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Walther A, Ehlert U, Schneeberger M, Eggenberger L, Flückiger C, Komlenac N, Heald A, Rice T, Palm S, Seidler ZE, Ogrodniczuk JS, Oliffe JL, Rice SM, Kealy D, Weber R, Zimmermann D. Evaluation of a male-specific psychotherapeutic program for major depressive disorder compared to cognitive behavioral therapy and waitlist: study protocol for a six-arm randomized clinical superiority trial examining depressed eugonadal and hypogonadal men receiving testosterone. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1129386. [PMID: 37415687 PMCID: PMC10321526 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1129386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in men is complicated by the endorsement of traditional masculinity ideologies (TMI) often leading to reluctance toward psychotherapy, therapy interfering processes, or premature termination. In addition, it has been shown that men with MDD have a significantly increased risk of being hypogonadal (e.g., total testosterone levels <12.1 nmoL/L). Therefore, it is recommended to examine depressed men with regard to their testosterone status and if hypogonadism is present to combine psychotherapy with testosterone treatment (TT). Aim This project aims to evaluate a male-specific psychotherapeutic program (MSPP) for MDD in depressed eugonadal and hypogonadal men receiving testosterone in comparison to a standard cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for MDD and a Waitlist. Methods The study presents a 2×3 factorial study design. In total, 144 men aged between 25 and 50 will be stratified by testosterone status (eugonadal/hypogonadal) and then randomized into one of the three conditions (MSPP, CBT, or Waitlist). Additionally, a healthy control group of 100 men will be recruited, which will undergo only baseline assessments. Both standardized psychotherapy programs will encompass 18 sessions delivered in a weekly manner. Aligned with the TT-related medical visits of the 72 hypogonadal men, all participants will be followed up with clinical assessments and bio sampling at weeks 0, 6, 15, 24, and 36. Expected results Compared to Waitlist control groups, treatment groups are expected to be more effective and efficacious (depression score reduction of ≥50%) at week 24 and at the follow-up at week 36. The MSPP is expected to show higher effectiveness and efficacy for depressive symptoms and higher acceptability (lower dropout rate) as compared to CBT. Discussion This study represents the first attempt to test a male-specific psychotherapy for MDD in a single-setting compared to standard CBT and a Waitlist control condition using randomized clinical trial methodology. In addition, the potential positive adjunct effect of psychotherapy to TT in reducing depressive burden and improving quality of life in hypogonadal depressed men represents a neglected research area and might introduce new hypogonadism screening procedures in depressed men and combined treatment approaches for depressed men suffering from hypogonadism. Limitations are the rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria, which limit the generalizability of the study results to first episode treatment naïve depressed men. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05435222.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Walther
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Ehlert
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michèle Schneeberger
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Eggenberger
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Nikola Komlenac
- Institute of Diversity in Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Adrian Heald
- Department of Endocrinology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy Rice
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Simona Palm
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zac E. Seidler
- Orygen, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - John S. Ogrodniczuk
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - John L. Oliffe
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Nursing, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Simon M. Rice
- Orygen, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David Kealy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Rainer Weber
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - David Zimmermann
- Andrology and Urology Centre, Uroviva Network, Zurich, Switzerland
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Mednova IA, Levchuk LA, Boiko AS, Roschina OV, Simutkin GG, Bokhan NA, Loonen AJM, Ivanova SA. Cytokine level in patients with mood disorder, alcohol use disorder and their comorbidity. World J Biol Psychiatry 2023; 24:243-253. [PMID: 35818961 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2022.2095439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Because alcohol use disorder (AUD) is often accompanied by mood disorder (MD) and both alcoholism and depression result in activation of the immune system, this study compares serum cytokine levels in the presence of co-morbidity with those in either AUD or MD alone. METHODS In this naturalistic prospective study the levels of 15 different cytokines were measured in serum samples of patients with MD (n = 43), participants with combined AUD-MD (n = 44) and AUD without MD (n = 42). The levels were compared cross-sectionally among themselves and with those in 50 healthy volunteers. RESULTS Pro-inflammatory IFN-2α levels were consistently significantly higher and anti-inflammatory IL-1RA significantly lower in all study groups in comparison to healthy volunteers. In the MD only group we found increased IL-6 (p = 0.001), IL-7 (p = 0.001) and IL-13 (p = 0.006) levels, and decreased TNFα (p = 0.0001), IL-1RA (p = 0.012), IL-10 (p = 0.002) compared with group MD + AUD. Patients with AUD only showed elevated levels of IL-1β (p = 0.046), IL-2 (p = 0.004), IL-7 (p = 0.0001), IL-4 (p = 0.049) and IL-13 (p = 0.015) in contrast with MD + AUD group. CONCLUSIONS Because the interactions of alcohol with peripheral and cerebral immune systems are multifaceted, the pertinent connection to the mechanism how alcohol consumption contributes to the development of mood disorders cannot be properly explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina A Mednova
- Mental Health Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russian Federation
| | - Lyudmila A Levchuk
- Mental Health Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russian Federation
| | - Anastasiia S Boiko
- Mental Health Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russian Federation
| | - Olga V Roschina
- Mental Health Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russian Federation
| | - German G Simutkin
- Mental Health Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russian Federation
| | - Nikolay A Bokhan
- Mental Health Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russian Federation.,Psychiatry, Addictology and Psychotherapy Department, Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, Russian Federation
| | - Anton J M Loonen
- PharmacoTherapy, -Epidemiology & -Economics, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Svetlana A Ivanova
