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Introduction: Proof-of-principle human studies suggest that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) may improve depression severity. This open-label multicenter study tested remotely supervised multichannel tDCS delivered at home in patients (N=35) with major depressive disorder (MDD). The primary aim was to assess the feasibility and safety of our protocol. As an exploratory aim, we evaluated therapeutic efficacy: the primary efficacy measure was the median percent change from baseline to the end of the 4-week post-treatment follow-up period in the observer-rated Montgomery-Asberg Depression Mood Rating Scale (MADRS). Methods: Participants received 37 at-home stimulation sessions (30 minutes each) of specifically designed multichannel tDCS targeting the left DLPFC administered over eight weeks (4 weeks of daily treatments plus 4 weeks of taper), with a follow-up period of 4 weeks following the final stimulation session. The stimulation montage (electrode positions and currents) was optimized by employing computational models of the electric field generated by multichannel tDCS using available structural data from a similar population (group optimization). Conducted entirely remotely, the study employed the MADRS for assessment at baseline, at weeks 4 and 8 during treatment, and at 4-week follow-up visits. Results: 34 patients (85.3% women) with a mean age of 59 years, a diagnosis of MDD according to DSM-5 criteria, and a MADRS score ≥20 at the time of study enrolment completed all study visits. At baseline, the mean time since MDD diagnosis was 24.0 (SD 19.1) months. Concerning compliance, 85% of the participants (n=29) completed the complete course of 37 stimulation sessions at home, while 97% completed at least 36 sessions. No detrimental effects were observed, including suicidal ideation and/or behavior. The study observed a median MADRS score reduction of 64.5% (48.6, 72.4) 4 weeks post-treatment (Hedge's g = -3.1). We observed a response rate (≥ 50% improvement in MADRS scores) of 72.7% (n=24) from baseline to the last visit 4 weeks post-treatment. Secondary measures reflected similar improvements. Conclusions: These results suggest that remotely supervised and supported multichannel home-based tDCS is safe and feasible, and antidepressant efficacy motivates further appropriately controlled clinical studies. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05205915?tab= results, identifier NCT05205915. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Symptoms during the onset of major depressive disorder [MDD] and bipolar disorder type II [BD-II] are similar. The difference of hippocampus subregion could be a biological marker to distinguish MDD from BD-II. Methods: We recruited 61 drug-naïve patients with a first-episode MDD and BD-II episode and 30 healthy controls (HC) to participate in amagnetic resonance imaging [MRI] study. We built a general linear model (one-way analysis of covariance) with 22 hippocampal subfields and two total hippocampal volumes as dependent variables, and the diagnosis of MDD, BD-II, and HC as independent variables. We performed pair-wise comparisons of hippocampal subfield volumes between MDD and HC, BD-II and MDD, BD-II and HC with post hoc for primary analysis. Results: Weidentifiedthree regions that differed significantly in sizebetweenpatients and controls. The left hippocampal fissure, the hippocampal-amygdaloid transition area (HATA), and the right subiculum bodywere all significantly larger in patients with MDD compared with the HC. In the onset of first-episode of MDD, the hippocampal volume increased significantly, especially on the left side comparing toHC. However, we found differences between MDD and BD-II were not statistically significant. The volume of the left HATA and right subiculum body in BD-II was larger. Conclusions: The sample size of this study is relatively small, as it is a crosssectional comparative study. In both MDD and BD-II groups, the volume of more left subregions appeared to increase. The left subregions were severely injured in the development of depressive disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on suicidality in these patients during the pandemic period remain scarce. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and variables associated with serious suicide risk in Russian inpatients with MDD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional cohort study with consecutive sampling was conducted from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. All patients completed the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) (including the suicidality module), the Beck Depression Inventory, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and underwent a semi-structured interview to collect relevant demographic and clinical data. Effect sizes for all independent variables and covariates were calculated using partial eta-squared (hp2). Results: Of the 6757 patients with non-psychotic mental disorders assessed, 1605 (23.7%) had MDD confirmed by the M.I.N.I., of whom 17.8% were at serious risk for suicide according to theM.I.N.I. suicidality module. Factors independently associated with serious suicide risk in Russian inpatients with MDD during the pandemic were younger age (hp2 = 0.021), greater severity of depression (0.038), higher state anxiety (0.003), and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) (0.066). The same variables, except for state anxiety, were independently associated with suicide risk in the subgroup of MDD patients previously infected with SARS-CoV2. Conclusion: In the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of patients with MDD at serious risk of suicide was similar to pre-pandemic data. No associations were found between suicidality in patients with MDD and COVID-related factors. Younger age, greater severity of depression, and especially NSSI were the most significant risk factors for suicide in patients with MDD during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionProof-of-principle human studies suggest that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) may improve depression severity. This open-label multicenter study tested remotely supervised multichannel tDCS delivered at home in patients (N=35) with major depressive disorder (MDD). The primary aim was to assess the feasibility and safety of our protocol. As an exploratory aim, we evaluated therapeutic efficacy: the primary efficacy measure was the median percent change from baseline to the end of the 4-week post-treatment follow-up period in the observer-rated Montgomery-Asberg Depression Mood Rating Scale (MADRS).MethodsParticipants received 37 at-home stimulation sessions (30 minutes each) of specifically designed multichannel tDCS targeting the left DLPFC administered over eight weeks (4 weeks of daily treatments plus 4 weeks of taper), with a follow-up period of 4 weeks following the final stimulation session. The stimulation montage (electrode positions and currents) was optimized by employing computational models of the electric field generated by multichannel tDCS using available structural data from a similar population (group optimization). Conducted entirely remotely, the study employed the MADRS for assessment at baseline, at weeks 4 and 8 during treatment, and at 4-week follow-up visits.Results34 patients (85.3% women) with a mean age of 59 years, a diagnosis of MDD according to DSM-5 criteria, and a MADRS score ≥20 at the time of study enrolment completed all study visits. At baseline, the mean time since MDD diagnosis was 24.0 (SD 19.1) months. Concerning compliance, 85% of the participants (n=29) completed the complete course of 37 stimulation sessions at home, while 97% completed at least 36 sessions. No detrimental effects were observed, including suicidal ideation and/or behavior. The study observed a median MADRS score reduction of 64.5% (48.6, 72.4) 4 weeks post-treatment (Hedge’s g = -3.1). We observed a response rate (≥ 50% improvement in MADRS scores) of 72.7% (n=24) from baseline to the last visit 4 weeks post-treatment. Secondary measures reflected similar improvements.ConclusionsThese results suggest that remotely supervised and supported multichannel home-based tDCS is safe and feasible, and antidepressant efficacy motivates further appropriately controlled clinical studies.Clinical Trial Registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05205915?tab=results, identifier NCT05205915.

