Role of 5-HT in stress, anxiety, and depression

There are conflicting results on the function of 5-HT in anxiety and depression. To reconcile this evidence, Deakin and Graeff have suggested that the ascending 5-HT pathway that originates in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and innervates the amygdala and frontal cortex facilitates conditioned fear, while the DRN-periventricular pathway innervating the periventricular and periaqueductal gray matter inhibits inborn fight/flight reactions to impending danger, pain, or asphyxia. To study the role of the DRN 5-HT system in anxiety, we microinjected 8-OH-DPAT into the DRN to inhibit 5 HT release. This treatment impaired inhibitory avoidance (conditioned fear) without affecting one-way escape (unconditioned fear) in the elevated T-maze, a new animal model of anxiety. We also applied three drug treatments that increase 5-HT release from DRN terminals: 1) intra-DRN microinjection of the benzodiazepine inverse agonist FG 4172, 2) intra-DRN microinjection of the excitatory amino acid kainic acid, and 3) intraperitoneal injection of the 5-HT releaser and uptake blocker D-fenfluramine. All treatments enhanced inhibitory avoidance in the T-maze. D-Fenfluramine and intra-DRN kainate also decreased one-way escape. In healthy volunteers, D-fenfluramine and the 5-HT agonist mCPP (mainly 5-HT2C) increased, while the antagonists ritanserin (5-HT2A/(2C)) and SR 46349B (5-HT2A) decreased skin conductance responses to an aversively conditioned stimulus (tone). In addition, D-fenfluramine decreased, whereas ritanserin increased subjective anxiety induced by simulated public speaking, thought to represent unconditioned anxiety. Overall, these results are compatible with the above hypothesis. Deakin and Graeff have suggested that the pathway connecting the median raphe nucleus (MRN) to the dorsal hippocampus promotes resistance to chronic, unavoidable stress. In the present study, we found that 24 h after electrolytic lesion of the rat MRN glandular gastric ulcers occurred, and the immune response to the mitogen concanavalin A was depressed. Seven days after the same lesion, the ulcerogenic effect of restraint was enhanced. Microinjection of 8-OH-DPAT, the nonselective agonist 5-MeO-DMT, or the 5-HT uptake inhibitor zimelidine into the dorsal hippocampus immediately after 2 h of restraint reversed the deficits of open arm exploration in the elevated plus-maze, measured 24 h after restraint. The effect of the two last drugs was antagonized by WAY-100135, a selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist. These results are compatible with the hypothesis that the MRN-dorsal hippocampus 5-HT system attenuates stress by facilitation of hippocampal 5-HT1A-mediated neurotransmission. Clinical implications of these results are discussed, especially with regard to panic disorder and depression.

Anxiety and depression in brazilian undergraduate students: the role of sociodemographic variables, undergraduate course characteristics and social skills

The prevalence of anxiety and depression disorders in undergraduate students is high and several variables can be influential. The aim is to verify the predictive value of social skills, sociodemographic variables, and course characteristics for depression and anxiety. A total of 1282 students of a public university, of both sexes and from different years and courses, participated in this study. Screening instruments for depression and anxiety were applied, as well as an instrument investigating social skills and a questionnaire covering socio demographic indicators and course characteristics. The data were analyzed using univariate analysis followed by multiple binary regression analysis in order to define the relevance of these depression and anxiety measures. The rates of anxiety and depression were 19.4% and 3.8%, respectively. The social skills and living situation were predictive of depression, with the social skills and course area (with higher prevalence for the exact and human sciences) remaining in the final model for anxiety. Such data have implications for psychological prevention and intervention with this population.

Proinflammatory Cytokines Correlate with Depression and Anxiety in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Functional capacity of Brazilian patients with Parkinson's disease (PD): Relationship between clinical characteristics and disease severity

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Drug dependence, mental impairment and education

This study aimed to evaluate the mental conditions of cocaine-dependent individuals and school commitment/attachment. We evaluated 50 patients referred to the psychiatry emergency room due to mental disorders from chemical dependence. After clinical diagnosis, clinical interview, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Hamilton Scale for Depression and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale were applied. The Spearman and Mann-Whitney nonparametric tests, as well as the t-Student test were utilized for statistical analysis.. The accepted significance value was 0.05. All subjects had used cocaine or crack and other substances. Only 13 (26%) did not drop out of school (group 1). Regarding the other 37 (74%), irregular class attendance , successive failures and definitive school drop out rates (group 2) were verified. These subjects presented an early substance use when compared with those which did not drop out of school (p=0.0001). Patients with an early substance use presented higher school dropout rates than those with a later initiation to substance use. Psychopathological phenomena were frequent in both groups.

Tobacco in adolescence: importance to knowledge the health hazards and preventive measures

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Síntomas depresivos y trastorno motor en pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson

Introduction. Complex relations between brain and psychopathology have attracted the interest of researchers, aiming to clarify the neurobiological mechanisms of depression in Parkinson's disease, obviously in addiction to mental features. Aims. The association of motor impairment and decline of personal autonomy with severity of depressive symptoms was the hypothesis of the present study. Aiming to check this hypothesis, the objective of this study consisted in investigating relationships between the severity of depressive symptoms and motor characteristics of Parkinson's disease. Patients and methods. Thirty patients (53 to 80 year-old) with medical diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease in initial clinic stages were studied. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Hoehn-Yahr Scale, and Schwab & England Scale were used to assess the clinic signs and symptoms. The depressive symptoms were identified by complete anamnesis, examination of mental condition, and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Anxiety and Depression Scale. Statistical analysis was performed by Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results. A significant correlation of severity of depression symptoms with disease stage (p < 0.02), with motor signs (p < 0.008), and with functional performance (p < 0.007) was found. Conclusion. There was significant association between motor impairment and severity of depressive symptoms, and between depression and early disease onset or prolonged duration of Parkinson's disease. © 2007, Revista de Neurología.

