Post-thyroidectomy Depression and Associated Factors in Saudi Arabia.

Background Thyroidectomy is a common surgical procedure used to treat thyroid gland illnesses. The surgery has many outcomes, and one of them may show an association with depression. This study aims to assess the factors associated with depression after thyroidectomy in Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among 414 Saudi participants. The target population included patients more than 18 years old and who had undergone thyroidectomy, whereas patients 18 years or younger were excluded. The data were collected between December 2023 and January 2024 using an electronic self-administered questionnaire that included demographics, clinical characteristics, and the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed randomly throughout social media, and patient consent was obtained. The descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using SPSS software version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results The study showed that of the 414 participants, 306 were females and 108 were males. Depression affected 335 (80.92%) participants and was mostly mild (120, 28.99%), followed by moderate (109, 26.33%), moderately severe (55, 13.29%), and severe (51, 12.32%). Depression symptoms were more common in females than males. The participants who underwent total thyroidectomy (217, 52.41%) were more than those who underwent partial thyroidectomy (197, 47.58%). Temporary complications were more prevalent in the participants exhibiting symptoms of depression. Both educational level and surgery time were significant factors. Conclusions The study revealed a significant prevalence of post-thyroidectomy depression. The associated factors in post-thyroidectomy depression included educational level, with more depression symptoms noted with high education. In addition, surgery time showed an increased risk of developing depression that still existed two years postoperatively.

Depression and thoughts of self-harm or suicide among gender and sexually diverse people in a regional Australian community.

ISSUES ADDRESSED: There is a paucity of data regarding depression and thoughts of self-harm or suicide among gender and sexually diverse (GSD) people living within Australian regional/rural locations. This study aims to elucidate these issues and fill a critical gap. METHODS: The sample included 91 GSD people from a regional community in South-West Queensland utilising the PHQ-9 to determine presence/severity of depression and self-harm/suicide ideation. These data were drawn from a larger health and wellbeing survey. Raw mean scores were calculated to determine prevalence/severity of clinical symptoms. Bayesian ordinal regression models were employed to analyse between-subgroup differences in depression and self-harm/suicide ideation. RESULTS: Overall, 80.2% of GSD sample experienced depression (35.2% severe, 45.1% mild/moderate) and 41.8% experienced self-harm/suicide ideation in the past two-weeks. Trans and nonbinary people experienced higher levels of depressions than sexually diverse cisgender people. Pansexual and bisexual people experienced higher levels of depression than gay people. Trans people experienced higher prevalence of self-harm/suicide ideation than cisgender and nonbinary people, with no differences between sexuality subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings contribute to deeper and more nuanced insights regarding clinically salient depressive and self-harm/suicide ideation symptoms among trans, nonbinary, bisexual, pansexual and queer people in regional Australian communities, with the aim to ultimately reduce mental health prevalence, improve mental health outcomes and health promotion among GSD people. SO WHAT?: The current findings revealed GSD people experience high prevalence of depression and self-harm/suicide ideation indicating tailored mental health awareness-raising, training and health promotion is warranted to enhance psychological support.

Occurrence of Depression and its Association with Oral Health in Elderly People Living in Old Age Homes of Mathura.

Introduction: Depression can affect oral health as a result of neglecting oral hygiene procedures which leads to an increased risk of dental caries and periodontal disease. Aim: To determine relationship between oral health and depression among elder people residing in old age homes of Mathura city. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among 500 subjects aged ≥60 years where dental condition, number of missing teeth, removable denture wearing, teeth mobility, periodontal condition, pocket depth, loss of attachment, and depression according to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scale were assessed. Results: Regression analysis showed a positive relationship of the PHQ-9 value with DMFT and MT. Conclusion: Among people aged 60 years and over, severity of depression increased with higher number of MT and DT.

Evaluating the Validity and Measurement Invariance of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Among Canadian Nurses.

Background and Purpose: The patient health questionnaire 9 item (PHQ-9) is a widely used self-reported measure for screening depressive symptoms. This study aims to examine measurement invariance and psychometric properties of the PHQ-9 for screening depressive symptoms in nurses across different nursing roles, gender, and workplace sector. Methods: The study is a secondary analysis of pre-COVID and COVID-19 survey data from 4,176 nurses and 3,238 nurses in British Columbia. Data from the PHQ-9 tested the assumption of unidimensionality, reliability, and presence of differential item functioning (DIF). Results: The PHQ-9 showed excellent internal consistency (r = .9) and a unidimensional factor structure. PHQ-9 items were free of DIF across nursing roles, gender, and workplace sector. Conclusions: This study supported the valid use of the PHQ-9 as a screening tool for depressive symptoms among nurses.

