Long-term outcomes of physical activity counseling in in-patients with major depressive disorder: results from the PACINPAT randomized controlled trial.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is an increasingly common psychiatric illness associated with a high risk of insufficient physical activity, which in turn is associated with negative mental and physical health outcomes. Theory-based, individually tailored, in-person and remote physical activity counseling has the potential to increase physical activity levels in various populations. Given this, the present study investigated the effect of such a physical activity intervention on the physical activity behavior of in-patients with MDD. This was a multi-center, two-arm randomized controlled trial including initially insufficiently physically active adult in-patients with MDD from four study sites in Switzerland. The sample consisted of 220 participants (Mage = 41 ± 12.6 years, 52% women), 113 of whom were randomized to the intervention group and 107 to the control group. The main outcome, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), was assessed at three time points via hip-worn accelerometer. According to accelerometer measures, there was no significant difference in minutes spent in MVPA over a 12-month intervention period when comparing the intervention with the control group (ß = -1.02, 95% CI = -10.68 to 8.64). Higher baseline physical activity significantly predicted physical activity at post and follow-up. This study showed that it is feasible to deliver an individually tailored, theory-based physical activity counseling intervention to in-patients with MDD, however yielding no significant effects on accelerometer-based MVPA levels. Further efforts are warranted to identify efficacious approaches.Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN10469580, registered on 3rd September 2018, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN10469580 .

N-Methyl-2-{3-methyl-2-[(2Z)-pent-2-en-1-yl]cyclo-pent-2-en-1-yl-idene}hydrazinecarbo-thio-amide.

The equimolar and hydro-chloric acid-catalysed reaction between cis-jasmone and 4-methyl-thio-semicarbazide in ethano-lic solution yields the title compound, C13H21N3S (common name: cis-jasmone 4-methyl-thio-semicarbazone). Two mol-ecules with all atoms in general positions are present in the asymmetric unit. In one of them, the carbon chain is disordered [site occupancy ratio = 0.821 (3):0.179 (3)]. The thio-semicarbazone entities [N-N-C(=S)-N] are approximately planar, with the maximum deviation from the mean plane through the selected atoms being -0.0115 (16) Š(r.m.s.d. = 0.0078 Å) for the non-disordered mol-ecule and 0.0052 (14) Š(r.m.s.d. = 0.0031 Å) for the disordered one. The mol-ecules are not planar, since the jasmone groups have a chain with sp 3-hybridized carbon atoms and, in addition, the thio-semicarbazone fragments are attached to the respective carbon five-membered rings and the dihedral angles between them for each mol-ecule amount to 8.9 (1) and 6.3 (1)°. In the crystal, the mol-ecules are connected through pairs of N-H⋯S and C-H⋯S inter-actions into crystallographically independent centrosymmetric dimers, in which rings of graph-set motifs R 2 2(8) and R 2 1(7) are observed. A Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the major contributions for the crystal cohesion are from H⋯H (70.6%), H⋯S/S⋯H (16.7%), H⋯C/C⋯H (7.5%) and H⋯N/N⋯H (4.9%) inter-actions [considering the two crystallographically independent mol-ecules and only the disordered atoms with the highest s.o.f. for the evaluation].

Erratum: 2-{3-Methyl-2-[(2Z)-pent-2-en-1-yl]cyclo-pent-2-en-1-yl-idene}-N-phenylhydrazinecarbo-thio-amide. Corrigendum.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1107/S2414314623009719.].

