Thaíse Campos Mondin

Neurotrophic factors, clinical features and gender differences in depression.

AbstractnRecent studies have evaluated the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in mood disorders; however, little is known about alterations in nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). The aim of this study was to evaluate differences among serum neurotrophic factors (BDNF, NGF and GDNF) in depressed patients and healthy controls and to verify the association between serum neurotrophic levels and clinical characteristics in a young, depressed population stratified by gender. This is a cross-sectional study with depressed patients and population controls 18–29xa0years of age. The concentrations of neurotrophic factors were determined by the ELISA method. The diagnosis of depression and the duration of the disease were assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview according to the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Depression severity was measured with the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and the severity of anxiety symptoms was measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Serum BDNF and GDNF were lower in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients compared to controls (pxa0≤xa00.001). Serum NGF levels were higher in MDD patients versus controls (pxa0≤xa00.001). BDNF was associated with the duration of disease only in women (pxa0=xa00.005). GDNF was not associated with clinical characteristics in either gender. In women, NGF was associated with the severity of depressive symptoms (pxa0=xa00.009), anxiety (pxa0=xa00.011) and disease duration (pxa0=xa00.005). NGF was associated with disease duration in men (pxa0=xa00.026). Our results demonstrated that significant neurochemical differences in NGF and BDNF, but not in GDNF, were associated with the clinical features of MDD when patients were stratified by gender.n

Transtornos mentais comuns e qualidade de vida em jovens: uma amostra populacional de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) and their association with quality of life among young adults in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional population-based study of young people 18 to 24 years of age. Sampling used simple cluster selection. Investigation of CMD used the Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20), while quality of life was measured with the Medical Outcomes Survey Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-36). Prevalence of CMD in the study sample was 24.5% (N = 382), and was positively associated with: female gender, lower socioeconomic status (classes D or E), not studying, not working, alcohol consumption, smoking, and substance abuse. Young adults with CMD had lower mean scores on the SF-36 in all the assessed quality of life domains. Measures to prevent CMD are necessary to provide better quality of life for this age group.

Biological rhythms in bipolar and depressive disorders: A community study with drug-naïve young adults

AIMnTo assess biological rhythm disruptions among drug-naïve young adults with bipolar disorder (BD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and community controls.nnnMETHODSnThis was a cross-sectional study nested in a population-based study. BD and MDD were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Biological rhythm disruptions were assessed using the Biological Rhythm Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN).nnnRESULTSnTwo hundred seventeen subjects were assessed (49 BD, 74 MDD, and 94 community controls). Biological rhythm disruption was higher in subjects with BD (40.32±9.92; p<0.001) and MDD (36.23±8.71; p<0.001) than community controls (27.67±6.88). Subjects with BD had a higher BRIAN total score (p=0.028) and higher disruption in sleep/social domains (p=0.018) as compared to MDD. In addition, the BRIAN scores were higher in current MDD, euthymic BD, and BD in current episode group, as compared to community controls.nnnLIMITATIONnCross-sectional design. Absence of assessment of biomarkers of biological rhythms.nnnCONCLUSIONnBipolar disorder and major depressive disorder are associated with disruption in biological rhythm. In addition, disruption in sleep/social rhythms is higher in subjects with BD when compared to subjects with MDD. We also verified biological rhythm disruption in subjects with BD during euthymic status, but not in remitted MDD. Regulation of biological rhythm may be a means to identify patients with mood disorders and potentially differentiate MDD from BD.

Quality of life and mood disorder episodes: Community sample

OBJECTIVEnTo assess quality of life among Brazilian young adults who are 18-24 years old and who experience depressive, manic/hypomanic, and mixed episodes.nnnMETHODnThis is a cross-sectional population-based study. The sample was selected in clusters. Mood disorders were assessed using a short, structured diagnostic interview-the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) for DSM-IV and ICD-10 psychiatric disorders. Quality of life was assessed by the MOS 36-item Short-form General Health Survey (SF-36).nnnRESULTSnThe sample comprised 1560 young adults. The prevalence ratio of mood disorder episodes were as follows: 10.0% depressive episode, 2.3% manic/hypomanic episode, and 2.4% mixed episode. Lower scores were found in all domains of quality of life among young adults who experience mood disorder episodes when compared to the general population (p<0.001 in the eight domains of the SF-36). Moreover, the impact on quality of life was higher among young adults with mixed episodes, followed by depressive episodes.nnnCONCLUSIONnYoung adults with mood disorders, even without a previous diagnosis of bipolar disorder, have an impaired quality of life in comparison to the general population.

The effect of proinflammatory cytokines in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating disorder and its pathophysiology is associated with deregulation of the immune system. We investigated the changes in circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines (specifically IL-6 and TNF-α) measured by the ELISA kit in two psychotherapeutic interventions for MDD: Narrative Cognitive Therapy (NCT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This is a randomized clinical trial including 97 individuals (18 to 29years-old) with MDD. In CBT there was a significant difference in serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, therefore indicating that CBT was more effective than NCT on serum levels proinflammatory cytokines.

