bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular Risk in a Spanish Population of Bipolar Disorder Patients: Results from the BIMET Study [P01-213]
Authors: Montes J.M. , Vieta E. , González-Pinto A. , Rejas-Gutiérrez J. , Mesa F. 
Published: March 2009

Purpose:To estimate the 10-years coronary heart disease and cardiovascular mortality risks in a Spanish population of bipolar disorder (BD) patients.Methods:BIMET study is a 12-month, prospective, multicentre, naturalistic study which enrolled type I or II BD patients according to DSM-IV TR criteria. A fasting blood sample was drawn to evaluate glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Weight, height, waist circumference at the umbilicus and blood pressure were also recorded. Framinghan and SCORE functions were used to calculate the 10-year risk for coronary hearth disease or cardiovascular death respectively.Results:A total of 320 and 417 patients, mean age 46.3 (13.0) years, were included for the Framingham and SCORE calculations respectively. The overall mean (standard deviation) risk for coronary heart disease was 7.3% (7.8) according to Framingham algorithm, with 6.3% of patients classified as having a high risk of coronary disease (Framingham higher than 10%). The mean overall risk for cardiovascular mortality was 1.2% (2.4) according to SCORE algorithm, with 6.5% of patients falling within the high cardiovascular mortality risk segment; SCORE higher than 5%. No statistically significant differences were observed between type I and II patients.Conclusion:This study reflects a substantial risk for cardiovascular events or mortality in a Spanish cohort of bipolar disorder patients. Results were comparable to those seen in subject with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Therefore, an effort for controlling all cardiovascular risk factors in bipolar disorder patients should be carried out by clinicians and health decision makers.
Psychoeducation in Bipolar Disorder: A Clinical Perspective
Authors: Castro L.C. , Rodrigues T. , Pereira J. , Coelho I. , Maia H. , Pereira M. , Pereira H. 
Published: March 2009

Background:Bipolar disorder is a chronic, recurrent and debilitating mood disorder with a major impact on several aspects of everyday life. Although pharmacotherapy plays a central role in bipolar disorder treatment, psychosocial interventions are essential to a more complete and successful treatment.Aims:To present a psychoeducation program for bipolar patients runned in a Portuguese psychiatric hospital - Hospital de Magalhães Lemos, Oporto. To review the impact of psychoeducative measures on bipolar patients.Methods:A psychoeducative program for bipolar patients was developed and adapted, based on the Barcelona Bipolar Disorders Program"s experience. The psychoeducative program was applied to bipolar patients as an adjuvant of maintenance treatment.Results:Fifteen sessions were runned during 15 weeks. Twelve patients were recruited to integrate the psychoeducative group. The sessions addressed several topics including information about the illness, early detection of prodromal symptoms and symptoms management, stress management and the importance of maintaining routines.Conclusions:The best treatment available for patients with bipolar disorder includes, along with the pharmacological treatment, psychosocial interventions aimed to target issues as early identification of prodromal symptoms, coping skills, medication adherence and understanding of the disorder. This broader approach of bipolar disorder treatment has proved to be efficient in reducing relapse rates, and improving patients’ feelings of self-efficacy and quality of life.
Clinical Factors as Predictors on Functional Impairment in Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Rosa A. , Reinares M. , Franco C. , Comes M. , Torrent C. , Sanchez-Moreno J. , Martinez-Aran A. , Kapczinski F. , Vieta E. 
Published: March 2009