Prevalence and correlates of sleep disturbance among adolescents in the eastern seaboard of China.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbances are serious public health issues that warrant increased attention, especially in adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with sleep disorders among urban adolescents in China. METHODS: This study utilized an online survey to assess the demographic characteristics and mental health status of secondary school students in Lianyungang City. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to evaluate sleep disturbances in adolescents. The seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) assessed anxiety symptoms, and the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) was used to measure perceived social support. RESULTS: Among 3443 adolescents, the prevalence of sleep disorders were 10.8%, with significantly higher proportions of sleep disorders (13.7% VS 8.3%, P < 0.001) among female adolescents when compared to males. Binary regression analysis revealed that anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.305, 95% CI: 1.269-1.342, P < 0.001) was risk factor for sleep disturbances, and significant other support (OR = 0.944, 95% CI: 0.896-0.994, P = 0.028) and good annual household income (OR = 0.616, 95% CI: 0.394-0.963, P = 0.034) were protective factors. Furthermore, multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that age, sex, and anxiety symptoms were associated with an elevated risk of experiencing more frequent sleep disturbances (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We have found that 10.8% of adolescents experience sleep disorders, and it is evident that various factors can influence healthy sleeping. These results underscore the significance of addressing these factors to enhance sleep health among this population.

Predictive risk factors of adverse mental health outcomes in the facial trauma patient.

Patients with facial trauma often experience a psychological burden from their injuries. This study aimed to identify risk factors for adverse mental health outcomes in patients affected by facial trauma, using the 'Integrating Mental and Physical Healthcare: Research, Training and Services' (IMPARTS) screening tool. All patients >18 years of age who completed more than one IMPARTS screening tool in the Oral and Maxillofacial Trauma Clinic between 2019 and 2021 were included in this study. This tool was used to assess the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, and depression. Included patients completed the IMPARTS questionnaire at initial follow-up (mean 18 days post-trauma) and one subsequent time point (mean 82 days). 167 patients were included in the study. On multivariable analysis, a history of psychiatric illness (P = 0.015) and interpersonal violence as the mechanism of injury (P = 0.010) were identified as predictive of risk of PTSD. Risk of PTSD was lower in zygomatic injuries (P = 0.001), while nasal involvement increased at-risk status for depression (P = 0.009). 47.3% of patients screened positive on initial IMPARTS assessment, while 35.3% screened positive on follow-up IMPARTS assessment. This study supports the IMPARTS tool in allowing the prompt identification of mental health adversity in facial trauma.

Risk perception, well-being, depression and anxiety in children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic - results from the prospective multicenter KICK-COVID study in Germany.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the psychosocial burden in children and adolescents with juvenile rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: As part of the multicentre observational KICK-COVID study linked to the National Pediatric Rheumatology Database, adolescents < 21 years and parents of children < 12 years with rheumatic diseases answered questions on perceptions of health risk (PHR) due to SARS-CoV2, stress, well-being (WHO-5) and symptoms of depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7). Data were collected at routine visits from June to December 2021 and assessed for association with demographic and clinical parameters, treatment and patient-reported outcomes by multivariable regression analyses. RESULTS: Data from 1356 individuals (69% female, 50% adolescents) were included. Median PHR on a numeric rating scale (NRS, 0-10) was 4 (IQR 2-6), median perceived stress was 3 (IQR 1-6). Adolescents reported a worse well-being with a significantly lower median WHO-5-score (60, IQR 40-76) than parents reported for their children < 12 years (80, IQR 68-84). Moderate to severe symptoms of depression and anxiety were reported by 14.3% and 12.3% of the adolescents, respectively. PHR was significantly higher in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, methotrexate or biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy than in patients without these characteristics, whereas lower WHO-5 or higher PHQ-9 or GAD-7 scores were only associated with poorer patient-reported health status and physical functioning. CONCLUSION: The perception of health risk due to SARS-CoV2 infection was not paralleled by an impairment of mental health, which were, however, significantly correlated with self-rated health status and functional capacity, highlighting the importance of patient-reported outcome assessment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), no. DRKS00027974. Registered on 27th of January 2022.