Effectiveness of Schema Therapy versus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy versus Supportive Therapy for Depression in Inpatient and Day Clinic Settings: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Schema therapy (ST) reduces depressive symptoms, but clinical trials have not investigated its effectiveness for patients suffering from severe forms of depression and high rates of comorbidities. There is high demand for exploring and improving treatments for this patient group. The objective of the current study was to evaluate whether ST is more effective than individual supportive therapy (IST) and noninferior compared with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating depression. METHODS: For this clinical trial, medicated patients were recruited in inpatient and day clinic settings. The major inclusion criteria were age between 18 and 75 years and primary diagnosis of depression without psychotic symptoms. A total of 292 participants were randomized to ST, CBT, or IST and received 7 weeks of psychotherapy (up to 14 individual and 14 group sessions). The primary outcome was change in depression severity after treatment measured by Beck Depression Inventory-II. Primary test for efficacy was superiority of ST over IST. Secondary test was noninferiority of ST compared with CBT. Multilevel modeling was conducted. The results at 6-month follow-up were explored. RESULTS: Across treatment, ST was not superior to IST. Secondary outcome analyses and completer analyses showed similar results. However, ST showed clinically relevant noninferiority compared with CBT. CONCLUSION: ST for depression as part of a psychiatric care program showed clinical noninferiority compared to CBT, without being superior to IST. ST represents a potentially useful addition to the therapeutic repertoire for the treatment of depression but its efficacy, including long-term efficacy, should be evaluated further.

Targeting metacognitive change mechanisms in acute inpatients with psychotic symptoms: feasibility and acceptability of a modularized group intervention.

Emerging evidence suggests the usefulness of psychological interventions targeting metacognitive change mechanisms in patients experiencing psychosis. Although many of these patients are treated in acute psychiatric contexts, only few studies have adapted such interventions for acute inpatient settings. The present study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary clinical outcomes of a novel modularized group intervention focusing on different aspects of metacognitive change mechanisms. In particular, the intervention aims to reduce patients' acute symptoms by enhancing cognitive insight and to relieve distress via cognitive defusion (i.e. coping). A sample of 37 participants with acute psychosis received up to nine sessions of the intervention. Baseline and post-intervention assessments were conducted for general psychopathology, psychotic symptoms, global functioning, and symptom distress. Measures of change mechanisms were assessed before and after the respective treatment module. Participants' experiences were explored in feedback questionnaires and interviews. Recruitment, retention, and attendance rate met the pre-set feasibility benchmark of 80%. The intervention was well received by participants, who emphasised the group's clear structure, positive atmosphere, and helpful contents. Response rates were high and linear mixed models revealed significant medium-to-large time effects on all clinical outcomes. As expected, increase in hypothesised change mechanisms cognitive insight and decrease in cognitive fusion was found. However, the uncontrolled design limits interpreting clinical effects. The study provides evidence that an intervention based on a metacognitive model is feasible and acceptable for acute inpatients with psychosis. Positive results on clinical outcomes and change mechanisms warrant further exploration in a randomized controlled trial.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk among in-patients with depression compared to healthy controls.

Introduction: Compared to the general population, individuals with depression have an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, little is known so far whether cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) moderates this relationship. Therefore, we examined whether common physiological cardiovascular risk factors differ between patients with depression and healthy (non-depressed) controls, whether patients and controls differ in CRF, and whether higher CRF is associated with a lower cardiovascular risk in both patients and healthy controls. Additionally, we examined whether within the patient sample, cardiovascular risk factors differ between patients with mild, moderate and severe depression, and whether the relationship between symptom severity and cardiovascular risk is moderated by patients' CRF levels. Methods: Data from a multi-centric, two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) was analyzed, including 210 patients (F32, single episode: n = 72, F33, recurrent major depression: n = 135, F31-II, bipolar type II: n = 3) and 125 healthy controls. Waist circumference, body mass index, body fat, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and blood glucose were considered as cardiovascular risk markers. CRF was assessed with a submaximal ergometer test. Differences between groups were examined via χ2-tests and (multivariate) analyses of covariance. Results: Compared to healthy controls, patients with depression had a higher cardiovascular risk as evident from about half of the examined indicators. In the total sample, participants with good CRF had more favourable scores across nearly all risk markers than counterparts with poor CRF. For most variables, no interaction occurred between group and fitness, indicating that in patients and controls, similar differences existed between participants with poor and good CRF. Few differences in risk markers were found between patients with mild, moderate and severe depression, and no interaction occurred between depression severity and CRF. Discussion: Patients with depression and healthy controls differ in several cardiovascular risk markers, putting patients at increased risk for CVDs. In contrast, people with good CRF show more favourable cardiovascular risk scores, a relationship which was observed in both healthy controls and patients with depression. Physical health of psychiatric patients should receive the clinical attention that it deserves. Lifestyle interventions targeting healthy diet and/or physical activity are recommended as a physically active and healthy lifestyle contributes equally to patients' mental well-being and cardiovascular health.