Introduction:Recent studies have suggested that functional impairment in bipolar disorder may be strongly associated with residual depressive symptoms. However, there is a notable disparity between functional recovery and symptomatic recovery. This study was carried out to investigate clinical factors as potential predictors on functional impairment in a well defined euthymic bipolar sample.Methods:Seventy-one patients were recruited from the Bipolar Disorder Program at the Clinic Hospital of Barcelona. A Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR, HAM-D and YMRS were used to diagnostic assessment and euthymia criteria. The Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) was employed to assess functional impairment. The FAST is a reliable and valid, interview-administered scale, rapid and easy to apply (3-6 min). It consists of 24 items which allow to assess six specific areas of functioning such as autonomy, occupational functioning, cognitive functioning, financial issues, interpersonal relationships, and leisure time.Results:The sample comprised 36 (51%) men, aged 48±13.56 years. Several clinical variables were associated with poor functioning on a linear regression model, such as age, depressive symptoms, number of previous mixed episodes and number of previous hospitalizations. This model explained 44% of the variance (F=12.54, df=58, p< 0.001).Discussion:In this study, specific clinical and socio-demographic characteristics were identified as predictors of functional impairment in remitted bipolar patients. Poor functioning was identified in patients with older age and more severe illness course.
Omega 3 and Depression - State of Art
Authors: Pereira J. , Abreu A. , Fonte D. , Carvalho S. 
Published: March 2009

Aims:Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) involved in the structure and function of cell membranes in the brain. Because both compounds must be obtained from diet, by eating oily fish or fish oil, the consumption of fish or supplements of omega-3 could be correlated with neuropsychiatric disorders, as depression disorder.Methods:Search of relevant studies in Scirus database.Results:Epidemiological studies suggest that populations with high consumption of fish have low annual prevalence of major depression. Laboratorial research verified that major depression in acute coronary syndrome patients is associated with significantly lower plasma levels of ω-3 PUFAs, in particular of DHA; red blood cells membrane levels of total ω-3 PUFAs and of DHA are significantly lower in depressive patients; low plasma concentrations of DHA predict low concentrations of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid, a marker of brain serotonin turnover, which, in turn, is strongly associated with depression and suicide. Clinical trials demonstrated the efficiency of EPA in the alleviating the symptoms of major depression in adults, childhood depression and postpartum depression.Conclusions:Although the depression appears to be related with low levels of DHA in plasma and blood cells, controlled trials have found no effect of DHA supplementation in depression. On the contrry, EPA might have an adjunctive therapeutic value in the treatment of depression disorder. Much research is required to compare the effectiveness of the different fatty acids in the treatment of depressive disorder, as well as the relevant dose-response curves.
The Bipolar Spectrum; Do we Need a Single Algorithm for Affective Disorders?
Authors: Agius M. , Tavormina G. 
Published: March 2009

Increasing understanding of the bipolar spectrum of disorders has led to an increasing integration of concepts regarding the aetiology and treatment of affective disorders.Thus, for example, we now understand that an illness, previously believed to be recurrent depressive disorder, may develop over time into a bipolar illness, and bipolar II illnesses may develop into bipolar I.Agitated depression may in fact be a mixed affective state, and injudicious use of powerful antidepressants in patients with undiagnosed bipolar disorder may lead to the development of mixed states or rapid cycling illness, as well as a complete switch from depression to mania.Mixed states and rapid cycling states are linked with increased suicidality.Meanwhile bipolar disorder, especially bipolar II disorder, remains a condition which is underdiagnosed and often inappropriately treated.Unfortunately, NICE guidelines are separate for Unipolar Depression and Bipolar Illness; those for Unipolar illness advocate a 'stepped care’ model, centred round primary care, while bipolar guidelines warn against injudicious use of antidepressants and the use of mood stabilisers to prevent ‘switching’ to mania.Primary care physicians are not warned to take a full longitudinal history in depressed patients, to identify bipolar illness, nor are they trained to use mood stabilisers in patients with bipolar II disorder, and in the risks of injudicious use of antidepressants.We need a single algorithm for identifying and treating affective disorders.The symposium will consider these issues as a prelude to a Europe Wide meeting planned for later in 2009, to develop guidelines about these issues.
Suicidal Attempts and Life Events Among Depressive Adult Outpatients
Authors: Amara G. , Braham A. , Ben Nasr S. , Ben Hadj Ali B. 
Published: March 2009

