METHODS: A total of 7102 pregnant women from 12 high-income economies and nine middle-income economies were included. The web-based survey used two standardized instruments, General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
RESULT: Pregnant women in high-income economies reported higher PHQ-9 (0.18 standard deviation [SD], P
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The COVID-19 pandemic has extensively impacted global healthcare systems. We hypothesized that the degree of psychological impact would be higher for surgical providers deployed for COVID-19 work, certain surgical specialties, and for those who knew of someone diagnosed with, or who died, of COVID-19.
METHODS: We conducted a global web-based survey to investigate the psychological impact of COVID-19. The primary outcomes were the depression anxiety stress scale-21 and Impact of Event Scale-Revised scores.
RESULTS: A total of 4283 participants from 101 countries responded. 32.8%, 30.8%, 25.9%, and 24.0% screened positive for depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD respectively. Respondents who knew someone who died of COVID-19 were more likely to screen positive for depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD (OR 1.3, 1.6, 1.4, 1.7 respectively, all P < 0.05). Respondents who knew of someone diagnosed with COVID-19 were more likely to screen positive for depression, stress, and PTSD (OR 1.2, 1.2, and 1.3 respectively, all P < 0.05). Surgical specialties that operated in the head and neck region had higher psychological distress among its surgeons. Deployment for COVID- 19-related work was not associated with increased psychological distress.
CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic may have a mental health legacy outlasting its course. The long-term impact of this ongoing traumatic event underscores the importance of longitudinal mental health care for healthcare personnel, with particular attention to those who know of someone diagnosed with, or who died of COVID-19.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between child feeding practices and current maternal depression with malnutrition among young children in a rural community.
METHODS: This is a case-control study consisting of 52 Malay mothers of malnourished children (case) and 50 Malay mothers of well-nourished children (control) in Kuala Langat, Selangor, Malaysia. Structured questionnaires on child feeding practices and Beck Depression Inventory: Second Edition questionnaire were distributed to mothers.
RESULTS: Depressed mothers stopped exclusive breastfeeding (2.8 ± 2.1 months) earlier than non-depressed mothers (3.7 ± 2.0 months; p = 0.045). Binary logistic regression analysis showed current maternal depression was a primary contributor associated with risk of malnutrition in children (adjusted odds ratio: 2.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-6.09), and followed by the number of children (adjusted odds ratio: 1.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.77).
CONCLUSION: Mothers who experienced depression were twice as likely to have malnourished children. Each additional child in the family will increase the risk of malnutrition by 1.3 times. Maternal depression is associated with child feeding practices and malnutrition among young children in the studied population. Preliminary screening to identify depression symptoms should be conducted to all mothers as early as the first trimester to prevent the incidence of malnutrition in children.
METHODOLOGY: An online cross-sectional study was conducted via non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, COVID-19 related influences. Mental health status was assessed with depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21).
RESULTS: 388 students participated this study (72.4% female; 81.7% Bachelor's student). The prevalence of moderate to severe depression, anxiety and stress among university students are 53.9%, 66.2% and 44.6%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that the odds of depression were lower among students who exercise at least 3 times per week (OR: 0.380, 95% CI: 0.203-0.711). The odd ratio of student who had no personal history of depression to had depression, anxiety and stress during this pandemic was also lower in comparison (OR: 0.489, 95% CI: 0.249-0.962; OR: 0.482, 95% CI: 0.241-0.963; OR: 0.252, 95% CI: 0.111-0.576). Surprisingly, students whose are currently pursuing Master study was associated with lower stress levels (OR: 0.188, 95% CI: 0.053-0.663). However, student who had poorer satisfaction of current learning experience were more likely to experience stress (OR: 1.644, 95% CI: 1.010-2.675).
LIMITATIONS: It is impossible to establish causal relationships between variables on mental health outcomes, and there is a risk of information bias.
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of mental health issues among university students is high. These findings present essential pieces of predictive information when promoting related awareness among them.
METHODS: This was an observational, cross-sectional study with a sample size of 417 students. An online survey utilizing International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was distributed to Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman students via Google forms.
RESULTS: During lockdown, family income [χ2 (1, n = 124) = 5.155, p = 0.023], and physical activity (PA) [χ2 (1, n = 134) = 6.366, p = 0.012] were associated with anxiety, while depression was associated with gender [χ2 (1, n = 75) = 4.655, p = 0.031]. After lockdown, family income was associated with both anxiety [χ2 (1, n = 111) = 8.089, p = 0.004], and depression [χ2 (1, n = 115) = 9.305, p = 0.002]. During lockdown, family income (OR = 1.60, p = 0.018), and PA (OR = 0.59, p = 0.011) were predictors for anxiety, while gender (OR = 0.65, p = 0.046) was a predictor for depression. After lockdown, family income was a predictor for both anxiety (OR = 1.67, p = 0.011), and depression (OR = 1.70, p = 0.009).