- Mental Health Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russian Federation.,Psychiatry, Addictology and Psychotherapy Department, Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, Russian Federation
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Yang JY, Sohn A. The Association of Gender Role Attitudes and Risky Drinking: Changes in the Relationship between Masculinity and Drinking in Korean Young Men. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14271. [PMID: 36361151 PMCID: PMC9653756 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Recently, younger men in Korean society tend not to view drinking as a proud feature of men who work. The relationship between gender role attitudes and high-risk drinking is expected to change accordingly. An online survey was conducted in January-February 2022, and the frequency of drinking, the amount of drinking, and traditional gender role attitudes, such as "men should be independent and women should take care of the children", were measured. Participants were 786 men aged between 19 and 69 years. When comparing men in their 20s and 30s with those in their 40s to 60s, the younger men reported drinking relatively high amounts of alcohol in one place, and older men had a relatively high frequency of drinking. High-risk drinking was significantly higher in the older group. Gender role attitudes were more traditional in the older group and were a predictor of high-risk drinking in older men, but there was no significant relationship between the two variables in the younger age group. The results indicate that different generations have different perceptions of how men should drink. In addition to more detailed qualitative research on drinking motivation by generation, research on whether similar changes are occurring in other countries is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon-Yong Yang
- Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Aeree Sohn
- Department of Public Health, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Korea
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Gender Differences in Attachment Anxiety and Avoidance and Their Association with Psychotherapy Use—Examining Students from a German University. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:bs12070204. [PMID: 35877274 PMCID: PMC9312160 DOI: 10.3390/bs12070204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Attachment anxiety and avoidance might explain gender differences in psychotherapy use, which is generally lower in men. In addition, university students are a particularly vulnerable group for mental health problems, and understanding psychotherapy use, especially among mentally distressed male students, is pivotal. A total of 4894 students completed an online survey answering questions regarding psychotherapy use and completing the PHQ-D identifying psychological syndromes. In addition, the ECR-RD12 was used to measure attachment anxiety and avoidance. Significant gender differences for attachment anxiety and avoidance emerged, showing higher attachment anxiety in female students and higher attachment avoidance in male students. Male students used psychotherapy significantly less than female students. Male students’ attachment anxiety and avoidance predicted psychotherapy use, while for female students, only attachment anxiety emerged as a significant predictor. Attachment anxiety is positively associated with psychotherapy use, and lower attachment anxiety in men may explain lower psychotherapy use in male students.
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Perspective: Chicken Models for Studying the Ontogenetic Origin of Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051155. [PMID: 35625892 PMCID: PMC9138209 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutrients and xenobiotics cross the blood–placenta barrier, potentially depositing in the fetal brain. The prenatal exposure affects the neuroendocrine and microbial development. The mechanism underlying maternal risk factors reprograming the microbiota–gut–brain axis with long-term effects on psychosocial behaviors in offspring is not clear. In humans, it is not possible to assess the nutrient or xenobiotic deposition in the fetal brain and gastrointestinal system for ethical reasons. Moreover, the maternal–fetal microbe transfer during gestation, natural labor, and breast-feeding constitutes the initial gut microbiome in the progeny, which is inevitable in the most widely utilized rodent models. The social predisposition in precocial birds, including chickens, provides the possibility to test behavioral responses shortly after being hatched. Hence, chickens are advantageous in investigating the ontogenetic origin of behaviors. Chicken embryos are suitable for deposition assessment and mechanistic study due to the accessibility, self-contained development, uniform genetic background, robust microbiota, and easy in vivo experimental manipulation compared to humans and rodents. Therefore, chicken embryos can be used as an alternative to the rodent models in assessing the fetal exposure effect on neurogenesis and investigating the mechanism underlying the ontogenetic origin of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Hoirisch-Clapauch S. Mechanisms affecting brain remodeling in depression: do all roads lead to impaired fibrinolysis? Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:525-533. [PMID: 34404914 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01264-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fibrinolysis occurs when plasminogen activators, such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), convert plasminogen to plasmin, which dissolves the fibrin clot. The proteolytic activity of tPA and plasmin is not restricted to fibrin degradation. In the extravascular space, these two proteases modify a variety of substrates other than fibrin, playing a crucial role in physiological and pathological tissue remodeling. In the brain, for example, tPA and plasmin mediate the conversion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor (proBDNF) to mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor (BDNF). Thus, the fibrinolytic system influences processes reported to be dysfunctional in depression, including neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and reward processing. The hypothesis that decreased fibrinolytic activity is an important element in the pathogenesis of depression is supported by the association between depression and increased levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, the main inhibitor of tPA. Also, various biochemical markers of depression induce PAI-1 synthesis, including hypercortisolism, hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia, increased levels of cytokines, and hyperhomocysteinemia. Moreover, hypofibrinolysis provides a link between depression and emotional eating, binge eating, vegetarianism, and veganism. This paper discusses the role of reduced fibrinolytic activity in the bidirectional interplay between depression and its somatic manifestations and complications. It also reviews evidence that abnormal fibrinolysis links heterogeneous conditions associated with treatment-resistant depression. Understanding the role of hypofibrinolysis in depression may open new avenues for its treatment.
