Prevalence, incidence and years of life adjusted for disability due to depressive disorders in Mexico: Results of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Rising prevalence of subthreshold and major depressive symptom in South Korea: A trend analysis from 2014 and 2018

INTRODUCTION

Subthreshold depression and major depressive symptoms are prevalent mental health conditions that significantly impact quality of life and contribute to South Korea's high suicide rate. Despite their importance, few studies have examined temporal changes in the occurrence of these disorders in the Korean population.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of subthreshold depression and MDD using a large, representative sample of the South Korean population and analyze trends over time.

METHODS

Data were obtained from 10,848 participants aged 19 and above in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES) in 2014 and 2018. Depression severity was categorized using cutoff scores of 5-14 for subthreshold symptoms and ≥ 15 for severe symptoms.

RESULTS

The prevalence of subthreshold depression increased from 12.90% in 2014 to 15.20% in 2018, while MDD rose from 4.7% to 7.0% (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that MDD (OR = 8.1, 95% CI = 2.34-11.23), college education (OR = 7.9, 95% CI = 4.23-10.00), and age above 65 years (OR = 8.1, 95% CI = 2.58-12.58) exhibited similar risks for suicide attempts.

CONCLUSION

Since 2014, there has been a sharp and sustained increase in both subthreshold and severe depressive symptoms among the Korean population. This alarming trend underscores the critical need for targeted prevention and intervention strategies.

Mental Health Disorder Trends in Denmark According to Age, Calendar Period, and Birth Cohort

Importance

Research suggests an increase in mental disorder incidence in recent years, but this trend remains unexplained, and there is a lack of large studies based on a representative sample that investigate mental disorders over the full spectrum.

Objective

To explore sex- and age-specific incidence of any mental disorder and 19 specific disorders according to birth cohort and calendar period.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This was a population-based cohort study among 5 936 202 individuals aged 1 to 80 years living in Denmark at some point between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2021. Data were derived from the Danish Civil Registration System and analyzed from February to August 2024.

Exposures

Birth cohort (8 categories from 1924 to 2011) and calendar period (six 3-year categories from 2004 to 2021).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Incidence rates of mental disorders from 2004 to 2021 by sex and age, according to birth cohort and calendar period, including the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, using Danish health register data.

Results

The population comprised 2 933 857 female individuals and 3 002 345 male individuals, who were followed up for 83.8 million person-years, with median ages at start and end of follow-up of 30.2 and 46.2 years, respectively. There was an overall mental disorder incidence rate of 55.27 every 10 000 person-years. For diagnoses of any mental disorder, higher incidence rates were observed for more recent birth cohorts and calendar periods in the younger ages. Over older ages, incidence rates did not vary so greatly. An increase was observed in rates of most types of mental disorders, especially among young people, and decreases for other types (eg, substance use disorders). Prominent sex differences were also observed. For example, for schizophrenia, a large increase was seen in incidence rates for female individuals in more recent birth cohorts at younger ages, but no change for male individuals, leading to a higher peak incidence for female individuals than for male individuals in the most recent periods. For personality disorders, a large increase was observed in incidence for female individuals over time and a slight decrease for male individuals.

Conclusions and Relevance

This comprehensive investigation of mental disorders incidence in Denmark indicates sex- and age-specific patterns according to birth cohorts and calendar periods. While trends may partly be explained by increases in incidence, several other factors may contribute, such as diagnostic practices, health sector capacity, and risk factors for mental disorders.

TwinsMX: Exploring the Genetic and Environmental Influences on Health Traits in the Mexican Population

TwinsMX registry is a national research initiative in Mexico that aims to understand the complex interplay between genetics and environment in shaping physical and mental health traits among the country's population. With a multidisciplinary approach, TwinsMX aims to advance our knowledge of the genetic and environmental mechanisms underlying ethnic variations in complex traits and diseases, including behavioral, psychometric, anthropometric, metabolic, cardiovascular and mental disorders. With information gathered from over 2800 twins, this article updates the prevalence of several complex traits; and describes the advances and novel ideas we have implemented such as magnetic resonance imaging. The future expansion of the TwinsMX registry will enhance our comprehension of the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in shaping health and disease in the Mexican population. Overall, this report describes the progress in the building of a solid database that will allow the study of complex traits in the Mexican population, valuable not only for our consortium, but also for the worldwide scientific community, by providing new insights of understudied genetically admixed populations.

