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Jumani S, Osoble A, Ahmed T, Rastegarlari T, Hassan M, Sreedharan J. Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms Among an Undergraduate Health Sciences Student Population: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus 2023; 15:e43117. [PMID: 37692731 PMCID: PMC10483319 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Undergraduate health sciences students are irrefutably liable to intrapersonal tension that may provoke the almost imperceptible onset and incremental expansion of depressive symptoms. Mental health is often a deplorably neglected topic despite posing as a catalyst in many students' academic demise. Thus, the primary objective of this paper is to provide an insight into a multitude of variables that foster depressive symptoms. In doing so, the scope of subclinical depression that could be hindering a student's academic performance shall be illuminated. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional study was conducted among health sciences students comprising both genders, any nationality, students 18 years of age or older, and students within their first three years of undergraduate study. The well-established Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was distributed along with a non-standardized questionnaire that inquires about additional risk factors. The chi-square test method was used to associate the dependent and independent variables, and statistical significance was done at p-value ≤ 0.05. FINDINGS It was observed that 34.8% of participants suffer depressive symptoms. Participants' sex and marital status, among many other factors, like age, program and year of study, are found to be statistically insignificant. Conversely, nationality, university-related workload, smoking, alcohol intake and more are noted to be significantly associated with the development of depressive symptoms. ORIGINALITY This study is an original work done by the authors to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms among undergraduate health sciences students. The non-standardized questionnaire employed has been reviewed to ensure that it is without discrimination of any gender or biased towards any stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saniya Jumani
- Internal Medicine, Westford University College, Dubai, ARE
| | | | - Tuba Ahmed
- Emergency Medicine, Albany Medical Center, Albany, USA
| | | | - Mariam Hassan
- Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, USA
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Johann A, Dukic J, Rothacher Y, Ehlert U. Trajectories of reproductive transition phase mood disorder from pregnancy to postpartum: A Swiss longitudinal study. WOMEN'S HEALTH (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 19:17455057221147391. [PMID: 36748405 PMCID: PMC9909046 DOI: 10.1177/17455057221147391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depressive symptoms are common in the peripartum period and pose a great risk to the well-being of the mother, the infant, and the entire family. Evidence from longitudinal studies suggests that affected women do not constitute one homogeneous group in terms of severity, chronicity, and onset of symptoms. To account for individual differences regarding the longitudinal course of depressive symptoms from pregnancy to the postpartum period, growth mixture models have proven to be useful. METHODS We conducted a group-based trajectory modeling analysis to identify perinatal depressive symptom trajectories in a Swiss sample (n = 151). Depressive symptoms were assessed six times, covering nearly 6 months from the third trimester of pregnancy to 3 months postpartum. In addition to determining perinatal depressive symptom trajectories, we aimed to examine whether these trajectories are linked to psychopathological risk factors such as a history of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), anxiety, prenatal stress, and somatic symptoms after delivery that are associated with hormonal fluctuations. RESULTS The findings revealed three trajectories of perinatal depressive symptoms that were relatively stable over time and differed in symptom load (low, medium, high), as well as one trajectory of decreasing symptoms, with a significant symptom reduction after giving birth. Women with a higher depressive symptom load experienced a greater degree of prior premenstrual symptoms, prenatal anxiety, and birth anxiety, as well as somatic symptoms after delivery. CONCLUSION Further research is needed to account for the distinct trajectories of perinatal depressive symptoms in order to provide appropriate care for affected women. A focus on somatic symptoms after delivery and their association with depressive mood is essential to better understand the potential shared etiopathology of reproductive transition phase mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Johann
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jelena Dukic
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yannick Rothacher
- Psychological Methods, Evaluation and Statistics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Ehlert
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland,Ulrike Ehlert, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Forster J, Duis J, Butler MG. Pharmacogenetic Testing of Cytochrome P450 Drug Metabolizing Enzymes in a Case Series of Patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12020152. [PMID: 33498922 PMCID: PMC7912498 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is associated with co-morbid psychiatric symptoms (disruptive behavior, anxiety, mood disorders, and psychosis) often requiring psychotropic medications. In this clinical case series of 35 patients with PWS, pharmacogenetic testing was obtained to determine allele frequencies predicting variations in activity of cytochrome (CYP) P450 drug metabolizing enzymes 2D6, 2B6, 2C19, 2C9, 3A4, and 1A2. Results were deidentified, collated, and analyzed by PWS genetic subtype: 14 deletion (DEL), 16 maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) and 5 DNA-methylation positive unspecified molecular subtype (PWS