The utility of PET imaging in depression.

This educational review article aims to discuss growing evidence from PET studies in the diagnosis and treatment of depression. PET has been used in depression to explore the neurotransmitters involved, the alterations in neuroreceptors, non-neuroreceptor targets (e.g., microglia and astrocytes), the severity and duration of the disease, the pharmacodynamics of various antidepressants, and neurobiological mechanisms of non-pharmacological therapies like psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, and deep brain stimulation therapy, by showing changes in brain metabolism and receptor and non-receptor targets. Studies have revealed alterations in neurotransmitter systems such as serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and glutamate, which are linked to the pathophysiology of depression. Overall, PET imaging has furthered the neurobiological understanding of depression. Despite these advancements, PET findings have not yet led to significant changes in evidence-based practices. Addressing the reasons behind inconsistencies in PET imaging results, conducting large sample size studies with a more standardized methodological approach, and investigating further the genetic and neurobiological aspects of depression may better leverage PET imaging in future studies.

The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for heart failure patients: a narrative review.

Heart failure (HF) remains a major cause of morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs, despite available treatments. Psychological issues such as depression, anxiety and poor self-care are prevalent in HF patients. Such issues adversely affect patients' daily lives and increase hospitalization and mortality rates; therefore, effective approaches to address these are needed. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been proposed as potentially useful for psychological comorbidities in HF patients, but its efficacy is not well-established. This narrative review aimed to summarize the evidence on the effectiveness of CBT for HF patients. A search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on CBT for HF patients. Ten studies (nine RCTs and one case study) were included in the review. CBT was found to be an effective intervention for managing depression, anxiety, low quality of life, and impaired social and physical functioning in HF patients. The results suggest that CBT can improve psychological well-being and enhance the benefits of rehabilitation programs. Face-to-face CBT appears to be superior to conventional therapy and can be implemented in cardiac rehabilitation settings. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of internet-based CBT for cardiac patients and identify factors that promote treatment adherence.

Depression among Medical Students of a Medical College: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Medical students encounter multiple psychological changes in the transformation from young insecure students to efficient physicians. They have to balance the personal, social and academic dimention in a busy schedule. So, this study aimed to find out the prevalence of depression among medical students of a medical college. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students of a medical college from 2 May 2017 to 16 October 2017 after taking ethical approval from the Departmental Research Unit (Reference number: Psy/73/078/079). Students participated voluntarily in the study from first to fourth year and written informed consent was taken. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-42 scale was filled by the students taking their own time and privacy to assess their depression, anxiety and stress. Convenience sampling was done. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Among 302 medical students, 86 (28.47%) (23.38-33.56, 95% Confidence Interval) had depression. A total of 31 (36.04%) had mild, 31 (36.04%) had moderate, 12 (13.95%) had severe and 12 (13.95%) had extremely severe depression. Among them 55 (63.95%) were males and 31 (36.04%) were females. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression among medical students was similar to the other studies conducted in similar settings. Studies concerning the subjective well-being of medical students should be continued and strategic plans and programs should be conducted to help the students manage their stress and depressive symptoms right from the time they join the medical school and continued till they finish the course. Keywords: depression; medical students; mental health.

Depression among Armed Police Force Soldiers Serving in a Police Headquarter: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Depression is a common mental health problem among soldiers worldwide. Depression decreases the efficiency and productivity of the soldiers. The objective of this research is to find out the prevalence of depression among armed police force soldiers serving in a police headquarter. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done on a total of 314 soldiers serving in the eastern regional armed police force headquarters of Nepal from January 15, 2017 to June 14, 2017 after receiving ethical clearance was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 140/073/074-IRC). Convenience sampling was done. Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess the prevalence of depression. Data were collected and entered in the Statistical Package for the Social Science version 15.0. which was used for data analysis. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentage for binary data. Results: Among 314 soldiers, 133 (42.36%) (36.89-47.83 at a 95% Confidence Interval) soldiers had depression where, 47 (14.97%) had mild mood disturbance, 33 (10.51%) had borderline depression, 40 (12.74%) had moderate depression, 10 (3.18%) had severe depression and 3 (0.96%) had extreme depression. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression in our study was lower when compared to other studies conducted in similar settings. Keywords: armed forces personnel; depression; depressive symptoms; soldiers.

High Social Support System among Elderly in a Hilly District: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Social support is an important contributing factor that promotes the health of the elderly by providing them with positive experiences, socially satisfying roles, or the ability to cope with stressful situations. The objective of this research study is to ind out the prevalence of a high social support system among the elderly in a Hilly district. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the elderly from a hilly district of Nepal. The ethical approval was taken from Ethical Review Board (Reference number: 3050). Data were collected from 20 May 2019 to August 2019. The elderly aged 60 years and above were the study population. A convenience sampling technique was used. The face-to-face interview was taken by using a structured questionnaire. Point estimate, and 95% Conidence Interval were calculated. Results: Out of 263 elderly people, 188 (71.48%) (66.02-76.94, 95% Conidence Interval) were provided with high support by their family members, friends, and signiicant others. Conclusions: The prevalence of high social support among the elderly was found to be higher when compared to similar studies conducted in similar settings. Keywords: elderly; social support; social support system.