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Background: Major depression disorder (MDD)11 Abbreviations: BMI: Body mass index; MDD: Major depressive disorder; WHR: wait-to-hip-ratio and obesity are among the most common public health problems. The majority of epidemiological studies demonstrated a strong relationship between sociodemographic factors like age and socioeconomic status and depression. Also, a bidirectional link between depression and obesity is discussed. However, differences regarding sociodemographic factors and obesity between participants with and without lifetime MDD might occur, but potentially not in all individuals. This study intends to contribute to this discussion by investigating whether or not sociodemographic factors, chronic illness status, and overweight differ between individuals with and without lifetime MDD. Methods: In the MooDFOOD depression prevention trial, 1025 overweight or obese participants with subsyndromal symptoms of depression were recruited. Lifetime history of MDD, number of lifetime MDD episodes, sociodemographic data, and chronic illness were assessed via clinical interview, also standardized anthropometric measures (body mass index [BMI], waist-to-hip ratio [WHR]). Results: A lifetime MDD diagnosis was present in 33.5% of the sample. Individuals with lifetime MDD and individuals who never suffered from MDD did not differ regarding sex, age, marital status, educational level, employment status, and income. Further, there were no significant differences in BMI, WHR, and number of chronic illnesses between participants with and without lifetime MDD. Limitations: The cross-sectional nature of the data prohibited causal inferences. Conclusion: Sociodemographic variables, chronic illness status and anthropometric measures seem not to be related to the status of having suffered from MDD in the past vs. not having suffered from MDD in people who are currently overweight or obese.

The present article reviews recent studies analyzing the association between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and personality in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). HRQoL is especially important in chronic diseases, since the strategic goals of treatment are to relieve symptoms, delay progression and improve functional quality. Some studies show that HRQoL in patients with IBD is significantly lower than that in the general population. Few studies have analyzed the association between personality and IBD and the results are contradictory. The most prevalent personality disorders in IBD are avoidant personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Some results of a longitudinal study corroborating impaired HRQoL in these patients and the presence of one or more personality disorders in 57% of the sample are discussed.

Objectives: This study focuses on the comorbidity between medical and psychiatric illnesses in a sample taken from the general population. Methods: We design a two-stage epidemiological community study in the island of Formentera (Spain), using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN). In the first stage, the sample (N=697) was screened using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). In the second stage, the SCAN, subjects' clinical histories and General Practitioners' diagnosis were used to evaluate psychiatric disorders and medical illnesses. The final sample comprised 242 subjects. Results: Subjects with diagnosed ICD-10 mental disorders presented higher comorbidity with medical pathologies than the group of respondents without psychiatric diagnosis, although the differences were not statistically significant. Of the psychiatric conditions, mood disorders (in which differences were significant) and neurotic disorders were the ones that most frequently presented comorbidity, followed by sleep disorders. Mean scores on the GHQ-28 used at the screening stage, and mean scores on neurotic, depressive and somatic symptoms on the SCAN, were significantly higher in the comorbid group. Comorbidity was more frequent in females. Conclusion: More studies on comorbidity in general population are required, with diagnostic instruments that cover the whole of the psychiatric spectrum and correct assessment systems for medical diagnosis.

Background Depression is one of the most common disorders in primary care and the fourth most disabling medical condition worldwide. Although gender differences in the prevalence of depression are well established, the little available data on gender-related differences in disabilities among depression patients gives controversial results. This study aims to analyse whether there are gender differences in the disabilities experienced by patients with depression. Methods A cross-sectional, multicentre, nationwide epidemiological study was conducted, with 1226 patients. A Case Report Form was used to collect sociodemographic data and the 12-item version of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHO-DAS-II) was used to assess functioning. Depression severity was assessed using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS). Results Non-statistically significant differences in functioning were found between males and females. An item-by-item analysis of the WHO-DAS-II shows significant differences between both sexes in specific areas. Women obtained higher scores than men for standing for long periods and walking a long distance. Males scored higher than women in dealing with people you did not know well and maintaining a friendship. Limitations Given the descriptive and cross-sectional nature of the study, the results are limited, highlighting the need for further research. Also, other variables that might influence disability, such as medical illnesses, were not considered. Conclusions The effect of depression on disability is similar for both sexes but not uniform in terms of the impact on different aspects of the quality of life. These findings could be an important factor in the assessment of functioning and management of depression.

Background Three different burnout types have been described: The "frenetic" type describes involved and ambitious subjects who sacrifice their health and personal lives for their jobs; the "underchallenged" type describes indifferent and bored workers who fail to find personal development in their jobs and the "worn-out" in type describes neglectful subjects who feel they have little control over results and whose efforts go unacknowledged. The study aimed to describe the possible associations between burnout types and general sociodemographic and occupational characteristics. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out on a multi-occupational sample of randomly selected university employees (n = 409). The presence of burnout types was assessed by means of the "Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire (BCSQ-36)", and the degree of association between variables was assessed using an adjusted odds ratio (OR) obtained from multivariate logistic regression models. Results Individuals working more than 40 hours per week presented with the greatest risk for "frenetic" burnout compared to those working fewer than 35 hours (adjusted OR = 5.69; 95% CI = 2.52-12.82; p < 0.001). Administration and service personnel presented the greatest risk of "underchallenged" burnout compared to teaching and research staff (adjusted OR = 2.85; 95% CI = 1.16-7.01; p = 0.023). Employees with more than sixteen years of service in the organisation presented the greatest risk of "worn-out" burnout compared to those with less than four years of service (adjusted OR = 4.56; 95% CI = 1.47-14.16; p = 0.009). Conclusions This study is the first to our knowledge that suggests the existence of associations between the different burnout subtypes (classified according to the degree of dedication to work) and the different sociodemographic and occupational characteristics that are congruent with the definition of each of the subtypes. These results are consistent with the clinical profile definitions of burnout syndrome. In addition, they assist the recognition of distinct profiles and reinforce the idea of differential characterisation of the syndrome for more effective treatment.