Cardiorespiratory fitness protects against stress-related symptoms of burnout and depression

Objective

To examine how cardiorespiratory fitness and self-perceived stress are associated with burnout and depression. To determine if any relationship between stress and burnout/depression is mitigated among participants with high fitness levels.

Methods

197 participants (51% men, mean age = 39.2 years) took part in the study. The Åstrand bicycle test was used to assess cardorespiratory fitness. Burnout was measured with the Shirom–Melamed Burnout Questionnaire (SMBQ), depressive symptoms with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD-D). A gender-matched stratified sample was used to ensure that participants with varying stress levels were equally represented.

Results

Participants with moderate and high fitness reported fewer symptoms of burnout and depression than participants with low fitness. Individuals with high stress who also had moderate or high fitness levels reported lower scores on the SMBQ Tension subscale and the HAD-D than individuals with high stress, but low fitness levels.

Conclusion

Better cardiovascular fitness seems to be associated with decreased symptoms of burnout and a better capacity to cope with stress.

Practical implications

Promoting and measuring cardiorespiratory fitness can motivate employees to adopt a more physically active lifestyle and thus strengthen their ability to cope with stress exposure and stress-related disorders.     

Effort–reward-imbalance in healthy teachers is associated with higher LPS-stimulated production and lower glucocorticoid sensitivity of interleukin-6 in vitro

Background

According to the effort–reward-imbalance (ERI) model, a lack of reciprocity between costs and gains at work increases the risk for adverse health outcomes. Inflammation has been shown to play a crucial role in a variety of stress-related diseases and alterations in immune system glucocorticoid sensitivity may help to explain the increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression related to chronic work stress.

Methods

Changes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced interleukin (IL)-6 production and inhibition of IL-6 production by dexamethasone in reaction to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) were assessed in forty-six healthy school teachers to test whether chronic work stress is accompanied by alterations in inflammatory activity and glucocorticoid sensitivity of the innate immune system.

Results

High ERI was associated with an increase in pro-inflammatory potential, reflected in elevated IL-6 production before and after stress and with a lower capacity of dexamethasone to suppress IL-6 production in vitro over all measurement time points. ERI was not associated with stress-related changes in GC sensitivity.

Conclusion

The present findings suggest a less effective anti-inflammatory regulation by glucocorticoids in teachers suffering from chronic work stress.     

A preliminary investigation of 4 to 11-year-old children's knowledge and understanding of stress

Objective

To examine children's knowledge, understanding and experience of stress from 4 to 11 years of age across four age groups (4–5, 6–7, 8–9, and 10–11 years old).

Methods

A semi-structured interview format was used to elicit information from 50 children about their understanding and experience of stress.

Results

Most children were able to define stress, with older children providing more complex responses. Many children had indirect and/or personal experience of stress. Younger children were more likely than older children to report that there was nothing people could do to stop stress; children reported using both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies to deal with stress.

Conclusion

Some young children have a basic understanding of stress and many have experience of stress; both understanding and experience develop with age.

Practice Implications

The research has potential implications for provider-patient communication, particularly within preventative health education and clinically within the field of childhood post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).     

Use of the Suicide Status Form-II to investigate correlates of suicide risk factors in psychiatrically hospitalized children and adolescents

Background

Suicide is the third leading cause of death in the United States for youth 12–17 years or age. Acute psychiatric hospitalization represents a clear worst point clinically and acute suicide risk is the most common reason for psychiatric admission. We sought to determine factors associated with differences in individual suicide risk assessment for children and adolescents during acute psychiatric admission.

Methods

Study participants were 1153 youth consecutively admitted to an inpatient psychiatry unit who completed a self-administered Suicide Status Form (SSF) within 24 h of admission. Additional information on suicide risk factors was obtained through medical chart abstraction.

Results

Females reported significantly greater psychological pain, stress, hopelessness, and self-hate on the SSF and were significantly more likely to have made a suicide attempt just prior to the index hospital admission (OR=1.59, SE=0.29; CI=1.12–2.26), report a family history of suicide (OR=2.02, SE=0.33; CI=1.47–2.78), and had experienced a greater number of inpatient psychiatry admissions related to suicidal ideation (RR=1.33, SE=0.13; CI=1.10–1.61). High school aged youth and those with a primary diagnosis of depression displayed consistently elevated SSF scores and risk factors for suicide compared to comparison groups.

Limitations

Diagnosis was determined through chart abstraction. Responses to access to firearm question had missing data for 46% of the total sample.

Conclusions

Systematic administration of a suicide-specific measure at admission may help clinicians improve identification of suicide risk factors in youth in inpatient psychiatry settings.     

Unmasking materialistic depression as a mental health problem: Its effect on depression and materialism in an African–United States undergraduate sample

Background

Misdiagnosis of African–U.S. persons is argued to be a built-in characteristic of Western-based assessment requiring augmentation with culture-focused input where possible. Regarding depression, materialistic depression is explained as an African-centered African–U.S. culture-focused construct of masked depression. Materialistic depression symptomatology is presented. Materialism orientation is postulated to necessarily be associated with materialistic depression.

Method

144 undergraduates, 37 male (25.7%) and 107 female (74.3%), average age of 21 completed the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale, the depression subscale of the Symptom Checklist 90-R, the materialism subscale of the Cultural Misorientation Scale, and the Materialistic Depression Quiz.

Results

Contrasting high versus lower scoring MDQ groups on both depression scores produced reliable t-tests (p<.017). One-way ANOVA on materialism scores with high, medium, low MDQ groups was reliable (p<.017).

Limitation

The sample precluded generalization to clinically depressed and non-college African–U.S. populations.

Conclusions

Using the Materialistic Depression Quiz, high scorers versus medium and low scorers had greater depression scores on two depression measures and greater materialism scores. Materialistic depression appears a masked form of depression not to be overlooked.     

Interpersonal problems as predictors of alliance,symptomatic improvement and premature termination in treatment of depression

Background

Previous studies reported inconsistent findings regarding the association of interpersonal problems with therapy outcome. The current study investigates if interpersonal problems predict process and outcome of three different treatments for depression.

Methods

The data originate from a randomized clinical trial comparing supportive–expressive psychotherapy, antidepressant medication and pill-placebo for treatment of depression. Interpersonal problems were used as predictors of alliance, symptomatic improvement and premature termination of treatment.

Results

Interpersonal problems related to communion predicted better alliances, but slower symptomatic improvement. Low agency predicted slower symptomatic improvement in supportive–expressive psychotherapy, but not in the medication or placebo condition. Lower interpersonal distress was associated with an increased likelihood to terminate treatment prematurely.

Limitations

The sample size did not allow the detection of small effects within the treatment groups.

Conclusions

Interpersonal problems are influential for the treatment of depression, but parts of their effects depend on the type of treatment.     

Secular changes in the relation between social factors and depression: A study of two birth cohorts of Swedish septuagenarians followed for 5 years

Background

Rapid societal changes occurred in the Western world during the 20^th century. It is not clear whether this has changed the relation between social factors and depression in older people.

Methods

Representative samples of 70-year-olds from Gothenburg, Sweden, were examined with identical psychiatric examinations in 1971–72 (N=392; 226 women and 166 men) and 2000–01 (N=499; 270 women and 229 men). Follow-up studies were conducted after five years. Social factors were obtained by self-report and depression was diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR.

Results

Feelings of loneliness were related to both concurrent depression at baseline and new depression at follow-up in both birth cohorts. Visits with others than children and neighbours once per month or less, compared to having more visits, and the perception of having too little contact with others, were related to both concurrent and new depression in 70-year-olds examined 1971–72, but not in those examined 30 years later.

Limitations

The response rate declined from 85.2% in 1971–72 to 65.8% in 2000–01. Participation bias may have resulted in an underestimation of depression in the later-born cohort.

Conclusions

Social contacts with others were related to depression in 70-year-olds examined in the 1970s, but not in those examined in the 2000s. This may reflect period changes in the ways of socialising, communicating and entertaining, e.g. due to technological development and expansion of mass media. Findings may be useful when developing modern and effective programs for the prevention of mental ill-health in older people.     

Stress,psychological distress,psychosocial factors,menopause symptoms and physical health in women

Objectives

Relatively few studies have evaluated relationships between stress, psychological distress, psychosocial factors and menopause symptoms, and none have evaluated emotional intelligence (EI) in relation to menopause. In this study, direct and indirect relationships were evaluated between stress, psychological distress, psychosocial factors (e.g. social support, coping, EI), menopause symptom severity and physical health in middle-aged women.

Methods

One hundred and sixteen women aged 45–55 years were recruited through women's health centres and community organizations. They completed a short questionnaire asking about stress, psychological distress (i.e. anxiety, depression), EI, attitude to menopause, menopause symptoms and physical health.

