Acute and subsequent continuation electroconvulsive therapy elevates serum BDNF levels in patients with major depression

IntroductionThe induction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) release and subsequent restoration of neuroplastic homeostasis may underlie the effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).ObjectivesWe aimed to assess serum and plasma BDNF levels during the course of acute ECT, as well as before and after subsequent continuation ECT, in patients with depression.MethodsWe included 24 patients with major depressive disorder (mean age ± SD: 54.5 ± 13.7; f/m: 17/7; baseline 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score of 26.79 ± 4.01). Serum and plasma BDNF (sBDNF, pBDNF) levels were assessed at nine time-points before, during, and after acute ECT series. Data were analysed using linear regression and linear mixed models, which were adjusted for multiple comparisons via Bonferroni correction. Five patients received continuation ECT subsequent to the acute ECT series. In these patients, BDNF levels were assessed before and after each two continuation ECT sessions using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.ResultsRelative to baseline (mean ng/ml ±SD: 24.68 ± 14.40), sBDNF levels were significantly higher 1 day (33.04 ± 14.11, p = 0.013, corrected), 1 week (37.03 ± 10.29, p < 0.001, corrected), and 1 month (41.05 ± 10.67, p = 0.008, corrected) after the final ECT session, while pBDNF levels did not significantly differ (p > 0.1). Furthermore, our results indicated that sBDNF levels increased after each continuation ECT session. There was no significant association between sBDNF levels and clinical parameters or treatment response.ConclusionThe absence of an association between changes in sBDNF levels and depressive symptoms challenges the proposed concept of sBDNF/pBDNF as key markers of the effects of ECT.     

Eliciting family concerns and priorities through the Routines-based Interview

Background: Research has demonstrated that having an understanding of families’ everyday routines is important when planning interventions, yet the nature of the information revealed by families about their daily lives has been scarcely documented. The aim of this study was to examine the concerns and priorities of families with a child with a developmental disability elicited through the Routines-based Interview (RBI).

Method: RBIs were conducted by early childhood intervention (ECI) professionals with 16 families with a child aged between 4 months and 5 years. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Findings revealed that families were concerned about their child’s development and behaviour; made accommodations to everyday routines for their child; and reported priorities for the intervention.

Conclusion: Tools, such as the RBI, are important to generate information that can assist ECI professionals to design interventions that are family-centred, contextualised, and embedded in everyday family life.     

上海市慢性乙、丙型肝炎疾病负担及其影响因素的生态系统模型研究

目的 探讨上海市慢性肝炎患者的生命质量和家庭负担及其影响因素。方法 采用多阶段整群抽样法,在上海市随机抽取1 478户慢性肝炎患者家庭,每户家庭选择1名患者和1名主要家庭成员纳入调查。以生态系统模型为理论依据,采用心理测量、多因素两水平随机截距模型和多应变量组合模型,分析患者、家庭和社区各层次影响因素间的作用强度和方向。结果 慢性肝炎患者生命质量标准化平均分为（78.70±13.25）分,其中“特异模块”得分最高,“社会功能”得分最低。家庭疾病负担标准化平均分为（12.62±10.74）分,其中“经济负担”得分最高,“家庭成员身体健康”得分最低。多因素固定效应分析提示有8项指标分别与患者生命质量或家庭疾病负担有统计学关联;协方差参数估计提示,在上述两者的总变异中,有14.77%和30.68%的变异由社区间的差异引起。多应变量组合模型提示,上述8项指标中“HCV感染”、“ALT水平异常”、“家庭月平均诊疗费用>3 000元”和“患者家属健康状况不佳”4项指标同时直接作用于患者生命质量和家庭疾病负担;“每周饮酒>1次”指标通过直接作用于患者生命质量,间接对家庭疾病负担产生影响作用;而“本市户籍”、“既往一年内以住院治疗为主”和“家庭成员对接种乙型肝炎疫苗持无所谓态度”3项指标则是通过直接作用于家庭疾病负担,间接对患者生命质量产生影响。结论 分析的8项指标可作为上海市慢性肝炎社区管理的干预提纲并应用于政策转化。     

Assessment reactivity to follow-up in a study of women's treatment for alcohol dependence

Little research has been conducted on symptom reductions in response to assessments in clinical trials, despite the impact such reactivity may have on interpretation of outcomes. Reactivity to data collection procedures during post-treatment follow-up may obscure treatment effects. The current study examined whether female participants (n=102) in a trial of cognitive-behavioral treatment for alcohol dependence had lower drinking quantity and frequency immediately after participating in follow-up assessments. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to compare each participant's drinking among two-week time periods immediately before the follow-up, directly after the follow-up, and between follow-ups. No assessment reactivity was found for 9 or 15 month follow-up interviews, but was suggested at a 12 month in-person interview.