Developing a mechanism-based therapy for acute psychiatric inpatients with psychotic symptoms: an Intervention Mapping approach.

Background: Treatment guidelines for psychosis recommend offering psychotherapy already in the acute illness phase. However, there is a lack of available interventions adapted to the specific needs and key change mechanisms of inpatients experiencing severe symptoms and crisis. In this article we outline the scientific development process of a needs-oriented and mechanism-based group intervention for acute psychiatric inpatients with psychosis (MEBASp). Methods: To guide our intervention design, we used Intervention Mapping (IM), a six-step framework for developing evidence-based health interventions that consisted of an extensive literature review, an in-depth problem definition and needs analysis, the modeling of change mechanisms and outcomes and the production of an intervention prototype. Results: Our low-threshold modularized group intervention consists of nine stand-alone sessions (two per week) within three modules and targets different aspects of metacognitive and social change mechanisms. Module I and II aim to reduce acute symptoms by fostering cognitive insight, Module III focuses on reducing distress via cognitive defusion. Therapy contents are adapted from existing metacognitive treatments such as the Metacognitive Training and presented in a destigmatizing, simply understandable and experience-oriented way. Conclusion: MEBASp is currently evaluated in a single-arm feasibility trial. Using a systematic and rigorous development methodology and providing a detailed description of the development steps demonstrated to be invaluable in improving the intervention's scientific foundation, validity, and replicability for similar research.

An implementation evaluation of the physical activity counseling for in-patients with major depressive disorder (PACINPAT) intervention: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The physical activity counseling for in-patients with major depression (PACINPAT) randomized controlled trial was launched to tackle physical inactivity for in-patients with major depressive disorder. Evidence shows that despite potential treatment effects, physical inactivity is prevalent in this population. To contribute to the assessment of how this in-person and remote, theory-based, individually tailored intervention was designed, received and effected behavior, the aim of this study was to evaluate its implementation. METHODS: This implementation evaluation was conducted within a multi-center randomized controlled trial according to the Process Evaluation Framework by the Medical Research Council including the analysis of reach, dose, fidelity and adaptation. Data were collected from the implementers and the participants randomized to the intervention group of the trial. RESULTS: The study sample comprised 95 physically inactive in-patients (mean age: 42 years, 53% women) with diagnosed major depressive disorder. The intervention reached the intended population (N = 95 in-patients enrolled in the study). The intervention dose varied between early dropouts (counseling sessions, M = 1.67) and study completers with some participants receiving a low dose (counseling sessions, M = 10.05) and high dose (counseling sessions, M = 25.37). Differences in the attendance groups were recognizable in the first two counseling sessions (duration of counseling session about 45 min in early dropouts versus 60 min for study completers). Fidelity of the in-person counseling content was partly achieved and adapted, whereas that of the remote counseling content was well achieved. Participants (86% at follow up) reported satisfaction with the implementers of the intervention. Adaptations were made to content, delivery mode and dose. CONCLUSION: The PACINPAT trial was implemented in the intended population, in varying doses and with adaptations made to in-person counseling content and remote counseling dose. These findings are key to understanding outcome analyses within the PACINPAT trial, further developing interventions and contributing to implementation research among in-patients with depressive disorders. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, ISRCTN10469580 , registered on 3rd September 2018.

Differences in Selective Attention and Inhibitory Control in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder and Healthy Controls Who Do Not Engage in Sufficient Physical Activity.