Aims:Although a relationship between experience of problematic life events and suicidal behaviour has been recognized during last decades, few studies of life events have been realized among depressive adults.The aim of this study was to determine the correlations between life events and suicidal attempts among depressive adult patients.Methods:Eighty adult outpatients were recruited from the psychiatric department of Farhat Hached hospital of sousse (in Tunisia). All patients were followed up for a Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) according to the DSM IV criteria. They also were in remission for at least four weeks. For life events we used the EVE scale of Ferreri which permitted to assess event nature, event number and patient strategies in front of stressful life events.Results:The gender ratio of the sample was 1.35 and the mean age was 44.4 ± 12.9 years.Twenty five percent of the sample have committed at least one suicidal attempt.Suicidal attempts were positively correlated with the total number of life events (p = 0.001), the number of early life events (p = 0.024) and the number of stressful life events (p < 0.001). Patients with a history of suicidal attempts were more likely to cope negatively with life events (p < 0.001).Conclusion:To prevent suicide, psychotherapies focusing on stress coping could be a good therapeutic alternative among patients with MDD.
Prediction of Response to Bupropion Treatment - the Early Change of Prefrontal QEEG Cordance. Open Label Study
Authors: Bares M. , Brunovsky M. , Novak T. , Kopecek M. , Stopkova P. , Sos P. , Höschl C. 
Published: March 2009

Aims:Previous studies demonstrated predictive effect of reduction of prefrontal cordance for non-resistant outpatients or resistant inpatients treated by various antidepressants or venlafaxine. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the reduction of theta prefrontal QEEG cordance value after 1 week of bupropion administration is associated with response to 4 weeks treatment in patients with resistant depressive disorder. We extended our previous pilot data.Methods:We analyzed 18 inpatients, who finished 4-week treatment with venlafaxine. EEG data were monitored at baseline and after 1 week of treatment. QEEG cordance was computed at 3 frontal electrodes in theta frequency band. Depressive symptoms were assessed using Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).Results:Nine of 11 responders (reduction of MADRS ≥50%) and no one of 7 non-responders decreased prefrontal QEEG cordance value after the first week of treatment. Positive and negative predictive value (PPV, NPV) of cordance reduction for response to treatment was 1.0 (95% CI, 0.8-1.0) and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.57-0.78), respectively.Conclusions:Based on our results, the prefrontal QEEG cordance might be helpful in the prediction of the response to bupropion treatment in resistant patients.This study was supported by a grant from Internal Grant Agency of Ministry of Health of Czech Republic No. NR/9330-3 and a grant from Ministry of Health of Czech Republic MZ0PCP2005.
Psychometric Evaluation of the German Version of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC)
Authors: Barkmann C. , Erhart M. , Schulte-Markwort M. , Wille N. , Ravens-Sieberer U. 
Published: March 2009

Objectives:To examine the psychometric properties and test-theoretical quality of the German version of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC), a 20 items comprising screening instrument which measures the frequency of parent- and self-reported depressive symptoms in children and adolescents.Methods:Using a population-based, representative sample of N=2.863 7 to 17 year old German children and adolescents, factorial validity by means of linear structural modelling, cross-sectional coefficients of reliability, inter-rater agreement and normative scores are determined.Results:In a population-based German sample, the 4-factor version of the CES-DC following Radloff (1977) is considered to have good factorial validity and stability across age and informant version. The main problems of the questionnaire are the high difficulties of the items, strong floor effects of the scales and low cross-sectional reliability, which is just acceptable for screening purposes. The low inter-rater agreement indicate that parental assessment can replace self-assessment only to a limited degree.Conclusion:The strengths and weaknesses of the CES-DC are discussed taking into consideration previous data and comparable tests. Particular advantages are the existence of the parent report form and the adult version, as well as its multifactorial structure. Parental assessment should be supplemented by self-report data whenever possible.
Regional Origin and Decrease of Pain in Patients with Depressive Symptoms Under Treatment with Venlafaxine
Authors: Begré S. , Traber M. , Gerber M. , von Känel R. 
Published: March 2009