Unspec). Literature review informed comparative population frequencies of CYP polymorphisms, phenotypes, and substrate specificity. Among the total PWS cohort, extensive metabolizer (EM) activity prevailed across all cytochromes except CYP1A2, which showed greater ultra-rapid metabolizer (UM) status (p < 0.05), especially among UPD. Among PWS genetic subtypes, there were statistically significant differences in metabolizing status for cytochromes 2D6, 2C19, 2C9, 3A4 and 1A2 acting on substrates such as fluoxetine, risperidone, sertraline, modafinil, aripiprazole, citalopram, and escitalopram. Gonadal steroid therapy may further impact metabolism of 2C19, 2C9, 3A4 and 1A2 substrates. The status of growth hormone treatment may affect CYP3A4 activity with gender specificity. Pharmacogenetic testing together with PWS genetic subtyping may inform psychotropic medication dosing parameters and risk for adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice Forster
- Pittsburgh Partnership, PWS, Pittsburgh, PA 15218, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Jessica Duis
- Section of Genetic and Inherited Metabolic Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA;
| | - Merlin G. Butler
- Division of Research and Genetics, Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA;
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Zhao FY, Fu QQ, Spencer SJ, Kennedy GA, Conduit R, Zhang WJ, Zheng Z. Acupuncture: A Promising Approach for Comorbid Depression and Insomnia in Perimenopause. Nat Sci Sleep 2021; 13:1823-1863. [PMID: 34675729 PMCID: PMC8520448 DOI: 10.2147/nss.s332474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Comorbid depression and insomnia are ubiquitous mental complaints among women going through the perimenopausal stage of life and can result in major decline in quality of life. Antidepressive agents combined with/without hypnotics, and/or hormone therapy are currently the most common treatment for perimenopausal depression (PMD) and insomnia (PMI). Balancing the benefits of these pharmacotherapies against the risk of adverse events (AEs) is a difficult task for both clinicians and women. There has been a growing body of research regarding the utilization of acupuncture for treatment of PMD or PMI, whereas no studies of acupuncture for comorbid PMD and PMI have appeared. In this review, we summarize the clinical and preclinical evidence of acupuncture as a treatment for PMD or PMI, and then discuss the potential mechanisms involved and the role of acupuncture in helping women during this transition. Most clinical trials indicate that acupuncture ameliorates not only PMD/PMI but also climacteric symptoms with minimal AEs. It also regulates serum hormone levels. The reliability of trials is however limited due to methodological flaws in most studies. Rodent studies suggest that acupuncture prolongs total sleep time and reduces depression-like behavior in PMI and PMD models, respectively. These effects are possibly mediated through multiple mechanisms of action, including modulating sex hormones, neurotransmitters, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis/hypothalamic-pituitary-ovary axis, oxidative stress, signaling pathways, and other cellular events. In conclusion, acupuncture is a promising therapeutic strategy for comorbid depression and insomnia during perimenopause. Neuroendocrine modulation is likely to play a major role in mediating those effects. High-quality trials are required to further validate acupuncture's effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei-Yi Zhao
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia.,Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200071, People's Republic of China.,Department of Nursing, School of International Medical Technology, Shanghai Sanda University, Shanghai, 201209, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang-Qiang Fu
- Yangpu Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200090, People's Republic of China
| | - Sarah J Spencer
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia
| | - Gerard A Kennedy
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia.,School of Science, Psychology and Sport, Federation University, Mount Helen, Victoria, Australia.,Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia
| | - Russell Conduit
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia
| | - Wen-Jing Zhang
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200071, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Zheng
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia
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Zhao FY, Fu QQ, Kennedy GA, Conduit R, Zhang WJ, Zheng Z. Acupuncture as an Independent or Adjuvant Management to Standard Care for Perimenopausal Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:666988. [PMID: 34122180 PMCID: PMC8192720 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.666988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Many women with perimenopausal depression (PMD) have sought alternative therapies such as acupuncture because of concerns about risks associated with antidepressant and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This systematic review aimed to clarify if acupuncture is effective for PMD compared with waitlist control or placebo/sham acupuncture, and if acupuncture alone or combined with standard care (antidepressant and/or HRT) is more effective in ameliorating PMD in comparison with standard care alone. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of PMD treatment via acupuncture vs. waitlist control or placebo/sham acupuncture, and RCTs of PMD treatment via acupuncture alone or combined with Western pharmacotherapy vs. Western pharmacotherapy were searched for from seven databases from inception to December 2020. Cochrane criteria were followed. Results: Twenty-five studies involving 2,213 women were analyzed. Meta-analyses indicated that acupuncture significantly reduced the global scores of Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.54, 95% CI (-0.91, -0.16), p < 0.01], compared with standard care. The therapeutic effect of acupuncture maintained at 2-, 4-, and 12-week follow-ups. Acupuncture combined with standard care was more effective than standard care alone in decreasing HAMD scores [SMD = -0.82, 95% CI (-1.07, -0.58), p < 0.01]. Too few RCTs were available to assess the clinical efficacy differences between acupuncture and placebo/sham acupuncture or HRT alone. Acupuncture also showed better effects in decreasing Kupperman index (KI) scores, whether compared with antidepressant alone [MD = -4.55, 95% CI (-8.46, -0.65), p = 0.02] or antidepressant combined with HRT [MD = -0.89, 95% CI (-1.34, -0.43), p < 0.01]. Conclusions: In comparison with standard care, acupuncture alone or combined with standard care was associated with significant improvements in PMD and reductions of other menopausal symptoms. This finding suggests that acupuncture may be a useful addition to treatment for PMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei-Yi Zhao
