Cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based interventions for distress in patients with advanced cancer: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Various psychosocial interventions have been developed to reduce distress and improve quality of life (QoL) in patients with advanced cancer, many of which are traditional cognitive-behavioral interventions (CBIs) or mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). The aims of this meta-analysis were to determine and compare the overall effects of traditional CBIs and MBIs on distress and QoL in this population and to explore potential moderators of intervention efficacy. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CBIs or MBIs to controls on distress and QoL outcomes were eligible for inclusion. Random effects meta-analyses using standardized baseline to post-intervention mean differences were calculated using Hedges's g. Meta-regressions were used to compare intervention effects and examine potential moderators. RESULTS: Across 37 RCTs (21 CBIs, 14 MBIs, 2 combination therapies), there was a small decrease in distress (Hedges's g = 0.21) and a minimal improvement in QoL (Hedges's g = 0.15). Traditional CBIs and MBIs did not differ in effect sizes. Heterogeneity was significant across distress effect sizes but not across QoL effects. Interventions delivered to individuals (vs. dyads/group) had larger effects on QoL. No moderators of intervention effects on distress were found. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest traditional CBIs and MBIs produce small reductions in distress compared to controls in patients with advanced cancer, although effects on QoL appear minimal. Given limitations in the number of studies and their quality, rigorous trials are needed to directly compare the impact of traditional CBIs and MBIs in this population.

Longer-Term Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 Infection: Moderation by Race and Socioeconomic Status.

OBJECTIVE: While evidence suggests that the mental health symptoms of COVID-19 can persist for several months following infection, little is known about the longer-term mental health effects and whether certain sociodemographic groups may be particularly impacted. This cross-sectional study aimed to characterize the longer-term mental health consequences of COVID-19 infection and examine whether such consequences are more pronounced in Black people and people with lower socioeconomic status. METHODS: 277 Black and White adults (age ≥ 30 years) with a history of COVID-19 (tested positive ≥ 6 months prior to participation) or no history of COVID-19 infection completed a 45-minute online questionnaire battery. RESULTS: People with a history of COVID-19 had greater depressive (d = 0.24), anxiety (d = 0.34), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (d = 0.32), and insomnia (d = 0.31) symptoms than those without a history of COVID-19. These differences remained for anxiety, PTSD, and insomnia symptoms after adjusting for age, sex, race, education, income, employment status, body mass index, and smoking status. No differences were detected for perceived stress and general psychopathology. People with a history of COVID-19 had more than double the odds of clinically significant symptoms of anxiety (OR = 2.22) and PTSD (OR = 2.40). Education, but not race, income, or employment status, moderated relationships of interest such that COVID-19 status was more strongly and positively associated with all the mental health outcomes for those with fewer years of education. CONCLUSION: The mental health consequences of COVID-19 may be significant, widespread, and persistent for at least 6 months post-infection and may increase as years of education decreases.

Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane blocks for pain management after open lumbar laminectomy.

PURPOSE: Lumbar spine surgery is associated with significant postoperative pain. The benefits of erector spinae plane blocks (ESPBs) combined with multimodal analgesia has not been adequately studied. We evaluated the analgesic effects of bilateral ESPBs as a component of multimodal analgesia after open lumbar laminectomy. METHODS: Analgesic effects of preoperative, bilateral, ultrasound-guided ESPBs combined with standardized multimodal analgesia (n = 25) was compared with multimodal analgesia alone (n = 25) in patients undergoing one or two level open lumbar laminectomy. Other aspects of perioperative care were similar. The primary outcome measure was cumulative opioid consumption at 24 h. Secondary outcomes included opioid consumption, pain scores, and nausea and vomiting requiring antiemetics on arrival to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after surgery, as well as duration of the PACU and hospital stay. RESULTS: Opioid requirements at 24 h were significantly lower with ESPBs (31.9 ± 12.3 mg vs. 61.2 ± 29.9 mg, oral morphine equivalents). Pain scores were significantly lower with ESPBs in the PACU and through postoperative day two. Patients who received ESPBs required fewer postoperative antiemetic therapy (n = 3, 12%) compared to those without ESPBs (n = 12, 48%). Furthermore, PACU duration was significantly shorter with ESPBs (49.7 ± 9.5 vs. 79.9 ± 24.6 min). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided, bilateral ESPBs, when added to an optimal multimodal analgesia technique, reduce opioid consumption and pain scores, the need for antiemetic therapy, and the duration of stay in the PACU after one or two level open lumbar laminectomy.

