The relationship between childhood trauma and mental health status among Chinese vocational high school adolescents: the mediating effect of poor self-control and internet addiction.

BACKGROUND: Mental health problems among adolescents are a common concern globally. However, its relationship with childhood trauma is not clearly understood from the existing studies. Therefore, this study aims to explore the relationships among childhood trauma, mental health, self-control, and internet addiction in Chinese vocational high school students. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among vocational high school students in China from October 2020 to December 2020. Standardized questionnaires were used to collect basic information regarding childhood trauma, self-control, psychological state, and social demographics. A structural equation model was used to study the relationships among internet addiction, self-control, childhood trauma, and mental health. RESULTS: A total of 3368 individuals participated in the study. The results revealed the mediating effects of poor self-control and internet addiction on the association between childhood trauma and mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Internet addiction and low self-control play mediating roles in childhood trauma and mental health. Clarifying these relationships will help formulate better-targeted interventions to improve the mental health of Chinese vocational high school students and aid in interventions to treat and prevent mental health problems.

Acceptability and usability of a WeChat-based intervention for depression in China: A mixed-methods study.

Background: As research on the use of mobile technology to deliver mental health support grows, the research from China is still very limited. How to design an acceptable and usable mobile mental health service model suitable for China's social and cultural environment remains to be studied. Objective: To understand the acceptability and usability of a WeChat-based intervention among Chinese patients with depression, and to provide insights to promote future development of user-centered mobile mental health services design. Methods: The research team developed a multi-theoretical intervention that includes seven modules: recovery lessons, recovery journal, coaching sessions, mindfulness, personalized support, regular assessments and feedback collection. Forty-two patients diagnosed with depressive disorder were recruited, with a mixed sample of patients who were using an antidepressant medication (n = 29) and patients who were not using an antidepressant medication (n = 13). A single-arm mixed-methods study was conducted to understand engagement, satisfaction, usability and potential clinical effectiveness of the intervention. Results: There was a retention rate of 83.33% - 22 participants who used an antidepressant medication and 13 participants who did not use an antidepressant medication completed the final assessments. The median (upper quartile-lower quartile) of the completed 60 recovery journals and 7 coaching sessions was 56 (59-46) and 6 (7-4) times, respectively. Participants' satisfaction regarding their recovery progress, and on perceived helpfulness on different modules were high. The overall score of the user version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale was 4.23 (SD 0.44, range 1-5), indicating high acceptability and usability. Qualitative feedback identified three key themes: an efficient access to professional help, a personalized source of social support, and a facilitator of cognitive and behavioral change. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that a WeChat-based intervention for depression was acceptable, and has the potential to promote personal recovery. More studies are needed to understand the efficacy and implementation of this model in real world.

Differences in cognitive impairment and its correlation with circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA in medication-free depression and bipolar depression patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether there are differences in cognitive impairment between medication-free patients with bipolar depression (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) and whether these differences are related to circulating cell-free mtDNA (ccf-mtDNA). METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, 76 outpatients with BD, 86 outpatients with MDD and 70 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the Stroop Color-Word Test were used to assess cognitive function. Plasma ccf-mtDNA levels were measured via qPCR. RESULTS: BD and MDD patients had similar scores for immediate memory, language, attention, delayed memory, the RBANS total score, Stroop color, Stroop word, and Stroop total score, which were significantly lower than the HCs. The visuospatial/constructive scores of the BD patients were significantly lower than those of the HCs (p < 0.001) and MDD patients (p = 0.008), but there was no difference between the HCs and MDD patients. The ccf-mtDNA levels in the BD and MDD patient groups were significantly higher than those in the HC group, and those in the MDD group were higher than those in the BD group (p = 0.016). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that ccf-mtDNA was negatively correlated with language in patients with depression (t = -2.11, p = 0.039). CONCLUSION: There were differences in specific cognitive dimensions between patients with BD and MDD. Increased ccf-mtDNA levels were found in BD and MDD patients, suggesting ccf-mtDNA may be involved in the pathophysiology of MDD and BD.

A comprehensive assessment of the association between common drugs and psychiatric disorders using Mendelian randomization and real-world pharmacovigilance database.

