Prevalence of insomnia symptoms: results from an urban district in Ankara,Turkey

Objective. Characteristics of insomnia symptoms in Turkey are not well established. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of insomnia and related symptoms in an urban district of Turkey. Method. The study was carried out in Ankara, in an urban district with a population of 2665. Out of the 1332 people in the sample, 1034 in the 15–65 age range were included in the study. Interviews were conducted according to the “Sleep Disorders Assessment Questionnaire” developed by the researchers. The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) was also given to the subjects with a sleep problem to measure the subjective quality and quantity of insomnia symptoms. Results and conclusion. A total of 29.4% of all participants reported a sleep problem, out of which 23.7% defined one or more of the insomnia symptoms which included difficulty initiating sleep (DIS), difficulty maintaining sleep (DMS), early morning awakening (EMA), non-restorative sleep (NRS) and sleep deprivation (SD). Insomnia risk was found to be significantly increased with age, female sex, smoking and chronic medical illness. A total of 75.9% of participants who reported insomnia symptoms did not seek medical help for their complaint. According to the ISI, among the subjects with insomnia symptoms, 79 (32.2%) had subthreshold insomnia, 43 (17.6%) had clinical insomnia, 12 (4.9%) had severe clinical insomnia, while 88 (35.9%) did not score in the range indicating insomnia. The findings are discussed in the light of previous research and in relation to sociocultural factors emphasizing the need for public education on sleep disorders as medical conditions.     

The Symptom Frequency Characteristics of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Possible Symptom Clusters of Depressive Disorders in Korea: The CRESCEND Study

Objective

This study analyzed the symptom frequencies of 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) to understand the characteristics of each item and to propose the possible symptoms clusters.

Methods

From psychiatric clinics of 18 Hospitals in Korea, 1,183 patients, diagnosed with major depressive disorder (psychotic or non-psychotic), dysthymia or depressive disorder not otherwise specified. according to DSM-IV criteria, participated in this study from January 2006 to August 2008. The frequencies of each item of HDRS-17 were analyzed according to sex and severity. In addition, we compared this study with a previous study performed in England by Hamilton and with two studies performed in Korea by Kim et al.

Results

The frequencies of HDRS-17 items varied widely in this study, ranging from 95.8% in work and activities to 37.4% in loss of weight. But, depressed mood, psychic anxiety and work and activities items exhibited constant and higher frequency or rank regardless of study, the severity of depression or sex. Insomnia early, somatic gastrointestinal, genital symptoms and insight showed relatively constant but lower frequency or rank in disregard of studies or the clinical variables. Other symptoms had variable frequencies or ranks according to the variable clinical situations (culture, time, sex, severity of depression).

Conclusion

We propose three clusters of symptoms in depressive disorders: core symptoms cluster, an associated symptoms, and a situation-specific symptoms. We can use these possible symptom clusters of depression in simplifying diagnosis of depression, increasing diagnostic specificity in special situation and indexing disease severity.     

Prevalence and Correlates of Depressive Symptoms among North Korean Defectors Living in South Korea for More than One Year

Objective

This study examined the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in North Korean defectors who have been living in South Korea for more than one year.

Methods

We used questionnaires developed by the authors to collect sociodemographic data in addition to the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Psychosocial Well-being Index to measure stress, and a social support scale. A total of 367 subjects were included in this study.

Results

The results showed that 30.5% of the men and 34.7% of the women reported depressive symptoms, and 33.1% of the men and 36.1% of the women exhibited signs of severe distress. Correlates of depressive symptoms were lack of occupation [odds ratio (OR)=2.198, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.247-3.873], having escaped without family (OR=1.725, 95% CI, 1.006-2.959), and a poor subjective sense of health status (OR=3.111, 95% CI, 1.591-6.085).

Conclusion

Continuing vocational training and career management, psychological support programs, and intensive physical health services are needed to improve the mental health of this population.     