Effect of modernized collaborative care for depression on depressive symptoms and cardiovascular disease risk biomarkers: eIMPACT randomized controlled trial.

Although depression is a risk and prognostic factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), clinical trials treating depression in patients with CVD have not demonstrated cardiovascular benefits. We proposed a novel explanation for the null results for CVD-related outcomes: the late timing of depression treatment in the natural history of CVD. Our objective was to determine whether successful depression treatment before, versus after, clinical CVD onset reduces CVD risk in depression. We conducted a single-center, parallel-group, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. Primary care patients with depression and elevated CVD risk from a safety net healthcare system (N = 216, Mage = 59 years, 78% female, 50% Black, 46% with income <$10,000/year) were randomized to 12 months of the eIMPACT intervention (modernized collaborative care involving internet cognitive-behavioral therapy [CBT], telephonic CBT, and/or select antidepressants) or usual primary care for depression (primary care providers supported by embedded behavioral health clinicians and psychiatrists). Outcomes were depressive symptoms and CVD risk biomarkers at 12 months. Intervention participants, versus usual care participants, exhibited moderate-to-large (Hedges' g = -0.65, p < 0.01) improvements in depressive symptoms. Clinical response data yielded similar results - 43% of intervention participants, versus 17% of usual care participants, had a ≥ 50% reduction in depressive symptoms (OR = 3.73, 95% CI: 1.93-7.21, p < 0.01). However, no treatment group differences were observed for the CVD risk biomarkers - i.e., brachial flow-mediated dilation, high-frequency heart rate variability, interleukin-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, ß-thromboglobulin, and platelet factor 4 (Hedges' gs = -0.23 to 0.02, ps ≥ 0.09). Our modernized collaborative care intervention - which harnessed technology to maximize access and minimize resources - produced clinically meaningful improvements in depressive symptoms. However, successful depression treatment did not lower CVD risk biomarkers. Our findings indicate that depression treatment alone may not be sufficient to reduce the excess CVD risk of people with depression and that alternative approaches are needed. In addition, our effective intervention highlights the utility of eHealth interventions and centralized, remote treatment delivery in safety net clinical settings and could inform contemporary integrated care approaches. Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02458690.

Independent Associations Between Trait-Anger, Depressive Symptoms and Preclinical Atherosclerotic Progression.

BACKGROUND: Previous research from our group found that recent depressive symptoms were associated with 3-year change in carotid intima-media thickness (CA-IMT), a biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk, in an initially healthy sample of older adults. Trait measures of anxiety, anger, and hostility did not predict 3-year CA-IMT progression in that report. PURPOSE: The current study sought to reexamine these associations at a 6-year follow-up point. METHODS: Two-hundred seventy-eight participants (151 males, mean age = 60.68 years) from the original sample completed an additional IMT reading 6 years following the initial baseline assessment. RESULTS: Though not significant at 3-years, trait-anger emerged as a predictor of IMT progression at the 6-year point. When examined in separate regression models, both depression and trait-anger (but not anxiety or hostility) predicted 6-year IMT change (b = .017, p = .002; b = .029, p = .01, respectively). When examined concurrently, both depression and anger were independently associated with 6-year IMT progression (b = .016, p = .010, b = .028, p = .022, respectively). Exploratory analyses suggest that the relative contributions of anger and depression may differ for males and females. CONCLUSIONS: The use of sequential follow-ups is relatively unique in this literature, and our results suggest a need for further research on the timing and duration of psychosocial risk exposures in early stages of cardiovascular disease.