BACKGROUND: Medications prescribed for chronic diseases can lead to short-term neuropsychiatric symptoms, but their long-term effects on brain structures and psychiatric conditions remain unclear. METHODS: We comprehensively analyzed the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database and conducted drug target Mendelian Randomization (MR) studies on six categories of common drugs, 477 brain imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs) and eight psychiatric disorders. Genetic instruments were extracted from expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) in blood, brain, and other target tissues, protein quantitative trait loci (pQTLs) in blood, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of hemoglobin and cholesterol. Summary statistics for brain IDPs, psychiatric disorders, and gut microbiome were obtained from the BIG40, Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, and MiBioGen. A two-step MR and mediation analysis were employed to screen possible mediators of drug-IDP effects from 119 gut microbiota genera and identify their mediation proportions. FINDINGS: Among 19 drug classes, six drugs were found to be associated with higher risks of psychiatric adverse events, while 11 drugs were associated with higher risks of gastrointestinal adverse events in the FAERS analysis. We identified ten drug-psychiatric disorder associations, 202 drug-IDP associations, 16 drug-microbiota associations, and four drug-microbiota-IDP causal links. For example, PPARG activation mediated HbA1c reduction caused a higher risk of bipolar disorder (BD) II. Genetically proxied GLP-1R agonists were significantly associated with an increase in the volume of the CA3-head of the right hippocampus and the area of the left precuneus cortex, both of which have been shown to correlate with cognition in previous studies. INTERPRETATION: Common drugs may affect brain structure and risk of psychiatric disorder. Oral medications in particular may exert some of these effects by influencing gut microbiota. This study calls for greater attention to be paid to the neuropsychiatric adverse effects of drugs and encourages drug repurposing. FUNDING: National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant No. 82330035, 82130043, 82172685, and 82001223), National Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (grant No. 2021SK1010), and the Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of Changsha (grant No. kq2209006).

The epigenetic mechanism of metabolic risk in bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a complex and severe mental illness that causes significant suffering to patients. In addition to the burden of depressive and manic symptoms, patients with BD are at an increased risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS includes factors associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which may increase the mortality rate of patients with BD. Several studies have suggested a link between BD and MetS, which may be explained at an epigenetic level. We have focused on epigenetic mechanisms to review the causes of metabolic risk in BD.

Association among abnormal glycolipids, reproductive hormones, and cognitive dysfunction in female patients with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) show abnormalities in glucolipid metabolism and reproductive hormone levels, which are of concern in women with BD. This study was dedicated to investigating the glucolipid and reproductive hormone levels of female patients, and to preliminarily investigating their relationships with cognition. METHODS: A total of 58 unmedicated female BD patients, 61 stable-medicated female BD patients, and 63 healthy controls (HC) were recruited in this study. Serum glycolipid indexes and reproductive hormones were measured. Cognitive function was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the Stroop Color-Word Test (Stroop test). RESULTS: Patients with BD showed significant cognitive impairment (p < 0.05), which was not affected by medication. Triglycerides (TG), luteinizing hormone (LH), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) were altered in stable-medicated BD patients. In addition, regression analysis showed that progesterone (PRGE) and prolactin (PRL) were negatively associated with cognitive performance in stable-medicated BD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Female BD patients may have cognitive deficits and abnormal levels of glycolipids and reproductive hormones. And abnormal levels of glycolipids and reproductive hormones may be associated with cognitive dysfunction in female BD patients.

Increased circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA in plasma of first-diagnosed drug-naïve bipolar disorder patients: A case-control and 4-week follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: The study of clinical biological indicators in bipolar disorder (BD) is important. In recent years, basic experiments have associated the pathophysiological mechanism of BD is related to mitochondrial dysfunction, but few clinical studies have confirmed this finding. OBJECT: The present study aimed to evaluate whether plasma circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA (ccf-mtDNA) levels, which can represent the degree of mitochondrial damage in vivo, are altered in patients with BD in early onset and during treatment compared with controls. METHOD: A total of 75 first-diagnosed drug-naive patients with BD and 60 HCs were recruited and followed up for 1 month. The clinical symptoms were assessed using HAMD, HAMA, and YMRS, and ccf-mtDNA levels were measured by qPCR before and after drug treatment in BD. RESULT: (1) The plasma ccf-mtDNA levels in first-diagnosed drug-naive patients with BD increased compared with those in HCs (p = 0.001). (2) Drug treatment for 1 month can decrease the expression of ccf-mtDNA in BD (p < 0.001). (3) No significant correlation was observed between the changes in ccf-mtDNA levels and the improvement of clinical symptoms in BD after drug treatment. CONCLUSION: The plasma ccf-mtDNA level was increased in BD, and decreased after pharmacological treatment. These outcomes suggested that plasma ccf-mtDNA level is likely to be sensitive to the drug response in BD, and mitochondrial pathway is a potential target for further therapy.

