The Morbidity and Associated Factors of Depression in Caregivers of Patients with Depressive Disorder.

Objective: Depressive disorder significantly impacts patients' daily living activities and quality of life. Caregivers of patients with depression may also suffer from psychological distress related to the chronic burden of caring for the patient's mood changes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the morbidity and associated factors of depression in caregivers of patients with depressive disorder. Methods: In this study, we used a cross-sectional design with consecutive sampling. Study subjects were recruited from the psychiatric outpatient clinic of a medical center from August 2021 to June 2022. Caregivers of depressive disorder patients were enrolled and assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Suicide Assessment Scale (SAS), Stigma Scale of the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC), and Family APGAR Index. Results: Of the 120 caregivers that completed the study, 59.2% (n=71) were females. The most common psychiatric diagnosis was depressive disorders (25.8%), followed by anxiety disorders (17.5%) and insomnia disorder (15.8%); 54.2% of the caregivers had a psychiatric diagnosis. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that anxiolytics/hypnotics use (OR=5.58; 95% CI, 1.84-16.96; p<0.01), higher suicide risk (SAS) (OR=1.10; 95% CI, 1.05-1.16; p<0.001), and lower family support (APGAR scores) (OR=0.82; 95% CI, 0.71-0.94; p<0.01) were three significant associated factors. Conclusion: Depression was the most prevalent psychiatric diagnosis in caregivers of patients with depressive disorder. Early psychiatric diagnosis for caregivers of patients with depression is crucial to offering suitable support and treatment and may improve caregivers' quality of life.

Management for A Depressive Patient with Femoral Neck Fracture by Electroconvulsive Therapy during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for refractory major depressive disorder with suicidal ideation. The most common adverse medical events are transient retrograde amnesia, falls and pneumonia. Hip fractures, associated with high-energy trauma by convulsions, were occasionally reported in western countries, in the period before the COVID-19 pandemic. Strict COVID-19 regulations influenced the course and further investigation of the treatment of post-ECT complications. A 33-year-old man, previously diagnosed with major depressive disorder, had a history of nine successful sessions of ECT treatment for depression five years ago. He was hospitalized again for 12 sessions of ECT for recurrent depression. Unfortunately, an ECT-induced right hip-neck fracture was noted after the ninth session of ECT, in March 2021. After receiving close reduction and internal fixation of the right femoral neck fracture, with three screws, his original daily function was restored. His treatment was regularly followed up at the outpatient clinic for 20 months; he achieved partial remission with three combined antidepressants. This case of ECT-induced right hip-neck fracture informed psychiatric staff to be aware of this rare adverse complication and ensure its appropriate management, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An Emergent Theory Depicting Patients' Fortitude Through the Healing and Recovering Process of Depression.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common mental disorder. Literature has explored patients' perspectives of the recovering process of depression. However, there is a lack of research to explore both patients' and caregivers' perspectives of the healing process and develop a theory to support patients with depression. AIMS: The purpose of this study is to develop a substantive theory that depicts patients with depression toward healing and recovering. METHODS: This study used a grounded theory approach and collected data between 2019 and 2020 in a medical center in Taiwan. A theoretical sampling was performed after interviewing 29 participants, including 20 patients who had recovered from depression and nine caregivers; data saturation was achieved. Data analysis was conducted with open, axial, and selective coding and used NVivo Version 11 to aid the process of coding. RESULTS: A substantive theory was developed and the core category was "Patients' fortitude through the healing and recovering process of depression." Other main categories interrelated in this core category were reframing negative thinking and cultivating positive thinking, rebuilding a positive self-worth by embracing self-compassion, and learning to cope with everyday stress. CONCLUSIONS: This theory could help health care professionals to work therapeutically with patients and commend their fortitude while experiencing depression and engaging them with the care they planned together; and find some joy in life. Educators and researchers could use this theory to advance nursing care.

Psychological Reactions of Hospital Workers to a Pandemic: A Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 in 2020 and SARS in 2003.

Epidemic viral infections, including the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and SARS-CoV-2 in 2019, have brought tremendous loss to people across the nations. The aim of this study was to compare the psychological impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2020 and the SARS pandemic in 2003 on hospital workers. Hospital workers at a medical center in Southern Taiwan (n = 1816) were invited to complete questionnaires (SARS-CoV-2 Exposure Experience, the Impact of Event Scale, the Chinese Health Questionnaire, and the Distress Thermometer). The current data were compared to the data collected from hospital workers (n = 1257) at the same medical center during the SARS pandemic in 2003. We found the psychological impact on hospital workers during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was significantly lower than that during the previous SARS period. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic period, hospital workers with SARS experience were more accepting of the risk, felt a greater responsibility to take care of the SARS-CoV-2 patients, and were more likely to perceive the danger of becoming infected. The associated factors of psychiatric morbidity in hospital workers with SARS experience were being female, the degree of intrusion severity, and severity of psychological distress. Proper management strategies and lessons learned from the SARS experience might have led to low psychiatric morbidity during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

