Impact of depression on intimate relationships

Three studies were designed to investigate the intimate relations of people with depression. The results indicated that people with depression and partners of people with depression reported a lower: sexual frequency, sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, level of communication and engagement, positive view of their partner, and more stressors and sexual dysfunctions than the non-depressed comparison group.

Depression in temporal lobe epilepsy surgery patients : an FDG-PET study

Summary: Purpose: Depression is common in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and after temporal lobectomy, and its etiology is obscure. In nonepileptic depression (including depression associated with other neurologic disorders), a consistent PET imaging finding is frontal lobe hypometabolism. Many TLE patients have hypometabolism involving frontal regions. Thus in data available from routine clinical assessments in an epilepsy surgery unit, we tested the hypothesis that the pattern of hypometabolism, particularly in the frontal lobe, may be associated with the depression seen in patients with TLE and TLE surgery.<br /><br />Methods: We studied 23 medically refractory TLE patients who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy and who had preoperative FDG-PET scanning. All patients had pre- and postoperative psychiatric assessment. By using statistical parametric mapping (SPM-99), patterns of hypometabolism were compared between patients who had a preoperative history of depression (n = 9) versus those who did not (n = 14) and between those in whom postoperative depression developed (n = 13) versus those in whom it did not (n = 10). A significant region of hypometabolism was set at p &lt; 0.001 for a cluster of &ge;20 contiguous voxels.<br /><br />Results: Patients with a history of depression at any time preoperatively showed focal hypometabolism in ipsilateral orbitofrontal cortex compared with those who did not (t= 4.64; p &lt; 0.001). Patients in whom depression developed postoperatively also showed hypometabolism in the ipsilateral orbitofrontal region (t= 5.10; p &lt; 0.001).<br /><br />Conclusions: Although this study is methodologically limited, and other explanations merit consideration, orbitofrontal cortex dysfunction, already implicated in the pathophysiology of nonepileptic depression, may also be relevant to the depression of TLE and temporal lobectomy.<br />

Detecting and treating depression in people with mild intellectual disability : the views of key stakeholders

There is a pressing need for the development of programs for the early identification and treatment of depression in individuals with mild intellectual disability. The aim of this study was to ascertain the perspective of 64 key stakeholders (people with intellectual disability, healthcare professionals, family/caregivers &amp; support workers) regarding the risk factors and characteristics of depression, the support and service needs of individuals with intellectual disability/depression and those who care for them. Findings enhance our understanding of depression and its risk factors in people with mild intellectual disability and endorse the need for the development of screening and intervention programs suitable for delivery by staff in agencies providing services to people with mild intellectual disability.<br />

Association of western and traditional diets with depression and anxiety in women

Objective: Key biological factors that influence the development of depression are modified by diet. This study examined the extent to which the high-prevalence mental disorders are related to habitual diet in 1,046 women ages 20&ndash;93 years randomly selected from the population.<br /><br />Method: A diet quality score was derived from answers to a food frequency questionnaire, and a factor analysis identified habitual dietary patterns. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to measure psychological symptoms, and a structured clinical interview was used to assess current depressive and anxiety disorders.<br /><br />Results: After adjustments for age, socioeconomic status, education, and health behaviors, a &quot;traditional&quot; dietary pattern characterized by vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, and whole grains was associated with lower odds for major depression or dysthymia and for anxiety disorders. A &quot;western&quot; diet of processed or fried foods, refined grains, sugary products, and beer was associated with a higher GHQ-12 score. There was also an inverse association between diet quality score and GHQ-12 score that was not confounded by age, socioeconomic status, education, or other health behaviors.<br /><br />Conclusions: These results demonstrate an association between habitual diet quality and the high-prevalence mental disorders, although reverse causality and confounding cannot be ruled out as explanations. Further prospective studies are warranted.<br />

Depression, nutritional risk and eating behaviour in older caregivers

<b><i>Objective </i></b><br />This study investigated the relationship between depression, nutritional risk and dietary intake in a population of older caregivers. <br /><br /><b><i>Design </i></b><br />Mailed questionnaire with sub group participating in a home-based interview.<br /><br /><i><b>Participants and setting </b></i><br />Seventy-six community dwelling caregivers aged 50 y or over from Victoria, Australia.<br /><i><b><br />Measurements </b></i><br />Questionnaires provided information on weight, height, hours of care, depressive symptoms, nutritional risk and appetite. The home-based interview assessed dietary intake and shopping, cooking and meal consumption habits. <br /><b><i><br />Results </i></b><br />The sample had a mean&plusmn;SD age of 70.3&plusmn;12.8 y, BMI of 27.2&plusmn;4.8 kg/m2 and the time spent caring was 101.8&plusmn;68.1 h/wk. Overall, 32% of caregivers had depressive symptoms, 21% were at risk of malnutrition and 21% reported their appetite was fair/bad/very bad. Caregivers with depressive symptoms (32%) compared to those with no depressive symptoms (53%) had a poorer appetite (p&lt;0.05). Of the 20 caregivers who participated in the home interview, 25% reported they ate their meals alone. <br /><b><i><br />Conclusion </i></b><br />A significant proportion of community dwelling older caregivers had depressive symptoms, were at risk of malnutrition and had poor appetites, although the majority were overweight or obese.<br />

Healthy minds for country youth : help-seeking for depression among rural adolescents