Therapeutic Effects of Ceremonial Ayahuasca Use for Methamphetamine Use Disorders and Other Mental Health Challenges: Case Studies in an Indigenous Community in Sonora, Mexico

This paper describes three case studies from an outpatient intercultural therapeutic program founded and run by Yaqui health professionals and traditional healers to serve members of the Yaqui tribe residing in Sonora, Mexico. This pilot therapeutic program has been designed specifically for Indigenous individuals, incorporating the ceremonial use of naturally derived psychedelics in addressing substance use disorders and other mental health issues. The program employs a community-based approach, integrating various traditional Indigenous healing practices like the sweatlodge (temazcal), medicinal plant preparations, and the ritualistic use of selected psychedelics from natural sources (such as ayahuasca, peyote, and secretions from Incilius alvarius). These approaches are complemented by culturally attuned group and individual psychotherapy sessions, as well as group sports, community meals, collaborative construction efforts for a permanent clinical infrastructure, and cultural engagements such as art, crafts, and collective music. To evaluate the program's efficacy, safety, and cultural implications, an ongoing observational study is being conducted by an international team of researchers. The preliminary results demonstrate therapeutic progress and improved psychometric outcomes observed in the three case studies presented, indicating promise for this intercultural therapeutic intervention.

[Analysis of the internal coherence of the Mental Health and Addictions Program of Mexico 2020-2024]

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the internal coherence of the Specific Mental Health and Addictions Program 2020-2024 (PAE-SM20-24) of the Health Secretary of Mexico.

METHOD

Qualitative descriptive analysis of the logic connection and causal articulation between the objectives, the strategies, and the specific actions of the PAE-SM20-24.

RESULTS

PAE-SM20-24 formulates 3 priority objectives, 9 priority strategies, and 49 specific actions. The formulation of the objectives, strategies and actions lacks the necessary structure to define the who, how, where, and when. Neither does it establish financing sources, the mechanisms for resource administration, nor the strategies and actions that are needed to restructure the functions of the participating institutions. It does not define the mechanisms for social participation nor any clear actions for intersectoral work. The actions that are presented are limited to rhetoric proposals to promote, encourage, support, strengthen, and foster, which do not allow us to determine tangible effects due to their implementation. In general terms, the formulation of the program is ambiguous.

CONCLUSIONS

PAE-SM20-24 lacks internal coherence, which means that there is only a medium connection between its objectives, strategies, and specific actions. This jeopardizes its implementation and, therefore, its potential to contribute to the improvement of public policy related to mental health and addictions in the country.

Type 2 diabetes and depressive symptoms in the adult population in Mexico: a syndemic approach based on National Health and Nutrition Survey

BACKGROUND

The syndemic approach allows the analysis of clusters of diseases that affect a population in contexts of geographic, social and economic inequalities at the same moment and time. This study aims to analyze, from a syndemic perspective, the relationship between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and depressive symptoms in Mexican adults and its association with individual, contextual and structural factors.

METHODS

Observational, cross-sectional study based on secondary data from Mexico's National Health and Nutrition Survey 2018-19. The sample of this study consisted of 16 835 adults, which represented a total of 78 463 734 persons aged ≥ 20 years. Bivariate descriptive analyses were performed and logistic regression models were estimated to analyze the association between T2D and depressive symptoms with various co-variables. In addition, interactions between T2D and depressive symptoms with obesity, educational level, and socioeconomic status were tested.

RESULTS

In the study population, 12.2% of adults aged 20 years and older self-reported having T2D, 14.7% had depressive symptoms and 2.8% had both diseases. There was a statistically significant relationship between T2D and depressive symptoms. The prevalence of T2D and depressive symptoms was higher compared to people who did not have these two conditions. Obesity increased the probability of having T2D, while violence was statistically associated with people having depressive symptoms. A low level of education increased the odds ratio of having T2D and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The availability of analytical frameworks such as the syndemic perspective could help to identify areas of opportunity for decision making and actions for population groups that-because of their individual, contextual and structural disadvantages-are at greater risk of experiencing poorer health outcomes due to the presence of T2D and depressive symptoms.