Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate levels correlate with symptom severity in first-episode psychosis

Background

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate form (DHEA) are neuroactive steroids with antiglucocorticoid properties. An imbalance in the ratio of cortisol to DHEA(S) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of stress-related psychiatric disorders. This study prospectively investigated circulating cortisol, DHEAS and their ratio in first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients compared to healthy controls, and their relationship to perceived stress, psychotic, negative and mood symptoms.

Methods

Blood cortisol and DHEAS levels were obtained in 39 neuroleptic-naïve or minimally-treated FEP patients and 25 controls. Twenty-three patients and 15 controls received repeat assessments after 12 weeks. Perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale and symptoms were assessed in patients using standard rating scales.

Results

At baseline, no differences were observed in cortisol, DHEAS or the cortisol/DHEAS ratio between patients and controls. There were also no group differences in the change in these biological variables during the study period. Within FEP patients, decreases in cortisol and the cortisol/DHEAS ratio over time were directly related to the improvement in depression (r = 0.45; p = 0.031, r = 0.52; p = 0.01), negative (r = 0.51; p = 0.006, r = 0.55; p = 0.008) and psychotic symptoms (cortisol only, r = 0.53; p = 0.01). Perceived stress significantly correlated with DHEAS (r = 0.51; p = 0.019) and the cortisol/DHEAS ratio (r = −0.49; p = 0.024) in controls, but not patients, possibly reflecting an impaired hormonal response to stress in FEP patients.

Conclusions

These findings further support the involvement of the stress system in the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders, with implications for treatment strategies that modulate these neurosteroids.     

Increased depressive symptoms in menopausal age women with bipolar disorder: Age and gender comparison

Objective

Emerging data suggest the menopausal transition may be a time of increased risk for depression. This study examines the course of bipolar disorder focusing on depressive symptoms in menopausal transition age women, compared to similar-aged men as well as younger adult women and men.

Methods

Outpatients with bipolar disorder were assessed with the systematic treatment enhancement program for bipolar disorder (STEP-BD) affective disorders evaluation and longitudinally monitored during naturalistic treatment with the STEP-BD clinical monitoring form. Clinical status (syndromal/subsyndromal depressive symptoms, syndromal/subsyndromal elevation or mixed symptoms, and euthymia) was compared between menopausal transition age women (n = 47) and pooled similar-aged men (n = 30) 45-55 years old, younger women (n = 48) and men (n = 39) 30-40 years old.

Results

Subjects included 164 bipolar disorder patients (67 type I, 82 type II, and 15 not otherwise specified), 34% were rapid cycling and 58% women. Bipolar II disorder/bipolar NOS was more common in women. Monitoring averaged 30 ± 22 months, with an average of 0.9 ± 0.5 clinic visits/month. Menopausal age women had a significantly greater proportion of visits with depressive symptoms (p < 0.05), significantly fewer euthymic visits (p < 0.05) and no difference in proportion of visits with elevated/mixed symptoms compared to pooled comparison group.

Conclusions

Menopausal transition age women with bipolar disorder experience a greater proportion of clinic visits with depressive symptoms compared to similarly aged men, and younger women and men with bipolar disorder. Further systematic assessment on the influence of the menopausal transition and reproductive hormones upon mood is needed to better inform clinical practice in treating women with bipolar disorder.     

Seasonal severity of depressive symptoms as a predictor of health service use in a community-based sample

Objective

To determine whether severity of seasonal depressive symptoms is an independent predictor of depression-specific health service use.

Methods

Cross-sectional telephone survey evaluating mood-related symptom changes across seasons using a structured interview based on the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview, in a community sample representative of the province of Ontario, Canada (N = 1605). This study focuses on the 625 individuals (out of a total of 1605 interviewed) who screened positive for lifetime depressive symptoms. Severity of seasonal symptoms of depression (or “seasonality”) was measured using the Seasonal Depression Severity (SDS) score (range 0-36). The primary outcome was lifetime depression-specific use of health services from a physician (family physician or psychiatrist). Lifetime psychotropic medication use, use of health services from a non-physician therapist, and psychiatric hospitalization were secondary outcomes. Other important variables that are known to predict depression-specific health service use were considered in multivariable analysis.

