression. LPA suggested three profiles: no or low childhood traumas, moderate childhood trauma with emotional abuse and childhood neglect, and high childhood trauma with high levels of all trauma types. Regression analyses suggested that high levels of emotional abuse and childhood neglect significantly affected anhedonia. Childhood adverse events cluster in young adults with depression, allowing grouping into three distinct profiles. Specific childhood trauma patterns predict anhedonia symptoms in adult depression.

A rapid review to determine the suicide risk and risk factors of men who are survivors of sexual assault

This rapid review assessed the suicide risk and risk factors of men who are survivors of sexual assault. We searched three academic databases (Cochrane, Medline and PsycINFO) for peer-reviewed articles in English published between 2010 and 2022. We rated the quality of the evidence based on the National Health and Medical Research Council Levels of Evidence. One systematic review and 16 papers featuring primary studies were included relating to suicide rates and risk. Findings suggest men who have been sexually assaulted (as a child or adult) are at increased risk of suicidal thoughts, attempts and behaviours compared with men who have not been sexually assaulted. Factors such as frequency of abuse and other concurrent forms of childhood abuse may further increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours. This evidence base was rated as good. The strength of this evidence supports a need for targeted suicide prevention in this high risk group.

Investigating the influence of breastfeeding on asthma in children under 12 years old in the UK Biobank

Background

Childhood-onset asthma (COA) has become a major and growing problem worldwide and imposes a heavy socioeconomic burden on individuals and families; therefore, understanding the influence of early-life experiences such as breastfeeding on COA is of great importance for early prevention.

Objectives

To investigate the impact of breastfeeding on asthma in children under 12 years of age and explore its role at two different stages of age in the UK Biobank cohort.

Methods

A total of 7,157 COA cases and 158,253 controls were obtained, with information regarding breastfeeding, COA, and other important variables available through questionnaires. The relationship between breastfeeding and COA were examined with the logistic regression while adjusting for available covariates. In addition, a sibling analysis was performed on 398 pairs of siblings to explain unmeasured family factors, and a genetic risk score analysis was performed to control for genetic confounding impact. Finally, a power evaluation was conducted in the sibling data.

Results

In the full cohort, it was identified that breastfeeding had a protective effect on COA (the adjusted odds ratio (OR)=0.875, 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 0.831~0.922; P=5.75×10^-7). The impact was slightly pronounced in children aged 6-12 years (OR=0.852, 95%CIs: 0.794~0.914, P=7.41×10^-6) compared to those aged under six years (OR=0.904, 95%CIs: 0.837~0.975, P=9.39×10^-3), although such difference was not substantial (P=0.266). However, in the sibling cohort these protective effects were no longer significant largely due to inadequate samples as it was demonstrated that the power was only 23.8% for all children in the sibling cohort under our current setting. The protective effect of breastfeeding on COA was nearly unchanged after incorporating the genetic risk score into both the full and sibling cohorts.

Conclusions

Our study offered supportive evidence for the protective effect of breastfeeding against asthma in children less than 12 years of age; however, sibling studies with larger samples were warranted to further validate the robustness our results against unmeasured family confounders. Our findings had the potential to encourage mothers to initiate and prolong breastfeeding.

Natural Products for the Treatment of Post-stroke Depression

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most frequent and important neuropsychiatric consequence of stroke. It is strongly associated with exacerbated deterioration of functional recovery, physical and cognitive recoveries, and quality of life. However, its mechanism is remarkably complicated, including the neurotransmitters hypothesis (which consists of a monoaminergic hypothesis and glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity hypothesis), inflammation hypothesis, dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and neurotrophic hypothesis and neuroplasticity. So far, the underlying pathogenesis of PSD has not been clearly defined yet. At present, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been used as the first-line drugs to treat patients with PSD. Additionally, more than SSRIs, a majority of the current antidepressants complied with multiple side effects, which limits their clinical application. Currently, a wide variety of studies revealed the therapeutic potential of natural products in the management of several diseases, especially PSD, with minor side effects. Accordingly, in our present review, we aim to summarize the therapeutic targets of these compounds and their potential role in-clinic therapy for patients with PSD.

Burden and risk factors for antenatal depression and its effect on preterm birth in South Asia: A population-based cohort study

Introduction

Women experience high rates of depression, particularly during pregnancy and the postpartum periods. Using population-based data from Bangladesh and Pakistan, we estimated the burden of antenatal depression, its risk factors, and its effect on preterm birth.

Methods

The study uses the following data: maternal depression measured between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation using the 9–question Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9); data on pregnancy including an ultrasound before 19 weeks of gestation; data on pregnancy outcomes; and data on woman’s age, education, parity, weight, height, history of previous illness, prior miscarriage, stillbirth, husband’s education, and household socioeconomic data collected during early pregnancy. Using PHQ-9 cutoff score of ≥12, women were categorized into none to mild depression or moderate to moderately severe depression. Using ultrasound data, preterm birth was defined as babies born <37 weeks of gestation. To identify risk ratios (RR) for antenatal depression, unadjusted and adjusted RR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using log- binomial model. Log-binomial models were also used for determining the effect of antenatal depression on preterm birth adjusting for potential confounders. Data were analyzed using Stata version 16 (StataCorp LP).

Results

About 6% of the women reported moderate to moderately severe depressive symptoms during the antenatal period. A parity of ≥2 and the highest household wealth status were associated with an increased risk of depression. The overall incidence of preterm birth was 13.4%. Maternal antenatal depression was significantly associated with the risk of preterm birth (ARR, 95% CI: 1.34, 1.02–1.74).

Conclusion

The increased risk of preterm birth in women with antenatal depression in conjunction with other significant risk factors suggests that depression likely occurs within a constellation of other risk factors. Thus, to effectively address the burden of preterm birth, programs require developing and providing integrated care addressing multiple risk factors.