Somatoform Disorders in Children and Adolescents: A Comparison with Other Internalizing Disorders

A chart review of children and adolescents attending a university-based psychiatric outpatient clinic over a 1-year period was done. Nineteen consecutive patients with somatoform disorders were compared with 26 consecutive patients with other internalizing disorders, i.e., depressive disorders and/or anxiety disorders without disruptive behavior problems. Mean age, sex distribution, cognitive level, and duration of symptoms were not different between groups. Self- and parent-reported levels of psychopathology, including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and deliberate self-harm, differentiated between somatoform disorders and other internalizing disorders at the group level. Levels of adaptive functioning and functional somatic symptoms did not. High levels of medically unexplained symptoms should prompt the clinician for assessing depressive symptoms and anxiety. Findings also support the use of DSM-IV criteria in pediatric patients to differentiate somatoform disorders from other internalizing disorders.     

Network Analysis of the Symptoms of Depressive Disorders Over the Course of Therapy: Changes in Centrality Measures

Objective Network analysis can be used in terms of a novel psychopathological approach for depressive syndrome. We aimed to estimate the successive network structures of depressive symptoms in patients with depressive disorder using data from the Clinical Research Center for Depression study. Methods We enrolled 1,152 South Korean adult patients with depressive disorders who were beginning treatment for first-onset or recurrent depressive episodes. We examined the network structure of the severities of the items on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) at baseline and at weeks 2, 12, 25, and 52. The node strength centrality of all the HAMD items at baseline and at week 2, 12, 25, and 52 in terms of network analysis. Results In the severity networks, the anxiety (psychic) item was the most centrally situated in the initial period (baseline and week 2), while loss of weight was the most centrally situated item in the later period (weeks 25 and 52). In addition, the number of strong edges (i.e., edges representing strong correlations) increased in the late period compared to the initial period. Conclusion Our findings support a period-specific and symptom-focused therapeutic approach that can provide complementary information to the unidimensional total HAMD score.     

抑郁症相关性失眠的临床特征与多导睡眠图研究

目的探讨抑郁症相关性失眠症状的临床特征与抑郁症睡眠的结构特征。方法对符合抑郁症诊断标准,且具有明显失眠症状的患者71例,进行了汉密尔顿抑郁量表、汉密尔顿焦虑量表、匹兹堡睡眠质量指数评定,以及整夜多导睡眠监测,并随机选取30例正常人作为对照组。结果抑郁症相关性失眠患者相对于对照组,睡眠症状方面表现出睡眠潜伏期长、维持时间短、睡眠效率低、睡眠质量差、日间功能受损、过多依赖安眠药。睡眠进程和连续性方面：总睡眠时间（TST）、睡眠效率（SE）、睡眠维持率（SMT）均短于对照组,清醒时间（WASO）、睡眠潜伏期（SL）长于对照组;睡眠结构方面：N1、N2比例长于对照组,N3、REM比例短于对照组;REM指标：REM潜伏期（RL）、REM周期数、REM时间（RT）均短于对照组,REM密度（RD）、REM活动度（RA）、REM强度（RI）均长于对照组。在抑郁症失眠组中,HAMD总分与,TST、TIB、SE、SMT、RL显著负相关;与RD、RA、RI正相关;HAMA总分与TST、TIB、SE、SMT负相关;PSQI总分与TST、TIB、SE、SMT显著负相关;睡眠潜伏期因子与SL、N2％显著负相关;睡眠持续性因子与TST、TIB负相关;催眠药物因子与SE、SMT、SL、N2％正相关。结论抑郁症相关性失眠患者失眠症状与普通失眠症相似;多导睡眠图的结果表明存在睡眠进程、睡眠结构及REM指标系列改变;抑郁的严重程度与REM指标相关,REM睡眠的改变可能是特异性的,可作为抑郁症诊断的参考。     

Distinctive Clinical Correlates of Psychotic Major Depression: The CRESCEND Study

Objective

The purpose of this investigation was to identify distinctive clinical correlates of psychotic major depression (PMD) as compared with non-psychotic major depression (NPMD) in a large cohort of Korean patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods

We recruited 966 MDD patients of age over 18 years from the Clinical Research Center for Depression of South Korea (CRESCEND) study. Diagnoses of PMD (n=24) and NPMD (n=942) were made with the DSM-IV definitions and confirmed with SCID. Psychometric scales were used to assess overall psychiatric symptoms (BPRS), depression (HAMD), anxiety (HAMA), global severity (CGI-S), suicidal ideation (SSI-Beck), functioning (SOFAS), and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF). Using independent t-tests and χ² tests, we compared clinical characteristics of patients with PMD and NPMD. A binary logistic regression model was constructed to identify factors independently associated with increased likelihood of PMD.

