Association depressive symptoms with memory function and social capital before and during COVID-19 in community-dwelling older adults in rural Japan: A retrospective study with a longitudinal data.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the impact of memory function and social capital on depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults in rural Japan. METHODS: A retrospective study with longitudinal data was conducted during COVID-19 from May 2021 to November 2021 (T2) in Kurogawa, Japan. The candidate population for this study was 145 with the following requirements: (1) older individuals aged 65 years or above who were registered in the Kurogawa study, and (2) those with previous data (from November 2016 to February 2020; T1 as pre-pandemic). Memory function was assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised Logical Memory II delayed recall part A (LM II-DR). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Japanese version of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Social capital was evaluated through civic participation, social cohesion, and reciprocity. Fear of the COVID-19 infection (FCV-19S) was evaluated. RESULTS: The final analysis included 96 participants (mean age = 81.0 years, SD = 4.8) Multivariate analysis for GDS-15 score by Mixed Model Repeated Measures (MMRM) revealed significant associations between LM II-DR (ß = -0.13, 95% CI: -0.21-0.05, p = 0.002) and FCV-19S during COVID-19 (ß = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01-0.15, p = 0.02) with GDS-15 score. However, civic participation, social cohesion and reciprocity were not associated with GDS-15 score. CONCLUSIONS: Among older adults in rural Japan, memory function and fear of the COVID-19 infection were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in MMRM analysis. However, social capital was not associated with depressive symptoms. This highlights the need to address memory function and fear of the COVID-19 infection in interventions for older adults during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Negative association between basal oxytocin and oxytocin changes after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a neuromodulator effective for treating depressive symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). One of the multiple mechanisms for its antidepressant effects proposed is related to the hypothalamus. Oxytocin is a neuropeptide synthesized in the hypothalamus that affects human behavior and psychology, including social and affiliative behaviors, stress regulation, and fear and emotion processing. There have been no reports on the relationship between rTMS and oxytocin for the treatment of TRD. Therefore, we aimed to investigate changes in salivary oxytocin concentrations in patients with TRD before and after 6 weeks of rTMS treatment. A total of 28 patients with TRD who received rTMS at Saga University Hospital between August 2013 and August 2020 were included. Although rTMS treatment significantly improved 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores, rTMS treatment did not change mean salivary oxytocin after 6 weeks of treatment in patients with TRD. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the change in salivary oxytocin levels after rTMS treatment was negatively associated with basal oxytocin levels before rTMS treatment, suggesting that rTMS treatment tends to decrease oxytocin levels in patients with depression with high basal oxytocin levels while increasing them in those with low basal levels. These findings suggest that rTMS treatment improved depressive symptoms through mechanisms other than the modulatory effect on oxytocin levels in patients with TRD, while there is room for further studies to confirm these findings using a larger patient sample size and/or a sham rTMS procedure.

Relationship between serum cortisol levels, stereotypies, and the presence of autism spectrum disorder in patients with severe intellectual disability.

Stereotypies are one of the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are common to both ASD and intellectual disability (ID). Previous studies have been inconclusive, with some showing a positive correlation between stereotypies and cortisol, while others have shown a negative correlation. We hypothesised and investigated the presence of ASD as one of the variables involved in this discrepancy. We tested the following hypotheses on serum cortisol in a total of 84 hospitalised patients with severe ID and ASD with severe ID. Hypothesis (1) Higher levels of stereotypies are associated with higher levels of serum cortisol. Hypothesis (2) The presence of ASD will moderate the association between stereotypies and high serum cortisol levels. The results of the analysis supported hypotheses (1) and (2). We also found that in the population with ID, serum cortisol levels were significantly lower in the ASD group compared to the non-ASD group. The present findings that the association between stereotypies and serum cortisol levels in people with severe ID is moderated by the presence of ASD suggest that the stress response system may function differently in people with ID and ASD than in the general population.

Salivary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol and MRI-based volume change of the precuneus in community-dwelling elderly people.