Association between overactive bladder and depression in American adults: A cross-sectional study from NHANES 2005-2018.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Overactive bladder (OAB) and depression are both common disorders and there is research suggesting an association between the two, but there is a lack of studies with large samples. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between OAB and depressive symptoms. METHODS: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database for the period 2005 to 2018. OAB was characterized by the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS, score > 3) and depression was diagnosed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, score ≥ 10). There were three models employed in our analysis: (1) Crude model was unadjusted; (2) Model 1 was adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, educational level, and marital status; (3) Model 2 was adjusted for factors in Model 1 plus the remained potential covariates. We used survey-weighted logistic regression models to assess the association between OAB and depression. Subsequently, subgroup analyses and smoothed curve analyses were used to evaluate the reliability of the findings. RESULTS: Finally, a total of 6612 participants were included in our study, consisting of 1005 participants with diagnosis of OAB and 5607 participants without diagnosis of OAB. After adjusting for all covariates, there was a significant positive association between OAB and depression (OR: 2.89, 95 % CI: 1.91, 4.37). The severity of OAB was also positively associated with depression. Compared to participants without OAB, the fully adjusted ORs for depression were 2.76 (95 % CI: 1.64, 4.65) for those with mild OAB, 3.79 (95 % CI: 1.68, 8.55) for those with moderate OAB, and 5.21 (95 % CI: 1.39, 19.53) for those with severe OAB. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a strong association between OAB and depression and a progressive increase in the risk of depression as the severity of OAB (mild, moderate, and severe) increased. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to recognize the assessment of OAB symptoms in patients who are at risk for or have developed depressive symptoms, as well as the mental health of patients with OAB.

Prevalence of Depression Among the Adult Population in Southwestern Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional, Community-Based Study.

Background Depression is one of the most common mental disorders, which is increasing globally with higher prevalence among women. Many factors contribute to the etiology and risk factors for depression, including biological and psychosocial factors. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression among the adult population in Al-Qunfudah governorate, southwestern Saudi Arabia (SA). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 1036 participants among adults in Al-Qunfudah governorate, southwestern SA, using a validated Arabic version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) during the period from October 1st, 2022 to the end of December 2022. The PHQ-9 contains nine items, with a total score ranging from 0 to 27. A score of 1-4 represented minimal depression, while a score of 5, 10, 15, and 20 represented mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression, respectively. The sample size was estimated to be 375 participants, by considering a margin of error of 5%, and a 95% confidence interval, calculated using Raosoft calculator (Raosoft Inc., Seattle, WA). Data collection was performed through an online survey of the PHQ-9 on a Google form and distributed using different social media platforms. The eligible participants' responses were kept confidential and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22 (Released 2013; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). p-values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant.  Results The study showed that the overall prevalence of depression among the 1036 adult study participants was 68.1%. Mild, moderate, moderate to severe, and severe depression was diagnosed among 28.2%, 21.9%, 12%, and 6% of the participants, respectively. Several factors were significantly associated with PHQ-9 diagnosed depression including being younger (p<0.0001), a female (p<0.0001), single (p<0.0001), a student (p<0.0001), and non-employed (p<0.0001) and having a lower educational level (p<0.0001). Conclusions There is a high prevalence rate of depression among the adult population of Al-Qunfudah governorate in southwestern SA, which highlights the need for interventions to address this issue, and to reduce the incidence of depression in the region among the high-risk groups.

Association between drinking behaviors, sleep duration, and depressive symptoms.

Excessive alcohol consumption has been consistently linked to depression. This study, utilizing nationwide samples from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 21,440) examined the association between drinking behaviors and depressive symptoms while also exploring the influence of sleep duration on this relationship. Demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors were included as covariates in the multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess their relationships with depressive symptoms. Based on their sleep duration, the participants were divided into subgroups to explore how sleep duration affects the relationship between drinking behaviors and depressive symptoms. Moderate alcohol consumption (1-4 times a month) was associated with reduced likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms in women (p = 0.024), with a similar trend observed among men (p = 0.001). Men who started consuming alcohol before the age of 19 had a higher likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms (p = 0.048). Only women who consumed more alcohol per occasion (≥ 7 drinks) had higher odds of depressive symptoms (p = 0.001). This study revealed complex factors that influence depressive symptoms, including alcohol consumption and sleep duration. This highlights the importance of tailored interventions based on sleep duration and sociodemographic characteristics for preventing and treating depression.

