Menopausal stage transitions and their associations with overall and individual sleep quality in middle-aged Korean women.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the association between the menopausal transition and declining sleep quality can guide optimal timing for preventive interventions in transitioning women. However, studies lack representation of Asian women and sufficient data on the progression of menopausal stages and sleep quality changes over time in this population. METHODS: This study included 3305 women in the pre-menopause stage at baseline. The sleep quality and its components were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Menopausal stages were classified as pre-menopause, early transition, late transition, and post-menopause according to the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop+10 (STRAW+10) criteria. We estimated the longitudinal association between menopausal stage changes over time and the PSQI score, and examined the effect of being overweight. RESULTS: The trends in the PSQI scores and its components according to the menopausal stage changes over time showed that with the exception of sleep duration and habitual sleep efficiency, an overall decline was noted in sleep health during late transition and post-menopause compared to pre-menopause. These associations were independent of time-variant annual chronological aging, which was not significantly associated with sleep deterioration. Additionally, although the associations between menopausal stages and sleep quality did not significantly differ by adiposity level, the overweight group exhibited worse PSQI scores and components than did the non-overweight group. LIMITATION: Sleep quality and menopausal stage were assessed using self-reported questionnaires without objective measures. CONCLUSION: Our study underscores the importance of screening for sleep quality deterioration and implementing appropriate measures for women experiencing menopausal transition.

Psychological Distress Trends and Effect of Media Exposure Among Community Residents After the Seoul Halloween Crowd Crush.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear how exposure to and perception of community trauma creates a mental health burden. This study aimed to examine the psychological distress trends among community residents in acute stress reaction, acute stress disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder phases following the Seoul Halloween crowd crush. METHODS: A three-wave repeated cross-sectional survey was conducted with participants after the incident. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with post hoc Bonferroni test was adopted to examine temporal changes in psychological distress and psychological outcomes resulting from media impacts. A two-way ANCOVA was adopted to examine the interaction effects of time and relevance to victims on psychological distress. RESULTS: A total of 807, 1,703, and 2,220 individuals participated in the three waves. Anxiety (estimated mean [standard error of the mean]: 2.28 [0.03] vs. 2.12 [0.02] vs. 2.03 [0.02]; P < 0.001), depression (2.22 [0.03] vs. 2.01 [0.02] vs. 1.90 [0.02]; P < 0.001), and anger (2.70 [0.03] vs. 2.66 [0.02] vs. 2.49 [0.02]; P < 0.001) gradually improved. However, sense of safety initially worsened and did not recover well (2.96 [0.03] vs. 2.75 [0.02] vs. 2.77 [0.02]; P < 0.001). The interaction effect of time and relevance to the victim were significant in depression (P for interaction = 0.049), anger (P for interaction = 0.016), and sense of safety (P for interaction = 0.004). Among participants unrelated to the victim, those exposed to graphics exhibited higher levels of anxiety (2.09 [0.02] vs. 1.87 [0.07]; P = 0.002), depression (1.99 [0.02] vs. 1.83 [0.07]; P = 0.020), and anger (2.71 [0.03] vs. 2.47 [0.08]; P = 0.003) at W2 and higher anger (2.49 [0.02] vs. 2.31 [0.06]; P = 0.005) at W3. CONCLUSION: Community residents indirectly exposed to trauma also experienced psychological distress in the early stages after the incident. A significant impact of media which might have served as a conduit for unfiltered graphics and rumors was also indicated.

Association between intra-individual variability and prefrontal cortex activity measured by functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) in children with ADHD.

This study uses fNIRS to determine whether there is a difference in the relationship between intra-individual variability and frontal lobe activity between ADHD patients and typically developing children. A total of 28 subjects (14 in ADHD patient group and 14 in control group) participated in this study. The subjects were tested for K-SADS and intelligence, and then the frontal lobe activity of the subjects was measured by continuous performance test, using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRSIT). Processing speed index was significantly lower in the ADHD patient group than in the control group (p = .04). The CPT test results showed a positive correlation in the activity of the right dorsolateral prefrontal region in the patient group, but not at a statistically significant level. In the control group, activity showed a significant level of negative correlation with commission and hit reaction time standard deviation (p = .023; p = .063 respectively). In contrary to ADHD patient group, activation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal area was significantly correlated with reduction of intra-individual variability. This result showing that the relationship between activation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal area of the ADHD patient group and intra-individual variability shows a different pattern from typically developing children.