Results

In our sample of individuals with depressive symptoms, those who had used physician health services had higher SDS scores than non-users (11.5 (SD 7.2) vs. 9.7 (SD 6.4), t(616) = 3.182, P = 0.001). In multivariable analysis, SDS score was independently associated with depression-specific health service use by a physician (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07, p = 0.004). The relationship between seasonality and use of psychotropic medication use was similar (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07, p = 0.007).

Conclusions

Seasonality was independently associated with depression-specific health service use for individuals with depressive symptoms. The results imply that greater seasonality may independently reflect increased severity and need for treatment of depression.     

Depressive symptoms in first episode schizophrenia spectrum disorder

Background

Depressive symptoms in ‘non-affective’ first episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders (FES) are common, but poorly understood, resulting in a range of conceptual and clinical management issues. This study had three aims: (i) to determine the prevalence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms (defined as a Clinical Global Impressions Scale-Bipolar Disorder (CGI-BP depression) score > 3) in a large representative sample of FES patients; (ii) to compare the clinical and functional characteristics of FES patients with and without these depressive symptoms at service entry; and (iii) to compare the characteristics of FES patients with and without persistent depressive symptoms.

Methods

Medical file audit methodology was employed to collect information on 405 patients with FES treated at the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC), Melbourne, Australia.

Results

26.2% (n = 106) of the patients had moderate to severe depression at service entry. At service entry and at discharge, those with depressive symptoms had greater insight into their illness but did not differ from those without depressive symptoms in terms of severity of overall psychopathology. Substance use was significantly less common in those with depressive symptoms at service entry and at discharge. Of those who were depressed at baseline, 14.2% (n = 15) continued to have moderate to severe depressive symptoms at discharge.

Discussion

Depressive symptoms are common in patients with FES. Understanding the nature and characteristics of depression in FES has important clinical implications for both early intervention and treatment.     

Moderate exercise improves depression parameters in treatment-resistant patients with major depressive disorder

Background

Treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex condition, with very low remission rates. Physical exercise has been used, with some encouraging results, as an alternative therapy in other depressive disorders. This study assessed the impact on depression and functioning parameters of a moderate intensity exercise program, as an adjuvant to pharmacotherapy, in treatment-resistant MDD patients.

Methods

150 individuals with treatment-resistant MDD, defined as taking combined therapy in doses considered adequate for 9-15 months, without showing clinical remission, were initially screened. 33 were randomized to one of two groups: usual pharmacotherapy (N = 11) and usual pharmacotherapy plus aerobic exercise (N = 22). The exercise program consisted of home-based 30-45 min/day walks, 5 days/week, for 12 weeks, being 1 walk per week supervised.

Results

The exercise group showed improvement of all depression and functioning parameters, as indicated by lower HAMD17, BDI and CGI-S and higher GAF (p < 0.05) at last observation compared both to baseline values and to control group. At the end of the study none of the participants in the control group showed response or remission, whilst in the exercise group 21% of participants showed response and 26% remission, although these differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

A 12 week, home-based exercise program of 30-45 min/day walks, 5 days/week, improved depression and functioning parameters in treatment-resistant MDD patients, and contributed to remission of 26% of these patients. Moderate intensity exercise may be a helpful and effective adjuvant therapy for treatment-resistant MDD.     

Trauma, dissociation, and antiretroviral adherence among persons living with HIV/AIDS

Background

There are approximately 1,000,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLH) in the United States; to reduce rates of new infection and curb disease progression, adherence to HIV medication among PLH is critical. Despite elevated trauma rates in PLH, no studies to date have investigated the relationship between dissociation, a specific symptom of trauma, and HIV medication adherence. We hypothesized that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms would be associated with lower adherence, and that dissociation would moderate this relationship.

Methods

Forty-three individuals with HIV were recruited from community-based clinics to participate in a cross-sectional study. The relationship of trauma, dissociation, and their interaction to the probability of antiretroviral adherence was assessed using a hierarchical binary logistic regression analysis.

Results

Among 38 eligible participants, greater PTSD was associated with lower odds of adherence (OR = .92, p < .05). Dissociation moderated the effect of PTSD on adherence, resulting in lower odds of adherence (OR = .95, p < .05). PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with lower odds of adherence in individuals reporting high levels of dissociation (OR = .86, p < .05) but not in those reporting low levels of dissociation (OR = 1.02, p > .05).

Conclusions

This is the first study to demonstrate a relationship between dissociation and medication adherence. Findings are discussed in the context of clinical management of PLH with trauma histories and the need for interventions targeting dissociative symptomatology to optimize adherence.     

