Secular trends in the incidence of major depressive disorder and dysthymia in China from 1990 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: Depression is increasingly recognized as a worldwide serious, public health concern. A better understanding of depression is important for advancing its management and learning the difference between major depressive disorder (MDD) and dysthymia. Our aim is to conduct a concurrent analysis of the trends of both MDD and dysthymia in China. METHODS: The data on depression from 1990 to 2019 were collected from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019). To determine the average annual percent changes (AAPC) and relative risks (RRs), joinpoint regression and the age-period-cohort models were employed, respectively. RESULTS: The incidence number of MDD and dysthymia continuously increased in China from 1990 to 2019, however, the age-standardized rates (ASR) had a decreasing trend in both men and women. The results from joinpoint regression showed that a declining trend was presented in young people (< 50 years) but an increased trend in the elderly (≥ 50 years) both in men and women, during 1990-2019. Age is the most influential factor for MDD and dysthymia. Age RRs for MDD incidence had an overall increasing trend with age. Period RR in MDD presented a U-shaped pattern, while Cohort RRs presented an inverted U-shaped pattern. On the other hand, RRs in dysthymia for period and cohort effects had no statistical significance, only the age effect presented an inverted U-shaped pattern. CONCLUSIONS: The disparities in trends observed between MDD and dysthymia during the period of 1990-2019 indicated the significance of distinguishing between these two disorders. The age, period and cohort effects all had a greater impact on MDD than on dysthymia, and age effects presented different influential patterns in these two. To alleviate the burden of depressive disorders in China, proactive measures need to be implemented, with particular attention to the elderly population.

Prevalence of affective disorders in Chinese school-attending children and adolescents aged 6-16 based on a national survey by MINI-Kid.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymia disorder (DD) and bipolar disorder (BD) are the most prevalent affective disorders. A nationwide epidemiological investigation of MDD, DD and BP in school-attending children and adolescents was carried out, taking the effect of age, gender and comorbidity into consideration. METHODS: A two-stage nationwide epidemiological study of point prevalence was conducted. Using a multistage cluster stratified random sampling strategy. The sample distribution was described, and the point prevalence of affective disorders was estimated. Chi-squared tests were used to compare disease prevalence based on sex and age. Comorbid ratios for MDD, DD and BP were calculated. RESULTS: The total number of cases in Stage 1 was 72,107 (aged 6-16 years). The point prevalence of MDD, DD and BP were 2.004 % (95 % CI: 1.902 to 2.106), 0.352 % (95 % CI: 0.309 to 0.395) and 0.856 % (95 % CI: 0.788 to 0.923), respectively. The total prevalence of affective disorder was 3.212 % (95 % CI: 3.079 to 3.338). The total prevalence of affective disorders between sexes (female: 3.834 % versus male: 2.587 %, χ2 = 90.155, p < 0.001) was consistent with the gender difference in MDD, DD and MD. The total prevalence of affective disorders in adolescents was higher than that in children (adolescents: 5.024 % versus children: 1.863 %, χ2 = 566.841, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first nationwide survey on the prevalence of affective disorders among school-attending children and adolescents aged 6-16 in China. Our results also highlighted the importance of addressing comorbidities in future studies of affective disorders.

Prevalence of depressive disorders and associated demographic characteristics in Shandong: An epidemiological investigation.

BACKGROUND: Depression is characterized by debilitating symptoms and high recurrence rates, and there are relatively few large-scale epidemiological surveys of depressive disorders conducted in Shandong since 2005. Data from the largest Epidemiological Survey of Mental Disorders conducted in 2015 in Shandong were collected to investigate the prevalence of depressive disorders and associated demographic characteristics in general adult population. METHODS: A multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method was adopted to select residents and a two-stage screening and assessment process was used to define the prevalence and characteristics of depressive disorders. Respondents were initially screened using the General Health Questionnaire followed by a structured clinical interview using the DSM-IV criteria. RESULTS: Among 27,489 respondents who completed the survey, 1277 respondents met the diagnostic criteria for depressive disorders. The adjusted prevalence in the last month was 4.86%, among which the prevalence of major depressive disorder, dysthymia, and unspecified depressive disorder were 2.32%, 1.78%, and 0.75%, respectively. 40.35% of depression patients had moderate or severe functional impairment and only 10.65% of patients had visited a psychiatric service. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that age, gender, occupation, education, marital status, and urban/rural living were associated with the prevalence. LIMITATIONS: The key limitation is that this is a cross-sectional survey therefore cannot draw any causal relationship between risk factors and disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this largest epidemiological study reveal current prevalence of depressive disorders and associated demographic factors and offers opportunities for policy makers and health-care professionals to improve mental health provision in Shandong.