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.,Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Nursing, School of International Medical Technology, Shanghai Sanda University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang-Qiang Fu
- Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Gerard A Kennedy
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.,School of Science, Psychology and Sport, Federation University, Mount Helen, VIC, Australia.,Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Russell Conduit
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Wen-Jing Zhang
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen Zheng
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
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Barker‐Smith H. Navigating the menstrual landscapes: From the darkness to the light. PSYCHOTHERAPY AND POLITICS INTERNATIONAL 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ppi.1533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Twelve-month Studies on Perilla Oil Intake in Japanese Adults-Possible Supplement for Mental Health. Foods 2020; 9:foods9040530. [PMID: 32331363 PMCID: PMC7230189 DOI: 10.3390/foods9040530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Perilla oil (PO), rich in α-linolenic acid (LNA, C18:3, ω-3), is increasingly alleged to have numerous health benefits in humans. However, the current reports detailing the effects of PO on human mental health are not adequate. Therefore, in the current investigation we compared the effects of PO or placebo treatment on the mental condition of healthy adult Japanese volunteers. At baseline and after 12 months of treatment, mental health condition was assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Apathy Scale, and serum biochemical parameters were determined. From baseline to 12 months of intervention, both SDS depression and apathy scores improved significantly in the PO-administered group. Compared to those of control group, serum norepinephrine and serotonin levels after 12 months decreased in the PO-administered group. The enhanced mental state observed in PO-subjects was accompanied by LNA level increases in erythrocyte plasma membranes. Our data demonstrate that PO intake enhances blood LNA levels and may maintain healthy mental conditions in adult subjects.
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Magnus MC, Guyatt AL, Lawn RB, Wyss AB, Trajanoska K, Küpers LK, Rivadeneira F, Tobin MD, London SJ, Lawlor DA, Millard LAC, Fraser A. Identifying potential causal effects of age at menarche: a Mendelian randomization phenome-wide association study. BMC Med 2020; 18:71. [PMID: 32200763 PMCID: PMC7087394 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01515-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age at menarche has been associated with various health outcomes. We aimed to identify potential causal effects of age at menarche on health-related traits in a hypothesis-free manner. METHODS We conducted a Mendelian randomization phenome-wide association study (MR-pheWAS) of age at menarche with 17,893 health-related traits in UK Biobank (n = 181,318) using PHESANT. The exposure of interest was the genetic risk score for age at menarche. We conducted a second MR-pheWAS after excluding SNPs associated with BMI from the genetic risk score, to examine whether results might be due to the genetic overlap between age at menarche and BMI. We followed up a subset of health-related traits to investigate MR assumptions and seek replication in independent study populations. RESULTS Of the 17,893 tests performed in our MR-pheWAS, we identified 619 associations with the genetic risk score for age at menarche at a 5% false discovery rate threshold, of which 295 were below a Bonferroni-corrected P value threshold. These included potential effects of younger age at menarche on lower lung function, higher heel bone-mineral density, greater burden of psychosocial/mental health problems, younger age at first birth, higher risk of childhood sexual abuse, poorer cardiometabolic health, and lower physical activity. After exclusion of variants associated with BMI, the genetic risk score for age at menarche was related to 37 traits at a 5% false discovery rate, of which 29 were below a Bonferroni-corrected P value threshold. We attempted to replicate findings for bone-mineral density, lung function, neuroticism, and childhood sexual abuse using 5 independent cohorts/consortia. While estimates for lung function, higher bone-mineral density, neuroticism, and childhood sexual abuse in replication cohorts were consistent with UK Biobank estimates, confidence intervals were wide and often included the null. CONCLUSIONS The genetic risk score for age at menarche was related to a broad range of health-related traits. Follow-up analyses indicated imprecise evidence of an effect of younger age at menarche on greater bone-mineral density, lower lung function, higher neuroticism score, and greater risk of childhood sexual abuse in the smaller replication samples available; hence, these findings need further exploration when larger independent samples become available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Magnus
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK.