High plasma nesfatin-1 level in patients with major depressive disorder

Aim

In the present study, our aim was to determine the changes in the plasma concentrations of a recently discovered peptide hormone nesfatin-1 in patients with major depressive disorder and then to make a comparison with the control group.

Method

Subjects in the patient group were randomly selected from Mustafa Kemal University, Medical School, Research and Training Hospital, Psychiatry Department, Outpatient Clinic and subjects in the control group were selected from healthy volunteers. Healthy control subjects were matched in terms of weight and body mass index. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) was applied to both groups. ELISA method was used for measurement of plasma nesfatin-1 levels.

Results

The average nesfatin-1 level was statistically higher in patients with major depressive disorder than in the control group (p < 0.001). A positive correlation was observed between plasma nesfatin-1 levels and HAM-D scores both in the patient group (r = 0.59, p < 0.001) and in the control group (r = 0.58, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest a possible relationship between major depressive disorder and high plasma nesfatin-1 level.     

首发精神分裂症未经治疗时间与临床疗效间关系:4年随访研究（英文）

背景:精神疾病未经治疗的时间和长期临床结局之间关系仍然存在争议。目标:前瞻性评估浦东精神卫生中心2007年1月至2008年12月收治的首发精神分裂症患者未经治疗的时间与临床结果之间的关系。方法:采用简明精神病评定量表(BPRS)、不良反应量表(TESS)、康复状态量表(MRSS)、以及社会功能缺陷筛选量表(SDSS)分别于基线、2010年6月和2012年6月收集一般健康状况,精神症状和社会功能相关信息。结果:共43例首发精神分裂症患者参与研究,将其分为精神疾病未治疗(DUP)短期(≤24周)和精神疾病未治疗(DUP)长期(24周)两组。短期DUP组的平均随访时间为1197(SD=401)天,长期DUP组平均随访时间为1412(SD=306)天(t=9.98,p=0.055)。尽管初诊时长期DUP组患者的精神病性症状较短期DUP组不明显(BPRS平均分,42.5[8.4]v.50.0[10.6],t=2.42,p=0.0210),并且两组临床复发次数类似(基于BPRS阳性症状量表评估),长期DUP组患者更可能在初诊时需要住院治疗(52%[11/21]v.9%[2/22],χ2=9.55,p=0.002),并且在治疗的头两年更有可能再次住院(67%[14/21]v.32%[7/22],χ2=5.22,p=0.022)。另外,经过四年的常规治疗后,虽然两组患者的阳性症状严重程度类似,但是治疗前具有较长DUP的患者比DUP较短的患者社会功能减退更明显。(SDSS平均,7.0[5.2]v.3.4[4.9],t=2.20,p=0.035)。结论:这些结果表明,与治疗前DUP较短的精神分裂症患者相比,尽管DUP较长的患者精神病性症状的严重程度类似(由BPRS测量),但长期社会功能较差。这证实了对慢性精神障碍患者早期识别和及时治疗的临床重要性。     

Post-dexamethasone cortisol as a predictor for the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy in depressed inpatients

Background

Although several variables have been studied as a possible predictor for the efficacy of ECT, results regarding hypercortisolism have been inconsistent. This prospective study evaluates the relation between pre-treatment cortisol levels and the efficacy of ECT in a population of drug-free inpatients with severe major depression.

Methods

At the inpatient depression unit, 18 patients meeting the DSM-IV criteria for depressive disorder, and with scores of at least 18 on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), were treated with bilateral ECT twice weekly. The HAM-D evaluated depression severity and was performed within 3 days prior to ECT, weekly during the course of ECT, and within 3 days after the last treatment. The outcome criterion was defined a priori as the change on the HAM-D score. Salivary cortisol was assessed within 3 days prior to ECT at two time points, followed by 0.5 mg dexamethasone ingestion. The following day, salivary cortisol was again assessed at two time points. The generalized linear model was used to assess the relation between salivary cortisol levels and reduction in HAM-D score as continuous variables.

Results

Higher levels of salivary cortisol at 9 AM after 0.5 mg dexamethasone ingestion are associated with a greater reduction in HAM-D score (B = −0.279, 95% CI: −0.557 to −0.01, s.e. = 0.13, p = 0.049; R square = 0.23; adjusted R square = 0.13).

