Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depressed Adults With Mild Intellectual Disability: A Pilot Study

There is a paucity of research on psychosocial treatments for depression in adults with intellectual disability (ID). In this pilot study, we explored the efficacy of a group CBT treatment that involved a caregiver component in adults with mild ID with a depressive disorder. Sixteen adults with mild ID and a depressive disorder participated in a 10-week group CBT treatment and eight adults with mild ID with a depressive disorder served as a treatment as usual (TAU) control group. Adults with mild ID and caregivers completed measures of depressive symptoms, behavior problems, and social skills at pretreatment, posttreatment, and a 3-month follow-up. Adults with mild ID also completed a series of tasks to measure their understanding of the principles of cognitive therapy pre- and posttreatment. The CBT group demonstrated significant decreases in depressive symptoms and behavior problems from pretreatment to posttreatment and these effects were maintained at a 3-month follow-up. The CBT group demonstrated significant improvements in their ability to infer emotions and thoughts based on various situation-thought-emotion pairings from pretreatment to posttreatment. Findings indicate that adults with mild ID with a depressive disorder benefitted from a group CBT treatment with a caregiver component. Moreover, adults with mild ID appeared to benefit, at least in part, from the cognitive therapy components of the treatment, in addition to the behavior therapy components.     

Catechol‐O‐methyltransferase gene val158met polymorphism and depressive symptoms during early childhood

Catechol‐O‐Methyltransferase (COMT) is a critical regulator of catecholamine levels in the brain. A functional polymorphism of the COMT gene, val158met, has been linked to internalizing symptoms (i.e., depression and anxiety) in adolescents and adults. We extended this research by investigating whether the val158met polymorphism was associated with childhood symptoms of depression and anxiety in two independent samples of young children (Ns = 476 and 409). In both samples, preschool‐aged children were genotyped for the COMT val158met polymorphism. Symptoms of psychopathology were assessed via parent interviews and primary caregiver reports. In both samples, children homozygous for the val allele had higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to children with at least one copy of the met allele. Our findings extend previous research in older participants by showing links between the COMT val158met polymorphism and internalizing symptoms in early childhood. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

脑象图技术临床研究与应用

脑象图技术不断地深入各个领域的研究,并逐步得到了推广与应用。特别在医疗卫生领域对抑郁症疾病诊断所取得的科研成果,为精神医学提供了客观诊断的新技术与新方法。本文主要介绍了脑象图技术的临床研究与应用、医疗检测设备—和德脑象图工作站。基于计算平台的抑郁症专家诊断分析系统以及脑象图技术在其他领域的应用,对脑象图技术的研究与应用现状进行了阐述。     

脑象图抑郁症专家诊断系统及其临床应用

目前,脑象图技术广泛用于医疗诊断系统与社会测评体系中。本文主要介绍了脑象图检测设备——和德脑象图工作站主要特性、软件分析功能与脑象图技术特点以及如何解读抑郁症专家诊断分析报告,从临床医疗的角度完整阐述了脑象图技术的应用。     

Effect of pegylated interferon-α-2a treatment on mental health during recent hepatitis C virus infection

Background and Aim: Pegylated interferon (PEG‐IFN) treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has neuropsychiatric side effects. Data on the effect of HCV treatment on mental health among injecting drug users (IDUs) are limited. We assessed mental health during treatment of recently acquired HCV, within a predominantly IDU population. Methods: Participants with HCV received PEG‐IFN‐α‐2a (180 µg/week) for 24 weeks; HCV/HIV received PEG‐IFN with ribavirin. Depression was assessed using the Mini‐International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with depression at enrolment and during treatment. Also, the effect of depression prior to and during treatment on sustained virological response (SVR) was assessed. Results: Of 163 participants, 111 received treatment (HCV, n = 74; HCV/HIV, n = 37), with 76% ever reporting IDU. At enrolment, 16% had depression (n = 25). In adjusted analysis, depression at enrolment occurred less often in participants full‐/part‐time employed (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.06, 0.82, P = 0.023) and more often in recent IDUs (AOR 3.04; 95% CI: 1.19, 7.72, P = 0.019). During treatment, 35% (n = 31) developed new‐onset depression. In adjusted analysis, poorer social functioning (higher score) was associated with new‐onset depression (score ≤ 9 vs score ≥ 17; OR 5.69; 95% CI: 1.61, 20.14, P = 0.007). SVR was similar among participants with and without depression at enrolment (60% vs 61%, P = 0.951) and in those with and without new‐onset depression (74% vs 63%, P = 0.293). Conclusions: Although depression at enrolment and during treatment was common among participants with recent HCV, neither influenced SVR. Participants with poor social functioning may be most at risk of developing depression during HCV therapy.     

老年高血压合并抑郁患者甲状腺激素水平变化分析

目的了解老年高血压合并抑郁患者甲状腺激素水平的变化。方法选择老年高血压患者73例,分为高血压合并抑郁组(合并组)28例,高血压无合并抑郁组(对照组)45例,并对其进行汉密尔顿抑郁量表及血清甲状腺激素水平检测,比较2组甲状腺激素水平和低T_3综合征发生率。结果合并组患者游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸低于对照组(P<0.01),低T_3综合征发生率高于对照组(39.29%vs 17.78%,P<0.05)。结论老年高血压合并抑郁患者游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸降低,容易发生低T_3综合征,应定期检测甲状腺功能。