Results

PMD subjects were characterized by a higher rate of inpatient enrollment, and higher scores on many items on BPRS (somatic concern, anxiety, emotional withdrawal, guilt feelings, tension, depression, suspiciousness, hallucination, motor retardation, blunted affect and excitement) global severity (CGI-s), and suicidal ideation (SSI-Beck). The explanatory factor model revealed that high levels of tension, excitement, and suicidal ideation were associated with increased likelihood of PMD.

Conclusion

Our findings partly support the view that PMD has its own distinctive clinical manifestation and course, and may be considered a diagnostic entity separate from NPMD.     

A Comparative Study on Alexithymia in Depressive,Somatoform, Anxiety,and Psychotic Disorders among Koreans

Objective

Little is known about the characteristic differences in alexithymic construct in various psychiatric disorders because of a paucity of direct comparisons between psychiatric disorders. Therefore, this study explored disorder-related differences in alexithymic characteristics among Korean patients diagnosed with four major psychiatric disorders (n=388).

Methods

Alexithymic tendencies, as measured by the Korean version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20K), of patients classified into four groups according to major psychiatric diagnosis were compared. The groups consisted of patients with depressive disorders (DP; n=125), somatoform disorders (SM; n=78), anxiety disorders (AX; n=117), and psychotic disorders (PS; n=68).

Results

We found that substantial portions of patients in all groups were classified as having alexithymia and no statistical intergroup differences emerged (42.4%, 35.9%, 35.3%, and 33.3% for DP, SM, PS, and AX). However, patients with DP obtained higher scores in factor 2 (difficulties describing feelings) than those with SM or AX, after adjusting for demographic variables.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that alexithymia might be associated with a higher vulnerability to depressive disorders and factor 2 of TAS-20K could be a discriminating feature of depressive disorders.     

The Zurich Study: XXII

A representative cohort of Swiss adults recruited at age 20 years and interviewed at ages 23, 28 and 30 years was studied regarding the symptomatology, prevalence and longitudinal course of functional gastrointestinal symptoms and their association with psychiatric syndromes. A functional gastrointestinal complaint was identified if a proband reported symptoms at least eight times in the past year or for a duration of at least 2 weeks without medical explanation and with a moderate degree of distress. Of the population, 9.4–17.7% was found to suffer from functional stomach complaints and 4.9–16% from functional intestinal complaints. Women reported functional gastrointestinal complaints two to three times more often than men, and increasingly so with age. The overlap of stomach and intestinal complaints was modest with 2.0–6.7%. Cross sectionally, functional stomach complaints were significantly associated with major depression (DSM-III-R), recurrent brief depression (RBD), subthreshold RBD and dysthymia, and with subthreshold panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia and recurrent brief anxiety. Functional intestinal complaints showed a consistently significant association with RBD, dysthymia, major depression, subthreshold RBD, panic disorder, subthreshold panic disorder, agoraphobia, simple and social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder. Individuals who at younger ages suffered from functional gastrointestinal complaints did not show an increased risk for a subsequent development of an anxiety or depressive disorder. Functional gastrointestinal complaints reflect an unspecific concomitant vegetative disturbance common to depression and anxiety; they do not reflect a risk factor for the development of a specific anxiety or depressive disorder.     

文拉法辛治疗抑郁与焦虑性障碍的临床观察

目的 验证文拉法辛治疗抑郁及焦虑障碍的疗效和不良反应.方法 对36例抑郁性障碍、43例焦虑性障碍病人予文拉法辛治疗6周.治疗前、治疗后第4周及第6周用HAMD、HAMA和TESS量表评定,用t检验（治疗前后自身对照）进行统计分析.结果 治疗6周后,总有效率为88%,副作用少且轻微.结论 文拉法辛治疗抑郁及焦虑性障碍有较好的疗效,且有良好的安全性.     