Oxidative Stress Risk Is Increased with a Sedentary Lifestyle during Aging in Mexican Women.

Oxidative stress (OS) increases during the human aging process, and the sedentary lifestyle could be a prooxidant factor. In this study, we determine the effect of sedentary lifestyle on OS during the aging process in Mexican women. A longitudinal study of two-year follow-up was carried out with 177 community-dwelling women (40-69 y) from Mexico City. We measured as OS markers plasma malondialdehyde, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), total plasma antioxidant status, uric acid level, antioxidant gap, and SOD/GPx ratio. To define OS using all the markers, we defined cut-off values of each parameter based on the 90th percentile of young healthy subjects and, we calculated a stress score (SS) ranging from 0 to 7, which represented the intensity of the marker modifications. All the women answered a structured questionnaire about prooxidant factors, including physical activity specially the type of activity, frequency, and duration, and they answered Spanish versions of self-assessment tests for establishing dysthymia and insomnia as potential confounders. Principal component and Poisson regression analysis were used as statistical tools, being two-year OS the primary outcome. The OS was considerate as SS ≥ 4 and sedentary lifestyle as <30 min/day of physical activity, beside several prooxidant factors and age that were covariables. SS is higher in sedentary lifestyle women after the two-year follow-up; although, the difference was statistically significant only in older women. Four principal components were associated with the OS, and 7 out of 8 prooxidant factors were important for the analysis, which were included in the Poisson model. The predictive factors for OS were the sedentary lifestyle (adjusted PR = 2.37, CI95%: 1.30-4.30, p < 0.01), and age, in which the risk increases 1.06 (CI95%:1.02-2.11, p < 0.01) by each year of age. Our findings suggest that a sedentary lifestyle increases the OS during the aging in Mexican women.