BACKGROUND: Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) are characterized by neurocognitive impairments and show deficits in various cognitive performance indicators, including executive function. We examined whether sustained attention and inhibitory control differ between patients with MDD and healthy controls, and whether differences exist between patients with mild, moderate, and severe depression. METHODS: Clinical in-patients (N = 212) aged 18-65 years with a current diagnosis of MDD and 128 healthy controls were recruited. Depression severity was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory, and sustained attention and inhibitory control were assessed using the oddball and flanker tasks. The use of these tasks promises insights into executive function in depressive patients that are not biased by verbal skills. Group differences were tested via analyses of covariance. RESULTS: Patients with MDD showed slower reaction times in both the oddball and flanker task, independent of the executive demands of the trial types. Younger participants achieved shorter reaction times in both inhibitory control tasks. After correcting for age, education, smoking, BMI, and nationality, only differences in reaction times in the oddball task were statistically significant. In contrast, reaction times were not sensitive to the symptom severity of depression. CONCLUSION: Our results corroborate deficits in basic information processing and specific impairments in higher-order cognitive processes in MDD patients. As difficulties in executive function underlie problems in planning, initiating, and completing goal-directed activities, they may jeopardize in-patient treatment and contribute to the recurrent nature of depression.

Does an app designed to reduce repetitive negative thinking decrease depression and anxiety in young people? (RETHINK): a randomized controlled prevention trial.

BACKGROUND: The first onset of common mental health disorders, such as mood and anxiety disorders, mostly lies in adolescence or young adulthood. Hence, effective and scalable prevention programs for this age group are urgently needed. Interventions focusing on repetitive negative thinking (RNT) appear especially promising as RNT is an important transdiagnostic process involved in the development of depression and anxiety disorders. First clinical trials indeed show positive effects of preventative interventions targeting RNT on adult as well as adolescent mental health. Self-help interventions that can be delivered via a mobile phone app may have the advantage of being highly scalable, thus facilitating prevention on a large scale. This trial aims to investigate whether an app-based RNT-focused intervention can reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms in young people at risk for mental health disorders. METHODS: The trial will be conducted in a sample (planned N = 351) of individuals aged 16-22 years with elevated levels of RNT but no current depression or anxiety disorder. In a randomized controlled between-subjects design, two versions of the app-based self-help intervention will be compared to a waiting list control condition. The full RNT-focused intervention encompasses a variety of RNT-reducing strategies, whereas the concreteness training intervention focuses on only one of these strategies, i.e., concrete thinking. The primary outcome (depressive symptoms) and secondary outcomes (anxiety symptoms and RNT) will be measured at pre-intervention, post-intervention (6 weeks after pre-intervention), and follow-up (18 weeks after pre-intervention). DISCUSSION: This trial aims to find out whether targeting RNT via an app is an effective and feasible way of preventing depression and anxiety disorders in adolescents. Since app-based interventions are highly scalable, this trial might contribute to tackling challenges related to the increasing rates of mental health disorders among young people. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.drks.de , DRKS00027384. Registered on 21 February 2022-prospectively registered.

Transdiagnostic evaluation of epigenetic age acceleration and burden of psychiatric disorders.

Different psychiatric disorders as well as exposure to adverse life events have individually been associated with multiple age-related diseases and mortality. Age acceleration in different epigenetic clocks can serve as biomarker for such risk and could help to disentangle the interplay of psychiatric comorbidity and early adversity on age-related diseases and mortality. We evaluated five epigenetic clocks (Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, GrimAge and DunedinPoAm) in a transdiagnostic psychiatric sample using epigenome-wide DNA methylation data from peripheral blood of 429 subjects from two studies at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry. Burden of psychiatric disease, represented by a weighted score, was significantly associated with biological age acceleration as measured by GrimAge and DunedinPoAm (R2-adj. 0.22 and 0.33 for GrimAge and DunedinPoAm, respectively), but not the other investigated clocks. The relation of burden of psychiatric disease appeared independent of differences in socioeconomic status and medication. Our findings indicate that increased burden of psychiatric disease may associate with accelerated biological aging. This highlights the importance of medical management of patients with multiple psychiatric comorbidities and the potential usefulness of specific epigenetic clocks for early detection of risk and targeted intervention to reduce mortality in psychiatric patients.