BACKGROUND: The noradrenergic systems in the brain maintain cognitive functions including attention/concentration and establishment of long-term memory. In addition, hypofunction of noradrenergic systems is supposed to be involved in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we tried to examine the possible associations of concentrations of basal salivary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (sMHPG), a major metabolite of noradrenaline, and brain volume changes during 4 years in elderly people living in a rural community. METHODS: The survey was conducted twice in Kurokawa-cho, Imari, Saga Prefecture, Japan, among people aged 65 years and older. We collected data from 226 residents. Measurements of sMHPG and brain MRIs were collected at Time 1 (2005-2007). Follow-up brain MRIs were taken at Time 2 (2009-2011). A total of 70 participants (18 men, mean age 71.9 ± 4.8 years; 52 women, mean age 72.0 ± 4.3 years) completed this survey. Concentrations of sMHPG at baseline were divided into two groups using the mean value (12.83 ng/ml). We compared the brain volumes between groups with higher and lower sMHPG concentrations over time using voxel-based morphometry implemented with statistical parametric mapping. RESULTS: In participants with higher sMHPG concentrations at baseline, brain volumes including right precuneus were significantly larger 4 years after baseline than those with lower sMHPG concentrations at baseline. No interaction between sMHPG concentration and MRI acquisition interval was found. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that higher sMHPG concentrations in elderly people might be associated with maintenance of brain volume, especially in brain regions closely related to cognitive function.

Serum soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 was not altered by rTMS in patients with treatment-resistant depression.

AIM: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is one of the most effective and minimally invasive treatments for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of rTMS in patients with TRD remains unclear. In recent years, the pathogenesis of depression has been closely associated with chronic inflammation and microglia are believed to play an important role in chronic inflammation. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) plays an important role in microglial neuroinflammatory regulation. In this study, we investigated the changes in peripheral soluble TREM2 (sTREM2) before and after rTMS treatment in patients with TRD. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with TRD were enrolled in this frequency (10 Hz) rTMS study. Depressive symptoms, cognitive function, and serum sTREM2 concentrations were measured at baseline and the end of the 6-week rTMS treatment. RESULTS: This study showed that rTMS ameliorated depressive symptoms and partially improved cognitive dysfunction in TRD. However, rTMS treatment did not alter serum sTREM2 levels. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first sTREM2 study in patients with TRD who underwent rTMS treatment. These results suggest that serum sTREM2 may not be relevant for the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of rTMS in patients with TRD. Future studies should confirm the present findings using a larger patient sample and a sham rTMS procedure, as well as CSF sTREM2. Furthermore, a longitudinal study should be conducted to clarify the effects of rTMS on sTREM2 levels.

Serum oxytocin correlated with later logical memory in older Japanese women: A 7-year follow-up study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal relationship between serum oxytocin and logical memory among older adults in rural Japan and clarify sex differences in this relationship. Measurements: The first survey was conducted from October 2009 to March 2011 (Time 1) and the second from November 2016 to September 2017 (Time 2). The final analysis for Time 1 included 385 participants (median age 75 years, interquartile range [IQR] 70-81 years) and that for Time 2 included 76 participants (median age 80 years, IQR 76-83 years). We assessed cognition, logical memory, and living conditions, and measured serum oxytocin levels. Logical memory was evaluated using the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised Logical Memory II delayed recall part A (LM II-DR). Serum oxytocin was measured using the enzyme immunoassay method. Results: The median (IQR) oxytocin level among men (n = 20) was 34 (16-78) pg/mL at Time 1 and 53 (28-140) pg/mL at Time 2. The median (IQR) oxytocin level among women (n = 56) was 117 (35-412) pg/mL at Time 1 and 76 (32-145) pg/mL at Time 2. The median oxytocin level among women at Time 2 was significantly lower than that at Time 1 (p = 0.004). The multivariate analysis showed that for women, LM II-DR score at Time 2 was positively associated with oxytocin level at Time 1 (p = 0.042) and negatively associated with age (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Our study suggests that maintaining high oxytocin levels in older women may prevent age-related decline in logical memory.