Prevalence of depressive disorders and treatment in China: a cross-sectional epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: In China, depressive disorders have been estimated to be the second leading cause of years lived with disability. However, nationally representative epidemiological data for depressive disorders, in particular use of mental health services by adults with these disorders, are unavailable in China. The present study, part of the China Mental Health Survey, 2012-15, aims to describe the socioeconomic characteristics and the use of mental health services in people with depressive disorders in China. METHODS: The China Mental Health Survey was a cross-sectional epidemiological survey of mental disorders in a multistage clustered-area probability sample of adults of Chinese nationality (≥18 years) from 157 nationwide representative population-based disease surveillance points in 31 provinces across China. Trained investigators interviewed the participants with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 to ascertain the presence of lifetime and 12-month depressive disorders according to DSM-IV criteria, including major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and depressive disorder not otherwise specified. Participants with 12-month depressive disorders were asked whether they received any treatment for their emotional problems during the past 12 months and, if so, the specific types of treatment providers. The Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) was used to assess impairments associated with 12-month depressive symptoms. Data-quality control procedures included logic check by computers, sequential recording check, and phone-call check by the quality controllers, and reinterview check by the psychiatrists. Data were weighted according to the age-sex-residence distribution data from China's 2010 census population survey to adjust for differential probabilities of selection and differential response, as well as to post-stratify the sample to match the population distribution. FINDINGS: 28 140 respondents (12 537 [44·6%] men and 15 603 [55·4%] women) completed the survey between July 22, 2013, and March 5, 2015. Ethnicity data (Han or non-Han) were collected for only a subsample. Prevalence of any depressive disorders was higher in women than men (lifetime prevalence odds ratio [OR] 1·44 [95% CI 1·20-1·72] and 12-month prevalence OR 1·41 [1·12-1·78]), in unemployed people than employed people (lifetime OR 2·38 [95% CI 1·68-3·38] and 12-month OR 2·80 [95% CI 1·88-4·18]), and in people who were separated, widowed, or divorced compared with those who were married or cohabiting (lifetime OR 1·87 [95% CI 1·39-2·51] and 12-month OR 1·85 [95% CI 1·40-2·46]). Overall, 574 (weighted % 75·9%) of 744 people with 12-month depressive disorders had role impairment of any SDS domain: 439 (83·6%) of 534 respondents with major depressive disorder, 207 (79·8%) of 254 respondents with dysthymic disorder, and 122 (59·9%) of 189 respondents with depressive disorder not otherwise specified. Only an estimated 84 (weighted % 9·5%) of 1007 participants with 12-month depressive disorders were treated in any treatment sector: 38 (3·6%) in speciality mental health, 20 (1·5%) in general medical, two (0·3%) in human services, and 21 (2·7%) in complementary and alternative medicine. Only 12 (0·5%) of 1007 participants with depressive disorders were treated adequately. INTERPRETATION: Depressive disorders in China were more prevalent in women than men, unemployed people than employed, and those who were separated, widowed, or divorced than people who were married or cohabiting. Most people with depressive disorders reported social impairment. Treatment rates were very low, and few people received adequate treatment. National programmes are needed to remove barriers to availability, accessibility, and acceptability of care for depression in China. FUNDING: National Health Commission and Ministry of Science and Technology of People's Republic of China. TRANSLATION: For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Oral contraceptives, depressive and insomnia symptoms in adult women with and without depression.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, oral contraceptive (OC) use is a very common form of birth control, although it has been associated with symptoms of depression and insomnia. Insomnia is a risk factor for major depressive disorder (MDD) but may also be a symptom of the disorder. Despite the large number of women who use OC, it is yet unknown whether women with previous or current diagnosis of depression are more likely to experience more severe depressive and insomnia symptoms during concurrent OC use than women without diagnosis of depression. AIM: This study examined associations between OC use and concurrent symptoms of depression (including atypical depression) and insomnia as well as between OC and prevalences of concurrent dysthymia and MDD. Participants were adult women with and without a history of MDD or dysthymia. We hypothesized that OC use is associated with concurrent increased severity of depressive symptoms and insomnia symptoms, as well as with an increased prevalence of concurrent diagnoses of dysthymia and MDD. We also hypothesized that a history of MDD or dysthymia moderates the relationship between OC use and depressive and insomnia symptoms. METHODS: Measurements from premenopausal adult women from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) were grouped, based on whether participants were using OC or naturally cycling (NC). OC use, timing and regularity of the menstrual cycle were assessed with a structured interview, self-reported symptoms of depression (including atypical depression), insomnia with validated questionnaires, and MDD and dysthymia with structured diagnostic interviews. RESULTS: We included a total of 1301 measurements in women who reported OC use and 1913 measurements in NC women (mean age 35.6, 49.8% and 28.9% of measurements in women with a previous depression or current depression, respectively). Linear mixed models showed that overall, OC use was neither associated with more severe depressive symptoms (including atypical depressive symptoms), nor with higher prevalence of diagnoses of MDD or dysthymia. However, by disentangling the amalgamated overall effect, within-person estimates indicated increased depressive symptoms and depressive disorder prevalence during OC use, whereas between-person estimated indicated lower depressive symptoms and prevalence of depressive disorders. OC use was consistently associated with more severe concurrent insomnia symptoms, in the overall estimates as well as in the within-person and between-person estimates. Presence of current or previous MDD or dysthymia did not moderate the associations between OC use and depressive or insomnia symptoms. DISCUSSION: The study findings showed consistent associations between OC use and more severe insomnia symptoms, but no consistent associations between OC and depressive symptoms or diagnoses. Instead, post-hoc analyses showed that associations between OC and depression differed between within- and between person-estimates. This indicates that, although OC shows no associations on the overall level, some individuals might experience OC-associated mood symptoms. Our findings underscore the importance of accounting for individual differences in experiences during OC use. Furthermore, it raises new questions about mechanisms underlying associations between OC, depression and insomnia.

Irritability and Inattention Not Sad Low Mood Predict Impulsiveness in Children and Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder and Persistent Depressive Disorder.