Prevalence and Correlates of DSM-IV Mental Disorders in South Korean Adults: The Korean Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study 2011

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders in Korean adults.MethodsDoor to door household surveys were conducted with community residents aged 18-74 years from July 19, 2011, to November 16, 2011 (n=6,022, response rate 78.7%). The sample was drawn from 12 catchment areas using a multistage cluster method. Each subject was assessed using the Korean version of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV).ResultsLifetime and 12-month prevalence estimates were as follows: alcohol use disorders, 13.4% and 4.4%, respectively; nicotine use disorders, 7.2% and 4.0%, respectively; anxiety disorders, 8.7% and 6.8%, respectively; and mood disorders, 7.5% and 3.6%, respectively. The prevalence rates of all types of DSM-IV mental disorders were 27.6% and 16.0%, respectively. Being female; young; divorced, separated, or widowed; and in a low-income group were associated with mood and anxiety disorders after adjustment for various demographic variables, whereas being male and young were associated with alcohol use disorders. Higher income was not correlated with alcohol use disorder as it had been in the 2001 survey.ConclusionThe rate of depressive disorders has increased since 2001 (the first national survey), whereas that of anxiety disorders has been relatively stable. The prevalence of nicotine and alcohol use disorders has decreased, and the male-to-female ratio of those with this diagnosis has also decreased.     

Addressing the Needs of Adolescents with Treatment Resistant Depressive Disorders: A Systematic Review of rTMS

BackgroundDepressive disorders are among the most commonly experienced mental health concerns and a leading cause of mortality in adolescence. Current treatment guidelines recommend the use of antidepressant medication, cognitive behavioral therapy or both treatments. Unfortunately 40–60% of adolescents fail to respond to these treatments, therefore a new effective alternative treatment modality would be of particular benefit. rTMS is effective in addressing treatment resistant depression in adults and investigation into its effectiveness with adolescent populations has begun.ObjectiveTo examine the existing literature regarding the efficacy and safety of rTMS treatment with adolescents experiencing depressive symptoms, especially research conducted since the last published review.MethodsA systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The databases of OVID PsycINFO, PubMed, Ovid Medline and Web of Science were searched for research utilizing rTMS treatment with adolescents experiencing depressive symptomology.ResultsThe review identified seven studies that examined rTMS as a treatment for depressive symptomology in adolescence. Findings indicate rTMS is likely to be an effective treatment for young people with preliminary longitudinal results suggesting maintenance of effects 3 years post-treatment. Reported side effects have included headaches, scalp discomfort and single incidences of hypomania and seizure. All side effects were transitory and did not recur.ConclusionPreliminary results suggest rTMS is an effective and well tolerated antidepressant treatment for adolescents with treatment resistant depressive symptomology. Further research allowing for comparison across studies is necessary to establish the efficacy of rTMS in adolescent depression.     

Comorbid Depressive Disorders in ADHD: The Role of ADHD Severity,Subtypes and Familial Psychiatric Disorders

Objective

To evaluate the presence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Dysthymic Disorder (DD) in a sample of Italian children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and to explore specific features of comorbid depressive disorders in ADHD.

Methods

Three hundred and sixty-six consecutive, drug-naïve Caucasian Italian outpatients with ADHD were recruited and comorbid disorders were evaluated using DSM-IV-TR criteria. To evaluate ADHD severity, parents of all children filled out the ADHD Rating Scale. Thirty-seven children with comorbid MDD or DD were compared with 118 children with comorbid conduct disorder and 122 without comorbidity for age, sex, IQ level, family psychiatric history, and ADHD subtypes and severity.

Results

42 of the ADHD children displayed comorbid depressive disorders: 16 exhibited MDD, 21 DD, and 5 both MDD and DD. The frequency of hyperactive-impulsive subtypes was significantly lower in ADHD children with depressive disorders, than in those without any comorbidity. ADHD children with depressive disorders showed a higher number of familial psychiatric disorders and higher score in the Inattentive scale of the ADHD Rating Scale, than children without any comorbidity. No differences were found for age, sex and IQ level between the three groups.

Conclusion

Consistent with previous studies in other countries, depressive disorders affect a significant proportion of ADHD children in Italy. Patient assessment and subsequent treatment should take into consideration the possible presence of this comorbidity, which could specifically increase the severity of ADHD attention problems.     

