Treated versus non-treated subjects with depression from a 30-year cohort study: prevalence and clinical covariates

The Association between New-Onset Depressive Symptoms and Participating in Medical Check-Ups among Elderly Individuals

The association between adherence to medical check-ups and new-onset depressive symptoms, after adjusting for comprehensive risk factors such as social characteristics, remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the association between mental health and participating in medical check-ups. The survey data of participants aged 60 to 89 were recruited from the seventh Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging. The primary outcome was new-onset depressive symptoms within 2 years measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Participating in medical check-ups was defined as undergoing biennial medical check-ups. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with consideration of a 2-year time lag. Among 4255 participants, the prevalence of new-onset depressive symptoms was 7.36% (n = 313). The prevalence of non-participation in medical check-ups was 11.96% (n = 509). The adjusted OR of new-onset depressive symptoms by non-participation in medical check-ups was 1.65 [95% CI 1.22-2.24; p = 0.001] after adjusting for various demographic, behavioral, occupational, and social participation characteristics. Our findings demonstrated a significant inverse relationship between participation in medical check-ups and new-onset depressive symptoms. It is necessary to monitor and manage depressive symptoms in vulnerable elderly individuals who do not participate in medical check-ups.

Increased prevalence of depression in South Korea from 2002 to 2013

South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates among countries. However, the prevalence of depression in South Korea has been reported to be much lower than in other countries. The current study aims to estimate the prevalence of major depressive disorder using a large representative sample of the South Korean population. The prevalence of depression in a sampled population of one million individuals increased from 2.8% in 2002 to 5.3% in 2013; it was found to increase with the age of the population, and was higher in females than in males for most age groups. A Cox's proportional hazard model showed that suicide risk was significantly higher in people with depression (hazard ratio [HR] 3.79, 95% CI 3.14-4.58) than those without depression. It was also significantly higher in older people (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.36-1.70) than in younger people, and in males (HR 2.45, 95% CI 2.02-2.96) than in females. Furthermore, higher income groups were at lower suicide risk as compared to lower income groups (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80-0.95). This study using the large representative sample data provided evidence that increased prevalence of depression contributed to the increased risk of suicide in South Korea during the recent decade.

Cannabis use during adolescence and the occurrence of depression, suicidality and anxiety disorder across adulthood: Findings from a longitudinal cohort study over 30 years

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between cannabis use in adolescence and the occurrence of depression, suicidality and anxiety disorders during adulthood.

METHODS

A stratified population-based cohort of young adults (n = 591) from Zurich, Switzerland, was retrospectively assessed at age 19/20 for cannabis use in adolescence. The occurrence of depression, suicidality and anxiety disorders was repeatedly assessed via semi-structured clinical interviews at the ages of 20/21, 22/23, 27/28, 29/30, 34/35, 40/41, and 49/50. Associations were controlled for various covariates, including socio-economic deprivation in adolescence as well as repeated time-varying measures of substance abuse during adulthood.

RESULTS

About a quarter (24%) reported cannabis use during adolescence; 11% started at age 15/16 or younger and 13% between the ages of 16/17 and 19/20. In the adjusted multivariable model, cannabis use during adolescence was associated with adult depression (aOR = 1.70, 95%-CI = 1.24-2.32) and suicidality (aOR = 1.65, 95%-CI = 1.11-2.47), but not anxiety disorders (aOR = 1.10, 95%-CI = 0.82-1.48). First use at age 15/16 and younger (as against first use between age 16/17 and 19/20 and no use) and frequent use in adolescence (as against less frequent use and no use) were associated with a higher risk of depression in adult life.

CONCLUSIONS

In this longitudinal cohort study over 30-years, cannabis use during adolescence was associated with depression and suicidality in adult life. Young age at first use and high frequency of use in adolescence may particularly increase the risk of depression in adulthood. All associations were independent of cannabis abuse and other substance abuse during adulthood.

Reach Out and Recover: Intentions to seek treatment in individuals using online support for eating disorders

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore characteristics and treatment-seeking intentions of consumers accessing an online resource for eating disorders support, Reach Out and Recover (ROAR). Factors associated with treatment-seeking intent among visitors to ROAR were also examined.

METHOD

Participants were 200 visitors to the website aged 18 to 60 plus. The majority of participants (93.5%) identified as women. Responses to self-report questions assessing treatment-seeking intention, eating disorder symptoms and their impact on health, and attitudes to treatment were collected.

RESULTS

Participants experienced a range of eating disorder symptoms, yet the majority (86.0%) was not receiving treatment. Importantly, of those not in treatment, the majority (82.6%) indicated that they planned to get treatment. In addition, more than half of participants (52.9%) downloaded a report to present to their health practitioner to facilitate communication with a health professional. Intention to seek treatment and download of the report were positively associated with motivation to change, confidence to achieve change, greater frequency of binge eating, and greater recognition of the impact of eating disorder symptoms on relationships and well-being but not with stigma or ambivalence.

DISCUSSION

Study findings indicated that the ROAR website was accessed by individuals for whom it was designed, namely those experiencing eating disorder symptoms who are not receiving treatment. Encouragingly, participants had strong intentions to seek treatment, and the majority downloaded a report that could be used to facilitate the first step toward treatment. Greater focus on enhancing motivation and confidence to change may further promote treatment-seeking.

Treating late-life depression: Comparing the effects of internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy across the adult lifespan

BACKGROUND

The burden attributable to late-life depression is set to increase with the ageing population. The size of the workforce trained to deliver psychogeriatric medicine is limited. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) is an efficacious and scalable treatment option for depression. Yet older adults are underrepresented in iCBT research. This study examines the effects of iCBT for depression across the adult lifespan among patients seeking help in routine clinical care (N = 1288).

METHODS

Regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between age group (e.g., 18-24years (n = 141); 25-34years (n = 289); 35-44years (n = 320); 45-54years (n = 289); 55-64years (n = 180); 65 +years (n = 69)) and presenting demographic and clinical characteristics, adherence to treatment, and rates of remission, recovery and reliable improvement. Linear mixed models were used to examine whether reductions in symptom severity, distress and impairment varied as a function of age.

RESULTS

Patients aged 65+ years were more likely to be male compared to those aged 18-34 years and have been prescribed iCBT by their GP compared to those aged 55-64 years. Patients experiencing late-life depression experienced moderate to large effect size reductions in depressive symptom severity, psychological distress, and impairment, as did all other age groups. Rates of remission, recovery or reliable improvement were comparable across the adult lifespan.

CONCLUSIONS

iCBT is an effective treatment option for depression including in later life, and can be used to scale evidenced-based medicine in routine clinical care.

LIMITATIONS

No follow-up data were collected. The long-term effects of treatment, particularly for those who did not experience remission, are unclear.

Inequities in access to depression treatment: results of the Brazilian National Health Survey - PNS

Background

Despite depression being one of the most prevalent mental disorders in the world, access to treatment is still insufficient, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study is to investigate differences in access to treatment for depression according to socio-demographic characteristics, geographical area and multi-morbidity in a nationally representative sample of individuals with depression.

Methods

This study analyses data from the National Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde – PNS), a Brazilian household-based nationwide survey, which comprises 60,202 adults (aged 18 years or older). Depression was evaluated through the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Prevalence Ratios and corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated using Poisson regression.

Results

The general prevalence of depression was 7.9 % (95 % CI 7.5 to 8.3). Among those with depression, 78.8 % did not receive any treatment, and 14.1 % received only pharmacotherapy. Multivariable analyses showed that being female, white, aged between 30 and 69 years, living in regions other than the North, having higher education and having multi-morbidities were independently associated with higher likelihood of access to any treatment.

Conclusions

Most Brazilians with clinically relevant depressive symptoms are not receiving any treatment. Access to care is unequal, with the poor and those living in low resource areas having higher difficulties to access mental health care. Understanding these disparities is important for the provision of effective interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of depression and inequities in access to mental health care.

Relationship between personality and psychopathology in a longitudinal community study: a test of the predisposition model

BACKGROUND

Mounting evidence supports the notion that personality is crucial in the aetiopathology of common mental disorders, but studies that allow for aetiological conclusions are lacking. The aim of the present study was thus to provide a test of the predisposition model.

METHOD

We analysed data from the Zurich Cohort Study, a 30-year longitudinal epidemiological community study of an adult cohort (n = 591) from 1979 to 2008. Personality was assessed in 1988 with an established personality questionnaire, and psychopathology through seven semi-structured interviews between 1979 and 2008.

RESULTS

On the basis of personality assessment from 1988, used as predictor of subsequent psychopathology (1993-2008), while adjusting for sex and prior mental disorders (1979-1988), neuroticism related significantly with future major depression episodes [odds ratio (OR) = 1.41], anxiety disorders (OR = 1.32) and depression treatment use (OR = 1.41). When participants with a past 10-year history (i.e. 1979-1988) of either major depression, anxiety disorder or depression treatment use were excluded, neuroticism in 1988 still significantly predicted first incidence (i.e. 1993-2008) of major depression episodes (OR = 1.53) and depression treatment use (OR = 1.84).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study provides compelling evidence that the personality trait of neuroticism constitutes an independent risk factor for subsequent major depression episodes and use of respective professional treatments, which serves as a proxy for particularly severe and impairing depression episodes. We therefore advocate that personality traits could provide clinically useful prognostic information when considered carefully.