The lack of association between components of metabolic syndrome and treatment resistance in depression

RATIONALE: Although a number of studies investigated the link between major depressive disorder (MDD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS), the association between MetS and treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is still not clear. ----- OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between TRD and MetS and/or components of MetS and cardiovascular risk factors. Given the high prevalence of both conditions, the hypothesis was that TRD would be significantly associated with MetS. ----- METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 203 inpatients with MDD, assessed for the treatment resistance, MetS and its components, and severity of MDD. Diagnoses and evaluations were made with SCID based on DSM-IV, National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. ----- RESULTS: TRD prior to study entry was found in 26.1 % of patients, while MetS was observed in 33.5 % of patients. The prevalence of MetS did not differ significantly between TRD and non-TRD patients. In addition, the frequency of the altered values of particular components of the MetS or cardiovascular risk factors was not associated with treatment resistance in depressed patients. Patients with TRD were older, had a higher number of lifetime episodes of depression and suicide attempts, and longer duration of MDD compared to non-TRD patients. ----- CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of either MetS or the particular components of the MetS and other cardiovascular risk factors was similar between TRD and non-TRD patients. Although there is a bidirectional relationship between depression and MetS, neither MetS nor its components appear to influence treatment resistance to antidepressants

Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) in a Croatian psychiatric outpatient sample

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate psychometric properties and factorial structure of the Croatian adaptation of the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) in a sample of psychiatric outpatients (n=328). ----- METHOD: The participants filled out the TCI-R, as well as self-report measures of the Big-Five personality traits (IPIP-50), trait impulsivity (BIS-11), depression (BDI-II), suicidality (SBQ-R), and life satisfaction (SWLS). We explored the internal consistency of 7 domains and 29 subscales and compared it with the Croatian version of the original TCI used in prior studies. Principal component analysis with promax rotation was conducted on temperament and character subscales separately, while concurrent validity was examined through the TCI-R's relations with the abovementioned psychological measures. ----- RESULTS: The TCI-R scales showed adequate internal consistencies, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.77 to 0.93. The internal consistency showed to be higher in comparison with the Croatian version of the original TCI. The postulated four-factor structure of temperament and the three-factor structure of character were confirmed. The meaningful associations with other measures supported the concurrent validity of the TCI-R. ----- CONCLUSION: The Croatian adaptation of the TCI-R exhibited satisfactory reliability and validity in a sample of psychiatric outpatients. These findings support the use of the TCI-R in Croatian clinical settings over its predecessor (TCI)

ANHEDONIA IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: MINI-REVIEW

The perception of reward exerts a powerful influence on human behavior. While anhedonia might occur in healthy individuals, its prevalence and severity are much higher in psychiatric patients, particularly those with depression and schizophrenia. Anhedonia is a negative symptom, and presumably a trait marker in schizophrenia. Recent research confirmed that anhedonia is a complex construct, consisting of anticipatory, consummatory, and reward learning components. In general, schizophrenia patients show anticipation deficits, and a substantial portion of them have physical (PA) and social anhedonia (SA). The relationship between anhedonia and psychopathology appears bidirectional. While gene-environment interactions affect reward circuity, anhedonia modulates clinical features, such as suicidality and nicotine consumption. Future clinical research employing longitudinal designs may shed more light on the dynamics and treatment of anhedonia in schizophreni

ANHEDONIA IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: MINI-REVIEW

The perception of reward exerts a powerful influence on human behavior. While anhedonia might occur in healthy individuals, its prevalence and severity are much higher in psychiatric patients, particularly those with depression and schizophrenia. Anhedonia is a negative symptom, and presumably a trait marker in schizophrenia. Recent research confirmed that anhedonia is a complex construct, consisting of anticipatory, consummatory, and reward learning components. In general, schizophrenia patients show anticipation deficits, and a substantial portion of them have physical (PA) and social anhedonia (SA). The relationship between anhedonia and psychopathology appears bidirectional. While gene-environment interactions affect reward circuity, anhedonia modulates clinical features, such as suicidality and nicotine consumption. Future clinical research employing longitudinal designs may shed more light on the dynamics and treatment of anhedonia in schizophreni

Physical and social anhedonia are associated with suicidality in major depression, but not in schizophrenia

Objective: This cross-sectional study investigated the association of physical and social anhedonia with suicidality in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia, and in non-psychiatric controls. ----- Method: All participants completed the revised Physical Anhedonia Scale (RPAS) and the revised Social Anhedonia Scale (RSAS) and were subdivided according to positive life-time suicide attempt history. MDD patients were evaluated with the Montgomery-Ãsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), healthy respondents with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and schizophrenia patients with the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS). ----- Results: In 683 study participants, the prevalence of each anhedonia was the highest in MDD, followed by schizophrenia, and lowest in the control group. Among MDD patients, those with physical and social anhedonia had greater rates of recent suicidal ideation, while a higher frequency of individuals with life-time suicide attempts was detected in those with only social anhedonia. In contrast, no association between either anhedonia and life-time suicide attempts or recent suicidal ideation was found in patients with schizophrenia. ----- Conclusions: Assessing social and physical anhedonia might be important in MDD patients, given its association with both life-time suicide attempts and recent suicidal ideation. Suicidality in schizophrenia, while unrelated to anhedonia, might include other risk factors

Depression and stress levels in patients with different psychiatric disorders during concurrent early-phase COVID-19 pandemic and earthquake in Croatia

Abstract Background While Croatia shared COVID-19 pandemic with other countries, its capital area was also hit by a 5.6 magnitude earthquake. The simultaneous impact of these two disasters on psychiatric patients is largely unknown, and we addressed those knowledge gaps. Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted during the pandemic’s first peak, in the aftermath of earthquake, by telephonic survey. Measurements included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Perceived Stress Scale and the semi-structured interview to evaluate the impact of pandemic stress and earthquake. Overall 396 patients with depression and/or anxiety disorders (DAD), 229 participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and 205 healthy controls were enrolled. Results Both patient groups had higher depression and stress levels than controls, independent of sex, age and the presence of somatic comorbidity. After controlling for the same covariates, patient groups had higher COVID-19- and earthquake-related fears than controls. In patients with DAD, both fears were greater than among SSD patients. When comparing the two fears, the fear from earthquake was higher in DAD and control groups, whereas in SSD patients there was no such difference. Conclusions Patients with DAD were the most vulnerable group during disasters, while earthquake seems to be associated with more fear than the pandemics, at least in DAD patients and healthy individuals. Future longitudinal studies should determine if early psychological support might alleviate stress levels after disasters and prevent further worsening of mental health, particularly among DAD patients