ABSTRACT: The specific relationships between impulsiveness, inattention, sad, low mood, and irritability have not been systematically examined in young people with major depressive disorder with and without persistent depressive disorder. The relationships are important to clarify because these symptom dimensions may increase suicidal risk in children and adolescents with these depressive disorders. A total of 313 medication-naive young people (aged 6-16 years) with active major depressive disorder (MDD) alone, persistent depressive disorder (DD) alone, and comorbid MDD and DD were identified. "Inattention," "sad/unhappy," and "irritable" mood were identified by parent standardized questionnaire. Standard multiple regression was used to investigate how well inattention, sad/unhappy, and irritable mood predict impulsiveness. Inattention (32% of the variance, increased) and irritable mood (5% of the variance, increased) both made independent significant contributions to impulsiveness, whereas sad/unhappy mood did not. Decreasing irritability via more targeted and comprehensive management approaches may ameliorate impulsiveness in young people with these depressive disorders.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of depressive symptoms, dysthymia and major depressive disorders among homeless people.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the global prevalence estimates of depressive symptoms, dysthymia and major depressive disorders (MDDs) among homeless people. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Databases including PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were systematically searched up to February 2020 to identify relevant studies that have reported data on the prevalence of depressive symptoms, dysthymia and MDDs among homeless people. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Original epidemiological studies written in English that addressed the prevalence of depressive problems among homeless people. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: A random-effect meta-analysis was performed to pool the prevalence estimated from individual studies. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were employed to compare the prevalence across the groups as well as to identify the source of heterogeneities. The Joanna Briggs Institute's quality assessment checklist was used to measure the study quality. Cochran's Q and the I2 test were used to assess heterogeneity between the studies. RESULTS: Forty publications, including 17 215 participants, were included in the final analysis. This meta-analysis demonstrated considerably higher prevalence rates of depressive symptoms 46.72% (95% CI 37.77% to 55.90%), dysthymia 8.25% (95% CI 4.79% to 11.86%), as well as MDDs 26.24% (95% CI 21.02% to 32.22%) among homeless people. Our subgroup analysis showed that the prevalence of depressive symptoms was high among younger homeless people (<25 years of age), whereas the prevalence of MDD was high among older homeless people (>50 years of age) when compared with adults (25-50 years). CONCLUSION: This review showed that nearly half, one-fourth and one-tenth of homeless people are suffering from depressive symptoms, dysthymia and MDDs, respectively, which are notably higher than the reported prevalence rates in the general population. The findings suggest the need for appropriate mental health prevention and treatment strategies for this population group.

The use of biofeedback intervention in the improvement of depression levels: a randomised trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of biofeedback intervention in the levels of depression. The main hypothesis tested if the use of biofeedback improves depression levels compared to the control group. METHODS: A randomised clinical trial. The final sample was composed of 36 participants (18 in the experimental group, receiving 6 training, once a week, with biofeedback; and 18 in the control group, who received conventional treatment in the service).Outcome measures were assessed in two stages: pre-test and post-test. The research used the following instruments: demographic survey data, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0.0 and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The factors and variables were presented in terms of descriptive and inferential statistics. Fisher's exact test (p < 0.05) was used to verify the existence of an association between the counting variables. The multinomial logistic regression model was adopted, and the Logit link function was used, as the software RStudio version 3.6.2. RESULTS: The factors that remained in the final model were group, sex, partner, atypical antidepressant, benzodiazepines, mood stabiliser, antiepileptic and antihistamine, according to the levels of depression based on the BDI. The group that did not receive biofeedback intervention had 16 times more chances of increasing the depression levels compared to participants in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The use of biofeedback reduces depression, thus, representing a complementary alternative for the treatment of moderate and severe depression, and dysthymia.

Parent- and child-reported anxiety disorders differentiating major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To date, specific parent- and child-defined anxiety disorders associated with dysthymic disorder (DD; DSM-5 persistent depressive disorder equivalent) with and without major depressive disorder (MDD) have not been investigated in children and adolescents. METHOD: In a cross-sectional study, we compared point prevalence rates of parent- and child-reported anxiety disorders in DD alone (N = 154), MDD alone (N = 29), comorbid DD and MDD (N = 130) and anxiety disorders alone (N = 126) groups. RESULTS: DD alone and MDD alone did not differ with respect to comorbid anxiety disorders from parent and child reports, while parent-reported panic disorder (PD) was significantly increased in the DD and MDD group compared to the other three groups as was child-reported post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to the MDD alone and anxiety disorders alone groups. In contrast, specific phobia (SpPh) was significantly increased in the anxiety disorders alone group compared to the DD and MDD group. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that specific fear-related anxiety disorders, especially parent-reported PD and child-reported PTSD, may aid the early recognition of DD and MDD.

Simulation study to demonstrate biases created by diagnostic criteria of mental illnesses: major depressive episodes, dysthymia, and manic episodes.