Aims:Worldwide data are extensively lacking in regard to patients with depressive symptoms under therapy with antidepressants in the primary care setting. We hypothesized that the magnitude of pain reduction under treatment with venlafaxine differently relates to regional origin of patients.Methods:We conducted a prospective naturalistic observational trial on 420 pain sufferers with depressive symptoms from all over Switzerland who were treated with venlafaxine by 122 physicians in primary care. Previous and additional antidepressant medication was not taken into account. Physicians rated illness severity using the Clinical Global Impression severity scale and pain intensity by means of visual analogue scales.Results:Compared with Middle European patients (ME), those from Eastern Europe (EE), and Southern Europe (SE) were younger and presented more intense overall pain mainly affecting the head, extremities and back. In addition, SE patients suffered more intense thoracic pain than ME patients, and EE patients suffered less frequently from abdominal pain compared to their ME and SE counterparts. Furthermore, 3 months after study entry, ME patients were found to profit more from treatment with venlafaxine in terms of overall illness severity and pain intensity than patients from EE and SE.
Physician Speciality and Pain Reduction in Patients with Depressive Symptoms Under Treatment with Venlafaxine
Authors: Begré S. , Traber M. , Gerber M. , von Känel R. 
Published: March 2009

Aims:Excessive pain perception may lead to unnecessary diagnostic testing or invasive procedures to result in iatrogenic complications and prolonged disability. Naturalistic studies on depressed patients with chronic pain investigating the impact of medical speciality on treatment outcome in a primary care setting are lacking.Methods:In this observational study, we examined whether the magnitude of pain reduction in 444 depressed patients under venlafaxine would differently relate to the medical speciality of the 122 treating physicians, namely psychiatrists (n=110 patients), general practitioners (n=236 patients), and internists (n=98 patients).Results:Independent of demographic factors, comorbidity, severity of pain and illness at study entry, and the duration of pain and depression, patients seemed to profit significantly less in terms of pain reduction (p< .001) and of reduction in severity of their illness by psychiatrists as compared to general practitioners (p< .019) and internists (p< .002).
Sense of Coherence in Patients Treated for Depression with ECT
Authors: Kononova N. , Berg J. 
Published: March 2009

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the Antonovsky Sense of Coherence test administered before and after ECT can contribute more information pertinent to outcome than a test of depression.Twenty patients with a severe unipolar or bipolar depression underwent a series of unipolar ECT under standard conditions. As part of the routine of the department, the patients filled in, before and after ECT, the following questionnaires: Beck Depression Inventory (Beck), 20 item version and Antonovsky Sense of Coherence test (SOC), 13 item version.Mean age was 40.3, somewhat less for women.Fourteen patients were living alone.A reduction was obtained, not significantly different in uni- or bipolar depression, from 35 to 17 in total score on Beck. Likewise, the SOC value increased from a mean of 2.5 to 3.2, indicating a better manageability, comprehensibility and meaningfulness in life.Four patients had an invalidity pension. Ten of the 16 remaining patients attained work after ECT, and scored better than those not starting to work on both tests, SOC > Beck. A low SOC value may indicate increased mortality risk.Patients who are favourably treated with ECT against any depression, but who do not show a considerable improvement in SOC, would need special follow-up on factors not directly related to mental illness to reduce relapse and mortality risk.
Emtional Intelligence, Depression, and Antidepressants
Authors: Biran M. , Burch N. 
Published: March 2009