The impact of long term COVID-19 infection on the patients' erectile function and on anxiety and on depression as well as the impact of daily tadalafil 5 mg supplementation in patients with erectile dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: The study examined the impact of long term COVID-19 infection on the patients' erectile function and anxiety and depression in the same patients as well as the impact of daily tadalafil 5 mg supplementation on their erectile function. METHODS: Recovered 114 men were evaluated by the validated Arabic version of the international index of erectile function (ArIIEF-5) and the Arabic versions of the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) at time of presentation, at 3 months and at 6 months, respectively. Forty recovered patients who still complained of ED received tadalafil 5 mg daily for 2 months then were evaluated again at 3 and 6 months by penile duplex, the Arabic versions of the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) at the same periods, respectively. RESULTS: At the time of presentation, there was a positive correlation between the severity of COVID-19 infection, ArIIEF-5 and PHQ-9 (r = 0.249, p = 0.008; r = 0.241, p = 0.010, respectively). Most of the patients showed normal penile duplex parameters. There were 40 ED patients at presentation, 5 ED patients at 3 months and 3 ED patients at 6 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ED in COVID-19 patients who were not suffering from chronic illnesses before the affection, is primarily psychological and completely responsive to tadalafil.

Association between depressive symptoms and prediabetes: NHANES 2007-2016 findings.

INTRODUCTION: The association between diabetes and depressive symptoms is well recognized. However, the impact of depressive symptoms on prediabetes remains unclear. This study aims to explore the specific correlation between depressive symptoms and prediabetes. METHODS: A total of 7467 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included in this study, spanning five rounds of surveys conducted between 2007 and 2016. Weighted logistic regression was utilized to assess the relationship between depressive symptoms and prediabetes. RESULTS: Compared with the normoglycemic population, individuals with prediabetes had a significantly higher probability of experiencing trouble sleeping (P = 0.020). After adjusting for non-glucose factors, there was no significant correlation between PHQ-9 and prediabetes; however, severe depressive symptoms were positively associated with abnormal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels (OR = 1.093 [95 % CI 1.002, 1.192]). There was a positive correlation between trouble concentrating and FPG abnormalities (OR = 1.065 [95 % CI 1.004, 1.129]). LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design limits causal inference. CONCLUSION: Individuals with depressive symptoms, especially severe cases, should be targeted for prediabetes prevention and management efforts. The diverse symptom presentations may have distinct impacts on glucose, necessitating personalized prevention and management strategies.

Improved Screening for Depression in Patients Initiating Fertility Treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To improve screening for depression in patients who are initiating fertility treatment at a reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) center by screening all patients at their initial visit using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). DESIGN: This quality improvement project was conducted using a plan-do-study-act cycle implemented with a postintervention study design. SETTING/LOCAL PROBLEM: A medium-size REI center in a mid-Atlantic U.S. metropolitan area where screening for mental health status in patients initiating fertility treatments was not occurring. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who were scheduled in person with REI providers for a new patient consult regarding fertility were declared eligible. INTERVENTION/MEASUREMENTS: The PHQ-9 was administered by providers at initial consults for patients seeking fertility treatments from October 2022 to February 2023. Three cycles of the plan-do-study-act model were used to execute change. For all patients who scored 5 to 9 (mild depression), conversations regarding counseling referrals occurred. For all patients who scored ≥10 (moderate to severe depression), a referral for counseling and medication management was generated. Data were analyzed via descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 115 participants were included. A screening rate of 84.3% (n = 97) was achieved for patients initiating treatment. Of the 97 screened, 21 patients had a score of ≥5; 19 were given a referral for counseling. However, none of the patients attended a counseling session or started medication prescribed by their primary care provider during the 2-month follow-up period. Barriers identified included costs, personal preferences, and access to services. CONCLUSION: The PHQ-9 screening tool was implemented at an REI clinic to improve the frequency of mental health screenings and provide necessary referrals. However, additional follow-up is needed to ensure patients are receiving appropriate mental health care.

Mental health outcomes in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis treated with bimekizumab: Analysis of phase 2/3 randomized trials.