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Burghardt J, Riffer F, Sprung M. Gender effects on outcomes of psychosomatic rehabilitation are reduced. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256916. [PMID: 34449826 PMCID: PMC8396777 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The study examined whether psychiatric/psychosomatic rehabilitation continues to have a better course of treatment for women than men. METHODS We compared the course of global symptom severity, health-related quality of life and functioning between admission and discharge in patients (848 men, 1412 women) at an Austrian psychiatric/psychosomatic rehabilitation clinic. RESULTS Gender-specific differences in the course of treatment were all too small to be clinically relevant. The differences were smallest in the middle-aged cohort. However, at the time of admission, women reported a slightly higher symptom burden. CONCLUSION Overall, the results show a gender-fair effectiveness of the rehabilitation. The new findings could be explained by changes in living conditions, gender roles, or better treatment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Burghardt
- Division of Clinical Psychology, Department Psychology and Psychodynamics, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Science, Krems an der Donau, Austria
- * E-mail:
| | - Friedrich Riffer
- University Hospital for Psychosomatic Medicine Eggenburg, Psychosomatisches Zentrum Waldviertel, Eggenburg, Austria
- Psychiatric Rehabilitation Clinic Gars am Kamp, Psychosomatisches Zentrum Waldviertel, Gars am Kamp, Austria
| | - Manuel Sprung
- Division of Clinical Psychology, Department Psychology and Psychodynamics, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Science, Krems an der Donau, Austria
- University Hospital for Psychosomatic Medicine Eggenburg, Psychosomatisches Zentrum Waldviertel, Eggenburg, Austria
- Psychiatric Rehabilitation Clinic Gars am Kamp, Psychosomatisches Zentrum Waldviertel, Gars am Kamp, Austria
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Men's Psychotherapy Use, Male Role Norms, and Male-Typical Depression Symptoms: Examining 716 Men and Women Experiencing Psychological Distress. Behav Sci (Basel) 2021; 11:bs11060083. [PMID: 34199633 PMCID: PMC8228644 DOI: 10.3390/bs11060083] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Men as compared to women are half as often affected by depressive and anxiety disorders and seek significantly less help for mental health issues than women. Adherence to traditional male role norms (AtTMRN) may hinder men from describing prototypical depression symptoms and from seeking psychotherapy. The current study compared whether AtTMRN, gender role identity, or the experience of prototypical or male-typical externalizing mental health symptoms were associated with psychotherapy use in men and women. In an anonymous online survey, 716 participants (37% men) reporting to currently experience psychological distress were examined. Information was obtained on psychotherapy use, depression and anxiety symptoms, gender role identity, and traditional male role norms. Although experiencing similar levels of depression, men compared to women showed a reduction in psychotherapy use by 29%. Masculine role identity was directly associated with reduced psychotherapy use in men (β = −0.41, p = 0.029), whereas AtTMRN was not (men: β = −0.04, p = 0.818; women: β = −0.25, p = 0.064). Higher externalizing depression symptomatology (β = −0.68, p = 0.005), but not prototypical depression symptomatology (β = −0.02, p = 0.499), was associated with reduced psychotherapy use in men but not women (p > 0.05). Interactions revealed that men, but not women, with high AtTMRN use psychotherapy only when exhibiting elevated symptom levels. The results corroborate previous reports showing reduced psychotherapy use in men as compared to women and identify elevated masculine role identity and male-typical externalizing depression symptomatology as direct factors associated with reduced psychotherapy use in psychologically distressed men. AtTMRN interacts with mental health symptoms to predict psychotherapy use, indicating that men with high AtTMRN only use psychotherapy when exhibiting high symptomatology.