Objective: This study was designed to systematically review the efficacy and safety of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with escitalopram in treating major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: Databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP Journal, and China Biomedical Literature databases were electronically searched for randomized controlled trials of rTMS combined with escitalopram intervention for MDD treatment from the inception of these databases to 27 May 2023. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of the included studies. R 4.2.2 was then used for a meta-analysis. Results: In total, 19 articles involving 1,032 patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores were significantly lower in the group receiving rTMS combined with escitalopram (experimental group) than that in the control group [weighted mean difference (WMD) = -5.30, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): -6.44 to -4.17, p < 0.01]. The response rate of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group [odds ratio (OR): 5.48; 95% CI: 3.72 to 8.07; p < 0.01]. No significant difference in the adverse reaction rate was observed between the two groups (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.71 to 1.52, p = 0.82). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that rTMS combined with escitalopram can benefit patients with MDD in a safe manner, which may help in guiding clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionThe prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on suicidality in these patients during the pandemic period remain scarce. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and variables associated with serious suicide risk in Russian inpatients with MDD during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional cohort study with consecutive sampling was conducted from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. All patients completed the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) (including the suicidality module), the Beck Depression Inventory, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and underwent a semi-structured interview to collect relevant demographic and clinical data. Effect sizes for all independent variables and covariates were calculated using partial eta-squared (ηp2).ResultsOf the 6757 patients with non-psychotic mental disorders assessed, 1605 (23.7%) had MDD confirmed by the M.I.N.I., of whom 17.8% were at serious risk for suicide according to the M.I.N.I. suicidality module. Factors independently associated with serious suicide risk in Russian inpatients with MDD during the pandemic were younger age (ηp2 = 0.021), greater severity of depression (0.038), higher state anxiety (0.003), and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) (0.066). The same variables, except for state anxiety, were independently associated with suicide risk in the subgroup of MDD patients previously infected with SARS-CoV2.ConclusionIn the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of patients with MDD at serious risk of suicide was similar to pre-pandemic data. No associations were found between suicidality in patients with MDD and COVID-related factors. Younger age, greater severity of depression, and especially NSSI were the most significant risk factors for suicide in patients with MDD during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Depression has long been considered a disease involving immune hyperactivation. The impact of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-a, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8 on depression has been widely studied. However, the effect of IL-33, another pro-inflammatory cytokine, has been less researched. Currently, research on the correlation between IL-33 and depression risk is inconsistent. In response to these divergent results, we conducted a review and meta-analysis aimed at resolving published research on the correlation between IL-33 and depression risk, and understanding the potential role of IL-33 in the development and treatment of depression. After searching different databases, we analyzed 8 studies. Our meta-analysis showed that IL-33 had a positive correlation with reduced risk of depression. The pooled standard mean differences (SMD) = 0.14, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05-0.24. Subgroup analysis results showed that IL-33 and ST2 levels in cerebrospinal fluid and serum is positive correlated with reduced risk of major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). According to the characteristics of the included literature, the results mainly focuses on Caucasian. Furthermore, according to the subgroup analysis of depression-related data sources for disease or treatment, the correlation between IL-33 and depression risk is reflected throughout the entire process of depression development and treatment. Therefore, the change of IL-33 level in serum and cerebrospinal fluid can serve as useful indicators for assessing the risk of depression, and the biomarker provides potential treatment strategies for reducing the burden of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Previous research has highlighted the executive function (EF) deficits present in depressed patients; however, conflicting results exist regarding the impact of depression severity on the size of these deficits. This study aimed to compare deficits in EF between antidepressant naïve inpatient and outpatient depressed, a group with subclinical depression symptoms, and a healthy control group while controlling for education, sex, and age. Methods: In cross-sectional research, 245 antidepressant naive participants (46 inpatient, 68 outpatient, 65 subclinical, and 67 healthy control individuals) were recruited by convenience sampling. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID-5) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were used to assess depression. EF was measured using several neuropsychological tests, including the Stroop Color-Word Test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and the N-back Test, which assessed the components of Inhibition, Shifting, and Updating, respectively. Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed a significant difference between the groups in EF components (p < 0.001). Pairwise comparisons further showed that inpatient and outpatient patients had more depressive symptoms and worse EF performance than subclinical and healthy control groups (p < 0.05). Results: In the analysis of EF measures, a significant difference was found among the four groups, with post-hoc tests revealing variations in specific EF components. Overall, patients with more severe depressive symptoms show more deficits in EF. Additionally, correlations between clinical characteristics and EF measures varied across patient groups, but many correlations became non-significant after adjusting for the false discovery rate (FDR). Discussion: This study emphasizes the impact of depression severity on deficits in the EF of depressed patients and at-risk populations. Consequently, it is important to consider executive dysfunctions as an underlying vulnerability in the development and persistence of depressive disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionPrevious research has highlighted the executive function (EF) deficits present in depressed patients; however, conflicting results exist regarding the impact of depression severity on the size of these deficits. This study aimed to compare deficits in EF between antidepressant naïve inpatient and outpatient depressed, a group with subclinical depression symptoms, and a healthy control group while controlling for education, sex, and age.MethodsIn cross-sectional research, 245 antidepressant naive participants (46 inpatient, 68 outpatient, 65 subclinical, and 67 healthy control individuals) were recruited by convenience sampling. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID-5) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were used to assess depression. EF was measured using several neuropsychological tests, including the Stroop Color-Word Test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and the N-back Test, which assessed the components of Inhibition, Shifting, and Updating, respectively. Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed a significant difference between the groups in EF components (p < 0.001). Pairwise comparisons further showed that inpatient and outpatient patients had more depressive symptoms and worse EF performance than subclinical and healthy control groups (p < 0.05).ResultsIn the analysis of EF measures, a significant difference was found among the four groups, with post-hoc tests revealing variations in specific EF components. Overall, patients with more severe depressive symptoms show more deficits in EF. Additionally, correlations between clinical characteristics and EF measures varied across patient groups, but many correlations became non-significant after adjusting for the false discovery rate (FDR).DiscussionThis study emphasizes the impact of depression severity on deficits in the EF of depressed patients and at-risk populations. Consequently, it is important to consider executive dysfunctions as an underlying vulnerability in the development and persistence of depressive disorder.

Current health care systems do not sufficiently address contributors, also known as modifiable behavior factors, to severe mental illnesses (SMI). Instead treatment is focused on decreasing symptom-experience rather than reducing the detrimental effect of biological predisposition and behavioral influences on illness. Health care services and patients alike call for a more comprehensive, individual approach to mental health care, especially for people with SMI. A Syndemics framework has been previously used to identify ecological and social contributors to an HIV epidemic in the 1990s, and the same framework is transferable to mental health research to identify the relationship between contributing factors and the outcomes of SMI. Using this approach, a holistic insight into mental illness experience could inform more effective health care strategies that lessen the burden of disease on people with SMI. In this review, the components of a Syndemic framework, the scientific contributions to the topic so far, and the possible future of mental health research under the implementation of a Syndemic framework approach are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of social economics and the increase of working pressure, more and more women are suffering from long-term serious stress and showing symptoms of perimenopausal depression (PMD). The incidence rate of PMD is increasing, and the physical and mental health are seriously affected. However, due to the lack of accurate knowledge of pathophysiology, its diagnosis and treatment cannot be accurately executed. By consulting the relevant literature in recent years, this paper elaborates the neuroendocrine mechanism of perimenopausal depression from the aspects of epigenetic changes, monoamine neurotransmitter and receptor hypothesis, glial cell-induced neuroinflammation, estrogen receptor, interaction between HPA axis and HPG axis, and microorganism-brain gut axis. The purpose is to probe into new ways of treatment of PMD by providing new knowledge about the neuroendocrine mechanism and treatment of PMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionSynapses and spines play a significant role in major depressive disorder (MDD) pathophysiology, recently highlighted by the rapid antidepressant effect of ketamine and psilocybin. According to the Bayesian brain and interoception perspectives, MDD is formalized as being stuck in affective states constantly predicting negative energy balance. To understand how spines and synapses relate to the predictive function of the neocortex and thus to symptoms, we used the temporal memory (TM), an unsupervised machine-learning algorithm. TM models a single neocortical layer, learns in real-time, and extracts and predicts temporal sequences. TM exhibits neocortical biological features such as sparse firing and continuous online learning using local Hebbian-learning rules.MethodsWe trained a TM model on random sequences of upper-case alphabetical letters, representing sequences of affective states. To model depression, we progressively destroyed synapses in the TM model and examined how that affected the predictive capacity of the network. We found that the number of predictions decreased non-linearly.ResultsDestroying 50% of the synapses slightly reduced the number of predictions, followed by a marked drop with further destruction. However, reducing the synapses by 25% distinctly dropped the confidence in the predictions. Therefore, even though the network was making accurate predictions, the network was no longer confident about these predictions.DiscussionThese findings explain how interoceptive cortices could be stuck in limited affective states with high prediction error. Connecting ketamine and psilocybin’s proposed mechanism of action to depression pathophysiology, the growth of new synapses would allow representing more futuristic predictions with higher confidence. To our knowledge, this is the first study to use the TM model to connect changes happening at synaptic levels to the Bayesian formulation of psychiatric symptomatology. Linking neurobiological abnormalities to symptoms will allow us to understand the mechanisms of treatments and possibly, develop new ones.

Current health care systems do not sufficiently address contributors, also known as modifiable behavior factors, to severe mental illnesses (SMI). Instead treatment is focused on decreasing symptom-experience rather than reducing the detrimental effect of biological predisposition and behavioral influences on illness. Health care services and patients alike call for a more comprehensive, individual approach to mental health care, especially for people with SMI. A Syndemics framework has been previously used to identify ecological and social contributors to an HIV epidemic in the 1990s, and the same framework is transferable to mental health research to identify the relationship between contributing factors and the outcomes of SMI. Using this approach, a holistic insight into mental illness experience could inform more effective health care strategies that lessen the burden of disease on people with SMI. In this review, the components of a Syndemic framework, the scientific contributions to the topic so far, and the possible future of mental health research under the implementation of a Syndemic framework approach are examined.

Objective: We aimed to investigate changes in whole-brain gray matter volumes (GMVs) before and after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicidal ideation (SI). Methods: Thirty adolescents with MDD and SI were observed, and structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) was performed at baseline and after ECT for each patient. But Twenty-five healthy controls (HCs) were scanned only at baseline. The voxel-based morphometry (VBM) techniques were used to examine GMVs. Results: Compared with HCs, MDDs at baseline showed decreased GMVs in the left middle temporal gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, left precuneus, right precuneus, and left superior frontal gyrus. After ECT, MDDs showed increased GMVs in the right superior frontal gyrus and right superior temporal gyrus. Pearson's correlation found that Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI) scores at baseline were negatively correlated with GMVs in the left superior frontal gyrus and HAMD and BSSI scores after ECT were negatively correlated with GMVs in the right superior temporal gyrus. Conclusion: Frontal-temporal-precuneus structure changes may be a potential cause of depressive and suicidal symptoms in adolescents. ECT may improve depressive and suicidal symptoms in adolescents by regulating brain structures to compensate original defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the age effect on face perceptual processing in MDD patients by analyzing the N170 component in response to faces and objects presented in upright and inverted conditions. For controls, although the N170 amplitude, overall, did not differ between young and middle-aged participants, the size of N170 inversion effect was larger for young than for middle-aged controls, but the N170 face effect was not influenced by age. For young participants, MDD patients showed N170 amplitude similar to controls and neither the N170 face effect nor the N170 inversion effect were influenced by depression. For middle-aged participants, MDD patients revealed larger N170 than did controls, and both the size of N170 inversion effect and the N170 face effect were larger for MDD patients than controls. These data indicate that, at least at the early stage of face perception, there is altered face perception inmiddle-aged but not in youngMDD patients. This research could provide new evidence for clinical assessment of cognitive function in MDD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly, studies have investigated cognitive functioning from the perspective of acute state - to remitted phases of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Some cognitive deficits observed in the symptomatic phase persist in remission as traits or scars. The etiological origin and clinical consequences of the neurocognitive profiles reported in the literature are still unclear and may vary across populations. Deficits are suspected to influence the association between MDD and neurodegenerative disorders and could thus be of particular clinical consequence. The aim of this review is to describe the clinical neuropsychological profile in MDD and how it is related to research during the past decade on cognitive deficits in MDD from a state, trait, and scar perspective. This review, with a clinical perspective, investigates research from the past decade regarding cognitive functioning in MDD in a long-term perspective. We focus on the clinical manifestation of deficits, and the potential neurodegenerative consequences of the neurocognitive profile in MDD. Searches in Medline, PsycINFO and Embase were conducted targeting articles published between 2010 and 2020. Examination of the evidence for long-lasting neurocognitive deficits in major depression within the cognitive domains of Memory, Executive Functions, Attention, and Processing Speed was conducted and was interpreted in the context of the State, Scar and Trait hypotheses. Defining the neurocognitive profiles in MDD will have consequences for personalized evaluation and treatment of residual cognitive symptoms, and etiological understanding of mood disorders, and treatments could potentially reduce or delay the development of neurodegenerative disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly, studies have investigated cognitive functioning from the perspective of acute state- to remitted phases of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Some cognitive deficits observed in the symptomatic phase persist in remission as traits or scars. The etiological origin and clinical consequences of the neurocognitive profiles reported in the literature are still unclear and may vary across populations. Deficits are suspected to influence the association between MDD and neurodegenerative disorders and could thus be of particular clinical consequence. The aim of this review is to describe the clinical neuropsychological profile in MDD and how it is related to research during the past decade on cognitive deficits in MDD from a state, trait, and scar perspective. This review, with a clinical perspective, investigates research from the past decade regarding cognitive functioning in MDD in a long-term perspective. We focus on the clinical manifestation of deficits, and the potential neurodegenerative consequences of the neurocognitive profile in MDD. Searches in Medline, PsycINFO and Embase were conducted targeting articles published between 2010 and 2020. Examination of the evidence for long-lasting neurocognitive deficits in major depression within the cognitive domains of Memory, Executive Functions, Attention, and Processing Speed was conducted and was interpreted in the context of the State, Scar and Trait hypotheses. Defining the neurocognitive profiles in MDD will have consequences for personalized evaluation and treatment of residual cognitive symptoms, and etiological understanding of mood disorders, and treatments could potentially reduce or delay the development of neurodegenerative disorders.