Modifiable lifestyle factors influencing psychiatric disorders mediated by plasma proteins: A systemic Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric disorders are emerging as a serious public health hazard, influencing an increasing number of individuals worldwide. However, the effect of modifiable lifestyle factors on psychiatric disorders remains unclear. METHODS: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary statistics were obtained mainly from Psychiatric Genomics Consortium and UK Biobank, with sample sizes varying between 10,000 and 1,200,000. The two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method was applied to investigate the causal associations between 45 lifestyle factors and 13 psychiatric disorders, and screen potential mediator proteins from 2992 candidate plasma proteins. We implemented a four-step framework with step-by-step screening incorporating two-step, univariable, and multivariable MR. RESULTS: We found causal effects of strenuous sports or other exercise on Tourette's syndrome (OR [95%CI]: 0.0047 [5.24E-04-0.042]); lifelong smoking index on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (10.53 [6.96-15.93]), anxiety disorders (3.44 [1.95-6.05]), bipolar disorder (BD) (2.25 [1.64-3.09]), BD II (2.89 [1.81-4.62]), and major depressive disorder (MDD) (2.47 [1.90-3.20]); and educational years on anorexia nervosa (AN) (1.47 [1.22-1.76]), and MDD (0.74 [0.66-0.83]). Five proteins were found to have causal associations with psychiatric disorders, namely ADH1B, GHDC, STOM, CD226, and TP63. STOM, a membrane protein deficient in the erythrocytes of hereditary stomatocytosis patients, may mediate the effect of educational attainment on AN. LIMITATIONS: The mechanisms underlying the effects of lifestyle factors on psychiatric disorders require further investigation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings could help assess the risk of psychiatric disorders based on lifestyle factors and also support lifestyle interventions as a prevention strategy for mental illness.

Osteoporosis and low bone mass among schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: A cross-sectional study with newly diagnosed, drug-naïve subjects.

BACKGROUND: A growing body of data shows that schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) have substantial metabolic risks; however, few studies have focused on bone metabolism. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated influencing factors of low bone mass and osteoporosis in SCZ and BD before pharmacological effects occur. METHODS: 108 healthy controls (HCs) and drug-naïve individuals with SCZ (n = 56) and BD (n = 130) had their lumbar spine (L1-L4) and left femur (Neck/Trochanter/Ward's triangle) bone mineral density (BMD) determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Besides, we measured bone turnover markers (BTMs) levels, including procollagen I N-terminal propeptide, osteocalcin, and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen in different groups. RESULTS: Individuals with SCZ and BD had significantly lower BMD and significantly higher prevalence of low bone mass and osteoporosis compared with HCs. In the main observation regions of the total lumbar (F = 18.368, p < 0.001) and left femur (F = 14.790, p < 0.001), BMD was lower in individuals with SCZ and BD than HCs, with SCZ showing lower BMD than BD. The osteocalcin (H = 11.421, p = 0.003) levels were significantly higher in SCZ and BD than HCs. Binary regression analysis showed that SCZ or BD was an independent risk factor for low bone mass and osteoporosis. In addition, sex, age, and BTMs also influenced the occurrence of low bone mass and osteoporosis. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional study. CONCLUSION: The results findings of the study might contribute to our understanding of the increased risk of bone metabolism in SCZ and BD. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR1900021379.

Single-cell immune profiling reveals broad anti-inflammation response in bipolar disorder patients with quetiapine and valproate treatment.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common mental disorder characterized by manic and depressive episodes. Mood disorders have been associated with immune dysfunction. The combination of quetiapine and valproate has shown positive effects in treating BD, but the impact on immune dynamics remains less understood. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we observed that B cells exhibited downregulation of inflammation-related genes, while pro-inflammatory mast and eosinophil cells decreased following treatment. Ribosomal peptide production genes were found to be reduced in both B and T cells after treatment. Additionally, our findings suggest that the combined therapy effectively alleviates inflammation by reducing myloid-mediated immune signaling pathways. This study provides valuable insights into the immune atlas and uncovers a potential mechanism for immune disorder alleviation in patients with BD treated with quetiapine and valproate.