OBJECTIVES: Composite diagnostic criteria alone are likely to create and introduce biases into diagnoses that subsequently have poor relationships with input symptoms. This study aims to understand the relationships between the diagnoses and the input symptoms, as well as the magnitudes of biases created by diagnostic criteria and introduced into the diagnoses of mental illnesses with large disease burdens (major depressive episodes, dysthymic disorder, and manic episodes). SETTINGS: General psychiatric care. PARTICIPANTS: Without real-world data available to the public, 100 000 subjects were simulated and the input symptoms were assigned based on the assumed prevalence rates (0.05, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7) and correlations between symptoms (0, 0.1, 0.4, 0.7 and 0.9). The input symptoms were extracted from the diagnostic criteria. The diagnostic criteria were transformed into mathematical equations to demonstrate the sources of biases and convert the input symptoms into diagnoses. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: The relationships between the input symptoms and diagnoses were interpreted using forward stepwise linear regressions. Biases due to data censoring or categorisation introduced into the intermediate variables, and the three diagnoses were measured. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of the diagnoses were lower than those of the input symptoms and proportional to the assumed prevalence rates and the correlations between the input symptoms. Certain input or bias variables consistently explained the diagnoses better than the others. Except for 0 correlations and 0.7 prevalence rates of the input symptoms for the diagnosis of dysthymic disorder, the input symptoms could not fully explain the diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: There are biases created due to composite diagnostic criteria and introduced into the diagnoses. The design of the diagnostic criteria determines the prevalence of the diagnoses and the relationships between the input symptoms, the diagnoses, and the biases. The importance of the input symptoms has been distorted largely by the diagnostic criteria.

A Meta-Analysis of the Generalization of the Reliability of State/Trait Depression Inventory Scores / Meta-Análisis de Generalización de la Fiabilidad de las Puntuaciones del Inventario de Depresión Estado/Rasgo

BACKGROUND: Depression is a disorder that is highly prevalent nowadays. Within the dimensional explanatory model of depression, the State/Trait Depression Inventory was developed. Its objective is to identify the degree of affectation (state) and the frequency of occurrence (trait) of the affective component of depression. The instrument has proven reliable and comprises two factors in its structure: state and trait, with two euthymia and dysthymia subscales in each one. The objective of this meta-analysis is to find an average alpha for the questionnaire. METHOD: A bibliographical search was conducted on Web of Science and Scopus. Forty-five articles were selected. RESULTS: The alpha ranges from .84 to .89 for all factorizations, and in most studies a bifactorial structure of state and trait depression was found. CONCLUSIONS: The State/Trait Depression Inventory is a reliable and suitable instrument for measuring depression

ANTECEDENTES: la depresión es un trastorno de alta prevalencia en la actualidad. Dentro del modelo explicativo dimensional de la depresión, se desarrolló el Inventario de Depresión Estado/Rasgo, cuyo objetivo es identificar el grado de afectación (estado) y la frecuencia de ocurrencia (rasgo) del componente afectivo de la depresión. Este instrumento ha demostrado ser fiable y poseer dos factores en su estructura: estado y rasgo con dos subescalas eutimia y distimia en cada uno. El objetivo de este meta-análisis es hallar un alfa medio de las puntuaciones cuestionario. MÉTODO: se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en Web of Science y Scopus. Se seleccionaron 45 artículos. RESULTADOS: el alfa oscila entre 0,84 y 0,89 para todas las factorizaciones, y en la mayoría de los estudios se halló una estructura bifactorial de depresión estado y rasgo. CONCLUSIONES: el Inventario de Depresión Estado/Rasgo es un instrumento fiable y adecuado para medir la depresión

Depressive disorders in Brazil: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

