Association between suicide-related ideations and affective temperaments in the Japanese general adult population

Background: Suicide rates are vastly higher in Japan than in many other countries, although the associations between affective temperaments and suicide-related ideations in the general adult population remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate these associations in the present study. Methods: We analyzed data from 638 Japanese volunteers who completed both the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-A). Participants were then divided into three groups based on PHQ-9 summary scores and responses to the suicide-related ideation item: non-depressive control group (NC; N = 469), depressive symptoms without suicide-related ideations group (non-SI; N = 135), and depressive symptoms with suicide-related ideations group (SI; N = 34). The depressive symptoms were defined for PHQ-9 summary scores ≥5, and the suicide-related ideations were defined for PHQ-9 #9 score ≥1. We then compared TEMPS-A scores among the groups using Kruskal-Wallis tests. Then the 95% confidence intervals of differences in TEMPS-A subscale scores between the NC and non-SI groups, or between NC and SI groups, were calculated. Results: Participants of the SI group exhibited significantly higher scores on the depressive, irritable, and anxious temperament subscales than those of the non-SI group. Similarly, women of the SI group exhibited significantly higher scores of the depressive and irritable temperament subscales than women of the non-SI group, while men of the SI group exhibited significantly higher depressive temperament scores than those of the non-SI group. Among all participants and only men, cyclothymic subscale scores were higher in those of the SI group than the non-SI group (not significant), although the 95% confidence intervals did not overlap. Limitations: The cross-sectional study design was the main limitation. Conclusions: Depressive, irritable, and anxious temperaments are significant risk factors for suicide-related ideations in the Japanese general adult population. Furthermore, irritable temperament in women and depressive temperament in men are associated with suicide-related ideations

The relationship between a low grain intake dietary pattern and impulsive behaviors in middle-aged Japanese people

Several studies indicate that dietary habits are associated with mental health. We are interested in identifying not a specific single nutrient/food group but the population preferring specific food combinations that can be related to mental health. Very few studies have examined relationships between dietary patterns and multifaceted mental states using cluster analysis. The purpose of this study was to investigate population-level dietary patterns associated with mental state using cluster analysis. We focused on depressive state, sleep quality, subjective well-being, and impulsive behaviors using rating scales. Two hundred and seventy-nine Japanese middle-aged people participated in the present study. Dietary pattern was estimated using a brief self-administered diet-history questionnaire (the BDHQ). We conducted K-means cluster analysis using thirteen BDHQ food groups: milk, meat, fish, egg, pulses, potatoes, green and yellow vegetables, other vegetables, mushrooms, seaweed, sweets, fruits, and grain. We identified three clusters characterized as "vegetable and fruit dominant," "grain dominant," and "low grain tendency" subgroups. The vegetable and fruit dominant group showed increases in several aspects of subjective wellbeing demonstrated by the SF-8. Differences in mean subject characteristics across clusters were tested using ANOVA. The low frequency intake of grain group showed higher impulsive behavior, demonstrated by BIS-11 deliberation and sum scores. The present study demonstrated that traditional Japanese dietary patterns, such as eating rice, can help with beneficial changes in mental health

Development and validation of a screening questionnaire for present or past (hypo)manic episodes based on DSM-IV-TR criteria

Background: We developed a self-reported questionnaire, the Manic Episode Screening Questionnaire (MES), based on the eight diagnostic criteria items of DSM-IV-TR (hypo)manic episodes. This study was designed to determine the optimal screening methods to identify bipolar disorders among mood disorder patients of a psychiatric specialty clinic. Methods: In 95 mood disorder patients, we assessed the operational characteristics of the MES as a screening and diagnostic instrument using a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis by a trained psychiatrist as a reference standard. The reference criteria were bipolar disorders. MES was used with two methods: the diagnostic algorithm and the one-question method (question #1 only). The diagnostic algorithm was regarded as fulfilled if the answers to question #1 and three or more of questions #2 to #8 were "yes", corresponding to the DSM-IV-TR (hypo)manic episode criteria. In different subjects, the test-retest reliability of the MES was examined. Results: The two methods of the MES showed high specificity (0.93-0.94), high positive predictive value (0.81-0.83) and high negative predictive value (0.88-0.90), but the sensitivity scored lower (0.68-0.75). The test-retest reliability was moderate: 0.75 for the diagnostic algorithm and 0.68 for the one-question method. Limitations: This study includes a small number of bipolar l patients. The findings might not be generalized to patients outside of this patient population. Conclusions: The MES is useful for the screening and diagnosis of bipolar disorders among mood disorder patients in psychiatric specialty clinics. The one question method of the MES is more convenient to use than prior questionnaires and is here recommended. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Mediators of the effects of rice intake on health in individuals consuming a traditional Japanese diet centered on rice

