Decreased Plasma Hydrogen Sulfide Level Is Associated With the Severity of Depression in Patients With Depressive Disorder.

Accumulating evidence has suggested a dysfunction of synaptic plasticity in the pathophysiology of depression. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), an endogenous gasotransmitter that regulates synaptic plasticity, has been demonstrated to contribute to depressive-like behaviors in rodents. The current study investigated the relationship between plasma H2S levels and the depressive symptoms in patients with depression. Forty-seven depressed patients and 51 healthy individuals were recruited in this study. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) was used to evaluate depressive symptoms for all subjects and the reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was used to measure plasmaH2S levels. We found that plasma H2S levels were significantly lower in patients with depression relative to healthy individuals (P < 0.001). Compared with healthy controls (1.02 ± 0.34 µmol/L), the plasma H2S level significantly decreased in patients with mild depression (0.84 ± 0.28 µmol/L), with moderate depression (0.62 ± 0.21µmol/L), and with severe depression (0.38 ± 0.18 µmol/L). Correlation analysis revealed that plasma H2S levels were significantly negatively correlated with the HAMD-17 scores in patients (r = -0.484, P = 0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that plasma H2S was an independent contributor to the HAMD-17 score in patients (B = -0.360, t = -2.550, P = 0.015). Collectively, these results suggest that decreased H2S is involved in the pathophysiology of depression, and plasma H2S might be a potential indicator for depression severity.

Determination the cut-off point for the Bergen social media addiction (BSMAS): Diagnostic contribution of the six criteria of the components model of addiction for social media disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Social media disorder (SMD) is an increasing problem, especially in adolescents. The lack of a consensual classification for SMD hinders the further development of the research field. The six components of Griffiths' biopsychosocial model of addiction have been the most widely used criteria to assess and diagnosis SMD. The Bergen social media addiction scale (BSMAS) based on Griffiths' six criteria is a widely used instrument to assess the symptoms and prevalence of SMD in populations. This study aims to: (1) determine the optimal cut-off point for the BSMAS to identify SMD among Chinese adolescents, and (2) evaluate the contribution of specific criteria to the diagnosis of SMD. METHOD: Structured diagnostic interviews in a clinical sample (n = 252) were performed to determine the optimal clinical cut-off point for the BSMAS. The BSMAS was further used to investigate SMD in a community sample of 21,375 adolescents. RESULTS: The BSMAS score of 24 was determined as the best cut-off score based on the gold standards of clinical diagnosis. The estimated 12-month prevalence of SMD among Chinese adolescents was 3.5%. According to conditional inference trees analysis, the criteria "mood modification", "conflict", "withdrawal", and "relapse" showed the higher predictive power for SMD diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that a BSMAS score of 24 is the optimal clinical cut-off score for future research that measure SMD and its impact on health among adolescents. Furthermore, criteria of "mood modification", "conflict", "withdrawal", and "relapse" are the most relevant to the diagnosis of SMA in Chinese adolescents.

Sad expressions during encoding enhance facial identity recognition in visual working memory in depression: Behavioural and electrophysiological evidence.

BACKGROUND: Mood-congruent memory biases are prominently featured in cognitive theories of depression. However, how sad expressions during encoding affect facial identity recognition in visual working memory (WM) and the electrophysiological correlates in depressed individuals are unclear. METHODS: Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 30 depressed participants and 31 controls during a delayed face discrimination task. RESULTS: The depressed participants showed lower discrimination power in facial identity recognition than the controls. However, the depressed participants showed higher discrimination power in facial identity recognition for neutral probe faces preceded by sad expressions than for those preceded by happy expressions, while the controls showed no difference. Furthermore, hits (correctly recognizing studied faces) and associated vertex positive potential (VPP), P3b, and late positive potential (LPP) amplitudes were significantly higher for probe faces preceded by sad expressions than for those preceded by happy expressions in the depressed individuals, whereas the controls showed no differences. No such effects were found for correct rejections (correctly rejecting unstudied faces). LIMITATIONS: The present study is limited due to the relatively small sample size and homogenous university population. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that for depressed individuals, sad expressions during encoding enhanced discrimination power in facial identity recognition, especially correct recognition of studied faces in visual WM, which was associated with an increase in early structural encoding and more late attentional and perceptual resources following facial identity during retrieval, reflecting a mood-congruent memory bias.

A Community-Based Investigation of Stigma Toward Individuals Receiving Methadone Maintenance Treatment in China: A Randomized Case Vignette Study.