Results

Low emotional intelligence was found to be related to worse menopause symptoms and physical health, and these associations were partly mediated by high stress, anxiety and depression, a negative attitude to menopause and low proactive coping.

Conclusions

Women with high EI appear to hold more positive attitudes to menopause and experience less severe stress, psychological distress and menopause symptoms and better physical health. These results suggest that women who expect menopause to be a negative experience or are highly stressed or distressed may be more likely to experience a more negative menopause.     

Perception or reality of body weight: Which matters to the depressive symptoms

Background

Failure to control for the confounding effects from body perceptions may contribute to the inconsistency of literature on the relationship between body weight and depression. The aim was to determine if perception mediates the associations between measured weight and depression.

Methods

We analyzed the data of 13,548 adults age 18 or older, collected in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005–2008. Depression status was ascertained using the Patient Health Questionnaire; and the BMI was calculated from measured height and weight.

Results

Among women, adjusting for perception weakened the relationship between measured weight and depression. The odds ratios (OR) of depression for being obese and overweight were 2.26 [95% confidence interval (1.50–3.40)] and 1.92 (1.29–2.85) before being adjusted for perception and 1.72 (1.01–2.92) and 1.62 (1.01–2.60) when perception was adjusted for. Independent from measured weight, women who perceived themselves as underweight [OR=2.95(1.47–5.14)] or overweight [1.73 (1.14–2.61)] had an increased odds of depression compared with women who perceived themselves as about the right weight. Among men, measured weight, neither overweight nor underweight, was associated with depression, perceiving oneself as underweight [OR=2.80 (1.42–5.54)] was associated with depression.

Limitation

The inherent limitation of the study's cross-sectional design prevented the authors from investigating causality.

Conclusion

Perception may be more important than measured weight in the relationship with depression. Independent from measured weight either perceived under or overweight among women, or underweight among men, appear to be significantly associated with depression.     

Parental anxiety and depression associated with caring for a child newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes: opportunities for education and counseling

Objective

To examine demographic and clinical characteristics, such as pediatric parenting stress and self-efficacy for diabetes care, of parents of children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes that are associated with parental anxiety and depression.

Methods

102 parents reported on their levels of depression (CESD), state anxiety (STAI), pediatric parenting stress (PIP), and self-efficacy for diabetes care (SED) within 4 weeks of their child's diagnosis with type 1 diabetes. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression.

Results

Parents’ scores in the clinical range for depression and anxiety were associated with increased frequency and difficulty of pediatric parenting stress, and there was a trend for depression to be related to lower self-efficacy for diabetes care. The association of female gender with anxiety and depression was partially mediated by more frequent pediatric parenting stress.

Conclusion

Parents of children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are at risk for experiencing anxiety and depression, related, in part, to their experiences of pediatric parenting stress.

Practice implications

Providers and educators should be aware of the risk for depression and anxiety in parents and should work to decrease pediatric parenting stress, increase self-efficacy, and refer parents who are experiencing significant anxiety or depression following their child's diagnosis to a mental health specialist.     

Prevalence and correlates of depression among HIV-infected and -affected older people in rural South Africa

Background

Little is known about depression in older people in sub-Saharan Africa, the associated impact of HIV, and the influence on health perceptions.

Objectives

Examine the prevalence and correlates of depression; explore the relationship between depression and health perceptions in HIV-infected and -affected older people.

Methods

In 2010, 422 HIV-infected and -affected participants aged 50+ were recruited into a cross-sectional study. Nurse professionals interviewed participants and a diagnosis of depressive episode was derived from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (Depression module) using the International Classification of Diseases diagnostic criteria and categorised as major (MDE) or brief (BDE).

Results

Overall, 42.4% (n=179) had a depressive episode (MDE: 22.7%, n=96; BDE: 19.7%, n=83). Prevalence of MDE was significantly higher in HIV-affected (30.1%, 95% CI 24.0–36.2%) than HIV-infected (14.8%, 95% CI 9.9–19.7%) participants; BDE was higher in HIV-infected (24.6%, 95% CI 18.7–30.6%) than in HIV-affected (15.1%, 95% CI 10.3–19.8%) participants. Being female (aOR 3.04, 95% CI 1.73–5.36), receiving a government grant (aOR 0.34, 95% CI 0.15–0.75), urban residency (aOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.16–2.96) and adult care-giving (aOR 2.37, 95% CI 1.37–4.12) were significantly associated with any depressive episode. Participants with a depressive episode were 2–3 times more likely to report poor health perceptions.

Limitations

Study limitations include the cross-sectional design, limited sample size and possible selection biases.

Conclusions

Prevalence of depressive episodes was high. Major depressive episodes were higher in HIV-affected than HIV-infected participants. Psycho-social support similar to that of HIV treatment programmes around HIV-affected older people may be useful in reducing their vulnerability to depression.     

Serum methylarginines and incident depression in a cohort of older adults

Background

Methylarginines are endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitors that have been implicated in depression. This study measured serum concentrations of l-arginine, asymmetric (ADMA) and symmetric (SDMA) dimethylarginine in a representative sample of older community-dwelling adults and determined their association with incident depression over 6-years of follow-up.

Methods

Data on clinical, lifestyle, and demographic characteristics, methylated arginines, and l-arginine (measured using LC–MS/MS) were collected from a population-based sample of older Australian adults (Median age=64 years; IQR=60–70) from the Hunter Community Study. Clinical depression was defined as a Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score ≥16 or use of antidepressant medications.

Results

In adjusted analyses ADMA (Q3), SDMA (Q2), l-arginine (Q2), gender, and asthma remained statistically significant predictors of incident depression at follow-up. Quartile 3 of ADMA concentration was associated with 3.5 times the odds of developing depression compared with Q1 (OR=3.54; 95% CI: 1.25–9.99).

Limitations

Limitations of our study include the use of a subjective self-reported questionnaire tool using a dichotomous cut-off, together with use of antidepressant medications, as proxies for clinical depression. Moreover, similarly to most population studies on methylated arginines, the measurement of ADMA and SDMA from blood does not necessarily reflect intracellular concentrations of these compounds. Finally, there were no measures of nitric oxide metabolites to determine if these levels were altered in the presence of elevated methylarginines and depression.

Conclusions

After adjusting for clinical, demographic, biochemical, and pharmacological confounders, higher serum ADMA was independently associated with incident depression at 6-years follow-up.     

The role of goal management for successful adaptation to arthritis

Objective

Persons with polyarthritis often experience difficulties in attaining personal goals due to disease symptoms such as pain, fatigue and reduced mobility. This study examines the relationship of goal management strategies – goal maintenance, goal adjustment, goal disengagement, goal reengagement – with indicators of adaptation to polyarthritis, namely, depression, anxiety, purpose in life, positive affect, participation, and work participation.

Methods

305 patients diagnosed with polyarthritis participated in a questionnaire study (62% female, 29% employed, mean age: 62 years). Hierarchical multiple-regression-analyses were conducted to examine the relative importance of the goal management strategies for adaptation. Self-efficacy in relation to goal management was also studied.

Results

For all adaptation indicators, the goal management strategies added substantial explained variance to the models (R²: .07–.27). Goal maintenance and goal adjustment were significant predictors of adaptation to polyarthritis. Self-efficacy partly mediated the influence of goal management strategies.

Conclusion

Goal management strategies were found to be important predictors of successful adaptation to polyarthritis. Overall, adjusting goals to personal ability and circumstances and striving for goals proved to be the most beneficial strategies.

Practice implications

Designing interventions that focus on the effective management of goals may help people to adapt to polyarthritis.     

Food insecurity and its association with co-occurring postnatal depression,hazardous drinking,and suicidality among women in peri-urban South Africa

Background

Although the public health impacts of food insecurity and depression on both maternal and child health are extensive, no studies have investigated the associations between food insecurity and postnatal depression or suicidality.

Methods

We interviewed 249 women three months after they had given birth and assessed food insecurity, postnatal depression symptom severity, suicide risk, and hazardous drinking. Multivariable Poisson regression models with robust standard errors were used to estimate the impact of food insecurity on psychosocial outcomes.

Results

Food insecurity, probable depression, and hazardous drinking were highly prevalent and co-occurring. More than half of the women (149 [59.8%]) were severely food insecure, 79 (31.7%) women met screening criteria for probable depression, and 39 (15.7%) women met screening criteria for hazardous drinking. Nineteen (7.6%) women had significant suicidality, of whom 7 (2.8%) were classified as high risk. Each additional point on the food insecurity scale was associated with increased risks of probable depression (adjusted risk ratio [ARR], 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02–1.07), hazardous drinking (ARR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00–1.09), and suicidality (ARR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.02–1.23). Evaluated at the means of the covariates, these estimated associations were large in magnitude.

Limitations

The study is limited by lack of data on formal DSM-IV diagnoses of major depressive disorder, potential sample selection bias, and inability to assess the causal impact of food insecurity.

Conclusion

Food insecurity is strongly associated with postnatal depression, hazardous drinking, and suicidality. Programmes promoting food security for new may enhance overall psychological well-being in addition to improving nutritional status.     

Course sequences in bipolar disorder: Depressions preceding or following manias or hypomanias

Background

Inferior response to lithium treatment has been reported in bipolar disorder (BD) patients with mania or hypomania following episodes of major depression (DMI) versus preceding depression (MDI), with intervening euthymic periods. However, additional characteristics of BD course-patterns require further assessment.

Methods

We reviewed computerized clinical records and life-charts of 855 DSM-IV-TR BD-I or -II patients assessed and followed at mood-disorder centers in Cagliari or Rome to characterize their predominant course-sequences.

Results

Morbidity over an average of 9.5 cycles in 18 years was characterized for sequencing of illness-episodes and euthymic intervals. Prevalent sequences included: major depression–hypomania (15.0%), mania–major depression (14.6%), major depression–mania (11.6%), and rapid-cycling (9.6%). Among subjects grouped by course-sequences (based on mania, mixed-states, or hypomania and major or minor depression), depression-before-[hypo]mania (DMI) cases were more likely to be women, diagnosed BD-II, have first-episodes of depressive or anxiety disorder, spend more time ill in depression, and benefit less with long-term mood-stabilizing treatments than with the opposite pattern (MDI). MDI patients were more likely to have substance-abuse and receive long-term mood-stabilizer treatments. Meta-analysis of 5 previous reports plus present findings found inferior treatment-response in DMI vs. MDI cases at a pooled risk-difference of 29% [CI: 18–40%] (p<0.0001).

Limitations

Some data were retrospective and subject to recall bias, and treatment was clinical (non-randomized).

Conclusions

The DMI course was strongly associated with first-episode depression or anxiety, excess depressive morbidity, and inferior treatment response, especially for depression.     

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for depression: Analysis of response using a three-factor structure of the Montgomery–Åsberg depression rating scale

Background

There is growing evidence that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be an effective treatment for depression. However, no study to date has profiled the antidepressant effects of tDCS using items or factors on depression symptom severity rating scales. This could potentially provide information about the mechanisms by which tDCS achieves its antidepressant effects and also identify clinical predictors of response.

Methods

The present study analysed scores on the Montgomery–Åsberg depression rating scale (MADRS) from a randomised, sham-controlled trial of tDCS (Loo et al., 2012. British Journal of Psychiatry. 200, 52–59) using a three-factor model of MADRS items (Suzuki et al., 2005. Depression and Anxiety. 21, 95–97) encompassing dysphoria, retardation and vegetative symptoms.

Results

Participants in the active tDCS treatment group showed significant improvement in dysphoria while participants in the sham treatment group did not. While both groups showed improvement in retardation symptoms, improvement was significantly greater in the active tDCS group. Both groups also showed improvement in vegetative symptoms but there were no between-group differences.

Limitations

Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to investigate the generalisability of results and whether the MADRS factor structure may change as a result of the specific treatment used.

Conclusions

tDCS appears to be particularly effective in treating dysphoria and retardation, but not vegetative symptoms of depression. This may have implications for selection of types of depression most likely to respond to this treatment.     

What to listen for in the consultation. Breast cancer patients’ own focus on talking about acceptance-based psychological coping predicts decreased psychological distress and depression

Objective

To analyze whether qualitative themes in breast cancer patients’ self-presentations predicted symptoms of psychological distress and depression in order to improve the consultation process.

Methods

Ninety-seven breast cancer patients gave unstructured, 10-min self-presentations at their first consultation in a clinical registered trial (CRT identifier: NCT00990977). Self-presentations were categorized thematically and the most prevalent themes investigated as predictors for scores on the symptom check-list 90-revised (SCL-90-R) and the center for epidemiological studies depression scale (CES-D).

Results

Among the qualitative themes, only the percentage of words spent on talking about ‘Acceptance-based psychological coping’ was related to symptoms. In regression models controlling for age, education and time since diagnosis, a stronger focus on acceptance-based coping predicted less psychological distress and depression, respectively. A cross-validation including only the first few minutes of speech per patient confirmed these results and supported their practical utility in health consultations.

Conclusion

Patients’ focus on acceptance-based coping significantly predicted decreased psychological distress and depression, respectively. No other qualitative themes predicted symptoms. Doctor–patient studies may benefit from combined qualitative–quantitative methods.

Practice implications

While quantitative symptom assessment is important for a consultation, health care providers may improve their understanding of patients by attending to patients’ presentations of acceptance-based psychological coping.     

Dietary zinc intake and the risk of depression in middle-aged men: A 20-year prospective follow-up study

Background

Zinc is an immunomodulatory trace element suggested to be beneficial in the augmentation of antidepressant therapy. Cross-sectional studies have also suggested an association between low dietary zinc and depression. This study examined the association between dietary zinc intake and depression in a prospective setting in initially depression-free men during a 20-year follow-up.

Methods

The study formed a part of the population-based Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor (KIHD) Study, and comprised 2317 Finnish men aged 42–61 years. Zinc intake was assessed at baseline by a 4-d food record. Baseline depression severity was recorded with the Human Population Laboratory Depression Scale. In the prospective setting, depression was defined as having received a hospital discharge diagnosis of unipolar depressive disorder. Individuals who at baseline had elevated depressive symptoms were excluded (n=283).

Results

Altogether, 60 (2.7%) individuals received a hospital discharge diagnosis of depression during the 20-year follow-up. In Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, baseline depression severity, smoking, alcohol use, physical exercise and the use of dietary supplements, belonging to the lowest tertile of energy-adjusted zinc intake was not associated with an increased depression risk (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.59–1.90).

Limitations

These observations may not be generalizable to women, or to individuals with a depression level not warranting hospitalization.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that a low dietary zinc intake may not longitudinally precede depression in men. Dietary zinc intake may not have relevance for the prevention of depression in middle-aged men with a sufficient dietary zinc intake.     

Communication matters: The impact of communication and participation in decision making on breast cancer patients’ depression and quality of life

Objective

This study explored the impact of breast cancer patients’ experiences of physician–patient communication and participation in decision making on patient depression and quality of life three and six months after primary treatment.

Methods

Participants were 135 German breast cancer patients, recruited within a week after the beginning of treatment. Women were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire at baseline and three and six months later.

Results

Patients who rated their level of information at baseline as high were less depressed after three (p = .010) and six months (p < .001) and experienced higher quality of life after three (p < .001) and six months (p = .049). Patients who participated as much as they had wanted were more satisfied with the decision making process (p < .001) and had lower depression scores three months later (p = .005). The level of participation itself (passive, collaborative, active) and the treatment type had no impact.

Conclusion

The findings reveal the significance of physician–patient communication and stress the meaning of baseline depression for later adjustment.

Practice implications

A high level of information and tailoring the involvement in decision making to patients’ desired level can help patients to better cope with their illness. Physicians should assess and treat depression early in cancer treatment.     

The utilization of psychopharmacological treatment and medication adherence among Medicaid enrolled children and adolescents with bipolar depression

Background

To examine the psychotropic medication utilization and compare adherence to treatment regimens in pediatric bipolar depression patients.

Methods

2003–2007 MAX data from four geographically diverse states were used. According to the regimen received by the patients (6–18 years) in the first month after the index bipolar depression diagnosis, patients were categorized into six mutually exclusive groups. The month to month change of treatment regimen in each group was then assessed during the 6 month post-index bipolar depression diagnosis. Adherence to each regimen was measured as continuation of the initial regimen, switch to a new regimen, augmentation with medication from a different therapeutic category, and discontinuation of all pharmacotherapies. Repeated measure analysis was conducted to compare the trend of each adherence measure across the study groups.

Results

Of the 5,460 subjects identified, 15.39% received antipsychotic monotherapy, 9.43% received mood stabilizer monotherapy, 5.77% received antidepressant monotherapy, 26.48% received mood stabilizer–antipsychotic polytherapy, 22.51% received antidepressant polytherapy, and 19.89% received antipsychotic–mood stabilizer–antidepressant polytherapy. At the end of the follow-up period, over 50% of the 1st month polytherapy users and less than 50% of the monotherapy users were continuing their initial regimen. Repeated measure analysis using antipsychotic monotherapy as the reference group suggested differences in trend slopes (p<0.05).

Limitations

In absence of structured clinical evaluation, bipolar disorder diagnoses cannot be ascertained in this study.

Conclusions

Bipolar depression patients were predominantly treated with combinations of psychotropic drugs. Potentially questionable practice, such as antidepressant monotherapy was used only in a small fraction of patients. Combination regimens had better adherence as compared to monotherapies.