Background: Tourette syndrome (TS) is a childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorder that has a unique status of a quintessentially neuropsychiatric condition at the interface of neurology (movement disorder) and psychiatry (behavioral/emotional condition). However, the behavioral and emotional profile has seemed to be neglected in the literature thus far. This study aimed to investigate the behavioral and emotional profile of TS. Methods: A total of 124 patients aged 6–16 years with TS were included in this study, including age- and sex-matched health control, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and major depressive disorder (MDD) groups. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used to screen the behavioral and emotional profile of the TS and other compared groups. The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) was used to assess TS tic severity. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate the difference between the TS and other compared groups. Results: The results showed that the eight factors of the CBCL had no association with motor tics, vocal tics, or tic severity (p > 0.05). However, positive correlations were identified between functional impairments (subscales of YGTSS) and thought problems (TP) and rule-breaking behavior (RBB). Based on the eight-factor profile of the CBCL, TS showed a similar profile to MDD but different from ADHD and OCD, which showed similar profiles. Conclusions: Based on the assessment of the CBCL of TS, it was found that "pure" TS might show fewer behavioral and emotional problems than OCD, ADHD, and MDD. Similar behavioral and emotional profiles were identified between TS and MDD, but not OCD and ADHD. More attention needs to be paid to the thought problems and rule break problems in the CBCL in the screening stage, which might have a potential influence on the functional impairments of TS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundTourette syndrome (TS) is a childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorder that has a unique status of a quintessentially neuropsychiatric condition at the interface of neurology (movement disorder) and psychiatry (behavioral/emotional condition). However, the behavioral and emotional profile has seemed to be neglected in the literature thus far. This study aimed to investigate the behavioral and emotional profile of TS.MethodsA total of 124 patients aged 6–16 years with TS were included in this study, including age- and sex-matched health control, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and major depressive disorder (MDD) groups. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used to screen the behavioral and emotional profile of the TS and other compared groups. The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) was used to assess TS tic severity. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate the difference between the TS and other compared groups.ResultsThe results showed that the eight factors of the CBCL had no association with motor tics, vocal tics, or tic severity (p > 0.05). However, positive correlations were identified between functional impairments (subscales of YGTSS) and thought problems (TP) and rule-breaking behavior (RBB). Based on the eight-factor profile of the CBCL, TS showed a similar profile to MDD but different from ADHD and OCD, which showed similar profiles.ConclusionsBased on the assessment of the CBCL of TS, it was found that “pure” TS might show fewer behavioral and emotional problems than OCD, ADHD, and MDD. Similar behavioral and emotional profiles were identified between TS and MDD, but not OCD and ADHD. More attention needs to be paid to the thought problems and rule break problems in the CBCL in the screening stage, which might have a potential influence on the functional impairments of TS.

Introduction: Proof-of-principle human studies suggest that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) may improve depression severity. This open-label multicenter study tested remotely supervised multichannel tDCS delivered at home in patients (N=35) with major depressive disorder (MDD). The primary aim was to assess the feasibility and safety of our protocol. As an exploratory aim, we evaluated therapeutic efficacy: the primary efficacy measure was the median percent change from baseline to the end of the 4-week post-treatment follow-up period in the observer-rated Montgomery-Asberg Depression Mood Rating Scale (MADRS)., Methods: Participants received 37 at-home stimulation sessions (30 minutes each) of specifically designed multichannel tDCS targeting the left DLPFC administered over eight weeks (4 weeks of daily treatments plus 4 weeks of taper), with a follow-up period of 4 weeks following the final stimulation session. The stimulation montage (electrode positions and currents) was optimized by employing computational models of the electric field generated by multichannel tDCS using available structural data from a similar population (group optimization). Conducted entirely remotely, the study employed the MADRS for assessment at baseline, at weeks 4 and 8 during treatment, and at 4-week follow-up visits., Results: 34 patients (85.3% women) with a mean age of 59 years, a diagnosis of MDD according to DSM-5 criteria, and a MADRS score ≥20 at the time of study enrolment completed all study visits. At baseline, the mean time since MDD diagnosis was 24.0 (SD 19.1) months. Concerning compliance, 85% of the participants (n=29) completed the complete course of 37 stimulation sessions at home, while 97% completed at least 36 sessions. No detrimental effects were observed, including suicidal ideation and/or behavior. The study observed a median MADRS score reduction of 64.5% (48.6, 72.4) 4 weeks post-treatment (Hedge's g = -3.1). We observed a response rate (≥ 50% improvement in MADRS scores) of 72.7% (n=24) from baseline to the last visit 4 weeks post-treatment. Secondary measures reflected similar improvements., Conclusions: These results suggest that remotely supervised and supported multichannel home-based tDCS is safe and feasible, and antidepressant efficacy motivates further appropriately controlled clinical studies., Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05205915?tab=results, identifier NCT05205915., Competing Interests: TB, FC, and RS work for Neuroelectrics, a company dedicated to creating brain stimulation solutions. GR works for and is a co-founder of Neuroelectrics and holds several patents in model-driven non-invasive brain stimulation. AP-L is partly supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health R01AG076708, R01AG059089, R03AG072233, and P01 AG031720, and BrightFocus Foundation. AP-L serves as a paid member of the scientific advisory boards for Neuroelectrics, Magstim Inc., TetraNeuron, Skin2Neuron, MedRhythms, and Hearts Radiant. He is co-founder of TI solutions and co-founder and chief medical officer of Linus Health. AP-L is listed as an inventor on several issued and pending patents on the real-time integration of transcranial magnetic stimulation with electroencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging, and applications of noninvasive brain stimulation in various neurological disorders, as well as digital biomarkers of cognition and digital assessments for early diagnosis of dementia. JC is partly supported by grants from the Gerstner Foundation and the NIH R61 MH132869, R01 MH112737, R21 MH131878, R21 AG078692, is a member of the scientific advisory boards of Hyka and Flow Neuroscience, a consultant for Mifu Technologies, Neuroelectrics, and LivaNova, and an inventor of patents and patent applications on neuromodulation targeting methods held by Massachusetts General Hospital. DC was partly supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01AG076708), the NARSAD-Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (30772), and the Bright Focus Foundation. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer PL declared a shared affiliation with the authors DC, AP-L, JC to the handling editor at the time of review., (Copyright © 2024 Ruffini, Salvador, Castaldo, Baleeiro, Camprodon, Chopra, Cappon and Pascual-Leone.)

