An Observational Pilot Study using a Digital Phenotyping Approach in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Treated with Trazodone.

This 8-week study was designed to explore any correlation between a passive data collection approach using a wearable device (i.e., digital phenotyping), active data collection (patient's questionnaires), and a traditional clinical evaluation [Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)] in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) treated with trazodone once a day (OAD). Overall, 11 out of 30 planned patients were enrolled. Passive parameters measured by the wearable device included number of steps, distance walked, calories burned, and sleep quality. A relationship between the sleep score (derived from passively measured data) and MADRS score was observed, as was a relationship between data collected actively (assessing depression, sleep, anxiety, and warning signs) and MADRS score. Despite the limited sample size, the efficacy and safety results were consistent with those previously reported for trazodone. The small population in this study limits the conclusions that can be drawn about the correlation between the digital phenotyping approach and traditional clinical evaluation; however, the positive trends observed suggest the need to increase synergies among clinicians, patients, and researchers to overcome the cultural barriers toward implementation of digital tools in the clinical setting. This study is a step toward the use of digital data in monitoring symptoms of depression, and the preliminary data obtained encourage further investigations of a larger population of patients monitored over a longer period of time.

Serum testosterone levels and coital activity in men with somatosexual disorders.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study is to assess the relationship between serum testosterone levels and the coital activity in groups of married men with Klinefelter's syndrome and in men with a varicocele investigated for marital infertility. These are compared with a group of somatosexually well developed men with a normozoospermia and adequate sexual life. SUBJECT AND METHODS: The serum testosterone levels were assessed in 77 patients with Klinefelter's syndrome (mean age 31 years, SD 5.78), 58 men with a varicocele (mean age 30.5 years, SD 5.80) and 85 healthy men with normal spermiological values (mean age 32.7 years, SD 6.31). The frequency of sexual intercourse in their marriage was assessed by interview. RESULTS: We found that, although their serum testosterone levels were significantly lower (p < 0.01), the coital activity in both groups with somatosexual disorders did not significantly differ from the group of men with normal semen parameters. The coital activity in the group of men with Klinefelter's syndrome decreased after 35 years of age, before any decrease in serum male sex hormone levels occurred. CONCLUSION: Statistical analysis revealed that coital activity did not correlate with testosterone levels, but correlated significantly with age. A possible interpretation of the data is that Mother Nature ensues the survival of species by the production of not only a redundant amount of spermatozoids, but also of male sex hormones.