Prevalence and characteristics of polycystic ovarian syndrome in patients with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder (BD) is frequently accompanied by endocrine disturbances. We compared the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and related reproductive disorders between drug-naïve BD patients and matched healthy controls (HCs) and between drug-naïve BD patients and BD patients with long-term medication, as well as the clinical metabolic correlates among BD patients. METHODS: 72 drug-naïve BD patients, 98 HCs, and 72 BD patients with long-term medication were recruited in the study. Menstruation was recorded, reproductive hormone levels and metabolic indicators were measured, and a pelvic ultrasound examination was performed via transvaginal sensor for each participant. PCOS was defined using the Rotterdam criteria. RESULTS: After controlling for demographic variables, drug-naïve BD patients presented higher rates of PCOS than the HCs (OR: 3.02, 95 % CI: 1.09-8.36). Regression analysis showed that long-term treatment with valproate (OR: 3.89, 95 % CI: 1.13-13.37), age (OR: 0.37, 95 % CI: 0.14-0.95), and insulin resistance index (OR: 1.73, 95 % CI: 1.10-12.71) were correlated with PCOS in BD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-naïve BD patients are susceptible to developing PCOS, and valproate is correlated with increased occurrence and development of PCOS. Therefore, PCOS in BD patients, especially those who use valproate, needs to be investigated and monitored closely by medical personnel.

Risk factors for osteoporosis in chronic schizophrenia on long-term treatment with antipsychotics: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the laboratory variable risks with bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with schizophrenia. This study was designed to fully investigate the related risk factors for decreased BMD in schizophrenia, as well as evaluate the gender difference of BMD. METHOD: The BMD of the forearm of 211 patients (males/females = 140/71) who met the diagnostic criteria for DSM-5 schizophrenia was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Basic demographic information, clinical assessments, and laboratory variables (regarding nutrition, hormones, metabolism, and inflammatory markers) were comprehensively collected. RESULTS: Among 211 subjects, seventy-four (35%) patients had low BMD. Males had a significantly lower BMD T-score than females (P = 0.002). Multiple regression analyses showed that the independent risks with low BMD were lower folate, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, higher age, serum ferritin, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. In female patients, the BMD was mainly associated with age and serum hormones (FSH and testosterone), while the BMD of male patients was primarily related to age, microelements (serum ferritin and 25-OH-VD), and parathyroid hormone. CONCLUSION: Our study found several meaningful correlations between osteoporosis and schizophrenia, especially regarding laboratory measures, which may provide new clues to identifying or preventing osteoporosis in clinical patients.

Association between subclinical hypothyroidism and psychotic features in Chinese young adults with first-episode and untreated major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid dysfunction is often reported in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and may be associated with depression severity and psychotic symptoms. We included young adults with first-episode and untreated MDD to avoid the effect of age and disease duration on thyroid dysfunction and psychotic symptoms. METHODS: 481 young patients with MDD (aged 18-24 years) were recruited. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) positive subscale and Global Impression of Severity Scale (CGIS) were used to assess depression, anxiety, psychotic symptoms and disease severity, respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and thyroid antibody positivity was 56.76 % (273/481) and 26.61 % (128/481) in young MDD, respectively. A higher proportion of MDD patients with SCH displayed psychotic features (14.3 % vs. 5.3 %, OR = 2.985, p = 0.001). TSH was a risk factor for psychotic symptoms in MDD patient with SCH (B = 0.136, p = 0.017, OR = 1.384), with an AUC of 0.709, indicating acceptable discrimination. Multivariate regression analysis also showed that TSH was also independently associated with PANSS positive score (B = 0.339, t = 2.019, p = 0.045). LIMITATION: This cross-sectional study design did not demonstrate a causal relationship. Relying solely on the PANSS positive subscale as psychotic symptoms may cause bias. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that SCH is common in young patients with first-episode and untreated MDD. MDD patients with higher TSH levels may suffer from more psychotic symptoms. Regular screening of serum thyroid hormones is necessary in patients with MDD.