Effect of Frailty on Depression among Patients with Late-life Depression: A Test of Anger, Anxiety, and Resilience as Mediators.

Objective: While the association between depression and frailty in the elderly population has been investigated, the psychological factors that mediate such a relationship remain unknown. The identification of psychological factors in interventions for depression treatment in the elderly may assist in the treatment and care. We aimed to explore the mediating effects of anger, anxiety, and resilience on the link between frailty and depression symptoms in patients with late-life depression. Methods: A sample of 203 older adults completed questionnaires that assessed depression, anger, resilience, and anxiety. To measure frailty, participants were evaluated using a self-rated health questionnaire, weight-adjusted waist index related to sarcopenia, and weight-adjusted handgrip strength to evaluate weakness. A mediation model was tested, hypothesizing that anger, anxiety, and resilience would partially mediate the strength of the frailty-depression link in the elderly. Results: Only self-rated health showed a significant association with depressive symptoms in late-life depression. Our study demonstrated that frailty has both direct and indirect associations with depression, mediated by anger, resilience, and anxiety. Conclusion: Given that anger, resilience, and anxiety influence the link between self-rated health and depression, interventions that lead to increased resilience and decreased anger and anxiety may be promising to reduce depressive symptoms in older adults with depression.

A Randomized, Open-Label, Single-Dose, Crossover Study of the Comparative Bioavailability of EPA and DHA in a Novel Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticle-Based Formulation of ω-3 Acid Ethyl Ester Versus Omacor® Soft Capsule among Healthy Adults.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are well known for their capacity to lower triglyceride levels, but the clinical effectiveness is hindered by limited bioavailability and patient adherence. To address this challenge, we introduce a novel liquid crystalline nanoparticle-based formulation, the innovative medicine and drug delivery (IMD)-Omega soft capsule (cap), designed to optimize the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of EPA and DHA. This randomized, open-label, crossover study engages a cohort of 24 healthy adult subjects, utilizing key PK parameters like Cmax, AUC, Tmax, t½, and Ke to conduct a comprehensive evaluation. The trial compares the performance of the IMD-Omega soft cap with the well-established Omacor® soft cap. The IMD-Omega soft cap exhibited an impressive 110% increase in bioavailability for EPA and a remarkable 134% surge for DHA in comparison to the Omacor® soft cap over a span of 72 h. The key success can be attributed to the innovative liquid crystalline nanoparticle design, bolstering the dissolution and permeability of these essential fatty acids. Intriguingly, intra-participant variability for AUC0-72 h and Cmax were calculated at 45.04% and 34.26%, respectively. It is noteworthy that the parameters of Tmax for EPA (≈6.00 h) and DHA (≈5.00 h), t½ for both EPA and DHA ≈ 30-40 h, and Kel around 0.18-0.22 h-1 for EPA and ≈0.008-0.02 h-1 for DHA, displayed comparability between the IMD-Omega and Omacor® formulations. Encouragingly, the IMD-Omega soft cap showed excellent tolerability. The promise of optimized patient compliance and reduced dosages adds further weight to its potential significance.

Gender Differences in the Association between Workplace Bullying and Depression among Korean Employees.

Workplace bullying is a prevalent issue with a significant impact on employees' mental health. This study aimed to explore the relationship between workplace bullying and the prevalence of depression, with a particular focus on the role of gender. A total of 12,344 Korean employees aged 19-65 years were included in the study. They completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and a score of 16 or higher in CES-D indicated depression. The association between workplace bullying and depression was analyzed using logistic regression analyses. The average CES-D scores were higher for both male and female employees who experienced bullying than for those who did not (p < 0.001). The association between the experience of workplace bullying and the prevalence of depression was statistically significant for both genders, with a stronger correlation observed among male employees (p for interaction < 0.001). Organizations are urged to address workplace bullying, particularly for male employees, through the implementation of anti-bullying strategies and policies, as well as the provision of mental health resources and support.

Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Brief Resilience Scale.

Objective: : To translate the Brief Resilience Scale into Korean and evaluate its reliability and validity. Methods: : To investigate the factor structure of the Brief Resilience Scale, we examined a two-factor model comprising positively and negatively worded items. Congruent and divergent validity of the Brief Resilience Scale were investigated using correlation analysis between the Brief Resilience Scale and resilience, depression, and perceived stress. By conducting an analysis of variance among groups classified by suicidality (no suicidality, only suicidal ideation, and suicidal ideation or suicidal plan groups), we evaluated how well the Brief Resilience Scale could detect people with a high risk of suicide. Results: : Confirmatory factor analysis results supported the construct validity of the Brief Resilience Scale using a two-factor model. Cronbach's alpha (0.91) and McDonald's omega (0.91) scores indicated high internal consistency. Correlation analysis showed that the Brief Resilience Scale scores were strongly associated with a questionnaire evaluating resilience, depression, and perceived stress. Analysis of variance and post-hoc tests showed that he Brief Resilience Scale scores were highest in the no suicidality group (p ＜ 0.001). Conclusion: : The Korean version of the Brief Resilience Scale is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating resilience as the capacity to recover from adversity and endure obstacles or stress. This study also provides important evidence regarding the sensitivity of the Brief Resilience Scale to suicidal risk.

Use of eye tracking to improve the identification of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood. Although it requires timely detection and intervention, existing continuous performance tests (CPTs) have limited efficacy. Research suggests that eye movement could offer important diagnostic information for ADHD. This study aimed to compare the performance of eye-tracking with that of CPTs, both alone and in combination, and to evaluate the effect of medication on eye movement and CPT outcomes. We recruited participants into an ADHD group and a healthy control group between July 2021 and March 2022 from among children aged 6-10 years (n = 30 per group). The integration of eye-tracking with CPTs produced higher values for the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC, 0.889) compared with using CPTs only (AUC, 0.769) for identifying patients with ADHD. The use of eye-tracking alone showed higher performance compare with the use of CPTs alone (AUC of EYE: 0.856, AUC of CPT: 0.769, p = 0.029). Follow-up analysis revealed that most eye-tracking and CPT indicators improved significantly after taking an ADHD medication. The use of eye movement scales could be used to differentiate children with ADHD, with the possibility that integrating eye movement scales and CPTs could improve diagnostic precision.

Examining the links between burnout and suicidal ideation in diverse occupations.

Introduction: It is uncertain whether burnout is associated with suicidal ideation among workers not in health care services. The aim of this study was to identify how burnout and suicidal ideation are linked among employees in various occupations and whether depression affects this link. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from 12,083 participants aged 19-65 years from 25 companies and public institutions who underwent workplace mental health screening. Burnout and depression were assessed using both the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Suicidal ideation was assessed by a self-rated questionnaire from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results: Exhaustion but not the cynicism dimension of burnout was associated with increased odds of suicidal ideation after adjustment for depression and other covariates (odds ratio [OR] = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.26-1.72). The association of exhaustion with suicidal ideation was significant in both depressed (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.14-1.61) and not depressed (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.13-2.76) participants. In exhausted participants, insufficient job control, an unfavorable occupational climate, low educational level, and depression were associated with increased odds of suicidal ideation. Conclusion: Exhaustion is linked with risk of suicidal ideation in employees not in health care service, regardless of depression status. Exhausted employees, particularly those having poor job resources, should be recognized as an at-risk group.

Characteristics of Korean Employees Without Depression but Having Suicidal Ideation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the factors related to suicidal ideation targeting the risk group showing suicidal ideation despite the absence of depression in Korean workers. METHODS: The data of 14,425 participants who were employees aged of 18 to 75 years who attended a mental health checkup program at the Workplace Mental Health Institute, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital from June 2015 to October 2019 were analyzed. A self-report questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic factors, suicidal ideation, job stress, levels of depression and anxiety, and resilience was administered. A Hierarchical logistic regression model was used with suicidal ideation as dependent variable. Separate analyses were conducted according to depressive symptoms using the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. RESULTS: Being women, older, and having low resilience, more perceived stress, more severe anxiety and less sleeping hours were associated with suicidal ideation in no-depression group (CES-D <16). In the subcategories of job stress, lack of reward was significantly associated with suicidal ideation in no-depression group. CONCLUSION: This study identified the characteristics of a group that has no depression but has suicidal ideation in Korean workers. Among job stress items, lack of reward is a clear characteristic to be considered with caution in this group.