Evaluating the role of maladaptive personality traits in schema therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy for depression.

BACKGROUND: Advancements in the treatment of depression are pivotal due to high levels of non-response and relapse. This study evaluated the role of personality pathology in the treatment of depression by testing whether maladaptive personality traits (1) predict changes in depression over treatment or vice versa, (2) change themselves over treatment, (3) change differentially depending on treatment with schema therapy (ST) or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and (4) moderate the effectiveness of these treatments. METHODS: We included 193 depressed inpatients (53.4% women, Mage = 42.9, SD = 13.4) participating in an assessor-blind randomized clinical trial and receiving a 7-week course of ST or CBT. The research questions were addressed using multiple indicator latent change score models as well as multigroup structural equation models implemented in EffectLiteR. RESULTS: Maladaptive traits did not predict changes in depressive symptoms at post-treatment, or vice versa. However, maladaptive trait domains decreased over treatment (standardized Δµ range: -0.38 to -0.89), irrespective of treatment with ST or CBT. Maladaptive traits at baseline did not moderate the effectiveness of these treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported maladaptive personality traits can change during treatment of depression, but may have limited prognostic or prescriptive value, at least in the context of ST or CBT. These results need to be replicated using follow-up data, larger and more diverse samples, and informant-rated measures of personality pathology.

A second crystalline modification of 2-{3-methyl-2-[(2Z)-pent-2-en-1-yl]cyclo-pent-2-en-1-yl-idene}hydrazinecarbo-thio-amide.

A second crystalline modification of the title compound, C12H19N3S [common name: cis-jasmone thio-semicarbazone] was crystallized from tetra-hydro-furane at room temperature. There is one crystallographic independent mol-ecule in the asymmetric unit, showing disorder in the cis-jasmone chain [site-occupancy ratio = 0.590 (14):0.410 (14)]. The thio-semicarbazone entity is approximately planar, with the maximum deviation from the mean plane through the N/N/C/S/N atoms being 0.0463 (14) Š[r.m.s.d. = 0.0324 Å], while for the five-membered ring of the jasmone fragment, the maximum deviation from the mean plane through the carbon atoms amounts to 0.0465 (15) Š[r.m.s.d. = 0.0338 Å]. The mol-ecule is not planar due to the dihedral angle between these two fragments, which is 8.93 (1)°, and due to the sp 3-hybridized carbon atoms in the jasmone fragment chain. In the crystal, the mol-ecules are connected by N-H⋯S and C-H⋯S inter-actions, with graph-set motifs R 2 2(8) and R 2 1(7), building mono-periodic hydrogen-bonded ribbons along [010]. A Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the major contributions for the crystal cohesion are H⋯H (67.8%), H⋯S/S⋯H (15.0%), H⋯C/C⋯H (8.5%) and H⋯N/N⋯H (5.6%) [only non-disordered atoms and those with the highest s.o.f. were considered]. This work reports the second crystalline modification of the cis-jasmone thio-semicarbazone structure, the first one being published recently [Orsoni et al. (2020 ▸). Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21, 8681-8697] with the crystals obtained in ethanol at 273 K.

2-{3-Methyl-2-[(2Z)-pent-2-en-1-yl]cyclo-pent-2-en-1-yl-idene}-N-phenylhydrazinecarbo-thio-amide.

The hydro-chloric acid-catalyzed equimolar reaction between cis-jasmone and 4-phenyl-thio-semicarbazide yielded the title compound, C18H23N3S (common name: cis-jasmone 4-phenyl-thio-semicarbazone). Concerning the hydrogen bonding, an N-H⋯N intra-molecular inter-action is observed, forming a ring with graph-set motif S(5). In the crystal, the mol-ecules are connected into centrosymmetric dimers by pairs of N-H⋯S and C-H⋯S inter-actions, forming rings of graph-set motifs R 2 2(8) and R 2 1(7), with the sulfur atoms acting as double acceptors. The thio-semicarbazone entity is approximately planar, with the maximum deviation from the mean plane through the N/N/C/S/N atoms being 0.0376 (9) Š(the r.m.s.d. amounts to 0.0234 Å). The mol-ecule is substantially twisted as indicated by the dihedral angle between the thio-semicarbazone fragment and the phenyl ring, which amounts to 56.1 (5)°, and because of the jasmone fragment, which bears a chain with sp 3-hybridized carbon atoms in the structure. The Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the major contributions for the crystal cohesion are: H⋯H (65.3%), H⋯C/C⋯H (16.2%), H⋯S/S⋯H (10.9%) and H⋯N/N⋯H (5.5%).