Conclusion

This study suggests that higher levels of post-dexamethasone salivary cortisol at 9 AM are predictive of ECT efficacy.     

Attentional retraining: a randomized clinical trial for pathological worry

Objective

Research has consistently shown that highly anxious individuals tend to show an attentional bias in favor of threat cues (i.e., a threat bias). Further, recent evidence suggests that it is possible to modify patterns of attention allocation for such stimuli and the resulting changes in attention allocation alter affective responses to stress. However, to date such changes in patterns of attention have been shown only over brief time intervals and only in non-anxious individuals who lack a pre-existing attentional bias. In contrast, the present study tested the efficacy of such attentional training in a sample of severe worriers over an extended period of time using psychometrically validated measures of anxiety and depression.

Method

Twenty-four adult participants reporting severe worry were randomly assigned to receive five sessions of either computer-delivered attentional retraining or sham training. The study was conducted from January to August 2001 and June to August 2002.

Results

Significant Treatment Group X Time interactions were found for both threat bias (p = 001) and a composite measure of anxious and depressive symptoms (p = .002). Compared to sham-training, the active retraining program produced significant reductions in both threat bias and symptoms.

Conclusions

These data support the view that an attentional bias in favor of threat cues is an important causal factor in generalized anxiety and suggest that a computer-based attentional retraining procedure may be an effective component of treatment.     

The relationship between depressive symptoms and subjective well-being in newly admitted patients with schizophrenia

Background

Depressive symptoms are common in schizophrenia and are considered core features of the disorder. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and subjective well-being in newly admitted patients with schizophrenia.

Methods

Eighty newly admitted patients were comprehensively evaluated for subjective well-being, schizophrenic symptoms, and depressive symptoms using the Subjective Well-Being Under Neuroleptics Scale (SWN), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and the Beck Depression Inventory. Correlation coefficients were obtained between depressive symptoms and subjective well-being while controlling for the influence of the severity of psychotic symptoms, extrapyramidal side effect, and subjective attitude toward antipsychotics, as assessed by the PANSS, the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale, and the Drug Attitude Inventory, respectively.

Results

The SWN score had a significant negative correlation with the PANSS depression factor score (P < .001). Correlation analysis also revealed a significant negative correlation between the SWN score and the Beck Depression Inventory score (P < .001).

Conclusions

The results of our study suggest that depressive symptoms are significantly associated with a low subjective well-being in newly admitted patients with schizophrenia and that the relationship is significant even after controlling for the influence of potential confounding variables. Detection and appropriate management of depressive symptoms in schizophrenic patients may affect their perceptions of their own well-being.     

The impact of attachment insecurity and sleep disturbance on symptoms and sick days in hospital-based health-care workers

Objective

Adult attachment insecurity is associated with many health outcomes and may be associated with sleep disturbance. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that sleep disturbance mediates the relationship between attachment insecurity and three measures of health (perceived general health, physical symptoms and sick days) in a group that is at high risk of sleep disturbance: hospital based health-care workers.

Methods

One hundred thirty-one nondepressed female hospital workers completed self-report measures of adult attachment, sleep disturbance, depressive symptoms (excluding sleep-related items) and health outcomes. The hypothesis of mediation was tested with sequential regression analyses.

Results

Both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were significantly associated with impairment in global sleep quality (ρ=.20 and .19, respectively, P<.05) and physical symptoms (ρ=.21 and .19, P<.05). Attachment anxiety was also associated with depressive symptoms (ρ=.33, P<.001) and sick days (ρ=.21, P<.05). For both physical symptoms and sick days, mediation analyses were consistent with global sleep quality acting as a partial mediator of the relationship between attachment anxiety and physical health. Non-sleep-related depressive symptoms were a stronger mediator.

Conclusions

This study corroborates evidence that attachment insecurity is associated with sleep disturbance and extends this association to the occurrence of physical symptoms and time off work due to sickness among workers in a high-stress occupation.     

Social fear and social phobia types among community youth: Differential clinical features and vulnerability factors

Objective

To compare different social fears and social phobia subtypes with regard to clinical (age of onset, avoidance, impairment, comorbidities) and vulnerability factors (behavioural inhibition (BI), parental psychopathology and parental rearing) among community youth.