Aims:Emotional intelligence is the measure of the comprehension of one's emotional state and the capability to manage emotions, to recognize emotions in others and to react to those emotions appropriately (Salovey & Mayer, 1990).In previous studies a strong correlation was found between low emotional intelligence and depression. (e.g.,Berrocal, Alcaide, Extremera, & Pizarro, 2006).Since antidepressants attempt to solve depression by numbing patients’ emotions and making the emotions more controllable (Arce et al, 2008; Davison, 2005), it was our hypothesis that antidepressants will lower emotional intelligence.Method:A package of questionnaires was distributed to 195 undergraduate students. Included in the package was a questionnaire asking subjects whether depressed, and were they taking antidepressants. Also included were the SCL-90 used to assess emotional distress (Derogatis,1985), the Beck Depression Inventory used to assess level of depression (Beck, 1981), and the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale used to evaluate level of emotional intelligence.Results:The results not only agreed with the findings of previous research linking low levels of emotional intelligence to depression, but also supported the hypothesis that the use of antidepressants would be linked to lower levels of emotional intelligence (r (191)= -.158, p< .029) This is a powerful finding, considering that the sample size was rather small. Only about 15% of the sample reported being prescribed antidepressants to treat their depression.Conclusions:The results of this study suggest that taking antidepressants as a form of treatment for depression might impact negatively on patients’ ability to handle their emotions.
Activation of Serotonin Metabolism and BDNF Changes in Depressed Patients with Multiple Sclerosis During Interferon-Beta Therapy
Authors: Bonaccorso S. , Ricciardi A. , Matrisciano F. , Nicoletti F. , Scaccianoce S. , Ruberto A. , Girardi P. , Tatarelli R. , Pompei F. , Manciocchi R. , Pozzilli C. , Verkerk R. , Scharpe S. , Wang L. , Shelton R. 
Published: March 2009

Background:Indoleamine-2, 3-dioxygenase is responsible for tryptophan catabolism; IFN-β is a treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) and it has been associated with depression. IDO activation might play a role in IFN-β induction of depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms associated with MS illness and IFN-β treatment have been treated with pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention.Aims:Evaluation of the kynurenine pathway, IDO activation and neurotoxic agents, serum BDNF in MS patients during IFN-β intervention.Methods:14 study subjects, aged 18-64 years with major depressive disorder and MS treated with IFN-β, before and after pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic intervention, and 34 age matched healthy controls were enrolled at the University of Rome "La Sapienza" and at the at the University of Antwerp. Depressed participants were randomized to sertraline-treatment or interpersonal psychodynamic psychotherapy.Results:There were significant improvements in both depression and anxiety symptoms with medication and psychotherapy groups, although the effect with sertraline was more robust. Sertraline treatment was associated with a decline in serotonin. In the psychotherapy group, a significant increase in 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (HAA) was observed after 4 months treatment (p= .04) with a significant decrease in tryptophan levels at 6 weeks (p= .02) and a trend towards a significant decrease in BDNF after 6 wks (p=0.06), neither of which were seen in the medication condition.Discussion:The increase in HAA among the psychotherapy-treated patients raises the possibility of a neurodegenerative challenge for patients with multiple sclerosis during treatment with IFN-β which appeared to be prevented with pharmacological treatment.
Psychological Distress Among Patients of an Orthopaedic Out Patient Clinic: Study from a Low Income Country
Authors: Husain N. , Humail S.M. , Chaudhry I.B. , Rahman R. , Tomenson B. , Creed F. 
Published: March 2009

In high income countries depression is common among general trauma patients and is associated with a poor outcome. In the absence of previous reports from a developing country we evaluated the relationship of psychological distress to physical injury, musculoskeletal complaints, and social factors in Pakistan.Methods:One thousand and fourteen patients were recruited from a busy orthopaedic outpatient clinic at a general hospital in Karachi (90.5% response rate). Research assistants administered the Self Rating Questionnaire (SRQ) to measure psychological distress, the Oslo social support questionnaire, and the Brief Disability Questionnaire (BDQ). The surgeons documented the diagnosis and, if appropriate, rated symptoms as medically unexplained.Results:An SRQ score of 9 or more, which indicates probable depressive disorder, occurred in 45.6% of men & 76.1% of women. A high SRQ score was associated with female sex, divorced, separated or widowed status, little or no education, low income and little social support. Even after these were controlled for there was a significantly higher SRQ score in patients with arthritis, backache/prolapsed intervertebral disc, major fracture and other bone pathology. Overall there was no difference in SRQ score between patients with medically explained (by trauma or organic disease) or unexplained symptoms.Conclusions:Depressive disorder appears to be very common in orthopaedic out patients in this low income country and both social circumstances and nature of bone pathology are associated with such depression. Treatment should address this extreme psychological distress.