Pain in People Experiencing Homelessness: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Prior work suggests that people experiencing homelessness (PEH) are at heightened risk for developing pain and have a uniquely burdensome pain experience. PURPOSE: The aim of this scoping review was to map the current peer-reviewed, published literature on the pain experience of PEH. METHODS: In accordance with the US Annual Homeless Assessment Report, we defined homelessness as lacking shelter or a fixed address within the last year. We conceptualized the pain experience via a modified version of the Social Communication Model of Pain, which considers patient, provider, and contextual factors. Published articles were identified with CINHAL, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases. RESULTS: Sixty-nine studies met inclusion criteria. Studies revealed that PEH have high rates of pain and experience high levels of pain intensity and interference. Substantially fewer studies examined other factors relevant to the pain experience, such as self-management, treatment-seeking behaviors, and pain management within healthcare settings. Nonetheless, initial evidence suggests that pain is undermanaged in PEH. CONCLUSIONS: Future research directions to understand pain and homelessness are discussed, including factors contributing to the under-management of pain. This scoping review may inform future work to develop interventions to address the specific pain care needs of PEH.

People experiencing homelessness are at increased risk for developing pain and having an especially burdensome pain experience. This scoping review described the current literature on pain in people experiencing homelessness. We searched five databases and identified 69 articles of relevance. Studies revealed that people experiencing homelessness have high rates of pain and experience high levels of pain intensity and interference. Fewer studies examined other factors relevant to pain­such as self-management, treatment-seeking behaviors, and pain care within health settings­however, initial evidence does suggest that pain is undermanaged in people experiencing homelessness. This scoping review informs future research to better understand pain and homelessness, as well as future work to develop interventions to address the specific pain care needs of people experiencing homelessness.

Examining Depression as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease in People with HIV: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) not fully accounted for by traditional or HIV-specific risk factors. Successful management of HIV does not eliminate this excess risk. Thus, there is a need to identify novel risk factors for CVD among people with HIV (PWH). PURPOSE: Our objective was to systematically review the literature on one such candidate CVD risk factor in PWH-depression. METHODS: A systematic literature search of PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CINAHL was performed to identify published English-language studies examining associations of depression with clinical CVD, subclinical CVD, and biological mechanisms (immune activation, systemic inflammation, altered coagulation) among PWH between the earliest date and June 22, 2021. RESULTS: Thirty-five articles were included. For clinical CVD (k = 8), findings suggests that depression is consistently associated with an increased risk of incident CVD. For subclinical CVD (k = 5), one longitudinal analysis reported a positive association, and four cross-sectional analyses reported null associations. For immune activation (k = 13), systemic inflammation (k = 17), and altered coagulation (k = 5), findings were mixed, and there was considerable heterogeneity in sample characteristics and methodological quality across studies. CONCLUSIONS: Depression may be an independent risk factor for CVD among PWH. Additional research is needed to confirm depression's association with clinical CVD and to determine whether depression is consistently and meaningfully associated with subclinical CVD and biological mechanisms of CVD in HIV. We propose a research agenda for this emerging area.

Dysmenorrhea and psychological distress: a meta-analysis.

Dysmenorrhea is characterized by pelvic pain associated with menstruation. Similar to people with other pain conditions, females who experience dysmenorrhea report increased psychological distress. However, the pooled magnitude of this association has not been quantified across studies. Accordingly, this meta-analytic review quantifies the magnitude of the associations between dysmenorrhea severity and psychological distress. We conducted a systematic search of the literature using PsycINFO, PubMed, CINHAL, Embase, and Web of Science. Analyzed studies provided observational data on dysmenorrhea severity and anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and/or global psychological distress. A total of 44 studies were included, and three random-effects meta-analyses were conducted, with average pooled effect sizes calculated using Person's r. We found significant, positive associations between measures of dysmenorrhea severity and measures of depressive symptoms (r = 0.216), anxiety symptoms (r = 0.207), and global psychological distress (r = 0.311). Our review suggests that females with greater dysmenorrhea severity experience greater psychological distress. Future directions include defining a clinically meaningful dysmenorrhea severity threshold, understanding the mechanisms and directionality underlying the dysmenorrhea-psychological distress relationship, and designing and testing interventions to jointly address dysmenorrhea and psychological distress.