The effects of logotherapy on meaning in life, depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation, in patients with depression: An intervention study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of logotherapy on meaning in life, depression, hopelessness, and suicide ideation in patients with depression. DESIGN AND METHODS: A quasi-experimental approach was used and 86 participants were recruited from a psychiatric department in Taiwan. The experimental group received logotherapy for 12 weeks. The control group received depression education as usual. FINDINGS: The results revealed significant differences between and within the groups for meaning in life, depression, hopelessness, and suicide ideation. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Logotherapy was an effective method for increasing meaning in life, reducing the degree of depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation for patients with depression.

Exploring the meaning of life from the perspective of patients with depression: A phenomenological study.

This study explored the perceptions of meaning of life for patients with depression. A qualitative phenomenology approach was used. Patients with depression (n = 20) were recruited until data saturation occurred. Findings revealed four themes all related to their value of: (1) accepting depression; (2) appreciating work (paid and non-paid); (3) embodying love and taking on responsibilities; (4) receiving spiritual comfort. Healthcare professionals could facilitate patients with depression to explore their meaning of life while enduring and transforming the emotional pain that accompanies depression, hence, perhaps, decreasing their suicidal ideations.

Successful Electroconvulsive Therapy for a 74-year-old Female with Major Depressive Disorder and Tardive Tremor: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Tardive tremor is an infrequently form of tardive syndrome that is developed from prolonged treatment with dopamine receptor blocking agents. This condition presents as a prominent tremor that may cause significant distress but currently lacks effective treatment. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been applied to treat tardive syndrome. In this study, we report a 74-year-old female patient with major depressive disorder, whose tardive tremor and depressive symptoms showed remarkable improvement after receiving 10 sessions of ECT treatment.

The effects of alpha asymmetry and high-beta down-training neurofeedback for patients with the major depressive disorder and anxiety symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Alpha-asymmetry neurofeedback (ALAY) was applied to patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) based on the theory of frontal alpha asymmetry. Neurophysiological studies have found a higher high-beta activity of electroencephalography (EEG) at the posterior cortex among patients with comorbid MDD and anxiety symptoms. The present study examined the effects of ALAY and high-beta down-training (Beta) neurofeedback in symptoms of depression and anxiety and EEG parameters. METHOD: Eighty-seven patients with comorbid MDD and anxiety symptoms were allocated to the ALAY, Beta, or control groups. Both neurofeedback groups received ten-session neurofeedback. All participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and five minutes resting EEG recording at pre-test and post-test. EEG raw signals were transformed into an A1 score [log (F4 alpha) - log (F3 alpha)], P3 and P4 high-beta power. RESULTS: BDI-II and BAI scores decreased at post-test in both ALAY and Beta groups, but no significant difference between the two groups. No significant interaction effect in A1 score at pre-test and post-test between the ALAY, Beta, and control groups. The P3 high-beta was significantly decreased in the Beta group, an increase in the control group, and no change in the ALAY group at post-test compared to the pre-test. CONCLUSIONS: Both neurofeedback groups decreased symptoms of depression and anxiety. The Beta group was more effective in decreasing high-beta power at the parietal cortex compared to other groups. This non-invasive psychological intervention can be used in the future for patients with comorbid MDD and anxiety symptoms.

Psychosocial Evaluation for First Hand Allotransplantation in Taiwan.

Hand transplantation has raised ethical and psychological concerns. Few studies have focused on reasons for not selecting candidates on waiting lists. To describe the psychosocial evaluation of referred prospective hand transplant candidates, we investigated candidate suitability by using 22-month follow-up data regarding the first hand transplant recipient in Taiwan. Pretransplant psychosocial assessments comprised an interview with 2 psychiatrists, a social worker, and a psychologist, followed by intelligence quotient scoring with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire. After team member consensus, of the 20 patients referred to our team to confirm their hand transplantation suitability during April 26, 2013, to March 19, 2015, 7 potential recipients were placed on the waiting list after completing all prehand transplant evaluations. On September 3, 2014, the left distal forearm and hand of a brain-dead man was transplanted to a 45-year-old man who had undergone traumatic amputation of the distal third of his right forearm 30 years previously. During a 22-month follow-up, he complied with scheduled visits, including routine posttransplant laboratory tests, skin biopsies, and intensive physical therapy. Moreover, he overcame repeated graft rejections, bacterial and viral infections, immunosuppressant side effects, considerable economic stress, and the difficulties associated with the adhesion of hand tendons. Finally, he regained some satisfactory function of the transplanted hand. Considering posttransplantation difficulties, suitable candidates for hand transplantation should have persistent motivation, appropriate expectations, patience, immediate availability, fair intelligence, fair social functioning, and adequate economic and familial support.

Prevalence and related factors of psychological distress among cancer inpatients using routine Distress Thermometer and Chinese Health Questionnaire screening.

BACKGROUND: Clinical practice guidelines suggest routine screening for distress among cancer patients for immediate early psychiatric care. However, previous studies focusing on routine screening for psychological distress among cancer inpatients in Taiwan are scant. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and related factors of psychological distress and mental illness among cancer inpatients in Taiwan. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted as a retrospective chart review in a general hospital in southern Taiwan. Cancer inpatients were regularly screened by nursing staff using the Distress Thermometer and the 12-item Chinese Health Questionnaire. Positive screening results on either instrument were followed by a non-commanded referral to psychiatrists for clinical psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS: Of the 810 participants in this study, 179 (22.1%) were recognized as having psychological distress. Younger age (odds ratio [OR] =1.82), having head and neck cancer (OR =2.43), and having not received chemotherapy (OR =1.58) were significantly related to psychological distress. Among the 56 patients (31.3%) with psychological distress who were referred to psychiatrists, the most common mental illness was adjustment disorder (n=22, 39.2%), followed by major depressive disorder (n=13, 23.2%), depressive disorder not otherwise specified (n=6, 10.7%), and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified (n=4, 7.1%). CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that cancer inpatients with psychological distress were more likely to be younger in age, have head and neck cancer, and have not received chemotherapy. The most common psychiatric disorder was adjustment disorder. Early detection of psychological distress and prompt psychiatric consultation and management are very important for cancer inpatients.

Anxiety and depression in patients with head and neck cancer: 6-month follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess psychiatric morbidities of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) in a prospective study at pretreatment, and 3 and 6 months after treatment, and to compare their health-related quality of life (HRQL) between those with and without depressive disorders (depression). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed HNC from a tertiary hospital were recruited into the study. They were assessed for psychiatric morbidities using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition. Their HRQL was simultaneously evaluated using the quality of life questionnaire of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer with a specific module for head and neck cancer; and depressed and nondepressed HNC patients were compared by using the generalized mixed-effect model for repeated measurements. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients were recruited into this study. High rates of anxiety were found at pretreatment, but steadily declined over time (from 27.3% to 6.4%, and later 3.3%). A skew pattern of depression was observed, with prevalence rates from 8.5% at pretreatment to 24.5% and 14% at 3 and 6 months, respectively, after treatment. We found that loss of sense (P=0.001), loss of speech (P<0.001), low libido (P=0.001), dry mouth (P<0.001), and weight loss (P=0.001) were related to depression over time. The depressed patients had a higher consumption of painkillers (P=0.001) and nutrition supplements (P<0.001). The results showed that depression was predicted by sticky saliva (P<0.001) and trouble with social contact (P<0.001) at 3 months, and trouble with social eating (P<0.001) at 6 months. CONCLUSION: Patients with HNC experienced different changes in anxiety and depression in the first 6 months of treatment. Dysfunction in salivation, problems with eating, and problems with social contacts were major risk factors for depression.

The First Hand Allotransplantation in Taiwan: A Report at 9 Months.

PURPOSE: Hand transplantations have been initiated and have been encouraged by promising results for more than 1 decade. The aim of this study was to present the first case of hand transplantation performed in Taiwan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: On September 3, 2014, we transplanted the left distal forearm and hand of a brain-dead managed 37 years to a man aged 45 years who had traumatic amputation of the distal third of his right forearm 30 years ago. The total ischemic time during the transplantation was 6 hours and 45 minutes. Immunosuppression included anti-thymocyte globulins, and methylprednisolone (Solumedrol) was used for the induction. Maintenance therapy included systemic tacrolimus, mycophenolic acid [mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)], and prednisone. A combination of systemic (tacrolimus/MMF/prednisolone) and topical immunosuppressant cream (clobetasol and tacrolimus) was applied if acute rejection occurred. Follow-up included routine posttransplant laboratory tests, skin biopsies, intensive physiotherapy, and psychological support. RESULTS: The initial postoperative course was uneventful. No surgical complications were observed. Immunosuppression was well tolerated using tacrolimus, MMF, and prednisone, except for some immune-related complications. One episode of mild clinical and histological signs of cutaneous rejection was seen at 105 days after surgery. These signs disappeared after pulse therapy with Solumedrol and the topical application of immunosuppressive creams (tacrolimus and clobetasol). One infection episode occurred due to local cellulitis and axillary lymphadenopathy on day 140 and was successfully treated with antibiotics. The patient developed cytomegalovirus infection at 7 months that responded to medication. Intensive physiotherapy led to satisfactory progress in motor functioning. Sensory progress (Tinel sign) was good and reached the wrist by 3 months for the median and ulnar nerves, and could be felt in the finger tip by 9 months in response to deep pressure and light touch sensations. The patient has a lateral pinch that allows him to pick up and grip objects during daily living, although his muscle power is still insufficient. CONCLUSIONS: Hand allotransplantation is technically feasible. Currently available immunosuppression methods seem to control vascularized composite tissue allotransplantation rejection. A combination of topical and systemic immunosuppressants is a useful method to prevent acute hand allotransplant rejection.