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 222 Skøyen, 0213, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Anna L Guyatt
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Rebecca B Lawn
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
- School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Annah B Wyss
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Katerina Trajanoska
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leanne K Küpers
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Fernando Rivadeneira
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martin D Tobin
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
- National Institute for Health Research, Leicester Respiratory Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Stephanie J London
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Debbie A Lawlor
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Louise A C Millard
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
- Intelligent Systems Laboratory, Department of Computer Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Abigail Fraser
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Gender-specific mental health care needs of women veterans treated for psychiatric disorders in a Veterans Administration Women's Health Clinic. Med Care 2015; 53:S93-6. [PMID: 25767984 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This pilot study aims to ascertain the prevalence of self-reported premenstrual, perinatal, and perimenopausal influences on mental health, and of gynecologic conditions that could interact with psychiatric conditions, among women veterans receiving psychiatric care within a Veterans Administration (VA) Women's Health Clinic (WHC). METHODS Participants included all women veterans (N=68) who received psychiatric evaluations within a VA WHC over a 5-month period. This setting encompasses colocated and coordinated primary care, gynecologic and mental health services. Evaluations included a Women's Mental Health Questionnaire, a psychiatric interview, and medical record review. Deidentified data were extracted from a clinical data repository for this descriptive study. RESULTS High proportions of study participants reported that their emotional problems intensified premenstrually (42.6%), during pregnancy (33.3%), in the postpartum period (33.3%), or during perimenopause (18.2%). Unintended pregnancy (70.0% of pregnancies) and pregnancy loss (63.5% of women who had been pregnant) were prominent sex-linked stressors. Dyspareunia (22.1% of participants) and pelvic pain (17.6% of participants) were frequent comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS Among women veterans receiving psychiatric care within a VA WHC, there are high rates of self-reported premenstrual, perinatal, and perimenopausal influences on mental health. This population also has substantial comorbidity of psychiatric disorders with dyspareunia and pelvic pain. This underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing women veterans' sex-specific care needs, including interactions among reproductive cycle phases, gynecologic pain, and psychiatric symptoms. The findings support the need for greater awareness of the sex-specific mental health needs of women veterans, and for more definitive studies to further characterize these needs.
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Almeida OP, Marsh K, Flicker L, Hickey M, Ford A, Sim M. Reducing depression during the menopausal transition: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 2014; 15:312. [PMID: 25095797 PMCID: PMC4143563 DOI: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The menopausal transition (MT) is a biological inevitability for all ageing women that can be associated with changes in mood, including depressive symptoms. There is tentative evidence that women who develop depression during the MT have greater risk of subsequent depressive episodes, as well as increased health morbidity and mortality. Thus, preventing depression during the MT could enhance both current and the future health and well-being of women. This study aims to test the efficacy of a client-centred health promotion intervention to decrease the 12-month incidence of clinically significant symptoms of depression among women undergoing the MT. Methods/Design This randomised controlled trial will recruit 300 women undergoing the MT living in the Perth metropolitan area. They will be free of clinically significant symptoms of depression and of psychotic or bipolar disorders. Consenting participants will be stratified for the presence of subsyndromal symptoms of depression and then randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The intervention will consist of eight telephone health promotion sessions that will provide training in problem solving and education about the MT, healthy ageing, depression and anxiety, and management of chronic health symptoms and problems. The primary outcome of interest is the onset of a major depressive episode according the DSM-IV-TR criteria during the 12-month follow-up or of clinically significant symptoms of depression, as established by a score of 15 or greater on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Secondary outcomes of interest include changes in the severity of symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS), quality of life (Short Form Health Survey, SF-12), and lifestyle. Discussion Current evidence shows that depressive symptoms and disorders are leading causes of disability worldwide, and that they are relatively common during the MT. This study will use a multifaceted health promotion intervention with the aim of preventing depression in these women. If successful, the results of this trial will have implications for the management of women undergoing the MT. Trial registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12613000724774. Date registered: 1 July 2013.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osvaldo P Almeida
- Western Australian Centre for Health & Ageing (M573), Centre for Medical Research of the Perkins Institute for Medical Research, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
