Managing depression in patients with vision impairment : a descriptive study of practitioners' beliefs and confidence

Aim: Depression is common in older adults with vision impairment yet it often remains unidentified and untreated.
Eye health professionals (EHPs) and rehabilitation workers (RWs) may be able to assist in detecting depression. This study identified EHPs’ and RWs’ beliefs about depression and confidence in working with patients with vision
impairment and depression.
Methods: A self-administered cross-sectional survey of 94 EHPs and RWs assessed beliefs about the symptoms and treatment for depression, and confidence in working with depressed people with vision impairment.
Results: Participants showed awareness of both the symptoms and treatment options for depression. However,
some important misconceptions were identified and many symptoms of depression were commonly attributed to
vision loss. Participants lacked confidence in communicating about depression with patients and their families.
Conclusions: Training programs are needed to enable EHPs and RWs to confidently identify depression and
discuss appropriate treatment and referral options with their patients.

Data obtained from the health in pregnancy and post birth study

Data is being obtained via a randomised controlled trial to measure the efficacy of specialised health coaching intervention designed to prevent excessive gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention among women.

The study will collect data via a self-report questionnaire (available in hardcopy and online) at 5 time points across pregnancy and post-birth, including Pregnancy (16 -32 weeks gestation) and Postpartum period (6 weeks to 12 months post-birth). Objective measures are obtained by researchers in a consulting room in a clinic room within a hospital antenatal clinic. Hospital records are also accessed via the Bed Optimization System (BOS). Data obtained includes: demographic information (e.g., education, income), objective measures of height, weight and waist circumference, healthcare resource use general distress and psychopathology (stress, anxiety, depression), exercise and dietary habits, motivation/readiness to change, body dissatisfaction, labour experiences and birth outcomes.

Association of adolescent symptoms of depression and anxiety with alcohol use disorders in young adulthood : findings from the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study

Objective: To examine the association of adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms with alcohol abuse or dependence in young adulthood.

Design, setting and participants: Cohort study of the health and wellbeing of adolescents and young adults in Victoria, assessed at 8 waves (periods) of data collection, from age 14 to 24 years, between 1992 and 2003. Young people who participated in the cohort study at least once during the six adolescent assessment points (conducted 6 months apart, from age 14 to 17 years), at least once during young adulthood and who were alive at Wave 8 (n = 1758).

Main outcome measure: Alcohol abuse or dependence assessed using the alcohol and substance abuse modules of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview at age 24 years.

Results: Adolescents with moderate to high levels of depression and anxiety symptoms (measured by the revised Clinical Interview Schedule) had an increased risk of alcohol abuse or dependence in young adulthood, compared with young adults with low levels of adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms, after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Risk was higher for those with symptoms at more than two adolescent assessment points (odds ratio [OR] 1.9; 95% CI, 1.7–2.0) and for those with symptoms at one or two assessment points (OR 1.3; 95% CI, 1.2–1.4), compared with those with no above-threshold symptoms in adolescence.

Conclusions: Adolescents with depression and anxiety symptoms are at increased risk for alcohol use disorders into young adulthood. They warrant vigilance from primary care providers in relation to alcohol use well into adulthood.

Association of adolescent symptoms of depression and anxiety with daily smoking and nicotine dependence in young adulthood : findings from a 10-year longitudinal study

Aims To examine the association of adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms with daily smoking and nicotine dependence in young adulthood.

Design A prospective cohort study of adolescent and young adult health (n = 1943). Teen assessments occurred at 6-monthly intervals, with two follow-up assessments in young adulthood (wave 7, 1998; wave 8, 2001–03).

Setting Victoria, Australia.

Participants Students who participated at least once during the first six (adolescent) waves of the cohort study.

Measurements Adolescent depression and anxiety symptomswere assessed using the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R).Young adult tobacco usewas defined as: daily use (6 or 7 days perweek) and dependent use (>4 on the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence).

Findings Among adolescent ‘less than daily’ smokers, those with high levels of depression and anxiety symptoms had an increased risk of reporting nicotine dependence in young adulthood [odds ratio (OR) 3.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–9.1] compared to young adults who had low levels of adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms, after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Similarly, in the adjusted model (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.0–3.4), among adolescent ‘daily’ smokers, those with high levels of depression and anxiety symptoms had an almost two-fold increase in the odds of reporting nicotine dependence in young adulthood compared to young adults with low levels of adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms.

Conclusions Adolescent smokerswith depression and anxiety symptoms are at increased risk for nicotine dependence into young adulthood. They warrant vigilance from primary care providers in relation to tobacco use well into adulthood.

Methodological challenges to research among Chinese : using mixed methods to investigate older persons with depression in Macau

The article offers an example of using a mixed methods design that was implemented when investigating depression among Chinese older persons in Macau. A challenge in designing the study was that in light of literature on Chinese culture and somatization theory, the acceptability of the methodology was uncertain. Participants (n = 31) were purposively selected and quantitative data were collected using multiple standardized measures. Questions raised by the quantitative approach were then reflected through in-depth interviews. Four dominant categories emerged: (a) negative thinking, (b) physical limitations and complaints, (c) present living conditions and social support, and (d) the lives participants have lived. There was a high level of congruence between quantitative scores and narratives. The research approach was acceptable to the participants, and the findings contributed to an understanding of depression and therapeutic interventions for that population within Chinese culture.

Individual, social, and physical environmental correlates of physical activity among young women at risk of depression

Background : A number of factors have been identified as important correlates of physical activity (PA) among young women. Young women at risk of depression have a greater likelihood of being physically inactive and it is unknown whether correlates differ for women at risk and not at risk of depression.

Methods : A sample of 451 women aged 18-35 years self-reported leisure-time PA, enjoyment of and self-efficacy for walking and vigorous PA, barriers, social support, access to sporting/leisure facilities and access to sporting equipment in the home. Depression risk was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (cut point ≥5). Logistic regression analyses examined differences in PA correlates among women at risk and not at risk of depression.

Results : Self-efficacy for vigorous PA was statistically different between groups in predicting odds for meeting PA recommendations but odds ratios were similar across groups. No other significant interactions between correlates and depressive symptoms were identified.

Conclusions : The findings suggest few differences in the individual, social and physical environmental correlates of PA among young women who are and are not at risk of depression. Further research is needed to confirm the existence of any PA correlates specific to this high-risk target group.