Angela J. Pereira-Morales

APOE gene and neuropsychiatric disorders and endophenotypes: A comprehensive review

The Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is one of the main candidates in neuropsychiatric genetics, with hundreds of studies carried out in order to explore the possible role of polymorphisms in the APOE gene in a large number of neurological diseases, psychiatric disorders, and related endophenotypes. In the current article, we provide a comprehensive review of the structural and functional aspects of the APOE gene and its relationship with brain disorders. Evidence from genome‐wide association studies and meta‐analyses shows that the APOE gene has been significantly associated with several neurodegenerative disorders. Cellular and animal models show growing evidence of the key role of APOE in mechanisms of brain plasticity and behavior. Future analyses of the APOE gene might find a possible role in other neurological diseases and psychiatric disorders and related endophenotypes.

Higher scores in the extraversion personality trait are associated with a functional polymorphism in the PER3 gene in healthy subjects

ABSTRACT A polymorphism in the PER3 (period circadian clock 3) gene has been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and endophenotypes. We evaluated the possible association of personality domains with the PER3 polymorphism in a sample of healthy subjects: 271 individuals were evaluated with the Big Five Inventory and genotyped for the PER3 Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) polymorphism. We found a significant association between the PER3 polymorphism and the extraversion personality trait (p = 0.0093). The 5/5 genotype carriers showed higher scores for extraversion. This is the first time that a significant association between the PER3 VNTR polymorphism and extraversion is reported.

Efficacy of a computer-based cognitive training program in older people with subjective memory complaints: A randomized study

ABSTRACT Objective: the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of computer-assisted cognitive training in healthy older adults with subjective memory complaints. Methods: Forty older adults, mean age (standard deviation) = 66.4 (5.6) with subjective memory complaints, were included in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to an integrated psychostimulation program (IPP) (N = 17), a computerized cognitive training (CCT) (N = 12) or a control group (N = 11). The training was applied for 8 weeks (90 min/d, 4 d/week for IPP, and 60 min/d, 4 d/week for CCT). Effectiveness was evaluated with a neuropsychological assessment battery, used before and after the implementation of the cognitive training. Results: According to the data analysis, with analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), we found a statistically significant change in the majority of the cognitive variables measured before and after the experimental conditions compared with the control group. Although, according to a paired t-test, the IPP was more effective in the improvement of cognitive functioning in the participants. Additionally, a decrease in anxiety symptoms was observed after the cognitive intervention in IPP and CCT conditions. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that cognitive training of moderate intensity, supported by a web platform, could lead to significant improvements in cognitive and psychological well-being in older people with subjective memory complaints.

Personality traits and health-related quality of life: the mediator role of coping strategies and psychological distress

BackgroundThe study of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important topic in mental health around the globe. However, there is the need for more evidence about the cumulative influence of psychological variables on HRQOL. The main aim of the study was to evaluate how specific personality traits might explain scores in HRQOL and to explore how this relationship might be mediated by coping styles and psychological distress.MethodsYoung Colombian subjects (N = 274) were included (mean age: 21.3; SD = 3.8). The Short-Form Health Survey was used to measure HRQOL. For assessment of psychological variables, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations and the short version of Big Five Inventory were used.ResultsThe personality trait that was the best predictor of HRQOL was openness to experience, forming an explanatory model for HRQOL, along with emotional coping style and depressive and anxious symptoms. Emotional coping style and psychological distress were significant mediators of the relationship between openness and HRQOL.ConclusionsOur findings provide additional data about the cumulative influence of specific psychological variables on HRQOL, in a mostly young female Latin American sample.

Substance use and suicide risk in a sample of young Colombian adults: An exploration of psychosocial factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Young adults might engage in many risk behaviors, including alcohol and drug use, which could lead to mental health problems, such as suicide. The aim of this study was to examine specific psychosocial and clinical factors that could influence the possible relationship between polysubstance use (PSU) and suicide risk in a sample of young Colombian participants. METHODS A sample of 274 young participants (mean age = 21.3 years) was evaluated with two substance use screening tests (ASSIST and AUDIT) and five scales for clinical and psychosocial factors and suicide risk: The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, Zung Self-Rating Anxiety scale, Family APGAR, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and the Plutchik Suicide Risk scale. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS Use of cannabis and tobacco was significantly correlated with suicide risk in the total sample (p < .05). Depressive and anxiety symptoms, family functioning, and emotional abuse during childhood were significantly associated with suicide risk (p < .001), while alcohol use, anxiety symptoms, and family functioning were variables significantly related to PSU. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Our findings are consistent with previous evidence suggesting a relationship between substance use, several psychosocial factors, and suicide risk in young participants. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE Our study is one of the first reports the relationship between substance use and suicide risk in a Latin American population. (Am J Addict 2017;26:388-394).