Electroconvulsive therapy without consent from patients: one-year follow-up study.

INTRODUCTION: No previous study has been designed to analyze the reasons for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) without patients' consent. In the present study we compared the clinical characteristics and one-year outcomes between patients with refusal to undergo ECT and patients without competency for ECT consent. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, 29 patients were treated with ECT without providing consent between 1 January 2006 and 31 August 2010. A surrogate family member gave informed consent for ECT to meet current legal requirements. Patients were assigned to one of two groups: a consent-refusal group comprising patients who refused to give consent for ECT and could clearly say "no" or argue with psychiatric staff about receiving ECT; and a consent-incompetent group comprising patients who were incompetent for consent but underwent ECT passively or reluctantly without argument. RESULTS: The patients were clinically diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder (n = 6), psychotic disorder (n = 12), bipolar I disorder (n = 8) and major depressive disorder with psychotic features (n = 3). The consent-incompetent patients had longer hospital stays and more recurrence in one year than the consent-refusal patients, which may be because the former group had more psychotic disorders and fewer mood disorders. All patients improved rapidly and efficiently. However, remission was temporal in two-thirds of patients and the rehospitalization rate in one year was 66% (n = 19). DISCUSSION: ECT can be applied early, emergently and successfully to patients who have a wide range of psychiatric disorders and life-threatening conditions without threat of lawsuits, even during their first hospitalization.

An early improvement in depressive symptoms predicts symptomatic remission of schizophrenia treated with quetiapine: a multicenter, 4-week case-control study.

The aim of this study was to determine whether an early improvement in depressive symptoms is a predictor of symptomatic remission in schizophrenia. Patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia diagnosis who received antipsychotic treatment but did not fulfill Andreasen's symptomatic remission criteria were recruited. Each patient received quetiapine with a flexible dose strategy of 300-800 mg daily for 4 weeks after a 1-week washout period of previous antipsychotics. Remission was defined by Andreasen's criteria, which includes eight items of the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale with scores of less than three in each item. Seventy-five patients completed the study. Of these, 27 (36%) achieved symptomatic remission after treatment with quetiapine. A significant improvement in depressive symptoms was found in both the remission and the nonremission groups, although the improvement was less pronounced in the nonremission group at the endpoint. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age (ß=-0.07, P=0.02) and early improvement in depressive symptoms within the first 3 days were predictive of symptomatic remission (ß=-0.27, P=0.01) for the treatment of schizophrenia. Our data suggest that an early improvement in depressive symptoms in the treatment of schizophrenia is crucial for symptomatic remission.

Escitalopram-induced word finding difficulty.

Escitalopram is the most selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used for treatment of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. No available report indicating escitalopram may induce word finding difficulty. Here we are presenting a 50-year-old patient who suffered from escitalopram-induced word finding difficulty and the symptom resolved after replacing with bupropion. Carefully monitoring word finding difficulty and speech fluency during antidepressant treatment is important in clinical practice when using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, especially escitalopram.

Psychiatric consultation for post-liver-transplantation patients.

AIM: This report describes the clinical characteristics of referral inpatients who received liver transplantation and the surgeon's concordance with the psychiatric consultation. METHODS: During a 4-year period, psychiatric consultation was arranged for 30 post-liver-transplantation inpatients at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. A psychiatrist assessed these patients and made psychiatric diagnoses according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th edition. The clinical data were routinely collected via modified MICRO-CARES software. At the end of the 4-year study period, all the medical records of these 30 inpatients were reviewed. RESULTS: Psychiatric diagnosis was made in 70% of the patients (n = 21) in three major categories, including delirious state (n = 8), depressive disorder (n = 5), and anxiety/dyssomnia (n = 8). All these conditions were improved by psychiatric management. We found that the consultee's concordance with recommended drug prescriptions was high with antidepressants in depressive patients and low with antipsychotics in patients with delirium. Moreover, anxiolytics were frequently prescribed in post-transplant inpatients before psychiatric consultation. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that psychiatric consultation is beneficial to inpatients after liver transplantation, especially those with depression and delirium.