Correlation between Post-Acute Electroconvulsive Therapy Alpha-Band Spectrum Power Increase and Improvement of Psychiatric Symptoms.

The results of quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) studies on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have been inconsistent, and indicators of the efficacy of ECT have not been clearly identified. In this study, we examined whether qEEG could be used as an indicator of the effect of ECT by measuring it during the course of treatment. We analyzed qEEG data before and after acute-phase ECT in 18 patients with schizophrenia, mood disorders, and other psychiatric disorders. We processed the qEEG data and compared the spectral power between the data acquired before and after ECT. The spectral power increased significantly after ECT in the delta, theta, and alpha bands. There was a strong significant correlation between the increase in the spectral power of the alpha band after acute ECT and improvement in the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale score. Our results suggest that an increase in the alpha-band spectral power may be useful as an objective indicator of the treatment effect of acute ECT.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Carbon Monoxide-Induced Delayed Neuropsychiatric Sequelae: Case Report of Two Cases and Relevant Literature Review.

We herein report two cases with carbon monoxide- (CO-) induced delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae (DNS) successfully treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in attempt suicide by charcoal burning. The two patients with CO-induced DNS were successfully treated with a total of more than 100 sessions of HBOT. Frontal assessment battery (FAB) was useful to examine the effectiveness of HBOT objectively. In the future study, a large-randomized trial is required to establish the efficacy of HBOT for the treatment of DNS.

Serum Oxytocin Levels and Logical Memory in Older People in Rural Japan.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum oxytocin (OT) and logical memory among older people in rural Japan. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using a survey conducted from October 2009 through March 2011. Most of the study was conducted as part of a national prevalence survey of dementia in Japan. The final sample comprised 385 community-dwelling people aged 65 years or older living in rural Japan. The mean age and standard deviation were 75.7 ± 6.76 years (144 men, mean age 75.0 ± 6.48 years; 241 women, mean age 76.2 ± 6.91 years). The participants underwent screening examinations for a prevalence survey of dementia. The screening examinations were the Mini-Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating, and "logical memory A" from the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMSR). We used the WMSR Logical Memory II delayed recall score (LM II-DR) to assess logical memory. Levels of serum OT were obtained using the enzyme immunoassay method. RESULTS: Serum OT levels were significantly higher among women than men. The present study revealed that serum OT levels were positively associated with LM II-DR in older women living in rural Japan in multiple linear regression analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggested a positive correlation between OT and logical memory in older women living in rural Japan.

Changes in interleukin-1 beta induced by rTMS are significantly correlated with partial improvement of cognitive dysfunction in treatment-resistant depression: a pilot study.

The impairment experienced by many individuals with depression is closely related to the cognitive symptoms of the disorder. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation method that provides a promising technique for improving cognitive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). It has recently been demonstrated that TRD is associated with increased inflammatory process. In the present study, we investigated whether a relationship exists between changes in cognitive function and those in inflammatory cytokines before and after rTMS treatment. Eleven patients with TRD were enrolled in a high-frequency (10 Hz) rTMS study. Cognitive function, depressive symptoms and serum concentration of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α) were measured at baseline and at the endpoint of rTMS treatment. rTMS treatment significantly improved depressive symptom scores and some subscales of cognitive dysfunction. The present study has demonstrated that partial changes in cognitive function and changes in IL-1ß were significantly correlated. The partial improvement of cognitive dysfunction by rTMS in the present study might be attributable to the reduction of peripheral IL-1ß levels. The present results should be replicated for verification in future studies.

Improvement Of Frontal Lobe Dysfunction And White Matter Integrity By rTMS In Treatment-Resistant Depression.