Perceived Facilitators and Barriers to Treatment Fidelity in Computerized Cognitive Training Interventions.

BACKGROUND: Computerized cognitive training (CCT) interventions may have an important role in improving cognition among patients with heart failure. Ensuring treatment fidelity of CCT interventions is an essential part of testing their efficacy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe facilitators of and barriers to treatment fidelity perceived by CCT intervenors while delivering the interventions to patients with heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: A qualitative descriptive study was completed with 7 intervenors who delivered CCT interventions in 3 studies. Directed content analysis revealed 4 main themes of perceived facilitators: (1) training for intervention delivery, (2) supportive work environment, (3) prespecified implementation guide, and (4) confidence and awareness. Three main themes were identified as perceived barriers: (1) technical issues, (2) logistic barriers, and (3) sample characteristics. CONCLUSION: This study is novel because it was one of the few studies focused on the intervenors' perceptions rather than the patients' perception of using CCT interventions. Beyond the treatment fidelity recommendations, this study found new components that might help the future investigators in designing and implementing CCT interventions with high treatment fidelity.

Associations of HIV and Depression with Incident Diabetes Mellitus: Veterans Aging Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Persons with HIV (PWH) are at increasingly higher risk for metabolic complications, including diabetes mellitus (DM). Additionally, depression is highly prevalent among PWH and has been associated with increased risk for DM in the general population. However, the association of HIV and depression with incident DM has not been well established. METHODS: Using the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS), we selected adults with and without HIV who did not have DM at baseline. Prevalent depression was defined as having a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score of ≥10. Incident DM was identified using validated Kelly's criteria. Basic clinical and demographic characteristics were collected, and cox proportional hazards regression models were run to test the association between depression and incident DM stratified by HIV serostatus. RESULTS: A total of 5,722 participants were analyzed, 2,886 (53%) had HIV and 1,124 (20%) had depression at baseline. 1,235 (22%) participants developed incident DM during follow-up, with 26% of HIV-negative participants developing DM compared to 17% of participants with HIV. Depression was significantly associated with increased risk of incident DM among HIV-negative participants (adjusted HR [aHR] = 1.31; p-value 0.003), but not among participants with HIV (aHR 1.09; p-value 0.44). However, among participants with HIV with baseline viral load < 500 copies/mL, we noted a stronger association between depression and incident DM. CONCLUSIONS: Incident DM in the VACS cohort is significantly higher for HIV-negative participants compared to veterans with HIV. A significant association between depression and incident DM was noted among HIV-negative participants but not among those with HIV.

Critical appraisal of randomised trials assessing regional analgesic interventions for knee arthroplasty: implications for postoperative pain guidelines development.

Guidelines are increasingly being used for clinical decision-making. Such guidelines are usually based on meta-analyses, which are generally derived from RCTs. However, their interpretations are often hindered as they do not always consider current clinical relevance. Analyses of RCTs assessing analgesic efficacy of advanced regional analgesic techniques in knee arthroplasty show that the majority of trials do not include a package of basic analgesics such as paracetamol, NSAIDs or cyclooxygenase-2 specific inhibitors, dexamethasone, and local infiltration analgesia in the comparator group. Consequently, the current approach to analyse meta-analyses of pain interventions is not optimal, and may lead to inadequate or inappropriate conclusions and clinical guidance.

Associations of somatic depressive symptoms with body mass index, systemic inflammation, and insulin resistance in primary care patients with depression.