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Treatment-Resistant Depression Revisited: A Glimmer of Hope. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11020155. [PMID: 33672126 PMCID: PMC7927134 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11020155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent psychiatric disorder worldwide. It causes individual suffering, loss of productivity, increased health care costs and high suicide risk. Current pharmacologic interventions fail to produce at least partial response to approximately one third of these patients, and remission is obtained in approximately 30% of patients. This is known as Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). The burden of TRD exponentially increases the longer it persists, with a higher risk of impaired functional and social functioning, vast losses in quality of life and significant risk of somatic morbidity and suicidality. Different approaches have been suggested and utilized, but the results have not been encouraging. In this review article, we present new approaches to identify and correct potential causes of TRD, thereby reducing its prevalence and with it the overall burden of this disease entity. We will address potential contributory factors to TRD, most of which can be investigated in many laboratories as routine tests. We discuss endocrinological aberrations, notably, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation and thyroid and gonadal dysfunction. We address the role of Vitamin D in contributing to depression. Pharmacogenomic testing is being increasingly used to determine Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Cytochrome P450, Serotonin Transporter, COMT, folic acid conversion (MTHFR). As the role of immune system dysregulation is being recognized as potentially a major contributory factor to TRD, the measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) and select immune biomarkers, where testing is available, can guide combination treatments with anti-inflammatory agents (e.g., selective COX-2 inhibitors) reversing treatment resistance. We focus on established and emerging test procedures, potential biomarkers and non-biologic assessments and interventions to apply personalized medicine to effectively manage treatment resistance in general and TRD specifically.
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Otten D, Tibubos AN, Schomerus G, Brähler E, Binder H, Kruse J, Ladwig KH, Wild PS, Grabe HJ, Beutel ME. Similarities and Differences of Mental Health in Women and Men: A Systematic Review of Findings in Three Large German Cohorts. Front Public Health 2021; 9:553071. [PMID: 33614574 PMCID: PMC7892592 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.553071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In Germany, large, population-based cohort studies have been implemented in order to identify risk and protective factors for maintaining health across the life span. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyse findings from three large ongoing cohorts and to identify sex-specific prevalence rates, risk and protective factors for mental health. Published studies from the Cooperative Health Research in the Region Augsburg (KORA), the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) and the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS)), representing the southern, north-eastern and middle parts of Germany, were identified through searches of the databases PubMed and Web of Science. A total of 52 articles was identified from the start of each cohort until June 2019. Articles reporting prevalence rates of mental health [N = 22], explanatory factors for mental health [N = 25], or both [N = 5] were identified. Consistent across cohorts, higher prevalence rates of internalizing disorders were found for women and more externalizing disorders for men. Risk and protective factors for mental health included social factors, lifestyle, physical health, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, genetic and biological factors. In all areas, differences and similarities were found between women and men. The most evident were the sex-specific risk profiles for depression with mostly external risk factors for men and internal risk factors for women. Gender was not assessed directly, therefore we examined whether socioeconomic and family-related factors reflecting gender roles or institutionalized gender could be used as a proxy for gender. Overall, this systematic review shows differences and similarities in prevalence rates and determinants of mental health indicators between women and men. They underline the importance of focussing on sex specific approaches in mental health research and in the development of prevention measures. Current research on mental health still lacks focus on gender aspects. Therefore, an increased focus on sex and gender in mental health research is of great importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniëlle Otten
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ana N. Tibubos
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Georg Schomerus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Elmar Brähler
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Harald Binder
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Freiburg Center of Data Analysis and Modelling, Mathematical Institute, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Kruse
- Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Giessen and Marburg, Giessen, Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz Ladwig
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Philipp S. Wild
- Preventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, Center for Cardiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
| | - Hans J. Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Manfred E. Beutel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Rothe N, Steffen J, Penz M, Kirschbaum C, Walther A. Examination of peripheral basal and reactive cortisol levels in major depressive disorder and the burnout syndrome: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 114:232-270. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Jentsch MC, Burger H, Meddens MBM, Beijers L, van den Heuvel ER, Meddens MJM, Schoevers RA. Gender Differences in Developing Biomarker-Based Major Depressive Disorder Diagnostics. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093039. [PMID: 32344909 PMCID: PMC7246841 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of biomarkers associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) holds great promise to develop an objective laboratory test. However, current biomarkers lack discriminative power due to the complex biological background, and not much is known about the influence of potential modifiers such as gender. We first performed a cross-sectional study on the discriminative power of biomarkers for MDD by investigating gender differences in biomarker levels. Out of 28 biomarkers, 21 biomarkers were significantly different between genders. Second, a novel statistical approach was applied to investigate the effect of gender on MDD disease classification using a panel of biomarkers. Eleven biomarkers were identified in men and eight in women, three of which were active in both genders. Gender stratification caused a (non-significant) increase of Area Under Curve (AUC) for men (AUC = 0.806) and women (AUC = 0.807) compared to non-stratification (AUC = 0.739). In conclusion, we have shown that there are differences in biomarker levels between men and women which may impact accurate disease classification of MDD when gender is not taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike C. Jentsch
- Brainscan BV, 7418 AH Deventer, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (M.C.J.); (R.A.S.); Tel.: +31-62-874-6151 (M.C.J); Tel.: +31-50-361-2065 (R.A.S.)
| | - Huibert Burger
- Department of General Practice, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Lian Beijers
- Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Edwin R. van den Heuvel
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | | | - Robert A. Schoevers
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
- Research School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (M.C.J.); (R.A.S.); Tel.: +31-62-874-6151 (M.C.J); Tel.: +31-50-361-2065 (R.A.S.)
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Xia Y, Ma D, Perich T, Hu J, Mitchell PB. Demographic and Clinical Differences Between Bipolar Disorder Patients With and Without Alcohol Use Disorders. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:570574. [PMID: 33101085 PMCID: PMC7495181 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.570574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder (BD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are two major independent causes of psychopathology in the general population. The prevalence of AUD in BD is high. Identifying the clinical and demographic features of patients with BD who may develop AUD could help with early identification and intervention. METHODS Data from 238 patients diagnosed with BD were gathered on alcohol use, social demographics, longitudinal course of BD, clinical features of the most severe lifetime manic and depressive episodes, comorbid physical diseases, anxiety disorders, and other substance use disorders. RESULTS We found that 74 of 238 BD patients had AUD (67 with alcohol dependence and 7 with alcohol abuse). Bivariate logistic regression analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis found that the best predictors of AUD in patients with BD were being male (OR = 2.086, 95% CI = 1.094-3.979, p = 0.001), younger (OR = 0.965, 95% CI = 0.935-0.996, p = 0.026), and comorbidity with other unclassified substance dependence (OR = 10.817, 95% CI = 1.238-94.550, p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS Male, younger current age, and having other substance use disorders were independently associated with AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xia
- Mental Health Institute, Harbin Medical University, Mental Health Centre, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Dongying Ma
- Department of Neurosurgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Tania Perich
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jian Hu
- Mental Health Institute, Harbin Medical University, Mental Health Centre, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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14
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Walther A, Tsao C, Pande R, Kirschbaum C, Field E, Berkman L. Do dehydroepiandrosterone, progesterone, and testosterone influence women's depression and anxiety levels? Evidence from hair-based hormonal measures of 2105 rural Indian women. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 109:104382. [PMID: 31374371 PMCID: PMC6842697 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Depressive and anxiety disorders substantially contribute to the global burden of disease, particularly in poor countries. Higher prevalence rates for both disorders among women indicate sex hormones may be integrated in the pathophysiology of these disorders. The Kshetriya Gramin Financial Services study surveyed a random sample of 4160 households across 876 villages in rural Tamil Nadu, India. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was conducted to quantify depressive (K6-D) and anxiety (K6-A) symptoms. Alongside, hair samples for sex hormone profiling were collected from a subsample of 2105 women aged 18-85 years. Importantly, 5.9%, 14.8%, and 46.3% of samples contained non-detectable hormone levels for dehydroepiandrosterone, progesterone, and testosterone, respectively. Our primary analysis imputes values for the non-detectable sample and we check robustness of results when non-detectable values are dropped. In this cohort of women from rural India, higher depressive symptomatology is associated with lower levels of dehydroepiandrosterone and higher depressive and anxiety symptoms are associated with higher levels of testosterone. Progesterone shows no clear association with either depressive or anxiety symptoms. These results support a potential protective effect of higher endogenous dehydroepiandrosterone levels. An important caveat on the potential negative effect of hair testosterone levels on women's mental health is that the testosterone analysis is sensitive to how non-detectable values are treated.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Walther
- Biological Psychology, TU Dresden, Germany.
| | - C Tsao
- Princeton University, USA
| | - R Pande
- Department of Economics, Yale University, USA
| | | | - E Field
- Economics Department, Duke Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, USA
| | - L Berkman
- Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard University, USA
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15
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Walther A, Breidenstein J, Bösch M, Sefidan S, Ehlert U, Annen H, Wyss T, La Marca R. Associations between digit ratio (2D4D), mood, and autonomic stress response in healthy men. Psychophysiology 2019; 56:e13328. [PMID: 30623451 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The ratio between the length of the second (index) and the fourth (ring) finger (2D4D) is a putative biomarker of prenatal testosterone (T) exposure, with higher exposure leading to a smaller ratio. 2D4D has further been linked to mental and somatic disorders. Healthy male Swiss recruits (N = 245; Mage = 20.30 years) underwent a psychosocial stress test. Mood and salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) were assessed before and after the stress test, while heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured continuously. Additionally, 2D4D (right: R2D4D; left: L2D4D) was determined and divided into quartile groups. Correlation analysis showed no associations between R/L2D4D and outcome measures. Comparing calculated quartiles for R2D4D, subjects in the lowest R2D4D quartile expressed trendwise (p < 0.10) lower positive and higher negative affect, significantly elevated sAA activity (p < 0.05), but no HR and HRV differences at baseline as compared to subjects in the upper three quartiles. With regard to acute stress, subjects in the lowest as compared to subjects in the upper three R2D4D quartiles showed a higher increase of negative affect and a stronger cardiac response (p < 0.05), but no alterations in positive affect and sAA activity. Young healthy men in the lowest R2D4D quartile revealed a more negative affect and increased physiological activity at baseline and in response to acute stress. An exposure to high levels of prenatal T might constitute a risk factor potentially increasing vulnerability to stress-related disorders in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Walther
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Biopsychology, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - J Breidenstein
- Department of Biopsychology, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - M Bösch
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Military Academy, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - S Sefidan
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Military Academy, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - U Ehlert
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - H Annen
- Military Academy, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - T Wyss
- Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen (SFISM), Magglingen, Switzerland
| | - R La Marca
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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16
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Rice TR, Shah LD, Trelles P, Lin SK, Christensen DS, Walther A, Sher L. Mental health of the male adolescent and young man: the Copenhagen statement. World J Pediatr 2018; 14:224-232. [PMID: 29679360 DOI: 10.1007/s12519-018-0155-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Male adolescents and young men benefit when their mental health care is specialized to match their unique gendered and developmental needs. Sensitivity to the social circumstances of this population is important; additionally, the emerging ability to tailor care through knowledge gleaned from the intersection of psychiatry, neurology, and endocrinology informs care. DATA SOURCES This article summarized the views of six experts in the area of the adolescent and young adult male mental health. These experts were select members of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry's Task Force on Men's Mental Health. They convened to present two symposia on the topic of men's mental health at the 13th World Congress of Biological Psychiatry (WCBP) in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2017. RESULTS In these works, a special focus is paid to addictive disorders, disruptive behavior disorders, aggression, and brain development. Collectively, the authors present an argument for the merits of a male-specific model of mental health care to advance the overall well-being of this population. CONCLUSIONS Men's mental health should be recognized as a social issue as much as a medical issue, with special attention paid to problems such as unemployment, familial disruption, and substance abuse. These problems, and especially those of major societal impact including violence and suicide which are much more frequently the product of male youth and men, should have more male-tailored options for service provision that respond to men's mental health needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R Rice
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Lesha D Shah
- New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pilar Trelles
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Shih-Ku Lin
- Taipei City Hospital and Taipei Medical University, Taipei, China
| | - Dinne Skjærlund Christensen
- Department of Public Health, Center for Healthy Aging and Section of Environmental Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas Walther
- Biological Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Leo Sher
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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17
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Ludwig B, Roy B, Dwivedi Y. Role of HPA and the HPG Axis Interaction in Testosterone-Mediated Learned Helpless Behavior. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:394-405. [PMID: 29704202 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1085-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Affective disorders show sex-specific differences in prevalence, symptoms, and complications. One hypothesis for this discrepancy is the interaction between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. The present study investigates the influence of androgen on the behavioral phenotype and explores how it interacts with HPA axis genes. Gonadectomized (GDX) and GDX rats treated with testosterone propionate (T) were tested for learned helplessness (LH) behavior and compared with tested controls (TC). Prefrontal cortex was used for analyses of HPG- axis-related genes (androgen receptor, (Ar); estrogen receptor-β (Er-β)) and HPA axis-related genes (corticotropin-releasing hormone, (Crh); glucocorticoid receptor, (Nr3c1); corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1, (Crhr1); corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2, (Crhr2); FK506 binding protein 5, (Fkbp5)). Promoter-specific CpG methylation in the Crh gene was determined by bisulfite sequencing. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was used for determining ER-β binding on the proximal promoter region of Crh gene. Serum testosterone levels confirmed a testosterone-depleted GDX group, a group with supraphysiological levels of testosterone (T) and another group with physiological levels of testosterone (control (C)). Unlike GDX rats, T group exhibited significantly higher LH score when compared with any other group. Crh and Fkbp5 genes were significantly upregulated in GDX group compared with controls, whereas Er-β showed a significant downregulation in the same group. Methylation analysis showed no significant differences in-between groups. ChIP assay was unable to determine a significant change in ER-β binding but revealed a notable contrast in Crh promoter occupancy between T and GDX groups. Altogether, the present study reveals an increased susceptibility to depression-like behavior due to chronic supraphysiological level of androgen via HPA axis inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Ludwig
