Tag: Depression

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<![CDATA[Expert analysis compares adjunctive atypical antipsychotics for MDD, highlighting lumatperone’s larger effect and minimal weight gain or akathisia.]]>
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Case Report: Multimodal clinical and neurophysiological effects of cranial electrotherapy stimulation in a patient with chronic stress and sleep disturbance

IntroductionCranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) is a non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique used for anxiety and sleep disorders; however, case-level evidence linking clinical improvement with objective neurophysiological change remains limited. This case presents a multimodal examination of the therapeutic and neurophysiological effects of CES in a patient with sleep disturbances and chronic stress.MethodsA 51-year-old woman with chronic stress, anxiety, and persistent sleep disturbance following thyroid and parathyroid surgery, refractory to pharmacological treatment, underwent a 16-week CES intervention. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and follow-up using EQ-5D-5L, DASS-21, GAD-7, PSQI, and resting-state Electroencephalography (EEG).ResultsAnxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms improved to within normal ranges, alongside significant improvements in mental health-related quality of life. EEG demonstrated increased posterior alpha activity and improved frontal symmetry. Sleep quality showed modest improvement.ConclusionThis case suggests that CES may be a safe adjunctive intervention associated with symptomatic improvement and changes in neurophysiological patterns in stress-related conditions, supporting further controlled investigation.
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Lumateperone for Late-Life Depression

Conditions: Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD); Late Life Depression (LLD); Depression / Major Depressive Disorder

Interventions: Drug: Lumateperone; Drug: Placebo

Sponsors: Eric Lenze; Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.

Not yet recruiting
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Effectiveness of a culturally adapted psychoeducational intervention for family caregivers of children with hematologic malignancy: a randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop and evaluate a culturally adapted psychoeducational intervention to address the severe psychological distress and caregiving burden commonly experienced by caregivers of newly diagnosed pediatric hematologic malignancy patients during the early stages of illness.MethodsAmong 116 randomized caregivers, 90 completed all three assessments and were included in the complete-case analysis. The intervention group received a 4-week psychoeducation program delivered by medical social workers, whereas the control group received routine care. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 48-day follow-up.ResultsCompared with controls, caregivers in the intervention group showed greater reductions in depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms after the intervention, and these reductions were maintained at follow-up. Caregiver burden showed a delayed reduction, with between-group differences becoming apparent at follow-up. Anxiety levels decreased over time in both groups, but the group × time interaction was not statistically significant.ConclusionThe culturally adapted psychoeducational intervention was associated with reductions in depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms and a delayed reduction in caregiver burden, but did not show an additional effect on anxiety beyond routine care. These findings provide preliminary support for structured, culturally responsive psychoeducational support in pediatric hematology settings.
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<![CDATA[New evidence shows CBT timed after ketamine boosts lasting depression relief; Yale tests digital therapy Rejoyn to scale the neuroplasticity window.]]>
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Recommendations for Research and Clinical Implementation of Ambulatory Assessment, Mood Monitoring, Digital Phenotyping, and Remote Measurement Technology in Mood Disorders: Synthesis of Systematic Review Findings

Background: Ambulatory assessment and active and passive monitoring all offer a real-time, flexible approach to assessing mood and behavior in mood disorders. Despite their potential, concerns remain regarding the performance, usability, adherence, and potential safety of these tools. Objective: This study synthesizes the findings from 7 systematic reviews, integrating quantitative and qualitative data from randomized trials, observational studies, and user experience research to evaluate the performance, feasibility, acceptability, and clinical impact of ambulatory assessment and mood monitoring in people with depression and bipolar disorder. We assessed studies over the medium or long term (3 months or more). Methods: A summary of a series of systematic reviews was carried out by the authors—including meta-analyses (for quantitative data) and meta-syntheses (for qualitative data). Eight electronic databases were searched, and mixed methods studies were included. Studies were assessed for risk of bias. The results were checked for coherence, and recommendations were made by individuals with lived experience, methodologists, and psychiatrists. GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) was used to assess the quality and strength of the evidence. Results: The 111 included studies included 19,945 participants and used 69 different ambulatory assessment protocols or mood-monitoring interventions. Key barriers to implementation were identified, including performance inconsistency, adverse effects, and user disengagement. Evidence-based recommendations are provided to guide future clinical and research applications. Conclusions: Ambulatory assessment and mood monitoring hold promise in research and clinical practice, yet their implementation requires more rigorous evaluation, greater personalization, and responsible, user-centered design. Crucially, these measures can add granularity and confirmation, but additional context is often required, and none of these measures are robust enough yet to replace current outcomes.
<img src="https://jmir-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thumbs/a83582c454b5b6028210d2cb063318df" />

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Determinants of mental health distress among health workers in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Healthcare workers (HCWs) remain at elevated risk of psychological distress, yet post-pandemic evidence from the United Arab Emirates is scarce. This cross-sectional electronic survey assessed depression, anxiety, and stress among physicians and nurses providing direct clinical care across Abu Dhabi Health Services Company in March 2024. Mental health outcomes were measured using the DASS-21, and multivariable logistic regression identified associated factors. Among 383 HCWs (mean age 40.8 years; 70% female; 65% nurses), the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 49%, 45%, and 46%, respectively. Middle Eastern HCWs had significantly higher odds of depression (Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR)=1.94; 95% CI: 1.13–3.35), anxiety (aOR=1.80; 95% CI: 1.03–3.21), and stress (aOR=2.42; 95% CI: 1.37–4.33) compared with Asian HCWs. Workplace conflict strongly predicted distress as conflicts with colleagues increased the odds of depression (aOR=3.36; 95% CI: 1.92–6.05), anxiety (aOR=1.99; 95% CI: 1.14–3.53), and stress (aOR=3.78; 95% CI: 2.10–7.00). Chronic fatigue was associated with depression (aOR=4.21; 95% CI: 1.61–13.2), anxiety (aOR=3.89; 95% CI: 1.39–13.8), and stress (aOR=3.34; 95% CI: 1.32–9.63). Protective factors included age ≥40 years for stress (aOR=0.61; 95% CI: 0.39–0.96) and postgraduate education for anxiety (aOR=0.55; 95% CI: 0.31–0.94) with nurses had lower stress than physicians (aOR=0.47; 95% CI: 0.23–0.94). Post-pandemic mental-health symptoms remain substantial among Abu Dhabi HCWs, particularly younger providers and those exposed to workplace conflict or chronic fatigue. Sustained mental-health programs, routine screening, and targeted support for high-risk groups are urgently required to protect clinician well-being and healthcare system resilience.