<b>Objective:</b> To assess depression recognition, barriers to accessing help from health professionals and potential sources of help for depression among rural adolescents. <br /><b><br />Design:</b> Cross-sectional survey. <br /><br /><b>Setting:</b> Two rural secondary schools in south-east South Australia. <br /><b><br />Participants:</b> Seventy-four secondary school students aged 14 to 16 years. <br /><br /><b>Main outcome measure(s):</b> Depression recognition was measured using a depression vignette. Helpfulness of professionals, barriers to seeking help and help-seeking behaviours for depression were assessed by self-report questionnaire. <br /><br /><b>Results:</b> Depression was identified in the vignette by 73% (n = 54) of participants. Participants indicated that it would be more helpful for the vignette character to see other health professionals (98.6%, 95% CI, 92.0&ndash;100.0%) than a doctor (82.4%, 72.1&ndash;89.6%). Barriers to seeking help from doctors and other health professionals were categorised into logistical and personal barriers. Participants agreed more strongly to personal (mean = 2.86) than logistical barriers (mean = 2.67, P &lt; 0.05) for seeing a doctor. Boys and girls responded differently overall, and to personal barriers to seeing an other health professional. Sources of help were divided into three categories: formal, informal and external. Informal sources of help (mean = 4.02) were identified as more helpful than both formal (mean = 3.66) and external sources (mean = 3.72, P &lt; 0.001). Gender differences were observed within and between the three sources of help categories.<br /><br /><b>Conclusions:</b> Recognising symptoms of depression was demonstrated in this study. Helpfulness of professionals, barriers to seeking help and potential sources of help for depression were identified. More work is required for improving depression literacy and providing effective interventions specifically for rural adolescents.<br />

Identification of depression in diabetes the efficacy of PHQ-9 and HADS-D

<b>Background </b><br />Clinical guidelines advise screening for depression in patients with diabetes. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) are commonly used in primary care. <br /><b><br />Aim </b><br />To compare the efficacy of HADS-D and PHQ-9 in identifying moderate to severe depression among primary care patients with type 2 diabetes. <br /><b><br />Design of study </b><br />Self-report postal survey, clinical records assessed by GPs. <br /><b><br />Setting </b><br />Seven metropolitan and rural general practices in Victoria, Australia. <br /><b><br />Method </b><br />Postal questionnaires were sent to all patients with diabetes on the registers of seven practices in Victoria. A total of 561 completed postal questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate 47%. Surveys included demographic information, and history of diabetes and depression. Participants completed both the PHQ-9 and HADS-D. Clinical data from patient records included glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and medications. <br /><b><br />Results </b><br />The proportion of the total sample completing HADS-D was 96.8% compared with 82.4% for PHQ-9. Level of education was unrelated to responses on the HADS-D but was related to completion of the PHQ-9. Using complete data (n = 456) from both measures, 40 responders showed HADS-D scores in the moderate to severe range, compared with 103 cases identified by PHQ-9. Only 35 cases were classified in the moderate to severe category by both the PHQ-9 and HADS-D. Items with the highest proportions of positive responses on the PHQ-9 were related to tiredness and sleeping problems and, on the HADS-D, feeling slowed down. <br /><br /><b>Conclusion </b><br />It may be that the items contributing to the higher prevalence of moderate to severe depression using the PHQ-9 are due to diabetes-related symptoms or sleep disorders. <br />

A nurse-assisted screening and referral program for depression among survivors of colorectal cancer : feasibility study

<b>Objective:</b> To test the feasibility and acceptability of a telephone-based program to screen survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC) for distress, and to refer distressed patients to their treating health service.<br /><br /><b>Design, setting and participants:</b> A prospective, multicentre study involving 59 patients with CRC recruited from six public and private health services in Melbourne, Victoria, from 15 June 2008 to 22 September 2009. Patients who had completed adjuvant chemotherapy for CRC were contacted (7&ndash;10 days after recruitment [outcall one] and again 4 weeks later [outcall two]) by the Cancer Council Victoria&rsquo;s helpline nurse, and screened for distress with the Distress and Impact Thermometer (DIT); participants were given tailored information and support and those with distress scores of &ge;5, and impact scores of &ge;4, were referred for follow-up. Telephone interviews were conducted 4 weeks after outcall two. Participating helpline and health service staff were surveyed on the feasibility and acceptability of the service. Main outcome measure: Anxiety and depression, measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).<br /><br /><b>Results:</b> Of the 59 patients (87%) who agreed to participate, 63% were men; their mean age was 59 years (SD, 9.5 years). HADS depression decreased significantly from baseline (mean score, 4.93; SD, 4.22) to follow-up (mean score, 3.84; SD, 4.10; Z = &minus;2.375; P= 0.02). However, there was no significant difference in HADS anxiety between baseline (mean score, 5.29; SD, 4.11) and follow-up (mean score, 4.78; SD, 3.65). Outcall one generated two referrals (4% of participants) and outcall two generated four referrals<br />(8%); five of these six participants took up the referrals. Satisfaction with the program among participants was high; 82% found outcall one &ldquo;quite or very helpful&rdquo; and 79% found outcall two &ldquo;quite or very helpful&rdquo;. Helpline and health service staff reported a straightforward process that did not adversely affect workloads.<br /><br /><b>Conclusion:</b> This model of care carries the potential to meet ongoing psychosocial needs of survivors of CRC.<br /><br /><br />

Adolescent and pre-conception risk factors for perinatal depression

Women who experienced psychiatric disorder during adolescence reported a 5̃-fold increased risk for depressive symptoms during pregnancy and during the postnatal period. A number of other adolescent and pre-conception risk factors, such as persistent stress and hormonal volatility, were also found to be implicated in the development of perinatal depression. Four case studies of children with profound and pervasive attachment-related disturbances are presented in the portfolio in order to highlight the shortcomings of the current diagnostic criteria for reactive attachment disorder in infancy or early childhood.