Hippocampus, amygdala, and insula activation in response to romantic relationship dissolution stimuli: A case-case-control fMRI study on emerging adult students.

BACKGROUND: Romantic relationship dissolutions (RRDs) are associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Functional magnetic resonance imaging in RRD studies indicate overlapping neural activation similar to posttraumatic stress disorder. These studies combine real and hypothetical rejection, and lack contextual information and control and/or comparison groups exposed to non-RRD or DSM-5 defined traumatic events. AIM: We investigated blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) activation in the hippocampus, amygdala, and insula of participants with RRDs compared with other traumatic or non-trauma stressors. METHODS: Emerging adults (mean age = 21.54 years; female = 74.7 %) who experienced an RRD (n = 36), DSM-5 defined trauma (physical and/or sexual assault: n = 15), or a non-RRD or DSM-5 stressor (n = 28) completed PTSS, depression, childhood trauma, lifetime trauma exposure, and attachment measures. We used a general and customised version of the International Affective Picture System to investigate responses to index-trauma-related stimuli. We used mixed linear models to assess between-group differences, and ANOVAs and Spearman's correlations to analyse factors associated with BOLD activation. RESULTS: BOLD activity increased between index-trauma stimuli as compared to neutral stimuli in the hippocampus and amygdala, with no significant difference between the DSM-5 Trauma and RRD groups. Childhood adversity, sexual orientation, and attachment style were associated with BOLD activation changes. Breakup characteristics (e.g., initiator status) were associated with increased BOLD activation in the hippocampus and amygdala, in the RRD group. CONCLUSION: RRDs should be considered as potentially traumatic events. Breakup characteristics are risk factors for experiencing RRDs as traumatic. LIMITATION: Future studies should consider more diverse representation across sex, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.

Weekly telephone mood monitoring is associated with decreased suicidality and improved sleep quality in a clinical sample.

Sleep disturbances and suicidality are common presentations of mood and anxiety disorders. If not closely monitored post-discharge, patients may be at an increased risk of symptom worsening and completed suicide. We explored the associations between telephone mood monitoring, suicidality, and sleep quality in a clinical sample. Fifty inpatients (mean age = 39.49, SD = 11.17; female = 74%) with a mood and/or anxiety disorder were telephonically monitored weekly post-discharge for16 weeks for depression and mania. Suicidality and sleep quality were assessed at intake (pre-discharge), and at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16 post-discharge. ANOVA indicated that suicidality significantly decreased, and sleep quality improved over 16 weeks. Linear regression analysis indicated that depression severity at week 1 post-discharge significantly predicted suicidality and sleep quality at week 16. Mania severity at week 1 post-discharge predicted sleep quality, but not suicidality, at week 16. Participants generally had positive experiences of the monitoring and perceived it as helpful. Monitoring of mood state, suicidality, and sleep quality post-discharge may allow for early detection of relapse when initiated at 1-week post-discharge. This is a potentially cost-effective intervention and may relieve the burden on the mental healthcare system, especially when face-to-face consultations are not possible.

Self-identification, mode of diagnosis and treatment, and perceptions of relationships with medical providers of South African Xhosa-speaking traditional healers.

There is widespread use of traditional medicine in treating common mental disorders in South Africa. We aimed to (i) explore the self-identification of traditional healers (THs; how they refer to themselves, e.g., as healer, spiritualist, sangoma, etc.); (ii) determine if different types of THs treat different conditions (physical/psychological) or use different modes of diagnosis and treatment; (iii) identify factors that influence the willingness of THs to refer patients to biomedical hospitals; and (iv) compare TH practices between two provinces. Participants included Xhosa-speaking THs (mean age = 54.10, SD = 13.57 years) from the Western (n = 50) and Eastern (n = 68) Cape provinces. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding self-identification, mode of diagnosis/treatment, relationship with biomedical hospitals, type of condition(s) treated, and a Patient Health Questionnaire. There were significant associations between the type of TH (as self-identified) and (i) mode of diagnosis, (ii) mode of treatment, and (iii) type of condition(s) treated. Spiritualists, male THs, and THs who had previously been hospitalised for a mental disorder were more likely to treat mental disorders. THs who had previously been hospitalised for mental disorders were more likely to report a willingness to refer patients to biomedical hospitals. Findings highlight the complex practices of Xhosa-speaking THs. Collaboration between THs and mental health care professionals could be facilitated by focusing on male THs, spiritualists, and THs who have previously been hospitalised for mental illness. Future research should provide clearer operational definitions of the type of TH included.