Methods

Fears of 6 social situations and Social Phobia (SP), along with their clinical features, were assessed using the Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview (DIA-X/M-CIDI) in a population-based sample of N = 3021 14-24 year olds that were followed up for 10 years. BI and parental rearing were assessed using self-report questionnaires. Parental psychopathology was assessed directly in parents via DIA-X/M-CIDI, supplemented by offsprings’ family history reports.

Results

In the total sample, 20.0%, 11.6%, 11.7% reported fear of 1, 2, 3 or more social situations, respectively; rates were 24.2%, 18.7%, and 57.1% in SP-cases (6.6% of the total sample). Exploring the factorial structure indicated rather unidimensionality of social fears than mutual distinction of social fears by interaction vs. performance situations. Except for fear of taking tests and public speaking, social fears rarely occurred in isolation. Social fears of both interaction and performance situations were associated with severe avoidance (vs. fear of either situation; Odds Ratios, OR = 1.5, 95%CI: 1.1-1.9) and impairment (OR = 3.6, 95%CI: 2.6-4.9), and more comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders (OR range 3.2-5.8, p > .001). Fear of interaction situations was associated with higher BI (vs. performance-related fears, OR range 1.2-2.1, p < .05). Associations with parental psychopathology and unfavourable parental rearing were less consistent, albeit stronger for fear of interaction situations (vs. performance-related fears). Interactions with time indicated an earlier onset of SP for higher BI, but not for parental psychopathology or unfavourable parental rearing.

Conclusions

Interaction-related social fears differ in their clinical and vulnerability factors from performance-related social fears. The current DSM-IV specifier of “generalized” SP may fall short of adequately denoting these differences. Fear of taking tests appears to be conceptually and, possibly, etiologically distinct from other social fears, and may be better placed in another category (e.g., as a type of specific phobia).     

Comparison of time taken from initial presentation to histological diagnosis of Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) in Birmingham, United Kingdom and Strasbourg, France

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate possible delays in referral time for Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients diagnosed at two similar neurosurgical centres (in Birmingham, UK and Strasbourg, France) and their impact on survival. Differences in the referral patterns for GBM patients within these healthcare systems may affect subsequent management and are potential targets to optimise the care of patients with GBM.

Methods

Medical case notes of 105 GBM patients in Birmingham and 81 in Strasbourg, admitted during October 2006 and April 2008, were reviewed. Data regarding demographic details, route of admission, presenting symptoms, date of initial presentation to a medical professional and dates of the first CT or MRI scan, first neurosurgical intervention, histological diagnosis and mortality was recorded.

Results

The median time taken from initial presentation to first neurosurgical intervention was lower in Birmingham compared to Strasbourg (13 vs. 21 days, respectively; p = 0.026). Similarly, the time taken from initial presentation to histological diagnosis was lower in Birmingham (15 vs. 24 days, respectively; p = 0.011). However, survival was poorer in Birmingham than Strasbourg (p = 0.001) and age (HR = 1.029; 95%CI 1.010-1.048; p = 0.003) and time from initial presentation to neurosurgical intervention (HR = 0.993; 95%CI 0.988-0.998; p = 0.011) were predictors of mortality in these groups.

Conclusion

Patients in Birmingham are diagnosed with GBM more rapidly than those in Strasbourg but they have poorer survival. Differences in disease severity may partially account for the observed results and further large scale work is required to support this study.     

Age as a moderator of the association between depressive symptoms and morningness-eveningness

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the moderating effect of age on the association of morningness-eveningness with depression in subjects with a broad range of ages. The hypothesis of the current study was that there would be a relationship between depressive symptoms and eveningness, especially in young age groups.

Methods

Three hundred sixty-one subjects (male/female=140/221) from 19 to 79 years of age participated in the study. Subjects were separated into five age groups: (1) ≤20s (n=70), (2) 30s (n=85), (3) 40s (n=97), (4) 50s (n=54) and 5) ≥60s (n=55). The Horne-Osteberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and the Center for Epidemiological Studies for Depression Scale (CES-D) were administered to all subjects.

Results

MEQ showed a significantly independent and negative association with CES-D (β=−.27, P<.001), which meant the association between eveningness and depressive symptoms. The negative association between MEQ and CES-D were significant in ≤20s (β=−.31, P=.01), 50s (β=−.38, P<.01) and ≥60s (β=−.35, P<.01), while there was no significant association between MEQ and CES-D in 30s (β=−.06, P=.56) and 40s (β=−.10, P=.32).