Association between uric acid and cognitive dysfunction: A cross-sectional study with newly diagnosed, drug-naïve with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is one of the major symptoms of individuals with bipolar disorder (BD). Purine system disorders may play an important role in cognitive dysfunction. So far, the relationship between cognitive deficits and purinergic metabolism in BD has been seldom discussed in previous studies. This study aims to explore its relevance and potential biological mechanisms. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 205 first time diagnosed drug-naive individuals with BD and 97 healthy volunteers were recruited. The uric acid(UA) level was measured using automatic biochemical analyzer, and cognitive function was assessed by Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and Stroop color-word test. In addition, general information and clinical symptoms were collected and evaluated. RESULTS: In this study, the UA level of BD group (U = 8475.000, p = 0.038) was found to be significantly higher than that of the healthy controls, but the scores of RBANS (t = -11.302, p < 0.001) and Stroop color-word test (t = -6.962, p < 0.001) were significantly lower than that of the healthy controls. In gender subgroup analysis, females had lower UA level and higher RBANS scores. In correlation analysis, the cognitive function of individuals with BD was found to present a significant negative correlation with UA level in attention (r = -0.23, p = 0.001) and delayed memory(r = -0.16, p = 0.022). LIMITATIONS: This is a cross-sectional design. CONCLUSION: Elevated UA levels may be a potential mechanism of cognitive impairment in BD. This provides a new possible strategy for the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment in BD.

Alternations of vitamin D and cognitive function in first-diagnosed and drug-naïve BD patients: Physical activity as a moderator.

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiological mechanism of cognitive impairments of bipolar disorder (BD) has not yet been completely revealed. It is well known that Vitamin D and physical activity (PA) are associated with BD. However, specific links between Vitamin D and cognitive deficits in BD are still unclear. METHOD: The serum levels of vitamin D were measured. The cognitive performances of 102 first-diagnosed and drug-naïve BD patients were evaluated for analysis. The repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status (RBANS) and the Stroop Color-Word test was used in this study. PA was collected by international physical activity questionnaire. RESULT: Patients with BD had high levels of serum vitamin D. Furthermore, immediate and delayed memory was negatively associated with vitamin D levels in patients' group. The serum levels of vitamin D in patients with low PA were positively associated with memory. However, increased PA attenuated the protective effect of vitamin D on executive cognition. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the increased levels of vitamin D were observed in the serum of patients with BD. Thus, it is found that more PA is less beneficial to cognition of patients with BD than longer resting.

Exploring the associations between behavioral health risk factors, abnormal eating attitudes and socio-demographic factors among Chinese youth: Survey of 7,984 vocational high school students in Hunan in 2020.

Background: This study investigated the associations between behavioral health risk factors (anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia, drinking, smoking) and abnormal eating attitudes among Chinese vocational high school students (CVHSS). Potential moderating relationships were also explored with relevant socio-demographic factors of the student's age, sex, rural or urban community, household income, family type and educational level of the father and mother. Methods: A total of 7,984 students from three vocational high schools in Hunan, China completed a questionnaire about their socio-demographic characteristics, alcohol use, smoking, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress (21-item version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale), insomnia (8-item Athens Insomnia Scale), and abnormal eating attitudes (19-item Chinese version of Eating Attitudes Test). Results: The prevalence rates for behavioral health problems among these students ranged widely depending on the risk factor: 42.5% insomnia, 41.3% anxiety, 26.2% depression, 14.4% stress, 13.7% drinking, and 8.3% smoking. Additionally, 61.7% of students were at-risk for at least one of these six behavioral health disorders. Abnormal eating attitudes were associated with depression (r = 0.422), anxiety (r = 0.490), stress (r = 0.490), and insomnia (r = 0.375), with all of these relationships being significant (p < 0.01) and large size statistical effects. However, other analyzes found that none of the socio-demographic background factors had meaningful associations with the behavioral health risk factors (0 of 28 tests) and very few background factors were associated with the abnormal eating attitude measures (only 3 of 35 tests). Females had higher levels than males on dieting and bulimia but not on the other two eating attitude components. Conclusions: This study determined that behavioral health risk factors (sleep problems and anxiety in particular) were common among high school students in China and that mental health and sleep disorder risks also tended to co-occur in some students with abnormal eating attitudes. Therefore, prevention and early identification programs for behavioral risk factors are needed for this population. It is important to pay more attention to students with abnormal eating attitude-related symptoms, who may have also underlying mental health problems and need further evaluation.