BACKGROUND: Patients with psoriasis have increased risk of suicidal ideation and behavior (SIB) and depression. Bimekizumab, a biologic that inhibits interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F, received Food and Drug Administration approval in 2023 for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, following 2021 European Medicines Agency approval. OBJECTIVE: To report SIB and depression in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis treated in bimekizumab clinical trials. METHODS: Mental health changes, including neuropsychiatric events, were actively monitored across 9 bimekizumab clinical trials in psoriasis phase 2/3 trials. The patient-reported electronic Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (measuring SIB) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (measuring depression) were administered, monitored by an independent Neuropsychiatric Adjudication Committee. RESULTS: Throughout 7166 patient-years (PY) of bimekizumab exposure, the adjudicated SIB rate was 0.13/100PY; SIB ranges for the general psoriasis population and patients receiving anti-IL-17A/anti-IL-23 therapies are 0.09 to 0.54/100PY and 0.09 to 0.19/100PY, respectively. At week 16, 92.9% vs 81.1% of bimekizumab- vs placebo-treated patients had no/minimal depression. Newonset positive electronic Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale responses and mean Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores were low for bimekizumab-treated patients. LIMITATIONS: Patient exclusion for significant/severe prespecified SIB/depression history. CONCLUSION: The long-term adjudicated SIB rate with bimekizumab was low and within ranges reported in the general psoriasis patient population and psoriasis patients treated with anti-IL-17A/anti-IL-23 biologics. Screening/monitoring questionnaires reported low SIB and depression levels.

Factorial validity and gender invariance of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) in student-athletes.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Depressive symptoms are prevalent in student-athletes. Evidence for the factorial validity of measures assessing depressive symptoms in student-athletes is presently absent from the literature. This study examined the best fitting factorial structure and invariance across sexes of the PHQ-9. METHODS: Data were collected from 1,524 student-athletes from institutions in the North-Eastern United States. Confirmatory factor analyses of 4 factorial structures of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were conducted, followed by invariance analyses across sexes. RESULTS: All tested models showed an excellent fit for all tested models and a unidimensional model of the PHQ-9 was chosen for further analyses. Metric and scalar invariance for the identified model across sexes was supported. The participants in this study reported an unusually low (3.13%) prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms, which may indicate underreporting of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Using a unidimensional, composite score via the PHQ-9 is a valid assessment of depressive symptoms in male and female student-athletes.

Association between plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids and depressive among US adults.

Background: Depression is associated with greater functional impairment and high societal costs than many other mental disorders. Research on the association between plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) levels and depression have yielded inconsistent results. Objective: To evaluate whether plasma n-3 and n-6 PUFAs levels are associated with depression in American adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 2053 adults (aged ≥20 y) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2011-2012. The level of plasma n-3 and n-6 PUFAs were obtained for analysis. Self-reported Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to identify the depression status. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between quartiles of plasma n-3 and n-6 PUFAs and depression after adjustments for confounders. Results: The study of 2053 respondents over 20 years of age with a weighted depression prevalence of 7.29% comprised 1,043 men (weighted proportion, 49.13%) and 1,010 women (weighted, 50.87%), with a weighted mean (SE) age of 47.58 (0.67) years. Significantly increased risks of depression over non-depression were observed in the third quartiles (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.05-2.62) for arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n-6); the third quartiles (OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.20-4.05) for docosatetraenoic acid (DTA; 22:4n-6); the third (OR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.34-4.07), and highest quartiles (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.03-3.26) for docosapentaenoic acid (DPAn-6; 22:5n-6); and the third (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.18-4.03) and highest quartiles (OR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.31-4.68) for docosapentaenoic acid (DPAn-3; 22:5n-3); the second (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.24-3.66), third (OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.28-4.50), and highest quartiles (OR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.08-4.69) for AA/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) ratio compared with the lowest quartile after adjusting for confounding factors. Conclusion: Higher plasma levels of AA, DTA, DPAn-6, DPAn-3 PUFAs, and AA/DHA ratio may be potential risk factors for depression in US adults.

PHQ-9 and GAD-7 Score Response After Parathyroidectomy for Primary Hyperparathyroidism: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Currently, the relationship between parathyroidectomy and objective neuropsychiatric outcomes are not clearly defined. The purpose of this study is to perform the first ever Meta-analysis of preoperative and postoperative PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism undergoing parathyroidectomy with the goal of identifying a specific psychometric score that could be used as an indication for surgical intervention. DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive search of the literature was performed using PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Ovid All EBM Reviews. REVIEW METHODS: Studies met inclusion criteria if they evaluated preoperative and postoperative PHQ-9 and/or GAD-7 scores in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism undergoing parathyroidectomy. Random effects Meta-analyses were used to analyze the compiled data. RESULTS: The literature search returned 1433 articles for initial review of which 6 (1105 participants) met criteria for inclusion and Meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that primary hyperparathyroidism patients had significantly higher presurgical PHQ-9 scores when compared to control groups. Additionally, patients experienced a statistically significant and sustained decrease in PHQ-9 scores following parathyroidectomy. Notably, there was a dramatic decrease in the percentage of patients with PHQ-9 scores ≥10 (considered clinically significant for depression) following parathyroidectomy. CONCLUSION: Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism experience a statistically significant and sustained improvement in PHQ-9 scores following parathyroidectomy. Additionally, symptoms of anxiety and suicidal ideation appear to decrease after parathyroidectomy. We propose that a PHQ-9 score ≥10 could potentially be used as an indication for parathyroidectomy in patients with asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism.