Background: Even though methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is effective and widely recommended, it is widely misunderstood and stigmatized. This study aimed to explore people's attitudes and beliefs toward MMT, and stigmatization of MMT patients in China. Methods: This randomized, vignette-based study enrolled 1,066 household respondents (552 males and 514 females, response rate is 88.83%, 86.00% in vignette 1 and 91.66% in vignette 2) from two communities in China. Respondents initially completed questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics and their knowledge about methadone and MMT. They were then randomly assigned to vignette 1 (described a patient receiving MMT) or vignette 2 (described a patient receiving amlodipine treatment). The labeling, stereotyping, and social distance toward the individual described in the vignettes were evaluated. Results: In these two vignettes, respondents showed a significantly higher level of stigma and discrimination toward the patient receiving MMT than the patient receiving amlodipine treatment. Approximately 60% of respondents believed that methadone is a type of addictive drug and that participating in MMT is a way to get high. Over 60% of respondents labeled the heroin-dependent patient who is receiving MMT as an addict even though the patient has not used heroin for several years; about 80% of them believed that the patient has undesirable characteristics and expressed a strong desire for social distance. Conclusions: People's misunderstanding of MMT, and stigmatization of MMT patients were very common among populations in the communities in China. To maximize MMT patients benefiting from MMT programs, more efforts are needed to minimize the impact of MMT-related stigma.

Clarification of the Cut-off Score for Nine-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF) in a Chinese Context.

BACKGROUND: The nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form (IGDS9-SF) is a self-reported screening measure based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria. It has been used to assesses symptoms and prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) in general population. Despite its widespread use, there is confusion arising from the recommended cutoff score for a positive diagnosis. This study aimed to identify the appropriate cutoff score for IGDS9-SF in a Chinese context. METHODS: The present study included a sample from clinical settings (n = 131) and another from universities (n = 3742). IGDS9-SF measurement and structured clinical interviews based on DSM-5 criteria for IGD were conducted in the sample from clinical settings. The cutoff score was determined using the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. The validity of this cutoff score was further assessed in a sample from universities. RESULTS: Mathematical models suggest that the score of 32 is the optimal cutoff point (Youden's index, 96.2%; diagnostic accuracy, 96.1%; sensitivity, 98.0%; specificity, 91.9%; NPV, 91.9%; and NPY, 100%). The prevalence of IGD is 2.9% in this study. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that the optimal cutoff score of IGDS9-SF is 32 for the positive diagnosis of IGD in a Chinese context.

Aripiprazole for the treatment of duloxetine-induced hyperprolactinemia: A case report.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that aripiprazole co-treatment effectively reduces antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia. However, the effectiveness of aripiprazole to treat high prolactin levels induced by antidepressant drugs with serotoninergic activity, such as duloxetine, remains unknown. CASE PRESENTATION: An 18-year-old female diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) was treated with 100 mg sertraline once daily. After two weeks, galactorrhoea was observed. Blood biochemical tests revealed an elevated serum prolactin level of 241 ng/mL. Physiological causes and additional potential pathological causes were ruled out. Therefore, sertraline was cross tapered with mirtazapine. Galactorrhoea ceased, but the side-effect of sedation prompted a switch to 40 mg duloxetine twice daily. After two weeks, the patient developed menstrual irregularities and milky discharge concomitant with a serum prolactin level of 205 ng/mL. As a result, duloxetine was decreased to 60 mg once daily, and aripiprazole was initiated at 2.5 mg daily and titrated to 5 mg daily. Two weeks after the initiation of dual therapy, galactorrhoea stopped, and prolactin levels decreased to 118 ng/mL. After eight weeks, prolactin levels decreased to 39 ng/mL, and menstruation returned to normal. After antidepressant therapy finished, prolactin levels normalized to 19 ng/mL. CONCLUSION: The case suggests that adjunctive aripiprazole may be useful as a treatment option for duloxetine-induced hyperprolactinemia in MDD.

The Role of Rumination and Stressful Life Events in the Relationship between the Qi Stagnation Constitution and Depression in Women: A Moderated Mediation Model.

The qi stagnation constitution is associated with depression in traditional Chinese medicine. It is unclear how rumination and stressful life events affect the relationship between the qi stagnation constitution and depression. The Qi Stagnation Constitution Scale, Ruminative Response Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist were used to assess this association in 1200 female college students. The results revealed that the qi stagnation constitution was positively associated with depression. Furthermore, rumination was a partial mediator of the relationship between the qi stagnation constitution and depression. In addition, stressful life events moderated the direct effect and mediating effect of the qi stagnation constitution on depression. These findings indicate that rumination and stressful life events may affect the relationship between the qi stagnation constitution and depression in women.

Deficient manipulation of working memory in remitted depressed individuals: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to examine whether remitted depressed (RMD) individuals show a dysfunction of valence-dependent manipulation and its neurophysiological correlates. METHOD: Event-related potentials were conducted on 25 individuals with remitted depression and 27 controls during a working memory manipulation task. The sorting costs and the P3b and slow wave (SW) amplitudes were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared to the control subjects, the RMD individuals revealed higher sorting costs, particularly when they were shown negative targets. The control individuals exhibited reduced P3b and SW amplitudes in response to the backward negative pictures, whereas the RMD participants exhibited increased central-parietal and lateral P3b and SW amplitudes in the backward condition. Both groups exhibited overall decreased P3b and SW amplitudes in response to the backward positive pictures. CONCLUSIONS: RMD individuals are associated with a deficient manipulation for negative material and an unimpaired manipulation for positive material. SIGNIFICANCE: This study extends current knowledge that deficits in cognitive control persist after the remission of depressive symptoms.