The somatic depressive symptom cluster (including appetite and sleep disturbances) is more strongly associated with insulin resistance (a diabetes risk marker) than other depressive symptom clusters. Utilizing baseline data from 129 primary care patients with depression but no diabetes in the eIMPACT trial (Mage = 59 years, 78% female, 50% Black), we examined associations of somatic depressive symptoms with insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), body mass index (BMI), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). We tested BMI and hsCRP as mediators and race as a moderator of these relationships. Hyperphagia was positively associated HOMA-IR (ß = 0.19, p = .048) and BMI (ß = 0.30, p < .001); poor appetite was negatively associated with HOMA-IR (ß = -0.24, p = .02); hypersomnia was positively associated with HOMA-IR (ß = 0.28, p = .003), BMI (ß = 0.26, p = .003), and hsCRP (ß = 0.23, p = .01); and disturbed sleep was positively associated with hsCRP (ß = 0.21, p = .04). BMI partially mediated hyperphagia and hypersomnia's associations with HOMA-IR; hsCRP partially mediated the hypersomnia-HOMA-IR association; and race moderated the hyperphagia-HOMA-IR association (positive for White participants but null for Black participants). People with depression experiencing hyperphagia and/or hypersomnia may be a subgroup with greater insulin resistance; BMI and hsCRP are likely pathways in these relationships. This study highlights the importance of considering the direction of somatic depressive symptoms in the context of cardiometabolic disease risk.

Hope, Optimism, and Clinical Pain: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Generalized expectancies have been theorized to play key roles in pain-related outcomes, but the empirical findings have been mixed. PURPOSE: The primary aim of this meta-analysis was to quantify the relationships between two of the most researched positive generalized expectancies (i.e., hope and optimism) and pain-related outcomes (i.e., pain severity, physical functioning, and psychological dysfunction) for those experiencing clinical pain. METHODS: A total of 96 studies and 31,780 participants with a broad array of pain diagnoses were included in analyses, using random-effects models. RESULTS: Both hope and optimism had negative correlations with pain severity (hope: r = -.168, p < .001; optimism: r = -.157, p < .001), positive correlations with physical functioning (hope: r = .199, p < .001; optimism: r = .175, p < .001), and negative correlations with psychological dysfunction (hope: r = -.349, p = .001; optimism: r = -.430, p <.001). CONCLUSION: The current findings suggest that hope and optimism are similarly associated with adaptive pain-related outcomes. Future research should examine the efficacy of interventions on hope and optimism in ameliorating the experience of clinical pain.

A Positive Cocaine Urine Toxicology Test and the Effect on Intraoperative Hemodynamics Under General Anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Cocaine has a short biological half-life, but inactive urine metabolites may be detectable for a week following use. It is unclear if patients who test positive for cocaine but have a normal electrocardiogram and vital signs have a greater percentage of hemodynamic events intraoperatively. METHODS: A total of 328 patients with a history of cocaine use who were scheduled for elective noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled. Patients were categorized into cocaine-positive versus cocaine-negative groups based on the results of their urine cocaine toxicology test. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate whether asymptomatic cocaine-positive patients had similar percentages of intraoperative hemodynamic events, defined as (1) a mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) of <65 or >105 mm Hg and (2) a heart rate (HR) of <50 or >100 beats per minute (bpm) compared to cocaine-negative patients. The study was powered to assess if the 2 groups had an equivalent mean percent of intraoperative hemodynamic events within specific limits using an equivalence test of means consisting of 2 one-sided tests. RESULTS: The cocaine-positive group had a blood pressure (BP) that was outside the set limits 19.4% (standard deviation [SD] 17.7%) of the time versus 23.1% (SD 17.7%) in the cocaine-negative group (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5-7.0). The cocaine-positive group had a HR outside the set limits 9.6% (SD 16.2%) of the time versus 8.2% (SD 14.9%) in the cocaine-negative group (95% CI, 4.3-1.5). Adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, and the presence of comorbid hypertension, renal disease, and psychiatric illness, the cocaine-positive and cocaine-negative patients were similar within a 7.5% margin of equivalence for MAP data (ß coefficient = 2%, P = .003, CI, 2-6) and within a 5% margin of equivalence for HR data (ß coefficient = 0.2%, P < .001, CI, 4-3). CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic cocaine-positive patients undergoing elective noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia have similar percentages of intraoperative hemodynamic events compared to cocaine-negative patients.

Influence of patient immigrant status on physician trainee diabetes treatment decisions: a virtual patient experimental study.