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Accortt EE, Kogan AV, Allen JJ. Personal history of major depression may put women at risk for premenstrual dysphoric symptomatology. J Affect Disord 2013; 150:1234-7. [PMID: 23800446 PMCID: PMC3759648 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.05.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2013] [Accepted: 05/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a chronic condition that significantly affects a woman's well-being on a monthly basis. Although co-occurrence of PMDD and major depressive disorder (MDD) is common, most studies examine whether women with PMDD are at risk for depression and investigations of PMDD in depressed women are scant. Therefore, the present study examined rates of PMDD in young depressed women. METHODS PMDD was assessed using a structured clinical interview (SCID-PMDD) in a sample of 164 young women with (n=85) and without (n=79) any history of depression. RESULTS Rates of PMDD were elevated among women with MDD in this sample. This result held true regardless of participants' MDD status (current, lifetime or past history-only symptoms of MDD) and regardless of whether all or most DSM-IV-TR PMDD criteria were met. LIMITATIONS Sample size in the present study was relatively small, and daily diary data were not available to confirm a PMDD diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS The current study highlights the need for clinicians to assess for PMDD in young female patients with major depression. Depressed women experiencing the added physical and psychological burden of PMDD may have a more severe disease course, and future studies will need to identify appropriate treatments for this subset of depressed women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eynav E. Accortt
- University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Corresponding authors. Dr. Accortt is to be contacted at Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, United States. Tel.: +1 310-825-2248. Dr. Allen, Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, 1503 E. University Ave., room 312, Tucson, AZ 85721-0068, United States. , (E.E. Accortt), (J.J.B. Allen)
| | | | - John J.B. Allen
- University of Arizona, Tucson, USA
- Corresponding authors. Dr. Accortt is to be contacted at Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, United States. Tel.: +1 310-825-2248. Dr. Allen, Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, 1503 E. University Ave., room 312, Tucson, AZ 85721-0068, United States. , (E.E. Accortt), (J.J.B. Allen)
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Tamura H, Ohgami N, Yajima I, Iida M, Ohgami K, Fujii N, Itabe H, Kusudo T, Yamashita H, Kato M. Chronic exposure to low frequency noise at moderate levels causes impaired balance in mice. PLoS One 2012; 7:e39807. [PMID: 22768129 PMCID: PMC3387207 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2012] [Accepted: 05/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We are routinely exposed to low frequency noise (LFN; below 0.5 kHz) at moderate levels of 60-70 dB sound pressure level (SPL) generated from various sources in occupational and daily environments. LFN has been reported to affect balance in humans. However, there is limited information about the influence of chronic exposure to LFN at moderate levels for balance. In this study, we investigated whether chronic exposure to LFN at a moderate level of 70 dB SPL affects the vestibule, which is one of the organs responsible for balance in mice. Wild-type ICR mice were exposed for 1 month to LFN (0.1 kHz) and high frequency noise (HFN; 16 kHz) at 70 dB SPL at a distance of approximately 10-20 cm. Behavior analyses including rotarod, beam-crossing and footprint analyses showed impairments of balance in LFN-exposed mice but not in non-exposed mice or HFN-exposed mice. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a decreased number of vestibular hair cells and increased levels of oxidative stress in LFN-exposed mice compared to those in non-exposed mice. Our results suggest that chronic exposure to LFN at moderate levels causes impaired balance involving morphological impairments of the vestibule with enhanced levels of oxidative stress. Thus, the results of this study indicate the importance of considering the risk of chronic exposure to LFN at a moderate level for imbalance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruka Tamura
- Unit of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life and Health Sciences, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Ohgami
- Unit of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life and Health Sciences, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi, Japan
| | - Ichiro Yajima
- Unit of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life and Health Sciences, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi, Japan
| | - Machiko Iida
- Unit of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life and Health Sciences, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kyoko Ohgami
- Unit of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life and Health Sciences, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi, Japan
| | - Noriko Fujii
- Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University, Kumatori-cho, Sennan, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Itabe
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Showa University School of Pharmacy, Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tastuya Kusudo
- Unit of Molecular Biology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life and Health Sciences, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Yamashita
- Unit of Molecular Biology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life and Health Sciences, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masashi Kato
- Unit of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life and Health Sciences, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi, Japan
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Abstract
The management of long-term mental illness in women requires a number of specialized approaches in order to optimize their quality of life and health outcomes. This selective review addresses the latest key issues related to hospitalization, life cycle, hormonal and other reproductive issues that impact on the treatment of women with mental illness. A particular focus is given to the management of women with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. Novel treatment approaches such as oestrogen augmentation and gender-specific medication prescription are detailed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayashri Kulkarni
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Alfred Hospital and School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
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