Short-term outcomes of physical activity counseling in in-patients with Major Depressive Disorder: Results from the PACINPAT randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: A physical activity counseling intervention based on a motivation-volition model was developed and delivered to in-patients with Major Depressive Disorders with the aim of increasing lifestyle physical activity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the short-term outcomes of this intervention. Methods: A multi-center randomized controlled trial was conducted in four Swiss psychiatric clinics. Adults who were initially insufficiently physically active and were diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder according to ICD-10 were recruited. The sample consisted of 113 participants in the intervention group (M age = 42 years, 56% women) and 107 in the control group (M age = 40 years, 49% women). Motivation and volition determinants of physical activity were assessed with questionnaires. Implicit attitudes were assessed with an Implicit Association Test. Physical activity was self-reported and measured with hip-worn accelerometers over 7 consecutive days starting on the day following the data collection. Results: According to accelerometer measures, step count decreased on average 1,323 steps less per day (95% CI = -2,215 to -431, p < 0.01) over time in the intervention group compared to the control group. A trend was recognized indicating that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity decreased on average 8.37 min less per day (95% CI = -16.98 to 0.23, p < 0.06) over time in the intervention group compared to the control group. The initial phase of the intervention does not seem to have affected motivational and volitional determinants of and implicit attitudes toward physical activity. Conclusion: Physical activity counseling may be considered an important factor in the transition from in-patient treatment. Methods to optimize the intervention during this period could be further explored to fulfill the potential of this opportunity. Clinical trial registration: https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN10469580, identifier ISRCTN10469580.

Psychometric Properties of the German Version of the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ) in the General Population and Psychiatric Patients.

Early adaptive schemas (EAS) are resilience-oriented counterparts to early maladaptive schemas (EMS), which are central in schema therapy. The Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ) was developed as a measure of EAS but has been evaluated neither in relation to a clinical population nor in a German-speaking sample. Objectives of this study were therefore the psychometric validation of a German YPSQ in a community sample and the comparison of EAS to psychiatric patients. Participants were 1,418 individuals from a community sample and 182 psychiatric patients with a main diagnosis of major depressive disorder. A factor structure of 10 EAS, instead of the original 14, demonstrated satisfactory factorial validity and internal consistency in both samples. EAS exhibited divergent validity to EMS, childhood trauma, and psychopathology. Convergent validity was evident with resilience, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with life. Support for incremental validity beyond EMS was especially shown for resilience, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with life, and was also evident for several dimensions of psychopathology. Individuals in the community sample exhibited more pronounced EAS compared to psychiatric patients with the exception of empathic consideration. Especially for concepts associated with mental health, the YPSQ has the potential to be a highly valuable addition to current research and practice.

Separating EEG correlates of stress: Cognitive effort, time pressure, and social-evaluative threat.

The prefrontal cortex is a key player in stress response regulation. Electroencephalographic (EEG) responses, such as a decrease in frontal alpha and an increase in frontal beta power, have been proposed to reflect stress-related brain activity. However, the stress response is likely composed of different parts such as cognitive effort, time pressure, and social-evaluative threat, which have not been distinguished in previous studies. This distinction, however, is crucial if we aim to establish reliable tools for early detection of stress-related conditions and monitoring of stress responses throughout treatment. This randomized cross-over study (N = 38) aimed to disentangle EEG correlates of stress. With linear mixed models accounting for missing values in some conditions, we found a decrease in frontal alpha and increase in beta power when performing the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT; cognitive effort; n = 32) compared to resting state (n = 33). No change in EEG power was found when the PASAT was performed under time pressure (n = 29) or when adding social-evaluative threat (video camera; n = 29). These findings suggest that frontal EEG power can discriminate stress from resting state but not more fine-grained differences of the stress response.

Psychosocial Health and Physical Activity in People With Major Depression in the Context of COVID-19.

Introduction: Major depression is a psychiatric disease associated with physical inactivity, which in turn affects mental and physical health. A randomized controlled trial is being implemented to facilitate physical activity in people with major depression. In March 2020, Swiss state authorities temporarily legislated a lockdown to contain the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), which influenced health, behavior and research. The aim of this study was to find out whether data gathered before and during/after the lockdown among in-patients with major depression differ with regard to psychosocial health, physical activity and related attitudes and to establish whether baseline data have been affected by the lockdown. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis within a randomized controlled trial. Physically inactive, adult in-patients diagnosed with major depression were recruited from four Swiss psychiatric clinics between January 2019 and December 2020. Psychosocial health was measured with questionnaires pertaining to stress, sleep and health-related quality of life. Physical activity was measured with the Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire. Explicit attitudes were measured with seven questionnaires pertaining to physical activity-related motivation and volition. Implicit attitudes toward physical activity were captured with a single target implicit association test. Results: The sample consisted of 165 participants (n = 119 before lockdown, n = 46 during/after lockdown). No statistically significant differences were found between in-patients with major depression assessed before and during/after the COVID-19 lockdown with regard to psychosocial health (stress, p = 0.51; sleep, p = 0.70; physical component of health-related quality of life, p = 0.55; mental component of health-related quality of life, p = 0.64), self-reported physical activity (p = 0.16) and explicit as well as implicit attitudes toward physical activity (p = 0.94). Hence, the COVID-19-induced lockdown seems not to have led to group differences. Conclusion: Baseline data gathered in in-patients suffering from major depression who are physically inactive upon admission to in-patient treatment in Switzerland seem to be unaffected by the COVID-19-induced lockdown. To assess changes in said population regarding psychosocial health and physical activity patterns over time, longitudinal data are needed.

Continuous Fusion of Motion Data Using an Axis-Angle Rotation Representation with Uniform B-Spline.

The fusion of motion data is key in the fields of robotic and automated driving. Most existing approaches are filter-based or pose-graph-based. By using filter-based approaches, parameters should be set very carefully and the motion data can usually only be fused in a time forward direction. Pose-graph-based approaches can fuse data in time forward and backward directions. However, pre-integration is needed by applying measurements from inertial measurement units. Additionally, both approaches only provide discrete fusion results. In this work, we address this problem and present a uniform B-spline-based continuous fusion approach, which can fuse motion measurements from an inertial measurement unit and pose data from other localization systems robustly, accurately and efficiently. In our continuous fusion approach, an axis-angle is applied as our rotation representation method and uniform B-spline as the back-end optimization base. Evaluation results performed on the real world data show that our approach provides accurate, robust and continuous fusion results, which again supports our continuous fusion concept.

A Family of Heterobimetallic Cubes Shows Spin-Crossover Behaviour Near Room Temperature.

Using 4-(4'-pyridyl)aniline as a simple organic building block in combination with three different aldehyde components together with metal(II) salts gave three different Fe8 Pt6 -cubes and their corresponding Zn8 Pt6 analogues by employing the subcomponent self-assembly approach. Whereas the use of zinc(II) salts gave rise to diamagnetic cages, iron(II) salts yielded metallosupramolecular cages that show spin-crossover behaviour in solution. The spin-transition temperature T1/2 depends on the incorporated aldehyde component, giving a construction kit for the deliberate synthesis of spin-crossover compounds with tailored transition properties. Incorporation of 4-thiazolecarbaldehyde or N-methyl-2-imidazole-carbaldehyde yielded cages that undergo spin-crossover around room temperature whereas the cage obtained using 1H-4-imidazolecarbaldehyde shows a spin-transition at low temperatures. Three new structures were characterized by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and all structures were characterized by mass spectrometry, NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy.