Yalin Zhang

Validity and reliability of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 to screen for depression among college students in China

This study examined the validity and reliability of the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 (PHQ‐9) and Patient Health Questionnaire‐2 (PHQ‐2). The optimal cutoff score when screening for depression among Chinese college students was also determined.

Psychological therapy with Chinese patients

There is a growing interest about psychological therapy and training in Asian countries. However, there is a paucity of information on how psychological therapy is practiced in Asia. In this article, we discussed 3 methods of psychological therapy in the management of anxiety and depression in Chinese patients – mindfulness meditation, Chinese Taoist cognitive psychotherapy (CTCP) and brief integrative psychological therapy (BIPT). The CTCP for generalized anxiety disorders was a multi‐site randomized study conducted in China. It was found that CTCP reduced symptoms more slowly than anxiolytics but the effect of CTCP was still significant at 6‐month follow‐up. The mindfulness meditation study examined the outcome of a community training program on the management of mild anxiety. We found that overall mental well‐being and anxiety symptoms were significantly improved during the period of the training course. The BIPT project was a naturalistic study of elderly people with depression at an outpatient psychiatric clinic. Results from this study indicated that BIPT was as effective although the onset of recovery was slower compared with BIPT combined with an antidepressant. In the 3 methods discussed, cultural issues are explored with affirmation of cultural values and reinforcement of culturally sanctioned coping pattern. Brief therapy and integration are the psychotherapeutic zeitgeist of the 21st century in Asia and we hope that there will be more studies on psychological therapy from different Asian countries in the future.

Sociodemographic Characteristics of Domestic Violence in China: A Population Case-Control Study

A population case-control study of domestic violence in China was conducted to examine the relationship between individual- and household-level characteristics and violence perpetration and victimization. Demographic comparisons were conducted between perpetrators and victims (n = 624), perpetrators and matched controls (n = 628), and perpetrator households and control households (n = 620). A multivariate model of demographic risk was tested, integrating individual- and household-level correlates of violence perpetration. Compared with victims, perpetrators were more likely to be older, male, and have lower levels of education. In the final model, violence perpetration was more likely among individuals who earned more income, contributed a lower proportion of the household income, had a family member who was unemployed or lived in households with an authoritarian or independent power structure.

Correlation of domestic violence during pregnancy with plasma amino-acid neurotransmitter, cortisol levels and catechol-o-methyltransferase Val(158)Met polymorphism in neonates.

To explore the correlation between domestic violence during pregnancy and glutamate (Glu), r‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), plasma cortisol levels and catechol‐o‐methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphism (rs4818) in neonates.

Health-related quality of life and symptom severity in Chinese patients with major depressive disorder

Patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) have been reported to have substantial long‐lasting limitations in multiple domains of health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). The thoughtful assessment of HRQoL and the impact of treatment response on HRQoL are emerging as important issues in the care of patients with major depressive disorder.

Investigation of child maltreatment: survey among junior school pupils in Henan province of China.

This study is to examine the prevalence of child maltreatment and its association with attachment and self‐esteem among junior schools students in Henan province of China.

The symptom trajectories to clinical remission in Chinese patients with unipolar major depressive disorder

There is little understanding of how unipolar major depressive disorder (UMDD) symptoms evolve in response to antidepressant treatment. The present research examined the associations between symptom trajectories and clinical remission in Chinese patients with UMDD. A total of 165 outpatients with UMDD received treatment of fluoxetine (20 mg/day) for 6 weeks and were assessed for symptom severity at weeks 1, 2, 4, and 6. We found that patients with UMDD show heterogeneity in treatment response to fluoxetine. Psychomotor retardation is a prominent symptom during the 6 weeks of assessment, and its severity at baseline is negatively associated with clinical remission.