Functional Neuroimaging of Adult-to-Adult Romantic Attachment Separation, Rejection, and Loss: A Systematic Review.

Romantic attachment rejection (RAR) is a highly prevalent phenomenon among young adults. Rejection by a romantic attachment figure can be a painful and incapacitating experience with lasting negative mental health sequelae, yet the underlying neurobiology of RAR is not well characterized. We systematically reviewed functional neuroimaging studies of adult RAR. Four functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies that measured participants' responses to real or imagined RAR and met inclusion criteria were evaluated. These included studies were published between 2004 and 2018. Brain activity in adult participants with an RAR appears to be influenced by the stimulus used to elicit a reaction as well as by attachment styles. Brain regions that show a significant change in activation following a rejection stimulus include cortical regions (cingulate, insular, orbitofrontal, and prefrontal), and subcortical regions (angular gyrus, hippocampus, striatum, tegmental area, and temporal pole) and correspond to (i) pain, distress, and memory retrieval; (ii) reward, romantic love, and dopaminergic circuits; and (iii) emotion regulation and behavioural adaptation. Further neuroimaging studies of adult RAR, as moderated by stimulus and attachment style, are needed to better understand the underlying neurobiology of RAR.

Distant mood monitoring for depressive and bipolar disorders: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Broadening our knowledge of the longitudinal course of mood symptoms is cardinal to providing effective long-term treatments. Research indicates that patients with mental illness are willing to engage in the use of telemonitoring and mobile technology to assess and monitor their mood states. However, without the provision of distant support, adverse outcomes and events may be difficult to prevent and manage through self-monitoring. Understanding patient perspectives is important to achieving the best balance of self-monitoring, patient empowerment, and distant supporter involvement. METHODS: This systematic review synthesises quantitative and qualitative evidence of the effectiveness and feasibility of daily/weekly/monthly remote mood monitoring that includes distant support in participants with mood disorders. Inclusion criteria comprised mood monitoring of mood disorder patients as main intervention, study design, method of monitoring, and presence of psychotherapy and psychoeducation. Effectiveness was defined by the change in depression and/or mania scores. Feasibility was determined on participant feedback and completion/attrition rates. Studies were assessed for quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool version 2018. RESULTS: Nine studies of acceptable quality met the inclusion criteria. Distant mood monitoring was effective in improving depression scores but not mania scores. Feasibility, as measured through compliance and completion rates and participant feedback, varied. CONCLUSION: Distant mood monitoring with support may be a useful, acceptable, and feasible intervention for diverse groups of patients in terms of age and ethnicity. Further, it may be effective in improving symptoms of depression, increasing treatment adherence, and facilitating the prevention and management of adverse outcomes. As a task-shifting intervention, distant mood monitoring may help to alleviate the burden on mental health providers in developing countries.

Association between trauma exposure and mood trajectories in patients with mood disorders.

