Association of early life stress and cognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls

As core symptoms of schizophrenia, cognitive deficits contribute substantially to poor outcomes. Early life stress (ELS) can negatively affect cognition in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls, but the exact nature of the mediating factors is unclear. Therefore, we investigated how ELS, education, and symptom burden are related to cognitive performance. The sample comprised 215 patients with schizophrenia (age, 42.9 ± 12.0 years; 66.0 % male) and 197 healthy controls (age, 38.5 ± 16.4 years; 39.3 % male) from the PsyCourse Study. ELS was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Screener (CTS). We used analyses of covariance and correlation analyses to investigate the association of total ELS load and ELS subtypes with cognitive performance. ELS was reported by 52.1 % of patients and 24.9 % of controls. Independent of ELS, cognitive performance on neuropsychological tests was lower in patients than controls (p < 0.001). ELS load was more closely associated with neurocognitive deficits (cognitive composite score) in controls (r = −0.305, p < 0.001) than in patients (r = −0.163, p = 0.033). Moreover, the higher the ELS load, the more cognitive deficits were found in controls (r = −0.200, p = 0.006), while in patients, this correlation was not significant after adjusting for PANSS. ELS load was more strongly associated with cognitive deficits in healthy controls than in patients. In patients, disease-related positive and negative symptoms may mask the effects of ELS-related cognitive deficits. ELS subtypes were associated with impairments in various cognitive domains. Cognitive deficits appear to be mediated through higher symptom burden and lower educational level

A genome-wide association study of the longitudinal course of executive functions

Executive functions are metacognitive capabilities that control and coordinate mental processes. In the transdiagnostic PsyCourse Study, comprising patients of the affective-to-psychotic spectrum and controls, we investigated the genetic basis of the time course of two core executive subfunctions: set-shifting (Trail Making Test, part B (TMT-B)) and updating (Verbal Digit Span backwards) in 1338 genotyped individuals. Time course was assessed with four measurement points, each 6 months apart. Compared to the initial assessment, executive performance improved across diagnostic groups. We performed a genome-wide association study to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with performance change over time by testing for SNP-by-time interactions using linear mixed models. We identified nine genome-wide significant SNPs for TMT-B in strong linkage disequilibrium with each other on chromosome 5. These were associated with decreased performance on the continuous TMT-B score across time. Variant rs150547358 had the lowest P value = 7.2 × 10(−10) with effect estimate beta = 1.16 (95% c.i.: 1.11, 1.22). Implementing data of the FOR2107 consortium (1795 individuals), we replicated these findings for the SNP rs150547358 (P value = 0.015), analyzing the difference of the two available measurement points two years apart. In the replication study, rs150547358 exhibited a similar effect estimate beta = 0.85 (95% c.i.: 0.74, 0.97). Our study demonstrates that longitudinally measured phenotypes have the potential to unmask novel associations, adding time as a dimension to the effects of genomics

Masculinity and help-seeking among men with depression: a qualitative study

Background: Many studies indicate that men are more reluctant to seek help for mental health problems than women. Traditional ideas of masculinity are often seen as a cause of this phenomenon. However, little is known about the diversity of experiences during the processes of help-seeking and service use among men with depression who have already utilized mental health services. This study aims to explore men's experiences and attitudes toward depression, help-seeking, and service use in order to develop gender-sensitive services. Methods: Narrative-biographical interviews were conducted with men treated for depression (n = 12). Interview topics included individual experience with depression, help-seeking behavior, and mental health service use. Transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Before seeking treatment, men's help-seeking behavior was negatively affected by internalized masculine norms. However, findings indicate a change of attitudes toward depression after mental health service use. Men with depression emphasized a salutogenic perspective toward mental health problems and critically reflected on masculine norms. The positive function of men-only groups were described as key for successful service use. Conclusions: Men with depression reported experiences toward help-seeking and service use on four different levels: (i) attitudes toward depression, (ii) perception of societal views on depression, (iii) experiences within the family context and (iv) experiences with mental health services. Interventions to reduce the stigma of being “unmanly” and to improve men's capacity to cope with being unable to work should be developed. Peer-led men-only groups may increase participants' self-esteem and assist in disclosing weaknesses. In the context of GPs' mediating role, training for health professionals concerning the impact of masculine norms on mental health is recommended

Interkulturelle Kompetenz in der Facharztausbildung von Psychiatern in Deutschland: Ergebnisse einer Umfrage [Intercultural competence in the psychiatric training curriculum in Germany: Results of a survey]

