Interpersonal stress mediates the relationship between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms: Findings from two culturally different samples

OBJECTIVE

Childhood trauma is associated with adulthood depressive symptoms, but very few studies explored potential social and interpersonal mediators behind this association. This study made the first attempt to test the potential mediating effects of interpersonal stress in the associations between childhood betrayal and non-betrayal trauma and depressive symptoms.

METHOD

We analyzed data in a sample of English-speaking adults from diverse backgrounds (from 19 different countries, mainly from Western countries) (N = 468). We then replicated and compared the results with those in another convenience sample of Chinese-speaking younger adults with different cultural backgrounds and mental health status (N = 205).

RESULTS

The results in both samples indicated that (1) childhood betrayal trauma had a stronger relationship with depressive symptoms than childhood non-betrayal trauma and that (2) interpersonal stress was a significant mediator in the relationship between childhood betrayal trauma and depressive symptoms, even when childhood non-betrayal trauma was included as a covariate. The indirect effect of childhood non-betrayal trauma on depressive symptoms through interpersonal stress was not consistent in two samples.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings point to the importance of taking social and interpersonal contexts into account when investigating, preventing and managing depression in trauma-exposed populations. Early social interventions such as family interventions, interpersonal skills training and building social resources may have the potential to change the trajectory of the development of mental health problems in trauma survivors.

Understanding cohort differences in appraisals of reconstruction priorities of mental health systems in postconflict Liberia

OBJECTIVE

This study analyzes the relationship between informants' age and their assessment of mental health needs in postconflict society and examines if mental health needs assessment priorities differ depending upon whether or not the informant was exposed to the Liberian civil war.

METHODS

cross-sectional survey was conducted in March 2009 to obtain data on mental health needs of Liberian children, adolescents and young adults. A total of 171 individuals were interviewed. The data were analyzed using a two- way ANOVA.

RESULTS

Elder respondents expressed a preference for young adults to receive services in a church/mosque (F = 4.020, p < .05); for adolescents in volunteer programs (F = 3.987, p < .05) and for children in sports programs (F = 4.396, p < .05). Experiencing conflict did exert some influence on treatment setting preferences. Those who resided outside Liberia during the conflict cited a preference for traditional healers and medical clinics. However, this preference was for the children and young adult age categories. Those who experienced the civil war reported significantly higher preferences for adolescent services to be located in medical clinics, with traditional healers, and in churches/mosques.

CONCLUSION

This study provides additional support for the premise that the utilization of psychiatric services needs to be viewed from the perspective of Liberians and that there are differences in preferences across groups. Our results suggest that service providers and policy makers take into account the age of the patient when deciding where to locate treatment settings for the population.

Assessment of the needs of vulnerable youth populations in post-conflict Liberia

OBJECTIVE

The study examined key informants' perceptions of the emotional impact of traumatic events, major problems, functional limitations and appropriate treatment settings for children, adolescents, and young adults in post-conflict Liberia.

METHOD

This research is a based on cross-sectional survey conducted between March 30, 2009 and April 30, 2009 in Liberia with 171 local key Liberian informants. Analysis was conducted using mixed methods. The findings we will report were collected in the qualitative portion of the survey.

RESULTS

We found that while different interventions were preferred for different types of young people, some interventions were mentioned for all youth and by all age and gender groups of key informants. These included counseling, education, and skills training. Also frequently chosen were housing, community reintegration, recreation, and medical care. In general, key informants reported similar concerns regardless of their ages or genders. Notable exceptions to this were in interventions for youth who joined fighting forces. Men over 50 were the only ones to recommend apology and reparations. Similarly, in recommendations for criminals and violent youth, a number of men mentioned prison, whereas the women did not.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that the needs of post-conflict Liberian youth span a variety of domains, including physical, emotional, medical, psychological, and educational. These findings can be used to guide the development of treatment programs for these young people.

The effectiveness of health promotion counseling for overweight adolescent nursing students in taiwan

This study examined the effectiveness of health promotion counseling for overweight adolescent nursing students. The Chinese version of an established health promotion counseling booklet developed by the author of this study was used in the counseling. The study employed a one-group pre- and post-quasi-experimental research design from September 1997 to June 1999. A total of 166 (17%) first-year, junior college nursing students were found to be overweight according to the results of a health examination at the school health center at a junior college in the Taipei Metropolitan Area. Of these 166 students, 58 were randomly selected and 49 of these had complete participation records for the 2-year study. All subjects received 8 hours of whole group and 12 hours of small group health promotion counseling over a 1-year period. The results show that health promotion counseling enabled subjects to adopt healthier lifestyles and most of the physiological variables (WLI, HDL, SBP, TC) were significantly improved. This research outcome supports the value of health promotion counseling in school health centers, which incorporates material to help overweight adolescent students live a healthier life.