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, SC711 Sparks Center, 1720 7th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Bhaskar Roy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, SC711 Sparks Center, 1720 7th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Yogesh Dwivedi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, SC711 Sparks Center, 1720 7th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
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18
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Elliesen R, Walther A. Commentary: Physical Functional Capacity and C-Reactive Protein in Schizophrenia. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:7. [PMID: 29434554 PMCID: PMC5790803 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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19
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Walther A, Waldvogel P, Noser E, Ruppen J, Ehlert U. Emotions and Steroid Secretion in Aging Men: A Multi-Study Report. Front Psychol 2017; 8:1722. [PMID: 29033885 PMCID: PMC5627388 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Although aging increases the risk of cognitive and socioemotional deterioration, it has also been shown to be accompanied by an increase in experienced positive emotions and a decrease in negative emotions. Steroid hormones and age-related alterations in secretion patterns have been suggested to play a crucial role in these age-related changes in emotional experience. Importantly, previous studies identified effects of neuroactive hormones on age-related alterations in emotional experience, which vary by sex and depression levels. Therefore, in three independent cross-sectional studies including a total of 776 men, we examined age-related differences in emotional experience and subsequently the moderation effect of steroid hormones. Sample one consisted of 271 self-reporting healthy (SRH) men aged between 40 and 75 years, while sample two comprised 121 men in the identical age range but only including vitally exhausted (VE) men. Sample three included 384 men aged between 25 and 78 years who reported having fathered (FA) at least one child. For the SRH men, age was negatively associated with anxiety symptoms and aggression, while negative trends emerged for depressive symptoms. In VE men, age was negatively associated with depressive symptoms and positively associated with aggression and positive emotions. For FA men, anxiety symptoms and aggression were negatively associated with age. Age trends of steroid hormones and identified moderation effects are reported. However, with adjustment for multiple comparisons, most of the significant associations fade and the reported associations need to be regarded as exploratory starting points for the further investigation of age-related alterations in emotional experience and their relation to steroid secretion. Overall, the results indicate that salivary cortisol might be a moderator of the association between age and symptoms of anxiety for SRH and VE men, while salivary testosterone seems to moderate the association between age and symptoms of anxiety or depression in VE and FA men, respectively. Both hair cortisol and progesterone seem to influence age-related alterations in anger experience. Age-related alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis emerge as promising avenues to further investigate the decrease in experienced negative emotions in aging men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Walther
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University Research Priority Program (URPP) Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Biological Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Patricia Waldvogel
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Central European Network on Fatherhood (CENOF), Headquarters at the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Emilou Noser
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University Research Priority Program (URPP) Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Ruppen
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University Research Priority Program (URPP) Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Ehlert
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University Research Priority Program (URPP) Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Central European Network on Fatherhood (CENOF), Headquarters at the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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20
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Walther A, Philipp M, Lozza N, Ehlert U. Emotional Support, Depressive Symptoms, and Age-Related Alterations in Male Body Composition: Cross-Sectional Findings from the Men's Health 40+ Study. Front Psychol 2017; 8:1075. [PMID: 28706495 PMCID: PMC5489702 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
More depressive symptoms and low emotional support have been related to worse body composition. Body composition significantly deteriorates in aging men. Therefore, we aimed to examine whether high emotional support and low depressive symptoms are associated with better body composition and a decelerated age-related deterioration of body composition in aging men. A cross-sectional analysis including 269 self-reporting healthy men aged between 40 and 75 years living in the German-speaking part of Switzerland was conducted. Participants completed questionnaires on emotional support and depressive symptoms. The depression screening instrument was used to form a group with low (N = 225) and moderate (N = 44) depressive symptoms. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were measured, and cell proportion (CP), fat mass (FM), and water balance (WB) were obtained using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Age-related associations emerged for WHR, CP, FM, and WB, but not for BMI. Emotional support was negatively associated with BMI, WHR, and WB, and only trend-wise with CP and FM. Group comparisons revealed that more depressive symptoms were associated with lower levels of CP and higher levels of WB. Both emotional support and depressive symptoms were significant moderators of the association between age and specific measures of body composition such as CP, FM, and WB. However, after correction for multiple testing for moderation analyses only the moderation effects of depressive symptoms on the association between age and WB and CP remained significant. Low depressive symptoms were associated with a better body composition as well as a decelerated decline in body composition and the role of emotional support acting as a buffer against age-related deterioration of body composition merits further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Walther
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of ZurichZurich, Switzerland.,University Research Priority Program-Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of ZurichZurich, Switzerland
| | - Michel Philipp
- Psychological Methods, Evaluation and Statistics, University of ZurichZurich, Switzerland
| | - Niclà Lozza
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of ZurichZurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Ehlert
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of ZurichZurich, Switzerland.,University Research Priority Program-Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of ZurichZurich, Switzerland
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21
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Heald AH, Walther A, Davis JRE, Moreno GYC, Kane J, Livingston M, Fowler HL. No Difference in Mood and Quality of Life in DHEA-S Deficient Adults with Addison's Disease vs. Type 2 Diabetes Patients with Normal DHEA-S Levels: Implications for Management of These Conditions. Front Psychol 2017; 8:764. [PMID: 28553251 PMCID: PMC5425479 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with Addison's disease have relatively high rates of depression and anxiety symptoms compared with population-based reference samples. Addison's disease results in deficiency of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-S). There is considerable debate about the specific effects of DHEA deficiency on energy level and mood. We measured emotional well-being in 16 patients with Addison's disease and a group of 16 hospital attendees with type 2 diabetes. Participants completed the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the World Health Organization's quality of life assessment (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Holmes-Rahe life event scale. DHEA-S was low in Addison's patients (Addison's men: 0.5 ± 0.1 μmol/l [normal range: 2.1-10.8] compared with diabetes men: 3.2 ± 1.2 μmol/l; Addison's women: 0.4 ± 0.01 μmol/l [normal range: 1.0-11.5] compared with diabetes women: 2.2 ± 0.71 μmol/l). Testosterone levels were similar in both groups studied. There were no differences in emotional well-being and quality of life (QOL) between patients with Addison's disease and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus as measured by GHQ-28 (Addison's: 22.4 ± 2.6, Diabetes: 19.6 ± 2.7), HADS Depression (Addison's: 5.4 ± 0.9, Diabetes: 4.5 ± 1.4), HADS Anxiety and WHOQOL-BREF. There were no gender differences in affective symptomatology within the Addison's group. Life event scores were above average in both groups (Addison's: 195 ± 39.6, Diabetes: 131 ± 43.8), but not significant for difference between groups as was GHQ-28 total score. Both groups scored highly on the GHQ-28 and the life event scale, indicative of poorer health perceptions than the general population. This could be due to the chronicity of both disorders. We have not identified any specific effects of DHEA-S deficiency on mood or QOL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian H Heald
- Department of Endocrinology, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, University of ManchesterSalford, UK
| | | | - Julian R E Davis
- Department of Endocrinology, Manchester Royal InfirmaryManchester, UK
| | | | - John Kane
- Clinical Biochemistry, Salford Royal NHS Foundation TrustSalford, UK
| | - Mark Livingston
- Department of Blood Sciences, Walsall Manor HospitalWalsall, UK
| | - Helen L Fowler
- Behavioural Medicine, Salford Royal NHS Foundation TrustSalford, UK
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22
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Breidenstein J, Przyborowski C, Walther A. Commentary: Sex Differences in the Peripheral Immune System in Patients with Depression. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:145. [PMID: 28848457 PMCID: PMC5553013 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andreas Walther
- Biological Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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23
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Walther A, Penz M, Ijacic D, Rice TR. Bipolar Spectrum Disorders in Male Youth: The Interplay between Symptom Severity, Inflammation, Steroid Secretion, and Body Composition. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:207. [PMID: 29093685 PMCID: PMC5651281 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The morbidity and societal burden of youth bipolar spectrum disorders (BSD) are high. These disorders are multisystemic in that adult populations there are clear interactions with inflammatory processes and steroidal physiological systems. There are much less data concerning these areas of study in youth populations with BSD. This is surprising given the association of youth-onset BSD with puberty and its associated physiological changes. In this mini-review, we overview the theoretical role of inflammatory processes and steroidal physiological systems in youth BSD, describe the greater literature in adult populations, detail the literature in youth populations when available, and overview current proposed molecular mechanistic pathways and interaction effects based on the available data. We also attend to the interplay of this complex system with body composition and weight gain, an especially important consideration in relation to the role of second generation antipsychotics as the first line treatment for youth with BSD in major clinical guidelines. A developmental model of early onset BSD for boys is hypothesized with pubertal hormonal changes increasing risk for first (hypo-)manic/depressive episode. The dramatic androgen rise during puberty might be relevant for first onset of BSD in boys. A shift from general hypercortisolism driven by glucocorticoid resistance to hypocortisolism with further disease progression is assumed, while increased levels of inflammation are functionally associated with endocrine dysregulation. The interacting role of overweight body habitus and obesity in youth with BSD further indicates leptin resistance to be a central moderator of the dynamic neurobiology of BSD in youth. The intent of this mini-review is to advance our knowledge of youth BSD as multisystemic disorders with important contributions from endocrinology and immunology based on a developmental perspective. This knowledge can influence current clinical care and more importantly inform future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Walther
- Department of Biological Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marlene Penz
- Department of Biological Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Daniela Ijacic
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Timothy R Rice
- Department of Psychiatry - Child and Adolescent Inpatient Service, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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