Introduction: Symptoms during the onset of major depressive disorder [MDD] and bipolar disorder type II [BD-II] are similar. The difference of hippocampus subregion could be a biological marker to distinguish MDD from BD-II., Methods: We recruited 61 drug-naïve patients with a first-episode MDD and BD-II episode and 30 healthy controls (HC) to participate in a magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] study. We built a general linear model (one-way analysis of covariance) with 22 hippocampal subfields and two total hippocampal volumes as dependent variables, and the diagnosis of MDD, BD-II, and HC as independent variables. We performed pair-wise comparisons of hippocampal subfield volumes between MDD and HC, BD-II and MDD, BD-II and HC with post hoc for primary analysis., Results: We identified three regions that differed significantly in size between patients and controls. The left hippocampal fissure, the hippocampal-amygdaloid transition area (HATA), and the right subiculum body were all significantly larger in patients with MDD compared with the HC. In the onset of first-episode of MDD, the hippocampal volume increased significantly, especially on the left side comparing to HC. However, we found differences between MDD and BD-II were not statistically significant. The volume of the left HATA and right subiculum body in BD-II was larger., Conclusions: The sample size of this study is relatively small, as it is a cross-sectional comparative study. In both MDD and BD-II groups, the volume of more left subregions appeared to increase. The left subregions were severely injured in the development of depressive disorder., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Cong, Zhong, Wu, Chen, Cai, Ling, Wang, Wen, Hu, Zhang, Li, Liu, Zhong, Lai, Xu and Wu.)

Background: Studies have shown a strong association between childhood maltreatment (CM) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Dysfunctional attitudes (DAs) play a crucial role in the development of MDD. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether (1) DAs are associated with CM, (2) specific CM types predict specific types of DAs, and (3) higher childhood trauma counts (CTCs) predict more DAs. Methods: One hundred seventy-one MDD participants and 156 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled for the study. CM was assessed retrospectively with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. DAs were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale–Form A (C-DAS-A). A series of analyses, including multiple analyses of covariance and hierarchical regression analyses, were used in this study to examine the hypotheses. Results: The proportion of CM was 60.2% in the MDD group and 44.2% in the HC group. The 2 × 2 analysis of covariance results showed no interaction effect between CM and MDD on C-DAS-A total score. When the factor scores replaced the C-DAS-A total score, a similar trend was observed. Within the MDD group, emotional abuse (EA) predicted two forms of DAs: self-determination type and overall DAs; physical neglect (PN) was predictive of attraction and repulsion-type DAs. Higher childhood trauma counts significantly predicted more types of DAs in the MDD group. Conclusion: DAs are a trait feature of CM. EA and PN predict specific types of DAs in MDD patients. Higher CTCs predict more DAs in MDD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive dysfunction is a common clinical feature of mental disorders. A number of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) studies have shown reduced prefrontal activation during the verbal fluency task (VFT) in schizophrenia (SZ) and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, no studies have examined and compared the brain activation patterns during the Tower of London (TOL), which is another classic, high-sensitivity executive function testing tool, in these two serious mental disorders. This study aimed to assess the characteristics of brain activation during the two different cognitive tasks in SZ and MDD patients. Methods: This study recruited 30 patients with SZ, 30 patients with MDD, and 30 demographically matched healthy controls (HCs). The hemodynamic changes of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were measured using 32-channel fNIRS during performance of the TOL task and VFT task. Results: SZ patients showed poorer VFT performance than MDD patients and HCs, and the two patient groups showed poorer TOL performance than HCs. Compared to HCs, both of the patient groups exhibited a significant decreased activation in the extensive PFC. Particularly in certain channels in the dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC), SZ patients exhibited significantly decreased hemodynamic changes than the MDD patients. Conclusions: Patients with SZ and MDD have different levels of impairment in different cognitive domains and different patterns of brain activation during the two cognitive tasks. Further research is needed to determine the use of fNIRS for clinical evaluation and diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Herein, we validate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the THINC-integrated tool (THINC-it) as a screening tool for cognitive deficits in patients with major depressive disorder. The primary aim of this study is to determine whether cognitive deficits as detected by the THINC-it tool in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) are associated with workplace productivity and/or psychosocial function.Methods: Subjects aged 18–65 (n = 91) with MDD were evaluated and compared to age-, sex- and education- matched healthy controls (n = 95). Symptoms of cognitive dysfunction, workplace productivity, and psychosocial function were measured using the THINC-it tool, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire- Specific Health Problem (WPAI-SHP).Results: There were significant differences in THINC-it scores (p < 0.01), the average of HAMD total score (p < 0.01) and all aspects of SDS (p < 0.01) between two groups. There were significant differences in the four aspects of WPAI between the two groups in the employed status (p

Background: Cognitive dysfunction is a common clinical feature of mental disorders. A number of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) studies have shown reduced prefrontal activation during the verbal fluency task (VFT) in schizophrenia (SZ) and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, no studies have examined and compared the brain activation patterns during the Tower of London (TOL), which is another classic, high-sensitivity executive function testing tool, in these two serious mental disorders. This study aimed to assess the characteristics of brain activation during the two different cognitive tasks in SZ and MDD patients.Methods: This study recruited 30 patients with SZ, 30 patients with MDD, and 30 demographically matched healthy controls (HCs). The hemodynamic changes of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were measured using 32-channel fNIRS during performance of the TOL task and VFT task.Results: SZ patients showed poorer VFT performance than MDD patients and HCs, and the two patient groups showed poorer TOL performance than HCs. Compared to HCs, both of the patient groups exhibited a significant decreased activation in the extensive PFC. Particularly in certain channels in the dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC), SZ patients exhibited significantly decreased hemodynamic changes than the MDD patients.Conclusions: Patients with SZ and MDD have different levels of impairment in different cognitive domains and different patterns of brain activation during the two cognitive tasks. Further research is needed to determine the use of fNIRS for clinical evaluation and diagnosis.