Mood symptoms in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders

Asperger Syndrome (AS) and High Functioning Autism (HFA) are psychiatric conditions belonging to the Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), characterized by social dysfunction and focused interest, in the absence of mental retardation. Previous reports suggest that AS/HFA may be associated with important psychiatric comorbidities. Among the psychiatric internalizing disorders, depression and anxiety are probably the most common disorders. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of mood disorders and identifying peculiar clinical features in subjects suffering from AS and HFA. 30 male patients with AS/HFA, 30 male patients affected by Major Depression (MD) and 35 male Typically Developing (TD) comparison were assessed with the CDI and the CDRS-R. Participants’ parents were invited to complete the CBCL and the P-YMRS. Moreover, the CGAS was rated by the clinicians. The evaluation of depressive symptoms showed that AS/HFA group reported higher depressive symptoms, as showed by CDI total, CBCL internalizing and CDRS-R total, compared to the TD group. No significant difference of depressive symptoms was found between the AS/HFA and the MD group, with the exception of CDRS-R total score. Moreover, linear regression analysis in the AS/HFA group between CGAS and depressive symptoms revealed that a higher level of depressive symptoms increased the risk of poorer global functioning. These results suggest that the depressive symptoms in AS/HFA patients may be associated with poorer global functioning, with a consequent impairment in their psychological profile and social adjustment, and should alert clinicians to the importance of assessing mood disorders in order to choose the appropriate treatment.     

Insomnia symptoms are associated with metabolic syndrome in patients with severe psychiatric disorders

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between insomnia symptoms and metabolic syndrome in patients with severe psychiatric disorders.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study including 272 inpatients (mean age: 34.06 ± 11.52 years, 67.3% males) with severe psychiatric disorders consecutively admitted in Shantou University Mental Health Center Inpatient Department. All patients underwent a psychiatric evaluation. Insomnia symptoms were assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and defined present if PSQI>7. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was defined using the new International Diabetes Federation definition based on clinical and laboratory evaluation.ResultsAmong the 272 patients, 94 (34.6%) presented insomnia symptoms. Overall, patients with insomnia symptoms had significantly higher percentage of metabolic syndrome (23.4% vs. 12.4%, p = 0.019) and hypertriglyceridemia (30.9% vs. 19.1%, p = 0.029), and marginally significantly higher levels of fasting insulin (58.75 ± 37.22 pmol/L vs. 51.72 ± 34.09 pmol/L, p = 0.050), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (1.83 ± 1.31 vs. 1.62 ± 1.25, p = 0.055) and percentage of insulin resistance (55.3% vs. 44.4%, p = 0.086) compared to those without insomnia symptoms. Multiple logistic regressions showed that patients with insomnia symptoms had significantly higher odds for metabolic syndrome [odds ratio (OR) = 2.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.25–7.14], central obesity (OR = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.18–7.76), hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.28–4.76) and marginally significantly higher odds for insulin resistance (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 0.93–3.02) after controlling for potential confounders.ConclusionsWithin severely mentally ill patients, insomnia symptoms are associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. It appears that insomnia symptoms are independent clinical indicators of underlying metabolic syndrome in patients with severe psychiatric disorders.     

The Prevalence of Migraine Headaches in an Anxiety Disorders Clinic Sample

The association between migraine and psychiatric disorders has been reported in both clinical and epidemiological studies. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders has been found to be increased among individuals with migraine. Studies assessing migraine in psychiatric patients are limited and the majority of these studies have focused solely on examining patients with major depression. In the present study, we examined the prevalence and characteristics of migraine headache in an anxiety disorders clinic sample in order to better understand the relationship between these commonly associated conditions. We evaluated 206 consecutive outpatients to an Anxiety Disorders Clinic for the prevalence of migraine. The presence of migraine was established using International Headache Society Criteria. Subjects completed a modified self‐report version of the Headache Diagnostic Questionnaire. In order to assess the relationship between migraine and anxiety disorder symptom severity, subjects completed standardized measures of symptom severity. The prevalence of migraine in our anxiety disorder clinic sample was 67%. Anxiety disorder patients with migraine presented with a significantly greater number of comorbid psychiatric disorders than patients without migraine (P= 0.012). The prevalence of migraine was significantly higher in patients with a diagnosis of either panic disorder with agoraphobia (P= 0.048) or major depressive disorder/dysthymia (P= 0.008) compared to other psychiatric disorders. The severity of anxiety disorder symptoms was significantly higher in patients with migraine compared to patients without migraine. This study suggests that there is an increased prevalence of migraine headaches among anxiety disorder patients as compared to the general population. Migraine comorbidity may have important clinical implications, such that the treatment of one condition could potentially ameliorate the development or progression of the other. Further research is required to better understand the nature and implications of the association between migraine and psychiatric disorders.