COVID-19 vaccination coverage among patients with psychiatric disorders in China during the pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination coverage and the influential factors of vaccination among patients with mental disorders, we conducted a cross-sectional study in China. METHOD: The anonymous questionnaires including demographic data, vaccination status, intention to be vaccinated and its reasons were collected in the Second Xiangya Hospital, one of the biggest four psychiatric centers in China. Mental health of these participants were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 items (GAD-7). The influential factors associated with vaccination status were analyzed by Fisher exact tests and binary logistical analysis. RESULT: 1328 patients and 922 family members completed the survey. The vaccination rate of patients included was 69.4%, whereas 85.5% patients were willing to be vaccinated. Being hospitalized (aOR 0.41, 95% CI:0.27-0.60), suffering from schizophrenia (aOR 0.38, 95% CI: 0.19-0.75) and secondary school educational background (aOR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.37-0.93) were significantly associated with less likelihood to get vaccinated. Uptaking vaccines could reduce depressive (aOR 0.63, 95% CI: 0.41-0.98) or anxious symptoms (aOR 0.40, 95% CI: 0.25-0.63) in these patients for a short period. CONCLUSION: Further COVID-19 immunization programme should prioritize hospitalized psychiatric patients and schizophrenic patients since their demands for vaccination had been partly ignored during the current inoculation.

Social support and quality of life among chronically homeless patients with schizophrenia.

This study aimed to describe the sociodemographic characteristics, social support received, and quality of life of chronically homeless patients with schizophrenia in China. A self-prepared sociodemographic questionnaire, the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), European Five-dimensional Health Scale (EQ-5D), and Eysenck Personality were administrated to 3,967 chronically homeless and 3,724 non-homeless patients from the Department of Xiangtan Fifth People's Hospital, Hunan, China, between April 2011 and October 2016. Results indicated that the homeless patients were more likely to live outside the city and be ethnic minorities compared with non-homeless patients. Although the married proportion was higher among homeless patients, they had a higher rate of being divorced or widowed. Notably, the homeless patients had higher employment rates before illness, despite significantly lower education (P < 0.001). Chronically homeless patients with schizophrenia showed a lower score in the SSRS (30.29 ± 7.34 vs. 26.16 ± 10.04, p < 0.001); they had significantly lower objective support, subject support, social support, and EQ-Visual Analog Scale, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Psychoticism, and Eysenck Personality-Neuroticism scores (p < 0.001). Homeless patients may be worse off, and could be assisted by providing accommodation, family intervention, medical services (such as pain medication), and other comprehensive measures.

Changes in the mental health status of the general Chinese population during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study.

The study is based on a longitudinal evaluation of the public, during the initial COVID-19 outbreak in China and 8 months after. It aimed to explore the changes in the mental health of the public at the beginning of the pandemic and during the regular epidemic prevention and control. An online survey questionnaire was used to collect data during the initial COVID-19 outbreak (February 10, 2020-February 18, 2020; T1) and 8 months after the outbreak (October 21, 2020-December 29, 2020; T2). Psychological distress was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5). A chi-square test was used to compare the changes in the depression and anxiety scores at T1 and T2, and the correlation between symptoms was analyzed through Spearman's rank correlation. In T1, 1,200 people were recruited, while 168 people responded in T2. Depression (48.2-31.0%; p=0.001) and anxiety (17.9-9.5%; p = 0.026) symptoms decreased over time; two participants developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in T2. The scores of the PHQ-9 scale and the SAS scale were both positively correlated with the score of the PCL-5 scale and negatively correlated with sleep time. During the COVID-19 pandemic, part of the general population's anxiety and depression significantly reduced with time, and they rarely developed PTSD. PTSD occurrence was related to severe depression and anxiety.

Internet addiction among teenagers in a Chinese population: Prevalence, risk factors, and its relationship with obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Internet addiction (IA) among teenagers has been reported frequently in China, although research has seldom focused on vocational high school students. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors among this special adolescent population. Moreover, we illustrate the complex relationship between obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, insomnia, psychological states, and IA. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was applied to collect information from three different vocational high schools in Hunan Province, China. Socio-demographic characteristics, OC symptoms, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were compared between the IA and non-IA groups. Then, a structural equation model (SEM) was established to test our hypothesis regarding different paths from OC symptoms to IA. RESULTS: IA prevalence was 13.4% among 7990 vocational high school students. Individuals with IA were more likely to be male and students with more severe depression, stress, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms (all p < 0.001). SEM verified that OC symptoms were related to IA both directly and indirectly, where the latter relationship was mediated through insomnia or mental disorders. LIMITATIONS: This study cannot confirm the causal relationships among the variables and should be generalized cautiously to other groups. CONCLUSIONS: More attention should be paid to Chinese vocational high school students, especially those with more severe OC symptoms, poor mental health, and insomnia. We should consider OC symptoms, insomnia, psychological suffering, and IA together when addressing related problems.