The predictive role of hair cortisol concentrations for treatment outcome in PTSD inpatients.

Psychological treatments of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated with non-response rates of up to 50%. This fact highlights the need to identify characteristics of poorer treatment outcome. Among others, previous evidence focused on the role of dysfunctional cortisol secretion which has been related to the development, maintenance and treatment of PTSD. Particularly, promising evidence stems from research using hair cortisol analysis which allows for a reliable assessment of cortisol secretion over several months. Another variable that has been linked to both HCC and non-response to treatment is childhood maltreatment (CM). In order to examine the predictive value of pre-treatment hair cortisol concentrations (HCC), treatment-related changes in HCC as well as CM for changes in PTSD symptomatology, we set up a prospective study in which we followed 52 female PTSD patients over the course of a trauma-focused inpatient treatment. Specifically, 3-month integrated HCC were assessed at treatment entry, at discharge and on average five months later accompanied by assessments of PTSD, overall and depressive symptomatology. CM was measured at treatment entry. Self-report indices improved following inpatient treatment. No evidence for pre-treatment HCC to be associated with changes in PTSD symptoms was revealed. However, attenuated pre-treatment HCC predicted less improvement in overall symptomatology from treatment entry to discharge. This effect lost significance after adjusting for baseline dissociative symptoms. Neither changes in HCC nor CM were predictive of treatment response. Pre-treatment cross-sectional analyses revealed no association between HCC and CM. The current hair cortisol data provided little evidence for a predictive role of lower long-term integrated cortisol secretion for poorer inpatient treatment outcome. If corroborated by further research in larger PTSD samples with much more methodological rigor, these data might be a valuable basis for future tailored research projects.

Siderophore production by streptomycetes-stability and alteration of ferrihydroxamates in heavy metal-contaminated soil.

Heavy metal-contaminated soil derived from a former uranium mining site in Ronneburg, Germany, was used for sterile mesocosms inoculated with the extremely metal-resistant Streptomyces mirabilis P16B-1 or the sensitive control strain Streptomyces lividans TK24. The production and fate of bacterial hydroxamate siderophores in soil was analyzed, and the presence of ferrioxamines E, B, D, and G was shown. While total ferrioxamine concentrations decreased in water-treated controls after 30 days of incubation, the sustained production by the bacteria was seen. For the individual molecules, alteration between neutral and cationic forms and linearization of hydroxamates was observed for the first time. Mesocosms inoculated with biomass of either strain showed changes of siderophore contents compared with the non-treated control indicating for auto-alteration and consumption, respectively, depending on the vital bacteria present. Heat stability and structural consistency of siderophores obtained from sterile culture filtrate were shown. In addition, low recovery (32 %) from soil was shown, indicating adsorption to soil particles or soil organic matter. Fate and behavior of hydroxamate siderophores in metal-contaminated soils may affect soil properties as well as conditions for its inhabiting (micro)organisms.

Growth of streptomycetes in soil and their impact on bioremediation.

The impact of the extremely heavy metal resistant actinomycete Streptomyces mirabilis P16B-1 on heavy metal mobilization/stabilization, phytoremediation and stress level of plants was analyzed in the presence and absence of Sorghum bicolor in sterile microcosms containing highly metal contaminated or control soil. For control, a metal sensitive S. lividans TK24 was used. The metal contents with respect to the mobile and specifically adsorbed fractions of the contaminated soil were considerably decreased by addition of both, living and dead biomass of the strains, with the heavy metal resistant S. mirabilis P16B-1 showing considerably higher impact. Both strains could grow in control soil, while only S. mirabilis P16B-1 formed new tip growth in the metal contaminated soil. A plant growth promoting effect was visible for S. mirabilis P16B-1 in contaminated soil enhancing the dry weight of inoculated Sorghum plants. Thus, metal resistant strains like S. mirabilis P16B-1 are able to enhance phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils.

Obesity and the risk for mental disorders in a representative German adult sample.

BACKGROUND: A systematic approach to examining associations among obesity and socio-demographic determinants, psychological problems, and mental disorders in epidemiological samples is missing. METHODS: Within the representative German Health Interview and Examination Survey and its Mental Health Supplement (GHS-MHS), 4181 subjects (age 18-65 years) took part in a physical examination (including measurement of body weight and height) and a standardized psychological interview (M-CIDI). Obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m(2)), somatic diseases, socio-economic variables, health-related quality of life (SF-36), and mental disorders (DSM-IV) were assessed. Data were analysed by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Prevalence of obesity was 18.5%. There was a strong association between obesity and somatic conditions, as well as to low socio-economic status (SES). No psychosocial disadvantages (e.g. regarding social relationships, impairment due to mental health problems, depressed feelings) for the obese individuals were found. With the exception of a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders in obese men (12.5 versus 8.5%, OR = 1.53, CI = 1.06-2.21, disappearing when controlled for number of somatic conditions), obese persons showed no elevated rates of mental disorders. DISCUSSION: Obesity is associated with a low SES and some somatic disadvantages but not with other social or emotional disadvantages that have been often assumed to be very prevalent in that group. From the population-based perspective, obesity per se seems not to be associated with a higher risk for suffering from mental disorders, whereas relations between specific aspects of obesity and specific types of psychopathology still need further study.

Is parenthood associated with mental health? Findings from an epidemiological community survey.

BACKGROUND: Despite some reports on a potential link between parenthood and mental health, associations have not been systematically investigated yet. The present article provides prevalence rates of the most common mental disorders for parents and non-parents. Interactions between demographic and socio-economic variables, parental status and mental health are explored. METHODS: Data from the 1998/99 German Health Survey (GHS) and its Mental Health Supplement (GHS-MHS) were analysed using logistic regression models. Analyses were restricted to participants in the age group 18 to 49 (N=2,801). Mental disorders and syndromes were assessed with a standardized diagnostic interview (M-CIDI). RESULTS: Parenthood was associated with lower rates of psychiatric morbidity in general, and depressive and substance use disorders, in particular. The association between parental status and mental health was more distinct in men than in women, whereas partnership status moderated this relationship: An absence of partnership was associated with increased rates of all common mental disorders. Among non-parents, such a difference could not be found. Full-time employment, compared to part-time employment or unemployment, was linked to lower rates of the common mental disorders among fathers but not among mothers and non-parents. Age, education and income had no effects on the association between parental status and mental health. CONCLUSION: Parenthood is positively associated with mental health, particularly for men. Most differences can be found for depressive and substance use disorders. Partnership seems especially important for parents since it does not affect prevalence rates of mental disorders among non-parents.

Associations between waist circumference and depressive disorders.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has suggested that abdominal obesity and mental disorders are associated. This paper was initiated to investigate associations between unfavourable waist circumference (WC) and mental disorders in a representative sample of German adults. METHODS: 4181 individuals (aged 18-65 years) took part in a physical examination (including measurement of body weight and WC) and a structured psychological interview (M-CIDI) to evaluate mental disorders. RESULTS: An unfavourable WC (males: 26.9%; females: 31.3%) was highly prevalent. However, unfavourable WC and mental disorders were not associated, neither with regard to the prevalence of any mental disorder nor regarding in particular depressive disorders. Moreover, even middle-aged depressive women that have often been assumed to be at high risk of increased visceral fat did not show more unfavourable WCs than their non-depressed, female counterparts. LIMITATIONS: The main limitation is that the co-occurrence of mental disorders and obesity was recorded but not, if obesity was related to the onset of mental problems. CONCLUSION: From an epidemiologic perspective, it is not possible to prove associations between WC and mental disorders. Patients with unfavourable waist circumferences do not show a higher prevalence of depressive disorders.