CONCLUSION: Significant negative effects attributed to the COVID-19 lockdown, and certain factors predisposed to the worsening of mental health status in university students. Low family income, PA, and female gender were the major determinants and predictors linked to anxiety and depression.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress as well as identify predictors among recovered COVID-19 patients after more than six months of being discharged in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted among 549 eligible participants recruited by stratified sampling. Data was collected using the depression, anxiety and stress scale - 21 items had Content Validity Index = 0.9, and Cronbach's alpha for depression, anxiety and stress sub-scales were 0.95, 0.81, and 0.86, respectively. Descriptive statistics were used to measure the prevalence levels and distribution of characteristics of the participant, while factors influencing depression, anxiety, and stress were predicted using binary logistic regression.
RESULTS: The overall prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress were 24.8% (95% CI: 21.2-28.6), 41.5% (95% CI: 37.4-45.8), and 25.3% (95% CI: 21.7-29.2), respectively. The predictors of depression were living in urban area (OR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.27-3.08), holding a bachelor's degree (OR:3.51; 95% CI: 1.13-10.8), having a high monthly income (OR: 2.57; 95% CI: 1.03-6.38), diabetes (OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.04-4.68), heart disease (OR: 3.83; 95% CI: 1.79-8.17), respiratory disease (OR: 3.49; 95% CI: 1.24-9.84), and diarrhea (OR: 4.07; 95% CI: 1.06-15.6). Living in the urban area (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.07-2.29), having sleep disturbance (OR: 2.32; 95% CI: 1.56-3.46), and fatigue (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.03-2.39) were predictors for anxiety. Having respiratory disease (OR: 3.75; 95% CI: 1.47-9.60) or diarrhea (OR: 4.34; 95% CI: 1.18-15.9) were predictors of stress.
CONCLUSION: People who have recovered from COVID-19 should be assessed for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Primary healthcare providers should develop interventions to support their recovery.
METHOD: A large group of adult participants (N = 1897), recruited from eight administrative divisions in Bangladesh, completed an online survey in May and June 2021 when the Movement Control Order was in place. We used the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Perceived Stress Scale-4 to assess the participants' anxiety, depression, and stress. We also gave the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and Life-Orientation Test-Revised to assess mindfulness and optimism.
RESULTS: The results revealed that the prevalence rates for anxiety and depression were 62.5% and 45.3%, respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that several nonmodifiable factors, such as those who were students, unmarried and females, and those living in the Northern region (Rajshahi and Mymensingh division) and dwelling in the rural areas, suffered from worse mental health (accounted for 5%-23% of the variances in the mental health outcome scores). Modifiable factors accounted for an additional 10%-25% of the variances in the same outcome variables. Adults with higher mindfulness and optimism, living in the country's Southern region (Chattogram division) and those who took both vaccine doses and had no history of mental illness reported better mental health.
CONCLUSION: Anxiety, depression, and stress remained high in Bangladeshi adults after one year of the pandemic. The community-based interventions should aim to increase the mindfulness and optimism levels among the sufferers. More accelerated vaccination programs across the country could protect people from suffering from overall mental distress.
OBJECTIVE: This is merely a published protocol, not the findings of a future study. This study aims to determine and explain the predictors of depressive symptoms among MSM living with HIV. Specifically, this study wants to determine the association between depressive symptoms among MSM living with HIV and biological, psychosocial, and social factors. Finally, the mixed methods will answer to what extent the qualitative results confirm the quantitative results of the predictors of depressive symptoms among MSM living with HIV.
METHODS: The study has ethical approval from the Medical Research Ethics Committee (MREC) of the Ministry of Health (MOH) NMRR ID-21-02210-MIT. This study will apply an explanatory sequential mixed methods study design. It comprised two distinct phases: quantitative and qualitative study design for answering the research questions and hypothesis. This study will randomly recruit 941 MSM living with HIV in the quantitative phase, and at least 20 MSM living with HIV purposively will be selected in the qualitative phase. The study will be conducted in ten public Primary Care Clinics in Selangor, Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire will gather the MSM's background and social, psychological, and biological factors that could be associated with depressive symptoms. For the quantitative study, descriptive analysis and simple logistic regression will be used for data analysis. Then, variables with a P value < 0.25 will be included in multiple logistic regression to measure the predictors of depressive symptoms. In the qualitative data collection, in-depth interviews will be conducted among those with moderate to severe depressive symptoms from the quantitative phase. The thematic analysis will be used for data analysis in the qualitative phase. Integration occurs at study design, method level, and later during interpretation and report writing.