BACKGROUND: Depression is one of the major causes of disability worldwide. The objective of this study was to analyze the results of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD-2017) for depressive disorders in Brazil and its Federated Units (FUs) in 1990 and 2017. METHODS: We used GBD-2017 study methodology to evaluate the prevalence estimates, the disability-adjusted life-year (DALY), and the years lived with disability (YLDs) for depressive disorders, which include major depressive disorder and dysthymia. The YLD estimates and the position of these disorders in the DALY and YLD rankings were compared to those of seven other countries. The observed versus expected YLD, based on the sociodemographic index (SDI), were compared. RESULTS: In GBD-2017, the prevalence of depressive disorders in Brazil was 3.30% (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 3.08 to 3.57), ranging from 3.79% (3.53 to 4.09) in Santa Catarina to 2.78% in Pará (2.56 to 3.03), with significant differences between the Federated Units. From 1990 to 2017, there was an increase in number of YLD (55.19%, 49.57 to 60.73), but a decrease in the age-standardized rates (- 9.01%, - 11.66 to - 6.31). The highest proportion of YLD was observed in the age range of 15-64 years and among females. These disorders rank 4th and 13th as leading causes of YLD and DALY, respectively, in Brazil. In the other countries evaluated, the ranking of these disorders in the YLD classification was close to Brazil's, while in the DALY classification, there was higher variability. All countries had YLD rates similar to the overall rate. The observed/expected YLD ratio ranged from 0.81 in Pará to 1.16 in Santa Catarina. Morbidity of depressive disorders was not associated with SDI. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive disorders have been responsible for a high disability burden since 1990, especially in adult women living in the Southern region of the country. The number of people affected by these disorders in the country tends to increase, requiring more investment in mental health aimed at advancements and quality of services. The epidemiological studies of these disorders throughout the national territory can contribute to this planning and to making the Brazilian health system more equitable.

Review of dysthymia and persistent depressive disorder: history, correlates, and clinical implications.

Persistent depressive disorder is a chronic mood disorder that is common and often more disabling than episodic major depression. In DSM-5, the term subsumes several chronic depressive presentations, including dysthymia with or without superimposed major depressive episodes, chronic major depression, and recurrent major depression without recovery between episodes. Dysthymia can be difficult to detect in psychiatric and primary care settings until it intensifies in the form of a superimposed major depressive episode. Although information is scarce concerning the cause of persistent depressive disorder including dysthymia, the causation is likely to be multifactorial. In this narrative Review, we discuss current knowledge about the nosology and neurobiological basis of dysthymia and persistent depressive disorder, emphasising a dimensional perspective based on course for further research. We also review new developments in psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for persistent depressive disorder, and propose a tailored, modular approach to accommodate its multifaceted nature.

Prevalence and recognition of depressive disorders among Chinese older adults receiving primary care: A multi-center cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, there have been increasing calls for integrating late-life mental health services into primary care in China, but data on the epidemiology of depressive disorders in older adults receiving primary care are very limited. This study examined prevalence, correlates and recognition of depressive disorders among Chinese older adults receiving primary care. METHODS: A total of 752 older patients (65+ years) were consecutively recruited from 13 primary care clinics in Wuhan, China, and interviewed with the Chinese Mini-international Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0. RESULTS: One-fifth (20.3%) of the older adults met DSM-IV criteria for depressive disorders during the month prior to the interview: 10.2% had major depression, 4.8% had dysthymia, and 5.3% had minor depressive disorder. The recognition rate of older patients with depressive disorders was 1.3% only. In multiple logistic regression analysis, factors significantly associated with depressive disorders included female gender (OR = 1.61), an education of primary school and below (OR = 1.69), poor financial status (OR = 2.44), poor or fair family relationship (OR = 1.66), loneliness (OR = 1.77), hypertension (OR = 1.91), heart disease (OR = 2.02), chronic gastric ulcer (OR = 6.01), and arthritis (OR = 3.55). LIMITATIONS: Older adults from primary care clinics of economically underdeveloped regions of China were not included. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive disorders are prevalent but poorly recognized in Chinese older adults receiving treatment in primary care clinics. In order to improve the emotional well-being and health of older adults, it is time to integrate the management of common mental disorders into primary healthcare in China.

Extremism and common mental illness: cross-sectional community survey of White British and Pakistani men and women living in England.

BACKGROUND: Mental illnesses may explain vulnerability to develop extremist beliefs that can lead to violent protest and terrorism. Yet there is little evidence. AIMS: To investigate the relationship between mental illnesses and extremist beliefs. METHOD: Population survey of 618 White British and Pakistani people in England. Extremism was assessed by an established measure of sympathies for violent protest and terrorism (SVPT). Respondents with any positive scores (showing sympathies) were compared with those with all negative scores. We calculated associations between extremist sympathies and ICD-10 diagnoses of depression and dysthymia, and symptoms of anxiety, personality difficulties, autism and post-traumatic stress. Also considered were demographics, life events, social assets, political engagement and criminal convictions. RESULTS: SVPT were more common in those with major depression with dysthymia (risk ratio 4.07, 95% CI 1.37-12.05, P = 0.01), symptoms of anxiety (risk ratio 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.15, P = 0.002) or post-traumatic stress (risk ratio 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05, P = 0.003). At greater risk of SVPT were: young adults (<21 versus ≥21: risk ratio 3.05, 95% CI 1.31-7.06, P = 0.01), White British people (versus Pakistani people: risk ratio 2.24, 95% CI 1.25-4.02, P = 0.007) and those with criminal convictions (risk ratio 2.23, 95% CI 1.01-4.95, P = 0.048). No associations were found with life events, social assets and political engagement. CONCLUSION: Depression, dysthymia and symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress are associated with extremist sympathies.

Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders and Associated Factors among the Youth in Ravansar, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders contribute significantly to the burden of diseases in Iran. Therefore, the current study aims to assess the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and their associated factors among youth in Kermanshah province of Iran. METHODS: The current study is a part of the first phase of Ravansar Cohort (a part of the PERSIAN Youth Cohort) including 2991 participants aged 15 to 34 from Ravansar district in western Iran. Enrollment and data collection for this phase were performed from end April 2015 to early April 2017. The data were gathered using structured interviews and national and international standard questionnaires. Data analysis was carried out using multinomial logistic regression and chi-square test. RESULTS: The prevalence of any psychiatric disorder among the selected population was 31.3%. Major depressive disorder (MDD) (21.6%), followed by generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) (6.4%) and dysthymia (1.9%) were the most prevalent disorders among the study individuals. The prevalence of alcohol and opioid/stimulant use disorders was 4.6% and 5.1%, respectively. Moreover, there was significant relationship between location of residence (city or village) and marital status with prevalence of the disorders. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the current study, it can be concluded that the prevalence of mental and psychiatric disorders among the youth in Ravansar district, western Iran is relatively high and needs specific plans and interventions to control it.

Antidepressants Reduced Risk of Mortality in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan.

CONTEXT: The effect of antidepressant (ATD) use on mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) has not yet been sufficiently studied, although comorbid depression is common in this population. OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of ATDs on mortality among DM patients. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study in a national database. SETTING: This population-based study used the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Since 2000, we identified 53,412 cases of newly diagnosed patients with DM and depression. Patient cases were followed for assessing mortality until 2013. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The association between mortality and ATD use was explored adjusting for cumulative dosing. RESULTS: Using the time-dependent Cox regression model, ATD use was associated with significantly reduced mortality among patients with DM [in the highest dose group: hazard ratio (HR), 0.65; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.71]. Further analysis showed that differences in mortality existed across ATD categories: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.71), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.78), norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (HR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.63), mirtazapine (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.82), tricyclic/tetracyclic antidepressants (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.97), and trazodone (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.91). However, reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A (RIMA) was found to be associated with an increase, rather than a decrease, in total mortality (HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.99). CONCLUSION: Most ATDs, but not RIMA, were associated with significantly reduced mortality among a population with comorbid DM and depression.

Efficacy of an internet-based self-management intervention for depression or dysthymia - a study protocol of an RCT using an active control condition.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of major depressive disorder, a highly prevalent disorder associated with pronounced burden, is a large challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. Internet based self-management interventions seem to be a cost effective way to complement the treatment of depressed patients, but the accumulating evidence is mainly based on the comparison to waitlist controls and treatment as usual, which might lead to an overestimation of effects. Furthermore, studies assessing long-term effects and possible negative outcomes are still rare. METHODS/DESIGN: The proposed study evaluates the efficacy of the German version of the iFightDepression® tool in comparison to an active control condition. A total of 360 patients with mild to moderate depressive symptoms are included into a two-armed randomized controlled trial. They receive one of two six week interventions; either the iFightDepression® tool or progressive muscle relaxation serving as the control condition. Both intervention groups receive information material, weekly tasks via the internet and regular phone calls as part of the intervention. The primary outcome is change in depressive symptoms after the intervention period, as measured with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology. Satisfaction with the program, usability, changes in perceived quality of life, and possible negative effects are assessed as secondary outcomes. DISCUSSION: This study represents the first randomized controlled trial on the iFightDepression® self-management tool in its German version, aiming at efficacy, but also at providing new insights into so far understudied aspects of E-mental health programs, namely the specificity of the treatment effect compared to an active control condition, it's continuity over a time course of 12 months, and possible negative effects of these internet based interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International trial-registration took place through the "international clinical trials registry platform" (WHO) with the secondary ID 080-15-09032015. German Clinical Trial Registration: DRKS00009323 (DRKS.de, registered on 25 February 2016).