Influência do exercício físico em memória e funções executivas de pessoas com doença de Parkinson

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Atividade física e aspectos neuropsiquiátricos em pacientes com demência e em seus cuidadores

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo eletrocardiográfico e ecocardiográfico de pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Comparação da espirometria, da qualidade de vida e da capacidade funcional de exercício em pacientes com doença arterial coronariana estável de acordo com a história tabágica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Sintomas Mentais e Consumo de Álcool por Estudantes da UNESP, Instituto de Biociências de Rio Claro, S.P

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo caracterizar os padrões de consumo de bebida alcoólica e a prevalência de indicadores de ansiedade e depressão, em universitários. Foram investigados 200 alunos, em série consecutiva, oriundos dos cursos de Biologia, Ecologia, Educação Física e Pedagogia. Os métodos consistiram na aplicação de escalas especializadas para verificação de padrões de consumo de álcool e sintomas de ansiedade e depressão, respectivamente, o SADD (Short Alcohol Dependence Data) e a HAD (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Os resultados mostraram que, dos 200 alunos, 17 (8,5%) apresentavam comportamento de uso abusivo de álcool, com riscos para a saúde física e mental. Ainda, 53 alunos (26,5%) revelaram indicadores positivos de ansiedade e 16 (8%), de depressão. Destes 53 alunos com indicadores positivos de ansiedade, 8 (15,1%) faziam uso abusivo de álcool e, dos 16 alunos com sintomas depressivos, 8 (50%) tinham comportamento de consumo abusivo de álcool, com riscos para a saúde física e mental. Os autores concluíram que o uso abusivo de álcool pode estar associado à presença de sofrimento psíquico, principalmente ansiedade e depressão. E propõem que se discuta a necessidade de criação de um Serviço de Saúde Mental para atendimento da comunidade universitária.

Características e conhecimentos sobre tabagismo em grupos específicos: adolescentes e gestantes

Pós-graduação em Fisiopatologia em Clínica Médica - FMB

Níveis de sobrecarga, ansiedade e depressão de cuidadores de pacientes com doença de Alzheimer participantes e não participantes de grupos de apoio

Currently , as a result of the significant increase in the number of elderly, one can observe an increase in the number of chronic diseases , among them Alzheimer's disease (AD) , which affects both patients and their caregivers , that due care with the patient , just overwhelmed , anxious and depressed. Therefore, this study aims to draw a profile of caregivers of Alzheimer's patients, correlating the physical activity of patients with levels of overload, anxiety, depression caregivers. For both sample consisted of 40 patients with AD to characterize the physical activity levels and perform activities of daily living. In addition, we evaluated 40 caregivers. Patient assessment was made through a medical history, beyond the score Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Mini - Mental State Examination (MMSE), Modified Baecke Questionnaire for Older Adults (MBQ) , Functional Activities Questionnaire PFEFFER (QAFP) , and the Self Perception Performance in Activities of Daily Living (EAPAVD). For assessing the caregiver was also used an interview, then the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), anxiety and depression scale (HAD) Scale and the Zarit caregiver burden (Zarit). The data were processed using descriptive procedures for the analysis of characterization of samples, such as cognitive screening and physical activity level and profile of caregivers. There was a normal distribution of the data using the Shapiro Wilk, For data with normal distribution were used parametric descriptive procedures using One Way ANOVA to compare groups and applying a post hoc Bonferroni. As for the data that showed the destruction not normal was used to standardize the test by Z -score , and then treated by means of parametric statistical procedures , as presented earlier . The Pearson correlation was used to identify possible associations between variables. It was assumed significance level of 5 % (p ≤ 0.05) for all analyzes. Given these results, we conclude that...

Atividade física e sintomas depressivos em cuidadores de idosos com demência de Alzheimer

The Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is a chronic, neurodegenerative and progressive disorder, characterized by cognitive decline, affecting brain functions like memory, reasoning and communication, occurrence of behavioral disturbances and difficulty in performing activities of daily living (ADLs). These conditions lead to patient’s dependence, which can cause depressive symptoms in caregivers, due to physical and mental burden caused by of the difficulties of the act of caring. Whereupon, it became necessary to find strategies to improve the caregivers’ quality of life. An interesting hypothesis is that physical activity can be considered a non-pharmacological alternative in reducing depressive symptoms, being an important factor for maintaining the physical and mental well-being of the general population, especially on positive changes in mood and social interaction. This study aimed to analyze the effects of a physical activity protocol on depressive symptoms and burden of caregivers of patients with AD. This experimental study, of longitudinal character, comprised a sample of 19 caregivers, of both genders, divided into two groups: a) intervention group – IG (10 caregivers who participated in a physical activity protocol) and b) control group – CG (9 caregivers who didn’t participate in the physical activity protocol). This protocol, which worked the components of functional ability and social interaction of participants, was held three times a week, being 48 sessions of 60 minutes each, for 16 weeks. Data collect was performed at pre and post-intervention for both groups. The assessment instruments used were: a) Zarit Burden Interview, b) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and c) battery of motor tests of the American Alliance for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). Nonparametric statistics was used, with intra-group comparison by Wilcoxon test... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)