Prevalence and correlates of depression among students in a senior high school in Ghana: A school-based cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Depression is one of the most widely reported mental health issues that affect adolescents globally. However, there is a dearth of data on its prevalence and associated factors among senior high school students in Ghana, since previous studies have focused more on adult populations. This can hinder policies needed to champion mental health and mental health care in senior high schools. Hence, this study sought to assess the prevalence of depression and associated factors among senior high school students in Ghana. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study involving 289 students at the Manya Krobo Senior High School was conducted from December 2022 to February 2023. The students were selected using a two-stage random sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographics and individual characteristics. The primary outcome was depression, and this was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Summary statistics were presented as means, frequencies, and percentages. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with depression and odds ratios presented with 95% confidence intervals. Statistical significance was considered at p-value < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the students was 16.6 (±1.2) with a range of 14-20 years. Over a quarter (26.3%) of the students reported financial difficulties. The prevalence of depression among the students was 68.9%. The factors associated with depression in this study were female sex (adjusted odds ratio: 1.74, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-2.97), age (adjusted odds ratio: 1.41, 95% confidence interval: 1.10-1.81), history of chronic health condition (adjusted odds ratio: 3.74, 95% confidence interval: 1.36-10.25), and financial difficulties (adjusted odds ratio: 2.31, 95% confidence interval: 1.15-4.63). Conclusion: This study shows that depression is rife among students at the Manya Krobo Senior High School, Manya Krobo District, Ghana. These findings call for pragmatic interventions such as strengthening counseling units and professional mental health services to ameliorate the impact of depression on the lives of students.

Social media addiction and depression and their predictors among university students.

OBJECTIVES: Social media facilitate the interaction between individuals without regard to the distances between the users. Everybody who has access to internet can suffer from social media addiction. During COVID-19 pandemic there was an increase in social media usage among all population types and especially the university students, which would negatively affect their mental health. Therefore, this study aims at assessing social media addiction and depression among pharmacy students by using questionnaires specifically designed for this purpose. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with convenience sampling was conducted from the start of November to the end of December 2021 among undergraduate pharmacy students in Mosul city, Iraq. An online questionnaire was adopted; it consisted of three parts, the first was for collecting socio-demographic and social media usage information, Social Media Addiction Questionnaire (SMAQ) was used in the second part to assess social media addiction of the participants, and the third part was comprised of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to assess depression among students. RESULTS: Six hundred-three students completed the questionnaire and constituted the final study sample. Instagram was the most used social media program among the students. About 38 % of the students were at risk of becoming addicted on social media, with only 8.4 % of them being minimally or not depressed. Additionally, positive significant correlation was observed between social media addiction and depression. Using social media for more than 4 h and poor academic performance were found to be predictors for social media addiction and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Addiction to social media and depression are prevalent among pharmacy students in Iraq and the two are related to each other.

Co-existence of depression and post-concussion syndrome one month after mild traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest an association between Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) and depression, both highly prevalent after mTBI. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and risk-factors of depression among patients with PCS 1 month after mTBI. METHODS: We prospectively screened 372 mTBI patients admitted in two academic Emergency Departments between 2017 and 2019. One month after mTBI, we administered the Rivermead Post-concussion symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) questionnaires over the telephone. PCS and depression were defined by RPQ ≥ 12 and PHQ-9 ≥ 10. Multivariate multinomial regression identified baseline factors associated with PCS and depression. RESULTS: Two hundred and eight completed RPQ and PHQ-9. Forty-seven patients (22.5%) met criteria for PCS, among which 22 (46.8%) met criteria for depression (PCS+D+). Patients with PCS but without depression were less likely to present with an associated injury (Coefficient = -1.6, p = 0.047) and to report initial sadness (Coefficient = -2.5, p = 0.03). Initial sadness (Coefficient = -1.3, p = 0.047), associated injury (Coefficient = -1.9, p = 0.008), as well as initial nausea (Coefficient = -1.8, p = 0.002), and male sex (Coefficient = 1.8, p = 0.002), were associated with the absence of depression and PCS in comparison with PCS+D+ patients. CONCLUSION: Among patients with PCS 1 month after mTBI, those with depression are more likely to present with initial sadness and with an associated injury.