Background: Studies have shown a strong association between childhood maltreatment (CM) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Dysfunctional attitudes (DAs) play a crucial role in the development of MDD. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether (1) DAs are associated with CM, (2) specific CM types predict specific types of DAs, and (3) higher childhood trauma counts (CTCs) predict more DAs.Methods: One hundred seventy-one MDD participants and 156 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled for the study. CM was assessed retrospectively with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. DAs were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale–Form A (C-DAS-A). A series of analyses, including multiple analyses of covariance and hierarchical regression analyses, were used in this study to examine the hypotheses.Results: The proportion of CM was 60.2% in the MDD group and 44.2% in the HC group. The 2 × 2 analysis of covariance results showed no interaction effect between CM and MDD on C-DAS-A total score. When the factor scores replaced the C-DAS-A total score, a similar trend was observed. Within the MDD group, emotional abuse (EA) predicted two forms of DAs: self-determination type and overall DAs; physical neglect (PN) was predictive of attraction and repulsion-type DAs. Higher childhood trauma counts significantly predicted more types of DAs in the MDD group.Conclusion: DAs are a trait feature of CM. EA and PN predict specific types of DAs in MDD patients. Higher CTCs predict more DAs in MDD patients.

Background: Alterations in executive functions, emotion regulation, and their interaction are common concomitants of depression. Executive dysfunction frequently lingers after treatment, has adverse effects on daily life, and predisposes to recurrence of depression. Yet, sensitive measures of executive function for reliable assessment of cognitive outcomes are still lacking in clinical practice. To better understand the impact of depression and its most effective treatment, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), on cognition, we assessed executive functions pre- and post-ECT and whether objective measures reflecting alterations in emotion–executive function interaction correlate with depression severity or with cognitive outcome.Methods: Executive functions were assessed in 21 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) before and after ECT using subjective measures from the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function—Adult version (BRIEF-A) and objective cognitive performance measures derived from computer-based test of executive function, Executive Reaction Time (RT) Test. In addition, we created novel indices reflecting emotional modulation of cognitive performance by subtracting different performance measures in the context of neutral distractors from those in the context of threat-related distractors. We correlated these indices with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and BRIEF-A scores.Results: Depression was significantly alleviated, and executive functions improved post-ECT, as seen in reduced BDI scores, BRIEF-A scores, and number of errors in Executive RT Test. Pre-ECT BDI scores correlated with threat modulation of RT (tmRT) and threat modulation of working memory (tmWM). Post-ECT tmRT correlated with several Behavioral Regulation scales and tmWM with several Metacognition scales of BRIEF-A.Conclusion: While caution is warranted, results from both subjective and objective measures suggest that ECT significantly improves executive functions and emotion regulation along with alleviation of depression. Novel indices derived from threat modulation of executive function and working memory show promise as objective biomarkers of depression severity pre-ECT and cognitive outcome post-ECT with potential for guiding depression treatments.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with the activation of the immune/inflammatory system. TNF-α is associated with MDD and poor treatment response. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are responsible in innate immune response, and is associated with MDD and antidepressant response. Some negative regulators of TLR pathway such as SOCS1, TOLLIP, SIGIRR, TNFAIP3, and MyD88s, are reported to be differentially expressed in the peripheral blood samples of patients of MDD.Methods: We recruited patients with MDD and healthy controls, collect their demographic data, and measured their mRNA levels of negative TLR regulators, using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and isolated TNF-α secreting cells. Clinical symptoms were evaluated using Halmiton Depression Rating Scale (Ham-D). Some patients were evaluated again after 4 weeks of antidepressant treatment.Results: Forty-seven patients with MDD and 52 healthy controls were recruited. Between the PBMC samples of 37 MDD patients and 42 controls, mRNA levels of SOCS1, SIGIRR, TNFAIP3, and MyD88s were significantly different. Between TNF-α secreting cells of 10 MDD patients and 10 controls, mRNA levels of SIGIRR and TNFAIP3 were significantly different. Change of Ham-D score only correlated significantly with TOLLIP mRNA level after treatment.Conclusion: SIGIRR and TNFAIP3, two negative regulators of TLR immune response pathways, were differentially expressed in both PBMC and TNF-α secreting cells of patients with MDD as compared to healthy controls. The negative regulations of innate immune response could contribute to the underlying mechanism of MDD.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with the activation of the immune/inflammatory system. TNF-α is associated with MDD and poor treatment response. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are responsible in innate immune response, and is associated with MDD and antidepressant response. Some negative regulators of TLR pathway such as SOCS1, TOLLIP, SIGIRR, TNFAIP3, and MyD88s, are reported to be differentially expressed in the peripheral blood samples of patients of MDD. Methods: We recruited patients with MDD and healthy controls, collect their demographic data, and measured their mRNA levels of negative TLR regulators, using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and isolated TNF-α secreting cells. Clinical symptoms were evaluated using Halmiton Depression Rating Scale (Ham-D). Some patients were evaluated again after 4 weeks of antidepressant treatment. Results: Forty-seven patients with MDD and 52 healthy controls were recruited. Between the PBMC samples of 37 MDD patients and 42 controls, mRNA levels of SOCS1, SIGIRR, TNFAIP3, and MyD88s were significantly different. Between TNF-α secreting cells of 10 MDD patients and 10 controls, mRNA levels of SIGIRR and TNFAIP3 were significantly different. Change of Ham-D score only correlated significantly with TOLLIP mRNA level after treatment. Conclusion: SIGIRR and TNFAIP3, two negative regulators of TLR immune response pathways, were differentially expressed in both PBMC and TNF-α secreting cells of patients with MDD as compared to healthy controls. The negative regulations of innate immune response could contribute to the underlying mechanism of MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alterations in executive functions, emotion regulation, and their interaction are common concomitants of depression. Executive dysfunction frequently lingers after treatment, has adverse effects on daily life, and predisposes to recurrence of depression. Yet, sensitive measures of executive function for reliable assessment of cognitive outcomes are still lacking in clinical practice. To better understand the impact of depression and its most effective treatment, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), on cognition, we assessed executive functions pre- and post-ECT and whether objective measures reflecting alterations in emotion–executive function interaction correlate with depression severity or with cognitive outcome. Methods: Executive functions were assessed in 21 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) before and after ECT using subjective measures from the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function—Adult version (BRIEF-A) and objective cognitive performance measures derived from computer-based test of executive function, Executive Reaction Time (RT) Test. In addition, we created novel indices reflecting emotional modulation of cognitive performance by subtracting different performance measures in the context of neutral distractors from those in the context of threat-related distractors. We correlated these indices with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and BRIEF-A scores. Results: Depression was significantly alleviated, and executive functions improved post-ECT, as seen in reduced BDI scores, BRIEF-A scores, and number of errors in Executive RT Test. Pre-ECT BDI scores correlated with threat modulation of RT (tmRT) and threat modulation of working memory (tmWM). Post-ECT tmRT correlated with several Behavioral Regulation scales and tmWM with several Metacognition scales of BRIEF-A. Conclusion: While caution is warranted, results from both subjective and objective measures suggest that ECT significantly improves executive functions and emotion regulation along with alleviation of depression. Novel indices derived from threat modulation of executive function and working memory show promise as objective biomarkers of depression severity pre-ECT and cognitive outcome post-ECT with potential for guiding depression treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive and psychosocial dysfunction are prevalent and disabling features of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Emerging evidence suggests that poor cognitive functioning mediates the negative effect of MDD on psychosocial function. However, there is a lack of research examining the domain-specific nature of this relationship. The current study evaluated whether the relationship between MDD and specific psychosocial subdomains (e.g., autonomy, occupational functioning) was mediated by domain-specific cognitive deficits.Methods: Data from 155 participants was obtained from the Cognitive Function and Mood Study (CoFaMS), a cross-sectional analysis of mood, cognition, social cognition, and functioning in individuals with MDD. Cognitive functioning was assessed (Current MDD n = 45, Healthy n = 110), with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), the Colorado Assessment Tests (CATs), and the Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL). Psychosocial functioning was clinically evaluated with the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST).Results: The results indicated that spatial cognition and executive functioning partially mediated the negative effect of MDD on overall psychosocial functioning, autonomy, and subjective cognition. In contrast, spatial and executive domains showed divergent mediation patterns on interpersonal relationships and leisure time.Conclusions: The findings suggest that executive and spatial cognition play an important role in the pathology of overall psychosocial functioning, and specific functional issues in MDD. Treatments targeting psychosocial recovery in MDD may be improved by emphasizing executive and spatial cognitive remediation.

Major problems of current antidepressant pharmacotherapy are insufficient response rates and difficulties in response prediction. We recently provided preliminary evidence in a small study that patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) with a hypomethylation of the CpG-87 site of the promoter IV region of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene are less likely to benefit from antidepressants. Here, we aimed at replicating this finding in a secondary analysis of 561 MDD patients (mean age 40.0 ± 11.9 years, 56% female) included into the Early Medication Change study (EMC). We measured BDNF exon IV promoter and p11 gene methylation at Baseline (BL) as well as BDNF-plasma-levels (pBDNF) at BL and day 14 and related them to treatment outcome. Although we were not able to replicate the predictor function of hypomethylation of the BDNF exon IV promoter, a subgroup of patients with severe depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HAMD-17] ≥ 25) (n = 199) and hypermethylation at CpG-87 of the BDNF exon IV promoter had significantly higher remission rates than patients without a methylation (p = 0.032). We also found that 421 (75%) of 561 patients showed an early improvement (≥ 20% HAMD-17 reduction after 2 weeks), which was associated with a 4.24-fold increased likelihood to remit at study end compared to the 140 patients without early improvement. However, specificity of response prediction of early improvement was low (34%) and false positive rate high (66%). The combination of early improvement with a pBDNF increase between BL and day 14, however, increased the specificity of response prediction from 34 to 76%, and the combination with methylation of the CpG-87 site of the BDNF exon IV promoter from 34 to 62%. Thus, the combined markers reduced false positives rates from 66 to 24% and 38%, respectively. Methylation at other sites or p11 promoter methylation failed to increase specificity of early improvement prediction. In sum, the results add to previous findings that BDNF, BDNF promoter methylation and the combination of clinical and biological markers may be interesting candidates for therapy response prediction which has to be confirmed in further studies.Clinical Trial Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00974155, identifier: NCT00974155

Background: Deficits in executive functioning are frequently associated with poor psychosocial outcomes in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). However, there is a poor understanding of the domain-specific relationships between executive subdomains (e.g., forward planning, decision making) and specific psychosocial issues (e.g., occupational functioning, social relationships). The current study explored these relationships across currently depressed and remitted MDD patients, as well as a healthy control group.Methods: Data from 142 participants were obtained from the Cognitive Functioning and Mood Study (CoFaM-S), a cross sectional study of mood, cognition, and psychosocial functioning in mood disorders. Participants' [current depression n = 31, remitted depression n = 52, healthy controls (HC) n = 59] executive functioning was evaluated with well-established tests of executive subdomains (i.e., Tower of London, card sorting, Stroop task). The Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) was employed to clinically evaluate psychosocial dysfunction.Results: The results indicated that forward planning was most strongly associated with psychosocial issues in the current depression group as compared to HCs, while cognitive updating was primary in the remitted group vs. HC.Conclusions: These findings suggest that executive subdomains are deferentially associated with psychosocial issues across different stages of depressive illness, and that forward planning and cognitive updating should be considered in adjunctive cognitive treatment.

Background: Cognitive and psychosocial dysfunction are prevalent and disabling features of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Emerging evidence suggests that poor cognitive functioning mediates the negative effect of MDD on psychosocial function. However, there is a lack of research examining the domain-specific nature of this relationship. The current study evaluated whether the relationship between MDD and specific psychosocial subdomains (e.g., autonomy, occupational functioning) was mediated by domain-specific cognitive deficits. Methods: Data from 155 participants was obtained from the Cognitive Function and Mood Study (CoFaMS), a cross-sectional analysis of mood, cognition, social cognition, and functioning in individuals with MDD. Cognitive functioning was assessed (Current MDD n = 45, Healthy n = 110), with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), the Colorado Assessment Tests (CATs), and the Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL). Psychosocial functioning was clinically evaluated with the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST). Results: The results indicated that spatial cognition and executive functioning partially mediated the negative effect of MDD on overall psychosocial functioning, autonomy, and subjective cognition. In contrast, spatial and executive domains showed divergent mediation patterns on interpersonal relationships and leisure time. Conclusions: The findings suggest that executive and spatial cognition play an important role in the pathology of overall psychosocial functioning, and specific functional issues in MDD. Treatments targeting psychosocial recovery in MDD may be improved by emphasizing executive and spatial cognitive remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deficits in executive functioning are frequently associated with poor psychosocial outcomes in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). However, there is a poor understanding of the domain-specific relationships between executive subdomains (e.g., forward planning, decision making) and specific psychosocial issues (e.g., occupational functioning, social relationships). The current study explored these relationships across currently depressed and remitted MDD patients, as well as a healthy control group. Methods: Data from 142 participants were obtained from the Cognitive Functioning and Mood Study (CoFaM-S), a cross sectional study of mood, cognition, and psychosocial functioning in mood disorders. Participants' [current depression n = 31, remitted depression n = 52, healthy controls (HC) n = 59] executive functioning was evaluated with well-established tests of executive subdomains (i.e., Tower of London, card sorting, Stroop task). The Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) was employed to clinically evaluate psychosocial dysfunction. Results: The results indicated that forward planning was most strongly associated with psychosocial issues in the current depression group as compared to HCs, while cognitive updating was primary in the remitted group vs. HC. Conclusions: These findings suggest that executive subdomains are deferentially associated with psychosocial issues across different stages of depressive illness, and that forward planning and cognitive updating should be considered in adjunctive cognitive treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is ample electrophysiological evidence of attention dysfunction in the EEG/ERP signal of various psychopathologies such as major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The reduced attention-related ERP waves show much similarity between MDD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, raising the question whether there are similarities in the neurophysiologic process that underlies attention dysfunction in these pathologies. The present work suggests that there is such a unified underlying neurophysiologic process, which results in reduced attention in the three pathologies. Naturally, as these pathologies involve different clinical manifestations, we expect differences in their underlying neurophysiology. These differences and their subtle manifestation in the ERP marker for attention are also discussed.MDD, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are just three of multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, which involve changes in the EEG/ERP manifestations of attention. Further work should expand the basic model presented here to offer comprehensive modeling of these multiple disorders and to emphasize similarities and dissimilarities of the underlying neurophysiologic processes.

With the development of social economics and the increase of working pressure, more and more women are suffering from long-term serious stress and showing symptoms of perimenopausal depression (PMD). The incidence rate of PMD is increasing, and the physical and mental health are seriously affected. However, due to the lack of accurate knowledge of pathophysiology, its diagnosis and treatment cannot be accurately executed. By consulting the relevant literature in recent years, this paper elaborates the neuroendocrine mechanism of perimenopausal depression from the aspects of epigenetic changes, monoamine neurotransmitter and receptor hypothesis, glial cell-induced neuroinflammation, estrogen receptor, interaction between HPA axis and HPG axis, and micro-organism-brain gut axis. The purpose is to probe into new ways of treatment of PMD by providing new knowledge about the neuroendocrine mechanism and treatment of PMD., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Han, Gu, Li, Qian, Wang and Huang.)

There is ample electrophysiological evidence of attention dysfunction in the EEG/ERP signal of major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The reduced attention-related ERP waves show much similarity between MDD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, raising the question whether there are similarities in the neurophysiologic process that underlies attention dysfunction in these pathologies. The present work suggests that there is such a unified underlying neurophysiologic process, which results in reduced attention in the three pathologies. Naturally, as these pathologies involve different clinical manifestations, we expect differences in their underlying neurophysiology. These differences and their subtle manifestation in the ERP marker for attention are also discussed. MDD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are just three of multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, which involve changes in the EEG/ERP manifestations of attention. Further work should expand the basic model presented here to offer comprehensive modeling of these multiple disorders and to emphasize similarities and dissimilarities of the underlying neurophysiologic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Synapses and spines play a significant role in major depressive disorder (MDD) pathophysiology, recently highlighted by the rapid antidepressant effect of ketamine and psilocybin. According to the Bayesian brain and interoception perspectives, MDD is formalized as being stuck in affective states constantly predicting negative energy balance. To understand how spines and synapses relate to the predictive function of the neocortex and thus to symptoms, we used the temporal memory (TM), an unsupervised machine-learning algorithm. TM models a single neocortical layer, learns in real-time, and extracts and predicts temporal sequences. TM exhibits neocortical biological features such as sparse firing and continuous online learning using local Hebbian-learning rules., Methods: We trained a TM model on random sequences of upper-case alphabetical letters, representing sequences of affective states. To model depression, we progressively destroyed synapses in the TM model and examined how that affected the predictive capacity of the network. We found that the number of predictions decreased non-linearly., Results: Destroying 50% of the synapses slightly reduced the number of predictions, followed by a marked drop with further destruction. However, reducing the synapses by 25% distinctly dropped the confidence in the predictions. Therefore, even though the network was making accurate predictions, the network was no longer confident about these predictions., Discussion: These findings explain how interoceptive cortices could be stuck in limited affective states with high prediction error. Connecting ketamine and psilocybin's proposed mechanism of action to depression pathophysiology, the growth of new synapses would allow representing more futuristic predictions with higher confidence. To our knowledge, this is the first study to use the TM model to connect changes happening at synaptic levels to the Bayesian formulation of psychiatric symptomatology. Linking neurobiological abnormalities to symptoms will allow us to understand the mechanisms of treatments and possibly, develop new ones., Competing Interests: MS was a consultant for In Silico Biosciences, Inc. LC has consulted for Otsuka, Sunovion, Neuronetics, Nexstim, Janssen, Affect Neuro, Sage Therapeutics, and Neurolief and also received research support through clinical trial contracts at Butler Hospital with Janssen, Neuronetics, Affect Neuro, and Neurolief. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Sherif, Khalil, Shukla, Brown and Carpenter.)

Objective: We aimed to investigate changes in whole-brain gray matter volumes (GMVs) before and after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicidal ideation (SI)., Methods: Thirty adolescents with MDD and SI were observed, and structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) was performed at baseline and after ECT for each patient. But Twenty-five healthy controls (HCs) were scanned only at baseline. The voxel-based morphometry (VBM) techniques were used to examine GMVs., Results: Compared with HCs, MDDs at baseline showed decreased GMVs in the left middle temporal gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, left precuneus, right precuneus, and left superior frontal gyrus. After ECT, MDDs showed increased GMVs in the right superior frontal gyrus and right superior temporal gyrus. Pearson's correlation found that Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI) scores at baseline were negatively correlated with GMVs in the left superior frontal gyrus and HAMD and BSSI scores after ECT were negatively correlated with GMVs in the right superior temporal gyrus., Conclusion: Frontal-temporal-precuneus structure changes may be a potential cause of depressive and suicidal symptoms in adolescents. ECT may improve depressive and suicidal symptoms in adolescents by regulating brain structures to compensate original defects., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Li, Chen, Yu, Dai, Ai, Huang, Zhou, Chen, Guo, Zheng and Kuang.)

The aim of the present study was to investigate the age effect on face perceptual processing in MDD patients by analyzing the N170 component in response to faces and objects presented in upright and inverted conditions. For controls, although the N170 amplitude, overall, did not differ between young and middle-aged participants, the size of N170 inversion effect was larger for young than for middle-aged controls, but the N170 face effect was not influenced by age. For young participants, MDD patients showed N170 amplitude similar to controls and neither the N170 face effect nor the N170 inversion effect were influenced by depression. For middle-aged participants, MDD patients revealed larger N170 than did controls, and both the size of N170 inversion effect and the N170 face effect were larger for MDD patients than controls. These data indicate that, at least at the early stage of face perception, there is altered face perception in middle-aged but not in young MDD patients. This research could provide new evidence for clinical assessment of cognitive function in MDD patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Shi, Sun and Zhao.)