AIM: The impairment experienced by many individuals with depression is closely related to the cognitive symptoms of the disorder. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation method providing a promising technique for improving cognitive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). In the present study, we investigated whether a relationship exists between improvements in frontal lobe dysfunction induced by rTMS and improvement of white matter integrity revealed by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in TRD patients receiving rTMS treatment. METHODS: A total of 12 patients with TRD were enrolled in a high-frequency (10 Hz) rTMS study (August 2013-January 2019). Frontal lobe function and depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and at the endpoint of rTMS treatment. Fractional anisotropy (FA), as a measure of white matter integrity obtained from DTI, was investigated using a region-of-interest (ROI) approach. RESULTS: rTMS treatment significantly improved depressive symptom scores and some subscales of frontal lobe dysfunction. Category scores in the Word Fluency Test and scores on part 3 of the Color Stroop Test were improved independently of the improvement of depressive symptoms. In the ROI analysis, none of the FA increases in any region were correlated with improvement of any frontal lobe function (n = 12). CONCLUSION: Although rTMS resulted in partial improvement of frontal lobe dysfunction as well as white matter integrity, we found no correlation between improved frontal lobe dysfunction and improved white matter integrity in TRD patients.

Cushing's Syndrome and Psychosis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Psychiatric complications of Cushing's syndrome include irritability, anxiety, depressed mood, and cognitive impairment. Psychosis is a rare manifestation of Cushing's syndrome; therefore, the literature on the subject is limited and consists mainly of clinical case reports. We report a case of Cushing's syndrome misdiagnosed as schizophrenia-like psychosis for more than 10 years. Transsphenoidal adenomectomy resulted in amelioration of psychiatric symptoms as well as improvement of cognitive ability. Clinicians should consider the presence of psychiatric symptoms predating the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome, especially when these symptoms are persistent and treatment-resistant, as seen in the present case.

Lamotrigine Rechallenge in Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Although lamotrigine may be useful for treating patients with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder, some lamotrigine-associated adverse effects, including mild to moderate skin rash, may prevent the continuation of treatment. METHODS: We investigated lamotrigine rechallenge for the treatment of bipolar disorder. The present study was based on retrospective chart review of outpatients with bipolar disorder (DSM-5 criteria) who visited the hospital's psychiatric department between July 2011 and August 2017. The review revealed 12 patients with bipolar disorder who underwent lamotrigine rechallenge following lamotrigine discontinuation due to various adverse reactions, including skin rash. None of the patients showed Stevens-Johnson syndrome. All patients suffered from treatment-resistant bipolar disorder that was refractory to treatments other than lamotrigine. For each patient, the severity of the adverse reaction to lamotrigine was weighed against the potential for therapeutic benefit. RESULTS: In 9 of 12 cases, a positive outcome of lamotrigine rechallenge was observed. In all cases with initial skin rash with very slow titration of lamotrigine, rechallenge was successful with no recurrence of the rash. In the 3 cases for which lamotrigine was unsuccessful, lamotrigine was discontinued owing to movement disorders, ie, oral dyskinesia and action tremor, and liver dysfunction, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that lamotrigine rechallenge may be a viable option for treatment-resistant bipolar disorder.

Second-Generation Antipsychotic-Induced Hypoglycemia.

Complaints of hypoglycemia resemble the sedative effect of antipsychotics. As such, clinicians may overlook hypoglycemia in patients with psychiatric disorders. Here, a case of hypoglycemia associated with hyperinsulinemia induced by quetiapine in a female patient with bipolar disorder is reported. The case suggests that clinicians should be aware of the potential for hypoglycemia induced by second-generation antipsychotics.

Effect of Excessive Coffee Consumption on the Clinical Course of a Patient With Bipolar Disorder: A Case Report and Literature Review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of excessive caffeine consumption on therapeutic outcomes in bipolar disorder. METHODS AND RESULTS: We report on a case of a patient with bipolar disorder whose psychiatric symptoms were ameliorated with the elevation of lithium concentrations after the reduction of excessive daily coffee consumption, and we review the relevant literatures. CONCLUSIONS: Excessive coffee consumption may exacerbate the therapeutic course of bipolar disorder through its effects on the mechanisms underlying bipolar disorder itself, as well as by affecting the blood concentration of lithium.