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate an association of depressive symptoms with eveningness, which was more prominent in younger or older aged than in middle aged. Our findings suggest that the association between depressive symptoms and eveningness might be moderated by age.     

Discrepancy between subjective and objective severity in treatment-resistant depression: Prediction of treatment outcome

Objective

Identifying predictors of outcome among patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is challenging. We hypothesised that discrepancy between self-rated and observer-rated scales may be a simple way of making such a prediction.

Method

102 patients were admitted to a unit specialising in the treatment of resistant depression and underwent fortnightly assessment with clinician-rated (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-21, HAM-D) and self-rated (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) measures. All patients had significant depressive symptoms that were treatment resistant, 70% as part of a major depressive disorder and the remainder as part of a bipolar or other disorder. A discrepancy score between the HAM-D and BDI was calculated on admission and its association with patient clinico-demographic factors was determined. A subset of 67 patients remained as inpatients for 40 weeks or until clinical response and were entered into a responder analysis, in which response was defined as ≥50% reduction in admission HAM-D score. The association of the admission BDI-HAM-D discrepancy score with subsequent patient response, was determined.

Results

The magnitude of BDI-HAM-D discrepancy was higher in those with co-morbid personality disorder, lower in those with psychosis and positively correlated with anxiety. High BDI-HAM-D discrepancy score predicted delayed treatment response (odds ratio 5.40, p = 0.005).

Conclusion

Within TRD, higher discrepancy predicts slower response to treatment independent of objective illness severity; this may be mediated by underlying personality traits and co-morbid anxiety.     

The effects of depressive symptoms and anxiety on quality of life in patients with heart failure and their spouses: Testing dyadic dynamics using Actor-Partner Interdependence Model

Background

Depressive symptoms and anxiety are common in heart failure patients as well as their spousal caregivers. However, it is not known whether their emotional distress contributes to their partner's quality of life (QoL). This study examined the effect of patients' and partners' depressive symptoms and anxiety on QoL in patient-spouse dyads using an innovative dyadic analysis technique, the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM).

Method

A total of 58 dyads (patient: 43% in males, mean age 62 years, mean ejection fraction 34% ±11, 43% in New York Heart Association III-IV) participated in the study. Depressive symptoms and anxiety were assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory. QoL was assessed using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. Dyadic data were analyzed using the APIM with distinguishable dyad regression model. In APIM, actor effect is the impact of a person's emotional distress on his/her own QoL. Partner effect is the impact of a person's emotional distress on his/her partner's QoL.

Result

Depressive symptoms exhibited actor effect of both patients (P<.001) and spouses (P<.001) and only partner effect of patients (P<.05) on QoL. Patients and spouses with higher depressive symptoms had poorer QoL. Patients whose spouses had higher depressive symptoms were more likely to indicate their own QoL was poorer. Anxiety has similar actor and partner effects on QoL as depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

Interventions to reduce depression and anxiety and to improve patients' QoL should include both patients and spouses.     

Anxiety, independent of depressive symptoms, is associated with in-hospital cardiac complications after acute myocardial infarction

Objective

Post-myocardial infarction (MI) anxiety, independent of demographic and medical variables, has been linked to in-hospital cardiac complications in prior studies, but such studies have not included a concomitant assessment of depressive symptoms. The aim of this exploratory study was to determine whether post-MI anxiety was associated with in-hospital cardiac complications, independent of depressive symptoms.

Methods

Subjects within 72 hours of acute MI (n=110) were prospectively assessed for anxiety [using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)] and depressive symptoms (using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and structured interview diagnoses of major depressive disorder). Individual in-hospital complications and pooled serious cardiac complications (defined as recurrent ischemia, reinfarction, congestive heart failure, and ventricular arrhythmia requiring intervention) were recorded via chart review.

Results

On hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis that accounted for demographic variables, cardiac illness, and depressive symptoms, post-MI anxiety was significantly associated with pooled serious in-hospital cardiac complications (P=.003). In addition, when the anxiety measure was limited to only the psychological symptoms of anxiety (“BAI-P”), post-MI anxiety remained an independent predictor of cardiac complications (P=.015).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the association of post-MI anxiety with in-hospital cardiac complications exists above and beyond the effects of depression. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings, and treatment studies are needed to determine the impact of anxiety treatment on in-hospital cardiac outcomes.