Electroconvulsive therapy plays an irreplaceable role in treatment of major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder is a serious and common neuropsychiatric disorder that affects more than 350 million people worldwide. Electroconvulsive therapy is the oldest and most effective treatment available for the treatment of severe major depressive disorder. Electroconvulsive therapy modifies structural network changes in patients with major depressive disorder and schizophrenia. And it can also affect neuroinflammatory responses and may have neuroprotective effects. Electroconvulsive therapy plays an irreplaceable role in the treatment of major depressive disorder.     

Residential greenness and risks of depression: Longitudinal associations with different greenness indicators and spatial scales in a Finnish population cohort

We carried out a longitudinal study on the associations between residential greenness and depression risk in urban areas in Finland. Residential greenness indicators were estimated within various buffer sizes around individuals' home locations (selected n = 14424) using time-series of normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI) and CORINE land cover data (CLC). We estimated individuals’ cumulative exposure to residential greenness over a 5-years and 14-years follow-up. We used doctor-diagnosed depression and Beck Depression Inventory for depression assessment. Our multi-logistic model showed an inverse association between residential greenness and depression, implying lowered depression risk for individuals with higher residential greenness. The association was particularly evident when using NDVI-based residential greenness (within a buffer of 100 m radius) and doctor-diagnosis depression data, adjusted with individual-level covariates. The odds ratio was 0.56 (95% CI 0.33 to 0.96) for the 5-years follow-up, and 0.54 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.98) for the 14-years follow-up. The associations between CLC-based total residential green space and depression varied across the different buffer sizes. In general, all the associations depended on the type of depression assessment, quality of greenness indicators, and the spatial scale of analysis. The associations also varied across the socio-demographic groups and neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage level.     

General vaccination willingness and current vaccination status in relation to clinical and psychological variables in patients with multiple sclerosis

BackgroundInfections can have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Therefore, vaccinations are of immense importance. If vaccination willingness is to be increased, possible influencing factors should be identified. The aim of the present study was to investigate the status of active immunisation in MS patients in association with sociodemographic, clinical-neurological, psychopathological and personality variables using the NEO-Five Factor Inventory, the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.MethodFour hundred and four MS patients from two German neurological hospitals were examined for their vaccination attitudes, in detail, the general willingness to vaccinate and the current vaccination status of mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) as well as tetanus and influenza. We also looked at the current level of disability in relation to the current vaccination status, as well as possible associated personality and psychopathological variables.ResultsPatients with a complete MMR vaccination status were significantly younger and those with a complete influenza vaccination status were significantly older than those with related incomplete vaccination status. Tetanus vaccination status completeness did not differ depending on age and did not show substantial association with personality scores. However, influenza vaccination completeness was associated with differences in personality and psychopathological variables; extraversion, openness, novelty seeking, harm avoidance and anxiety. A reported general vaccination willingness was significantly correlated with the current completeness of tetanus and influenza vaccinations. Novelty seeking, persistence, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and neuroticism were found associated with an increased vaccination willingness. Anxiety and depression were not related to general vaccination willingness.ConclusionsNo specific personality trait could be defined on its own in relation to general vaccination willingness or complete vaccination status. Younger patients should be made more aware of influenza vaccination. Reasons for rather low vaccination rates need to be further investigated.     

Do social support and community engagement act as mechanisms in the association between neighbourhood income inequality and the mental health of mothers in Calgary,Canada? A mediation analysis

PurposeAccording to the social determinants of health framework, income inequality is a potential risk factor for adverse mental health. However, few studies have explored the mechanisms suspected to mediate this relationship. The current study addresses this gap through a mediation analysis to determine if social support and community engagement act as mediators linking neighbourhood income inequality to maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms within a cohort of new mothers living in the City of Calgary, Canada.MethodsData collected at three years postpartum from mothers belonging to the All Our Families (AOF) cohort were used in the current study. Maternal data were collected between 2012 and 2015 and linked to neighbourhood socioeconomic data from the 2006 Canadian Census. Income inequality was measured using Gini coefficients derived from 2006 after-tax census data. Generalized structural equation models were used to quantify the associations between income inequality and mental health symptoms, and to assess the potential direct and indirect mediating effects of maternal social support and community engagement.ResultsIncome inequality was not significantly associated with higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.32, 95%CI = −0.067, 0.70), anxiety symptoms (β = 0.11, 95%CI = −0.39, 0.60), or lower social support. Income inequality was not associated with community engagement. For the depression models, higher social support was significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms (β = −0.13, 95%CI = −0.15, −0.097), while community engagement was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms (β = 0.059, 95%CI = −0.15, 0.27). Similarly, for the anxiety models, lower anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with higher levels of social support (β = −0.17, 95%CI = −0.20, −0.13) but not with higher levels of community engagement (β = 0.14, 95%CI = −0.14, 0.41).ConclusionThe current study did not find clear evidence for social support or community engagement mediating the relationship between neighbourhood income inequality and maternal mental health. Future investigations should employ a broader longitudinal approach to capture changes in income inequality, potential mediators, and mental health symptomatology over time.     

Motor dysfunction in mild cognitive impairment as tested by kinematic analysis and transcranial magnetic stimulation

ObjectivePrevious studies have demonstrated voluntary movement alterations as well as motor cortex excitability and plasticity changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). To investigate the pathophysiology of movement abnormalities in MCI, we tested possible relationships between movement abnormalities and primary motor cortex alterations in patients.MethodsFourteen amnestic MCI (aMCI) patients and 16 healthy controls were studied. Cognitive assessment was performed using clinical scales. Finger tapping was recorded by a motion analysis system. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to test the input/output curve of motor evoked potentials, intracortical inhibition, and short-latency afferent inhibition. Primary motor cortex plasticity was probed by theta burst stimulation. We investigated correlations between movement abnormalities, clinical scores, and cortical neurophysiological parameters.ResultsMCI patients showed less rhythmic movement but no other movement abnormalities. Cortical excitability measures were normal in patients, whereas plasticity was reduced. Movement rhythm abnormalities correlated with frontal dysfunction scores.ConclusionOur study in MCI patients demonstrated abnormal voluntary movement and plasticity changes, with no correlation between the two. Altered rhythm correlated with frontal dysfunction.SignificanceOur results contribute to the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of motor impairment in MCI.     

阿戈美拉汀与帕罗西汀治疗抑郁症失眠的疗效对比

目的对比帕罗西汀和阿戈美拉汀治疗抑郁症失眠的疗效。方法选取2017-01—2020-01新乡医学院第二附属医院治疗的抑郁症失眠患者150例,依据随机化原则分为阿戈美拉汀组(n=75)和帕罗西汀组(n=75),观察2组患者的抑郁程度、焦虑程度、睡眠质量、生活质量、临床疗效、不良反应发生情况。结果阿戈美拉汀组患者治疗后较治疗前的HAMD评分、HAMA评分、PSQI评分降低幅度及SF-36评分升高幅度均显著高于帕罗西汀组(P<0.05)。阿戈美拉汀组总有效率为96.0%(72/75),帕罗西汀组为68.0%(51/75),阿戈美拉汀组显著高于帕罗西汀组(P<0.05)。在不良反应发生率方面,阿戈美拉汀组为9.3%(7/75),帕罗西汀组为12.0%(9/75),2组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论阿戈美拉汀治疗抑郁症失眠的疗效显著优于帕罗西汀。