Aripiprazole-Associated Hypoprolactinemia in the Clinical Setting.

BACKGROUND: The increase in prolactin (PRL) levels is a common adverse effect that occurs when using conventional and atypical antipsychotic drugs. Aripiprazole (ARI) is beneficial for antipsychotic-associated hyperprolactinemia but has been reported to decrease PRL secretion. Therefore, we investigated blood levels of PRL in patients who had taken ARI alone or in combination with other antipsychotics. METHODS: Retrospective information was obtained from 25 psychiatric patients who were prescribed ARI, and the blood levels of PRL were measured. RESULTS: The incidence of hypoprolactinemia in the current study was 44.0% (11/25). Eighteen patients were treated with ARI alone and 7 received ARI in combination with other antipsychotics. The PRL value of patients who took ARI alone was significantly lower than those who were also taking other antipsychotics (5.45 ± 3.93 vs 10.85 ± 5.53, P = 0.02; mean ± SD). There was no significant correlation of the PRL levels and dose of ARI used in the 18 patients who had taken ARI alone. LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective study, and the data were obtained from a small number of psychiatric patients treated with ARI. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring of PRL levels in patients treated with ARI may be useful in minimizing hypoprolactinemia, which has the potential to negatively impact patients. In particular, hypoprolactinemia as a consequence of taking ARI should be discussed with patients of childbearing age and those with immune deficiencies.

Association of saliva 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol levels and a later depressive state in older subjects living in a rural community: 3-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the association of saliva levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (sMHPG) with a later depressive state in older people living in a rural community. METHODS: Baseline sMHPG levels were measured in 214 older subjects followed by completion of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) from 2004 to 2006 (time A). The same cohort underwent BDI again from 2007 to 2009 (time B). RESULTS: One hundred forty-four subjects (44 men, 100 women) were reassessed by the BDI. Baseline sMHPG levels in men with a BDI score of ≤9 at time A and a BDI score of ≥10 at time B were significantly higher than those in men with a BDI score of ≤9 at times A and B. In men, there was a significant correlation between baseline sMHPG levels and BDI score at time B (r = 0.40, p = 0.007) but not at time A (r = 0.29, p = 0.06). This association was not significant in women. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that high sMHPG levels at time A could be associated with a later depressive state in older men living in a community.

Baseline saliva level of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycole (MHPG) associates with a consequent cognitive decline in non-demented elderly subjects: three-years follow-up study.

The aim of the study was to explore the relation between saliva level of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG) and a later cognitive decline in non-demented elderly subjects. We have reported that sMHPG in 214 elderly subjects living in the community (age 74.5±5.9years) was associated with scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) in 2004 to 2006 (Time A). The same cohort underwent these cognitive tests again from 2007 to 2009 (Time B). The cognitive function of the 147 of 214 subjects could be reassessed by the same cognitive tests. The score on the FAB, but not the MMSE, was significantly reduced at Time B (14.6±2.6) compared with that of Time A (15.2±1.9). There was a significant negative correlation between the baseline sMHPG and the changes in the FAB score subtracted from Time B to Time A or the scores on the FAB at Time B in men, but not at Time A. These correlations were not found in women. These data indicate that high sMHPG might be associated with subsequent cognitive decline assessed by the FAB in non-demented elderly men living in the community.

Effective treatment with low-dose fluvoxamine for obsessive-compulsive disorder after neurosurgery: a case report.

We report the case of a 19-year-old woman who had developed obsessive-compulsive disorder after a hemorrhagic infarct in the left caudate nucleus after neurosurgery. Four years after the operation, her obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms showed a remarkable reduction within a week of starting low-dose fluvoxamine, without any behavioral or psychological treatment.