A Functional Polymorphism in the DRD1 Gene, That Modulates Its Regulation by miR-504, Is Associated with Depressive Symptoms

Objective The aim of this study was to examine a possible association between depressive symptoms and a functional polymorphism (rs686) that modulates the regulation of DRD1 gene by miR-504. Methods A total of 239 young Colombian subjects were evaluated with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale and genotyped for the rs686 polymorphism. A linear regression model, corrected by age and gender, was used. Results A significant association between the rs686 polymorphism and PHQ-9 scores was found, under a dominant genetic model (p=0.0094). Conclusion These results provide novel evidence about the growing role of inherited variants in binding sites for brain-expressed miRNAs on depressive symptomatology.

Network analysis of multiple risk factors for mental health in young Colombian adults

Abstract Background: A considerable proportion of young adults are affected by psychological distress at any time and an important fraction of them may develop mental disorders. Use of novel approaches for the analysis of data from multiple psychological scales might facilitate the identification of key indicators of mental health. Aims: The aim of current study was to examine the relationship between multiple risk factors for mental illness, using a network analysis perspective. Methods: A sample of 334 young Colombian adults (mean age = 21.7) were evaluated with validated scales measuring several psychosocial factors previously associated with mental health (e.g. worry, sleep problems, suicidal ideation, childhood abuse, alcohol related-problems and personality traits). A total of 24 nodes were included in the network analysis and topology, centrality, and stability of the networks were studied. Results: Specific nodes that occupied critical positions in the network were identified, with worry, perceived distress and low energy being the most central nodes. Conclusions: Our explorative findings suggest that a network analysis might identify risk factors that have a central role in the multiple dimensions of emotional health in young adults. These novel analyses could have important applications for the understanding of the psychological functioning affecting mental health.

Depressive symptoms are associated with a functional polymorphism in a miR-433 binding site in the FGF20 gene

Genetic studies of major depressive disorder and its associated endophenotypes are useful for the identification of candidate genes. In recent years, variations in non-coding RNA genes, such as miRNAs, have been explored as novel candidates for psychiatric disorders and related endophenotypes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible association between a functional polymorphism (rs12720208) in the FGF20 gene, which regulates its modulation by miR-433, and depressive symptoms in young adults. A sample of 270 participants from Colombia were evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Depression Subscale (HADS-D) and genotyped for the rs12720208 polymorphism using a TaqMan assay. A lineal regression analysis was used. A statistically significant association of the functional polymorphism in the FGF20 gene (rs12720208) with depressive symptoms was found. It was observed that individuals with the G/A genotype had higher scores for the HADS-D subscale. Our results are the first description in the scientific literature about a significant association between a functional polymorphism in the FGF20 gene, which regulates its modulation by miR-433, and depressive symptoms.

Anxiety symptomatology, sex and chronotype: The mediational effect of diurnal sleepiness

ABSTRACT Diurnal subjective sleepiness has been associated with a large number of negative outcomes, such as increased risk of accidents and development of mental disorders as depression and anxiety. However, the role of the diurnal subjective sleepiness as a mediator is poorly understood. The goal of the present study was to examine the role of diurnal subjective sleepiness as a mediator of the relationship between sex, chronotype and anxiety symptoms in healthy young adults. Four-hundred and sixty-seven healthy young adults (64.8% females, age range 18–32 years, mean 20.7, ±2.3) were evaluated with validated and widely used scales for the measurement of diurnal sleepiness, anxiety symptoms and morningness–eveningness preference. We have found that diurnal subjective sleepiness correlated with anxiety symptoms when evaluated both in the total sample and within chronotypes. This association was more important in females than in males (p < 0.0001). Regarding chronotype, only for morning-types, diurnal subjective sleepiness was a significant mediator of the relationship between sex and anxiety symptoms. This is the first study that examines the mediator role of diurnal subjective sleepiness in the known relationship between sex and anxiety symptoms, and adds new evidence about the effect of the chronotype on sleep problems and mental health. Although future work is required, our results have important implications for clinical settings and public health interventions.

Telomere length and childhood trauma in Colombians with depressive symptoms

Objective: Childhood trauma and telomere length (TL) are important risk factors for major depressive disorder. We examined whether there was an association between childhood trauma and TL in a sample of Colombians who were assessed for depressive symptoms. Methods: We applied the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire to 92 Colombian subjects (mean age = 21). TL was measured with quantitative PCR. Spearman’s correlation coefficient (rs) was used to analyze the relationship between childhood trauma scores and TL. Results: We found a significant correlation between TL and sexual abuse scores (rs = 0.428, p = 0.002) in individuals with higher depressive symptom scores. Conclusion: This is the first report of a significant association between TL and sexual abuse in a Latin American sample and provides additional evidence about the role of childhood trauma and TL in neuropsychiatric disorders.