Absence of maternal A3243G mtDNA mutation and reversible hyperglycemia in a patient with MELAS syndrome

We report the unusual features of a female patient who had MELAS-specific A3243G mutation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and diabetes mellitus (DM). The patient showed mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and deafness but lacked the stroke-like episode. Acute hyperglycemia was noted after one attack of status epilepticus. Molecular genetic analysis demonstrated a heteroplasmic A3243G point mutation in the mtDNAs of muscle, blood cells and hair follicles. Glucagon stimulation test exhibited marked depression of pancreatic beta-cell function. However, in a further study neither this mutation, nor MELAS syndrome or DM, was found in all of her maternal relatives. A series of follow-up studies for beta-cell function also showed gradual improvement. The pedigree study led us to believe that this A3243G mutation arose from the germ line cells or occurred later in somatic tissues of the patient. We also suggest that the A3243G mutation of mtDNA may elicit the pathogenesis of a subtype of DM. Nevertheless, environmental stress may be another important factor for provocation of the disease.

Molecular epidemiologic study of mitochondrial DNA mutations in patients with mitochondrial diseases in Taiwan

We report an 8-year molecular study of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in patients with mitochondrial diseases in Taiwan. One hundred and seventy-seven patients met the diagnostic criteria of mitochondrial disease and were recruited into the study. The results showed that 32 patients, including 25 with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome, one with Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS), one with diabetes mellitus and deafness, and five with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO), harbored the A3243G mtDNA mutation. The A8344G mutation was found in nine patients, all of whom suffered from myoclonic epilepsy and ragged-red fibers (MERRF) syndrome. The G11778A mtDNA mutation was found in 18 of 22 patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. The T8993C and T8993G mutations were found, respectively, in one and two patients with Leigh syndrome. Large-scale deletions of mtDNA were found in 17 patients with CPEO, one with KSS, one with MELAS, and two with MERRF syndrome. The mtDNA mutations in patients with each of the mitochondrial diseases found in Taiwan were restricted mainly to a single site, while those reported for the same diseases in other ethnic groups occurred in many sites. Furthermore, significant levels of additional mtDNA mutations occurred in some patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathies. We suggest that these additional (or secondary) mtDNA mutations are generated as a consequence of the preexisting primary mtDNA mutations and may contribute to the age-dependent progressive deterioration characteristic of mitochondrial diseases.

A thin-layer electrochemical detector coated with nafion film for liquid chromatography

The selectivity and analytical application of a thin-layer electrochemical detector comprised of glassy carbon electrode coated with Nafion film were investigated. As a result of the ion-exchange characteristics of the Nafion polymer, the selectivity and stability were improved greatly. The coated electrode has a good response only for cations with the same sensitivity as an uncoated (bare) electrode, but not for anions, and the response for neutral molecules is decreased three-fold. The diffusion of electroactive compounds in Nafion film is discussed based on the results of flow injection experiments. The peak current at the coated electrode was independent of the flow-rate of the mobile phase. Electrode poisoning due to protein adsorption was minimized. The use of 30% methanol or 10% acetonitrile in the mobile phase did not affect the performance of the coated electrode. Various analytes having three kinds of charge state, i.e., anionic, cationic and neutral, were tested. Liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection of ascorbic acid, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine and uric acid was demonstrated.

Effects of anticonvulsant drugs on calcium transport and polyphosphoinositide metabolism in rat cortical synaptosomes

1. Anticonvulsants: phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine and valium at concentrations of 10-100 microM had a significantly inhibitory effect on both K+-stimulated Ca2+-uptake and 32Pi incorporation into phospholipids of rat cortical synaptosomes. 2. Other anticonvulsant, valproic acid, at concentration upto 100 microM had no effect on these two events. 3. Our results suggest that there is a link between Ca2+-influx and polyphosphoinositide turnover in synaptosomes, and this link may relate to the inhibitory effect of these drugs on neurotransmitter release mechanisms of this preparation.

Effects of calcium ionophore A23187 and calcium antagonists on 32Pi incorporation into polyphosphoinositides of rat cortical synaptosomes

The role of Ca2+ on 32Pi incorporation into polyphosphoinositides (PPI) of rat cortical synaptosomes was studied. Stimulation of muscarinic receptor by carbachol (1 mM) resulted in a decrease in 32Pi incorporation into phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphophaphate (TPI) and phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (DPI), and an increase in 32Pi incorporation into phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidic acid (PA), whereas no significant effect on other membrane phospholipids was found. This response could be blocked by atropine (1 microM). The stimulatory effect of carbachol required Ca2+ in the medium; the presence of 0.5 mM EGTA blocked the effect of carbachol on PPI turnover completely. Calcium ionophore A23187, at 1 microM, had a similar effect on PPI turnover by carbachol (1 mM). At higher concentrations (10-100 microM) of A23187, the PPI turnover rate was much enhanced. Depolarization of the membrane by high potassium (60 mM) in the presence of calcium resulted in an enhanced PPI turnover, which was similar to the results of the carbachol (1 mM) effect but to a lesser extent. Calcium antagonists, diltiazem and trifluoperazine, at 10 microM could block the carbachol effect on 32Pi incorporation into PPI in this preparation. Our results suggest that the enhancement of PPI turnover in rat cortical synaptosomes by carbachol, calcium ionophore or high potassium requires Ca2+, and it can be blocked by compounds which interfere with the availability of this ion, such as EGTA or calcium antagonists.