To determine the effect of patient immigrant status on physician trainees' diabetes treatment decisions. Participants were 140 physician trainees ('providers'). Providers viewed videos and vignettes of virtual patients differing in immigrant status (born in Mexico or U.S.; other characteristics held constant). Analyses were completed at the group and individual levels. Providers were less likely to refer foreign-born (vs. U.S.-born) patients to endocrinology. Individual-level results showed an almost even split between treatment ratings for foreign-born vs. U.S.-born patients for three decisions (take no action, add oral hypoglycemic agent, add/switch to insulin), explaining why group-level differences for these ratings did not emerge (i.e., they were cancelled out). Physician trainees are less likely to refer foreign-born patients to endocrinology. Half of individual-level decisions were influenced by patient immigrant status, but group-level analyses mask these differences. Systematic treatment differences based on non-relevant factors could lead to adverse outcomes for immigrants.

Associations of somatic depressive symptoms with food attentional bias and eating behaviors.

Recent evidence suggests that atypical major depressive disorder (MDD) - whose key features include the reversed somatic symptoms of hyperphagia (increased appetite) and hypersomnia (increased sleep) - is a stronger predictor of future obesity than other MDD subtypes. The mechanisms underlying this relationship are unclear. The present study sought to elucidate whether the individual symptoms of hyperphagia, hypersomnia, poor appetite, and disturbed sleep have differential relationships with food attentional bias, emotional eating, external eating, and restrained eating. This cross-sectional laboratory study involved 103 young adults without obesity (mean age = 20 years, 79% female, 26% non-White, mean BMI = 23.4 kg/m2). We measured total depressive symptom severity and individual symptoms of hyperphagia, poor appetite, and disturbed sleep using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-20 (SCL-20) and added an item to assess hypersomnia; food attentional bias using a Food Stroop task; and self-reported eating behaviors using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Hyperphagia was positively associated with emotional eating but negatively associated with food attentional bias. Hypersomnia was negatively associated with emotional eating. Poor appetite was negatively associated with emotional eating. Disturbed sleep was positively associated with food attentional bias and emotional eating. An aggregate of the remaining 15 depressive symptoms (SCL-15) was positively associated with emotional and restrained eating. Our findings highlight the importance of examining the direction of somatic depressive symptoms, and they set the stage for future research to identify subgroups of people with depression at greatest risk for obesity (e.g., those with hyperphagia and/or disturbed sleep) and the mechanisms responsible for this elevated risk (e.g., emotional eating).

Associations of Total, Cognitive/Affective, and Somatic Depressive Symptoms and Antidepressant Use With Cardiovascular Disease-Relevant Biomarkers in HIV: Veterans Aging Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the associations of total, cognitive/affective, and somatic depressive symptoms and antidepressant use with biomarkers of processes implicated in cardiovascular disease in HIV (HIV-CVD). METHODS: We examined data from 1546 HIV-positive and 843 HIV-negative veterans. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and past-year antidepressant use was determined from Veterans Affair pharmacy records. Monocyte (soluble CD14 [sCD14]), inflammatory (interleukin-6 [IL-6]), and coagulation (D-dimer) marker levels were determined from previously banked blood specimens. Linear regression models with multiple imputation were run to estimate the associations between depression-related factors and CVD-relevant biomarkers. RESULTS: Among HIV-positive participants, greater somatic depressive symptoms were associated with higher sCD14 (exp[b] = 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00-1.03) and D-dimer (exp[b] = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.00-1.11) after adjustment for demographics and potential confounders. Further adjustment for antidepressant use and HIV factors slightly attenuated these relationships. Associations were also detected for antidepressant use, as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use was related to lower sCD14 (exp[b] = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.91-1.00) and IL-6 (exp[b] = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.76-0.96), and tricyclic antidepressant use was related to higher sCD14 (exp[b] = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.03-1.12) and IL-6 (exp[b] = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.02-1.28). Among HIV-negative participants, total, cognitive/affective, and somatic depressive symptoms were associated with higher IL-6, and tricyclic antidepressant use was related to higher sCD14. CONCLUSIONS: Our novel findings suggest that a) monocyte activation and altered coagulation may represent two pathways through which depression increases HIV-CVD risk and that b) tricyclic antidepressants may elevate and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may attenuate HIV-CVD risk by influencing monocyte and inflammatory activation.