BACKGROUND: Trauma exposure is associated with the development of mood disorders and their phenotypic presentation. Cross-sectional associations between trauma exposure and mood disorders are well documented. Data on the association of trauma with longitudinal mood trajectories are lacking. We investigated the association between trauma exposure and weekly mood trajectories. METHOD: Mood disorder patients (N = 107; female = 81; mean age = 37.04 years), assessed for trauma exposure at baseline using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Life Events Checklist (LEC), completed weekly telephonic mood assessments using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) and Altman Self-Rating Mania scale (ASRM) over a 16 week period commencing at one week post-discharge from hospital. Associations between trauma exposure, severity of mood symptoms and mood trajectories were analysed using Pearson's correlations, LS Mean scores, F-statistics, and RMANOVA. RESULTS: Trauma exposure was persistently associated, albeit with some fluctuation in the strength of the association, with depressive symptomatology. Emotional abuse showed the most persistent association over time. Sexual abuse was minimally associated with depressive symptomatology. The severity of childhood trauma exposure was positively correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms. Lifetime traumatic events were significantly associated with mania scores, however there was no association between childhood trauma exposure and mania symptoms. CONCLUSION: Identification of both a history of childhood abuse and neglect and lifetime traumatic event exposure is important in the assessment and management of patients with mood disorders, as trauma can exert a persistent impact on depression trajectories and on symptom severity.

The perceived effectiveness of traditional and faith healing in the treatment of mental illness: a systematic review of qualitative studies.

PURPOSE: This work complements a quantitative review by Nortje et al. (Lancet Psychiatry 3(2):154-170, 2016) by exploring the qualitative literature in regard to the perceived effectiveness of traditional and faith healing of mental disorders. METHOD: Qualitative studies focusing specifically on traditional and/or faith healing practices for mental illness were retrieved from eight databases. Data were extracted  into basic coding sheets to facilitate the assessment of the quality of eligible papers using the COREQ. RESULTS: Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Despite methodological limitations, there was evidence from the papers that stakeholders perceived traditional and/or faith healing to be effective in treating mental illness, especially when used in combination with biomedical treatment. CONCLUSION: Patients will continue to seek treatment from traditional and/or faith healers for mental illness if they perceive it to be effective regardless of alternative biomedical evidence. This provides opportunities for collaboration to address resource scarcity in low to middle income countries.

Participants' perspectives of weekly telephonic mood monitoring in South Africa: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Mood and anxiety disorders have a high lifetime prevalence, and their chronicity adds to the management burden of already scarce and strained mental health care resources, particularly in developing countries. Non-professional-assisted interventions and technology (such as weekly telephonic mood monitoring) could assist in the early identification of symptoms of relapse and hospitalization prevention. The present study aimed to determine participants' perspectives and the feasibility of weekly telephonic mood monitoring in order to inform the development of the full study. METHOD: Semi-structured telephonic interviews (n = 37; 89.2% female; mean age = 33.1 years) were conducted as part of the full-scale feasibility study (N = 61; named the Bipolar Disorder Mood Monitoring (BDMM) Study). The BDMM Study was conducted to determine the viability of weekly telephonic mood monitoring, spanning 26 weeks and starting 1 week post-discharge. Frequency and descriptive statistical analyses (using SPSS version 24) were undertaken, and qualitative data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: This article presents the findings from the semi-structured interview section of the BDMM Study. Participants generally expressed positive experiences and perceptions of weekly telephonic mood monitoring, stating that they would advise others to also take part in weekly telephonic mood monitoring. Nonetheless, some participants did make suggestions for improvement of mood monitoring while others expressed negative experiences of weekly telephonic mood monitoring. CONCLUSION: The results of the semi-structured interviews of the BDMM Study indicated that participants perceived weekly telephonic mood monitoring to be helpful in lightening the burden of mood and anxiety disorders (e.g., having someone to talk to, providing insight into their disorders). Not only did it help them, but they also perceived mood monitoring to be potentially helpful to future participants. However, weekly mood monitoring was also burdensome in itself (including being too time consuming and having to answer questions when feeling down). Importantly, the findings highlighted that participants' and researchers' perceptions and experiences may not be congruent (especially in terms of therapeutic misconception). The current findings may inform researchers' future approach to study design and participant relationships.