RESULT: The quantitative phase was conducted between March 2022 to February 2023, while qualitative data collection is from March 2023 to April 2023, with baseline results anticipated in June 2023.
CONCLUSION: In combination, qualitative and quantitative research provides a better understanding of depressive symptoms among MSM living with HIV. The result could guide us to provide a comprehensive mental healthcare program toward Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
METHODS: Chronic unpredictable mild stress- (CUMS-) induced rats were established for the depression animal model. There were a total of four rat groups, including the control group, the CUMS group, the CUMS+acupuncture group, and the CUMS+fluoxetine group. The acupuncture group and the fluoxetine group were given a 3-week treatment after the modeling intervention. The researcher performed the open-field, elevated plus maze, and sucrose preference tests to evaluate depressive behaviors. The number of nerve cells, dendrites' length, and the prefrontal cortex's spine density were detected using Golgi staining. The prefrontal cortex expression, such as BDNF, PSD95, SYN, and PKMZ protein, was detected using the western blot and RT-PCR.
RESULTS: Acupuncture could alleviate depressive-like behaviors and promote the recovery of the neural plasticity functions in the prefrontal cortex, showing the increasing cell numbers, prolonging the length of the dendrites, and enhancing the spine density. The neural plasticity-related proteins in the prefrontal cortex, including BDNF, PSD95, SYN, and PKMZ, were all downregulated in the CUMS-induced group; however, these effects could be partly reversed after being treated by acupuncture and fluoxetine (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can ameliorate depressive-like behaviors by promoting the recovery of neural plasticity functions and neural plasticity-related protein upregulation in the prefrontal cortex of CUMS-induced depressed rats. Our study provides new insights into the antidepressant approach, and further studies are warranted to elucidate the mechanisms of acupuncture involved in depression treatment.
METHODOLOGY: A systematic search was done in seven databases using pre-defined search terms. Cross-sectional, cohort and interventional studies reporting the proportion of mental health problems among children with long COVID in the English language from 2019 to May 2022 were included. Selection of papers, extraction of data and quality assessment were done independently by two reviewers. Studies with satisfactory quality were included in meta-analysis using R and Revman software programmes.
RESULTS: The initial search retrieved 1848 studies. After screening, 13 studies were included in the quality assessments. Meta-analysis showed children who had previous COVID-19 infection had more than two times higher odds of having anxiety or depression, and 14% higher odds of having appetite problems, compared to children with no previous infection. The pooled prevalence of mental health problems among the population were as follows; anxiety: 9%(95% CI:1, 23), depression: 15%(95% CI:0.4, 47), concentration problems: 6%(95% CI: 3, 11), sleep problems: 9%(95% CI:5, 13), mood swings: 13% (95%CI:5, 23) and appetite loss: 5%(95% CI:1, 13). However, studies were heterogenous and lack data from low- and middle-income countries.
CONCLUSION: Anxiety, depression and appetite problems were significantly increased among post-COVID-19 infected children, compared to those without a previous infection, which may be attributed to long COVID. The findings underscore the importance of screening and early intervention of children post-COVID-19 infection at one month and between three to four months.
OBJECTIVES: The present study examines the cellular mechanisms by which scopolamine produces antidepressant-like effects through its action in the ventrolateral midbrain periaqueductal gray (vlPAG).
METHODS: We used a well-established mouse model of depression induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS) exposure for 14 days. Behaviors were tested using the forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), female urine sniffing test (FUST), novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSFT), and locomotor activity (LMA). Synaptic transmission in the vlPAG was measured by whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. IntravlPAG microinjection was used to pharmacologically verify the signaling cascades of scopolamine in the vlPAG.
RESULTS: The results demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine produced antidepressant-like effects in a dose-dependent manner without affecting locomotor activity. CRS elicited depression-like behaviors, whereas intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine alleviated CRS-induced depression-like behaviors. CRS diminished glutamatergic transmission in the vlPAG, while scopolamine reversed the above effects. Moreover, intravlPAG microinjection of the L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) blocker verapamil, tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) receptor antagonist ANA-12, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitor rapamycin, and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPA) antagonist CNQX prevented scopolamine-induced antidepressant-like effects.
CONCLUSIONS: Scopolamine ameliorated CRS-elicited depression-like behavior required activation of VDCC, resulting in activity-dependent release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), engaging the TrkB receptor and downstream mTORC1 signaling in the vlPAG.