Anxiety disorders in young people: a population-based study

OBJECTIVEnTo assess the prevalence of anxiety disorders and associated factors in young adults.nnnMETHODSnCross-sectional population-based study of individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 years randomly selected from 89 census-based sectors to ensure an adequate sample size. Household selection within the sectors was performed according to a systematic sampling process. Anxiety disorders were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). The final sample comprised 1,560 young adults.nnnRESULTSnOf the participants who were diagnosed with anxiety disorders, 12.3% had agoraphobia, 9.7% had generalised anxiety disorder, 4.0% had social phobia, 3.3% had obsessive-compulsive disorder, 2.5% had panic disorder, and 2.1% had post-traumatic stress disorder; only 23.8% had received any previous treatment. Anxiety disorders were associated with sex, socioeconomic status, psychiatric problems in parents, alcohol abuse, and tobacco use.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe identification of factors associated with anxiety disorders in young people enables us to develop intervention strategies. Anxiety disorders are not only highly prevalent but are also associated with significant functional impairment, significant reductions in quality of life, lower productivity, and higher rates of comorbidities.

Mood disorders and biological rhythms in young adults: A large population-based study

BACKGROUNDnIt is known that sleep disturbance has been considered a trait-marker of mood disorders. However, the role of disruptions in biological rhythms, such as eating, activity, and social patterns, needs to be better understood.nnnAIMnTo assess the differences in biological rhythms in subjects with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and healthy controls. We also tested the association between disruptions of biological rhythms and circadian preferences.nnnMETHODSnA cross-sectional, population-based study with a representative sample of 1023 young adults. Bipolar disorder and depression were diagnosed using The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview - PLUS and DSM Structured Clinical Interview. Self-reported biological rhythms and circadian preference were assessed using the Biological Rhythm Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN).nnnRESULTSnBipolar disorders and depression subjects presented higher rates of disruption in biological rhythms when compared to healthy controls even after adjusting for sex, socioeconomic status, alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug use, anxiety disorder and psychotropic medication use. Euthymic subjects showed higher biological rhythm disruption when compared to controls. Higher disruption in biological rhythms was observed in subjects with evening preferences.nnnCONCLUSIONnHigher disruption in biological rhythms occurs in individuals with depression and bipolar disorder even on periods of euthymia.

Transtornos mentais comuns e auto-estima na gestação: prevalência e fatores associados

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of common mental disorders and the association with self-esteem and other factors in pregnant women. A nested cross-sectional study was performed in a cohort of pregnant women treated in the public health system in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to screen for common mental disorders and the Rosenbergs Self-Esteem Scale for self-esteem. The sample consisted of 1,267 pregnant women with a mean age of 25 years (SD = 6.53). Mean self-esteem was 9.3 points (SD = 4.76), and prevalence of common mental disorders was 41.4%. Lower self-esteem was associated with higher odds of common mental disorders (p < 0.001). There was a significant association between higher prevalence of common mental disorders and low self-esteem.

Brief psychoeducation for bipolar disorder: Impact on quality of life in young adults in a 6-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial

There are scarce follow-up studies evaluating the role of psychoeducation in the treatment of bipolar disorder, especially in a young sample, with a recent diagnosis and that probably received a few previous interventions. This was a randomized clinical trial with young adults aged 18-29 years, who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder through the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID). The evaluation of quality of life was carried out using the Medical Outcomes Survey 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (MOS SF-36). All participants were randomized into two groups: combined intervention (psychoeducation plus medication) and treatment-as-usual (medication). The sample consisted of 61 patients divided in two groups (29 usual treatment; 32 combined intervention). The quality of life domains did not reveal statistically significant differences when comparing baseline, post-intervention and 6-month follow-up evaluations, which indicates that there is no difference between combined intervention and usual intervention regarding quality of life improvement. Both groups presented improvements in quality of life domains, except General Health and Bodily Pain, at post-intervention. Moreover, this improvement persisted at 6-month follow-up, except for the Role Physical Health domain, which remained reduced. Combined Psychoeducation plus pharmacological intervention is so effective in improving quality of life perception as it is pharmacological only intervention.

Biological Rhythm and Bipolar Disorder: Twelve-Month Follow-Up of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Abstract The objective was to evaluate the effect of psychoeducation on biological rhythm and in the reduction of depressive, anxious, and manic symptoms at 12 months’ follow-up. This was a randomized clinical trial with young adults aged 18 to 29 years, diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Biological rhythm was assessed with the Biological Rhythm Interview Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN). Participants were randomized for combined intervention (psychoeducation plus medication) or treatment-as-usual (medication alone). The sample consisted of 61 patients (29 TAU; 32 combined intervention). Although it failed to separate by a marginal difference, the combined intervention seems to be more effective than TAU in relation to improvement of depressive symptoms at post-intervention (p = 0.074) and regulation of sleep/social domain at 6 months’ follow-up (p = 0.057). Improvement of depressive symptoms as well as regulation of sleep and social activities are known to prevent episode onset and thus improve long-term outcomes.