Contribution of Behavioral Health Factors to Non-AIDS-Related Comorbidities: an Updated Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We summarize recent literature on the contribution of substance use and depression to non-AIDS-related comorbidities. Discussion of recent randomized clinical trials and implementation research to curtail risk attributed to each behavioral health issue is provided. RECENT FINDINGS: Smoking, unhealthy alcohol use, opioid use, and depression are common among PWH and individually contribute to increased risk for non-AIDS-related comorbidities. The concurrence of these conditions is notable, yet understudied, and provides opportunity for linked-screening and potential treatment of more than one behavioral health factor. Current results from randomized clinical trials are inconsistent. Investigating interventions to reduce the impact of these behavioral health conditions with a focus on implementation into clinical care is important. Non-AIDS-defining cancers, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and diabetes are leading causes of morbidity in people with HIV. Behavioral health factors including substance use and mental health issues, often co-occurring, likely contribute to the excess risk of non-AIDS-related comorbidities.

The Unique and Interactive Effects of Patient Race, Patient Socioeconomic Status, and Provider Attitudes on Chronic Pain Care Decisions.

BACKGROUND: Compared to White and high socioeconomic status (SES) patients, Black and low SES patients receive less adequate pain care. Providers may contribute to these disparities by making biased decisions that are driven, in part, by their attitudes about race and SES. PURPOSE: We examined the effects of patient race and SES on providers' chronic pain decisions and the extent to which providers' implicit and explicit attitudes about race and SES were related to these decisions. METHODS: Physician residents/fellows (n = 436) made pain care decisions for 12 computer-simulated patients with chronic back pain that varied by race (Black/White) and SES (low/high). Physicians also completed measures assessing implicit and explicit attitudes about race and SES. RESULTS: There were three significant race-by-SES interactions: (a) For high SES patients, Black (vs. White) patients were rated as having more pain interference; the opposite race difference emerged for low SES patients. (b) For high SES patients, Black (vs. White) patients were rated as being in greater distress; no race difference emerged for low SES patients. (c) For low SES patients, White (vs. Black) patients were more likely to be recommended workplace accommodations; no race difference emerged for high SES patients. Additionally, providers were more likely to recommend opioids to Black (vs. White) and low (vs. high) SES patients, and were more likely to use opioid contracts with low (vs. high) SES patients. Providers' implicit and explicit attitudes predicted some, but not all, of their pain-related ratings. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the need to further examine the effects of patient race and SES simultaneously in the context of pain care.

How "mixed" is mixed language phonology? An acoustic analysis of the Michif vowel system.

Michif, a severely endangered language still spoken today by an estimated 100-200 Métis people in Western Canada, is generally classified as a mixed language, meaning it cannot be traced back to a single language family [Bakker (1997). A Language of Our Own (Oxford University Press, Oxford); Thomason (2001). Language Contact: An Introduction (Edinburgh University Press and Georgetown University Press, Edinburgh and Washington, DC); Meakins (2013). Contact Languages: A Comprehensive Guide (Mouton De Gruyter, Berlin), pp. 159-228.]. It has been claimed to maintain the phonological grammar of both of its source languages, French and Plains Cree [Rhodes (1977). Actes du Huitieme congrès des Algonqunistes (Carleton University, Ottawa), pp. 6-25; Bakker (1997). A Language of Our Own (Oxford University Press, Oxford); Bakker and Papen (1997). Contact Languages: A Wider Perspective (John Benjamins, Amsterdam), pp. 295-363]. The goal of this paper is twofold: to offer an instrumental analysis of Michif vowels and to investigate this claim of a stratified grammar, based on this careful phonetic analysis. Using source language as a variable in the analysis, the authors argue the Michif vowel system does not appear to rely on historical information, and that historically similar French and Cree vowels pattern together within the Michif system with regards to formant frequencies and duration. The authors show that there are nine Michif oral vowels in this system, which has merged phonetically similar French- and Cree-source vowels.