[english] Background: This study was carried out to assess the situation of and the demand for specific training in transcultural psychiatry as part of the residency program in Germany. Method: A semistructured questionnaire with 30 questions (28 structured, 2 open) was developed, for which the “Local Survey of Realities in Transcultural Psychiatry” of the (APA) served as a model and was modified accordingly. This questionnaire was sent out to all directors of psychiatric training institutions in Germany (N = 450). The directors of official psychiatric training institutions are authorized for residency training by the state medical associations. The responses were not anonymous. Results: The return rate was 25.5% (N = 114). In 71.7% of the training institutions (81 out of 113 valid cases), specific training in transcultural psychiatry occurred only rarely or not at all. 83.3% of the directors of psychiatric training institutions (70 out of 84 valid cases) reported a demand for training in transcultural psychiatry in their training institutions; in 94.5% of the cases, the directors of psychiatric training institutions (69 out of 73 valid cases) reported a need for transcultural issues as part of the official curriculum of the psychiatric residency program in Germany. The most frequently reported aspects were teaching of general cultural competence and of culture-specific issues in mental disorders. Implications: Cultural aspects currently are not a mandatory part of the official training curriculum of the psychiatric residency training in Germany. With respect to the reported need for training in cultural issues of mental disorders, the implementation of transcultural psychiatry within the official curriculum of the psychiatric residency training in Germany should be discussed. <br>[german] Zielsetzung: Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist die Erhebung des Status quo der Weiterbildungssituation in transkultureller Psychiatrie für den Facharzt in Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie in Deutschland. Methodik: Es wurde ein semistrukturierter Fragebogen mit 30 Fragen (davon 28 strukturiert, 2 mit Freitextangaben) entwickelt, der sich an den „Local Survey of Realities in Transcultural Psychiatry“ der (APA) anlehnt und für Deutschland modifiziert wurde. Dieser wurde an die Leiter aller psychiatrischen Weiterbildungsinstitutionen in Deutschland verschickt (n=450). Als psychiatrische Weiterbildungsinstitutionen wurden diejenigen klinischen Einrichtungen definiert, deren Leiter über eine Ermächtigung zur Facharztweiterbildung durch die Landesärztekammern verfügen. Der Rücklauf erfolgte nicht anonymisiert. Ergebnisse: Die Rücklaufquote betrug 25,5% (Gesamt-N=114). In 71,7% der Weiterbildungsinstitutionen (n=81/113 gültige Fälle) wurden in der klinikinternen Weiterbildung Themen aus dem Gebiet der transkulturellen Psychiatrie selten oder gar nicht angesprochen. 83,3% der Weiterbildungsleiter (n=70/84 gültige Fälle) formulierten Bedarf an Weiterbildung in transkultureller Psychiatrie für die jeweils eigene Institution, 94,5% (n=69/73 gültige Fälle) sahen den Bedarf grundsätzlich auch für das Curriculum der Facharztausbildung in Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie. Die am häufigsten genannten Themen betrafen eine allgemeine Schulung kultureller Kompetenz sowie kulturspezifische Aspekte seelischer Erkrankungen. Schlussfolgerungen: Im Rahmen der Weiterbildungsordnung zum Facharzt für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie sind aktuell in keinem Bundesland entsprechende Inhalte aus dem Bereich der transkulturellen Psychiatrie verankert. Angesichts des formulierten Bedarfs muss die Implementierung eines entsprechenden Curriculums in die Weiterbildungsordnung zum Facharzt für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie diskutiert werden

Are cytokine profiles associated with the cognitive performance of adults with severe major depression?

Cognitive impairment often occurs in major depressive disorder (MDD). Studies suggest that these cognitive deficits may be associated with inflammatory biomarkers, but data are limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between 48 peripheral blood cytokines and cognitive performance in patients with severe depressive disorder. One hundred consecutive hospitalized adult patients with severe depression who participated in the Depression long-term Augsburg (DELTA) study were included in the present analysis. To test working memory (WM) the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) IV and to assess interference control (IC) the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) were performed. The serum concentrations of the biomarkers were measured using the Bio-Plex Pro™ Human Cytokine Screening Panel 1. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for possible confounders were fitted to examine associations. WM was impaired in 11% of the patients. IC was impaired in 1%–3% of the cases depending on the subtest. Eotaxin, IL-1β, IL-4, MCP-1, G-CSF, and PGF-BB were negatively associated with the WM. Eotaxin, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-16, IL-18, MCP-1, G-CSF, SCF, and MIP-1α were negatively associated with IC. None of these associations remained significant after adjustment for multiple testing. The present study identified eotaxin, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-16, IL-18, MCP-1, G-CSF, SCF, PGF-BB and MIP-1α as being associated with cognitive performance. After confirmation of these results in further studies, these cytokines may be potential targets for new treatments