Although the Japanese diet is believed to be balanced and healthy, its benefits have been poorly investigated, especially in terms of effects on mental health. We investigated dietary patterns and physical and mental health in the Japanese population using an epidemiological survey to determine the health benefits of the traditional Japanese diet. Questionnaires to assess dietary habits, quality of life, sleep quality, impulsivity, and depression severity were distributed to 550 randomly selected middle-aged and elderly individuals. Participants with any physical or mental disease were excluded. Two-hundred and seventy-eight participants were selected for the final statistical analysis. We determined rice to be one of the most traditional foods in Japanese cuisine. Scores for each questionnaire were computed, and the correlations between rice intake and health indices were assessed. When analyzing the direct correlations between rice intake and health indices, we found only two correlations, namely those with quality of life (vitality) and sleep quality. Path analysis using structural equation modeling was performed to investigate the association between rice intake and health, with indirect effects included in the model. Additional associations between rice intake and health were explained using this model when compared to those using direct correlation analysis. Path analysis was used to identify mediators of the rice-health association. These mediators were miso (soybean paste) soup, green tea, and natto (fermented soybean) intake. Interestingly, these mediators have been major components of the Japanese diet since 1975, which has been considered one of the healthiest diets since the 1960s. Our results indicate that the combination of rice with other healthy foods, which is representative of the traditional Japanese diet, may contribute to improvements in physical and mental health

Does temperature or sunshine mediate the effect of latitude on affective temperaments? A study of 5 regions in Japan

Background: Previously, we compared the hyperthymic scores of residents in Sapporo, Koshigaya, and Oita (which are located at latitudes of 43 degrees N, 36 degrees N, and 33 degrees N in Japan, respectively) using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-auto questionnaire version (TEMPS-A). We found that residents who lived at lower latitudes had higher hyperthymic temperament scores; however, the mechanism of the effect of latitude on hyperthymic temperament remained unclear. The current study examined the mediators of the latitude effect in additional regions with different annual temperatures and amounts of ambient sunshine. Methods: The Japanese archipelago stretches over 4000 km from north to south and has four large islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. In addition to the TEMPS-A previously reported data collected at Sapporo (latitude 43 degrees N), Koshigaya (36 degrees N), and Oita (33 degrees N), we collected the TEMPS-A data of 189 and 106 residents from Takaoka (36 degrees N) and Obihiro (42 degrees N), respectively. Taken together, these five regions have different patterns (i.e., highs and lows) of annual ambient total sunshine (hours) and mean temperature (degrees C). The effect of latitude, sunshine, and temperature on affective temperaments was analyzed for five Japanese regions. Results: Multiple regression analyses revealed that latitude predicted significant variance in hyperthymic temperament. Ambient temperature, but not sunshine, significantly affected hyperthymic temperament. Limitations: The light exposure that residents actually received was not measured. The number of regions studied was limited. The findings might not generalize to residents across Japan or other countries. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that latitude affects hyperthymic temperament, and ambient temperature might mediate this effect. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserve

The influence of childhood abuse, adult stressful life events and temperaments on depressive symptoms in the nonclinical general adult population

Background: Previous studies have shown the interaction between heredity and childhood stress or life events on the pathogenesis of major depression. We hypothesized that childhood abuse, affective temperaments, and adult stressful life events interact and influence depressive symptoms in the general adult population and tested this hypothesis in this study. Methods: The 294 participants from the nonclinical general adult population were studied using the following self-administered questionnaire surveys: the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Life Experiences Survey (LES), Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-A), and Child Abuse and Trauma Scale (CATS). The data were analyzed with single and multiple regressions and structural equation modeling (Amos 20.0). Results: Childhood abuse indirectly predicted the severity of the depressive symptoms through affective temperaments measured by TEMPS-A in the structural equation modeling. Four temperaments depressive, cyclothymic, irritable, and anxious - directly predicted the severity of depressive symptoms and the negative appraisal of life events during the past year. The negative appraisal of life events during the past year mildly, but significantly, predicted the severity of depressive symptoms. Limitations: The subjects of this study were nonclinical. The findings might not be generalized to patients with mood disorders. Conclusions: This study suggests that childhood abuse, especially neglect, indirectly increased depressive symptoms through increased affective temperaments, which, in turn, increase the negative appraisal of stressful life events. An important role of affective temperaments in the effect of childhood abuse and stressful life events on depressive symptoms was suggested. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved