Depression (Psychology)

Early cortical activation towards aversive stimuli in patients with PTSD and comorbid depression compared to patients with major depression only

by Julian Keil

Depression: embodying social inequality

by john cromby

Between constructionism and neuroscience: the societal co-constitution of embodied subjectivity

by john cromby

Theory & Psychology 14,6, 797-821

Social constructionist psychology has no adequate notion of embodied subjectivity, a situation causing conceptual... more Social constructionist psychology has no adequate notion of embodied subjectivity, a situation causing conceptual errors, raising methodological issues, and serving to entrench within constructionism the dualisms that structure mainstream psychology. The outline of a solution to this problem is offered, drawing on contemporary work in neuroscience. A framework of three “grammars” of causality and influence (P, or persons; O or organisms; and M or molecules) from Harre (2002) is described and used to structure the integration of Shotter’s notion of subjectivity with two brain systems. Damasio’s “somatic marker” hypothesis enables the feelingful, sensuous aspects of “joint action”, whilst Gazzaniga’s “interpreter” enables their discursive aspects. The benefits of theorising embodied subjectivity in this way are illustrated by a study of the phenomena of “depression”, and it is concluded that such an integration makes constructionism more coherent, credible and critical.

Heart Rate Variability In Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: Differences In Patients With Higher and Lower Depression Scores

by David Sheffield

CO-AUTHORED WITH RUNGROJ KRITTAYAPHONG, MD, WAYNE E. CASCIO, MD, KATHLEEN C. LIGHT, P H D , ROBERT N. GOLDEN, MD, JERRY B. FINKEL, MD, GEORGE GLEKAS, GARY G. KOCH, PHD, AND DAVID S. SHEPS, MD, MSPH. Published in Psychosomatic Medicine

Objective: This study tested the hypothesis that coronary artery disease patients with higher depression scores have... more Objective: This study tested the hypothesis that coronary artery disease patients with higher depression scores have lower heart rate variability during daily life. Method: Thirty-three men and nine women, ranging in age from 46 to 79, with coronary artery disease and exercise-induced ischemia were studied. The standard deviation of normal R-R intervals (SDNN) and average heart rate were obtained from 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. Patients were grouped by a median split of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-D) score. Results: SDNN was lower (p = .009} and average heart rate was higher (p = .003) in patients with higher depression scores. These relationships remained substantially unaltered after statistically adjusting for the only demographic/clinical factor that varied between the groups: gender. Conclusions: In comparison to the lower depression score group, those with higher depression scores had lower heart rate variability during daily life. These findings may be related to the reported relationship between depression and survival risk in patients with coronary artery disease.

Content Analysis of Personal Constructs in Depression

by Adrian Montesano

Low-dose tryptophan depletion in recovered depressed women induces impairments in autobiographical memory specificity

by Anneke Haddad

Haddad, A. D. M., Williams, J. M. G., McTavish, S. F. B., & Harmer, C. J. (2009, December). Low-dose tryptophan depletion in recovered depressed women induces impairments in autobiographical memory specificity.. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 207(3), 499-508.

Background: Depressed patients perform poorly on tests of autobiographical memory specificity (AMS); this may have... more Background: Depressed patients perform poorly on tests of autobiographical memory specificity (AMS); this may have negative consequences for other important cognitive abilities, delays recovery from mood episodes, and, in recovered patients, may mediate vulnerability to future episodes. Although the cognitive mechanisms underlying AMS deficits are beginning to be understood, the neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. Serotonin is implicated in both depression and long-term memory; therefore, temporary lowering of brain serotonin function via acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) offers a means of studying the role of serotonin in autobiographical memory specificity.

Materials and methods: In this study, 24 previously depressed women underwent low-dose ATD or sham depletion and completed tests of initial and delayed memory, recollection- and familiarity-based recognition, and AMS.

Results: ATD did not differentially affect state mood. Compared with sham depletion, ATD impaired immediate recall on the Auditory Verbal Learning Test. Although ATD did not differentially impair recollection- and familiarity-based recognition, it did slow recognition of positive words. ATD also reduced autobiographical memory specificity in response to negative cue words.

Discussion: The results confirm previous findings that low-dose ATD can reinstate depression-congruent biases in cognition without causing depressive mood in vulnerable populations. The ATD-induced reduction in memory specificity suggests that serotonergic dysfunction may mediate depressive deficits in autobiographical memory; the interaction of cognitive and neurobiological vulnerability mechanisms is discussed.

Diagnosis and referral of workplace depression

by Jeffrey Kahn, M.D.

J Occup Environ Med. 2008 Apr;50(4):396-400.

Diagnosis and referral of workplace depression.
more J Occup Environ Med. 2008 Apr;50(4):396-400.

Diagnosis and referral of workplace depression.

Kahn JP.


Source

WorkPsych Associates, New York, New York, USA. JeffKahn@WorkPsych.com


Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Effective treatment requires understanding of the many possible reasons for employees and patients to complain of "depression."

METHODS:

This process of differential diagnosis includes panic anxiety, thyroid and other medical conditions, as well as several distinct types of depression (including atypical depression and melancholia).

RESULTS:

Much of workplace depression care can be delivered by occupational health and mental health professionals. Optimal treatment requires accurate and specific diagnosis, and focused care. And, some cases require urgent psychiatric referral, while less urgent referral is important for some others.

CONCLUSIONS:

Optimal diagnosis and specific treatment is a cost effective approach that saves money for employers, while helping employees.

Agitated depression, alprazolam, and panic anxiety.

by Jeffrey Kahn, M.D.

Am J Psychiatry. 1986 Sep;143(9):1172-3.

Agitated depression, alprazolam, and panic anxiety.
more Am J Psychiatry. 1986 Sep;143(9):1172-3.

Agitated depression, alprazolam, and panic anxiety.

Kahn JP, Stevenson E, Topol P, Klein DF.


Abstract

Three patients with agitated depression showed rapid and persistent response to alprazolam. At least two of the patients had prior panic disorder. Several lines of evidence suggest that agitated depression may sometimes be caused by unremitting panic anxiety.

Preventing Co‐Occurring Depression Symptoms in Adolescents with Conduct Problems

by J. J. Cutuli

Beyond Fear: Peritraumatic responses and their impact on PTSD and depression in recent crime victims.

by Debra Kaysen

Cognitive mediation of childhood maltreatment and adult depression in recent crime victims*

by Debra Kaysen

Are vascular risk factors associated with post-stroke depressive symptoms?

by Abby Li

Tennen G, Herrmann N, Black SE, Levy KS, Cappell J, Li A, Lanctôt KL.

J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2011 Dec;24(4):215-21. doi: 10.1177/0891988711422526.

PMID:
    22228828

OBJECTIVE:

Vascular risk factors (VRFs) have been associated with stroke and cognitive impairment, however,... more OBJECTIVE:

Vascular risk factors (VRFs) have been associated with stroke and cognitive impairment, however, the role of VRFs in predicting post-stroke depression (PSD) has not been assessed. The objective of the current study was to determine whether VRFs are associated with the risk of PSD in an acute stroke population.
METHODS:

In this observational study, patients meeting World Health Organization MONICA Project and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke criteria for stroke were eligible. Patients were assessed for depression, cognition, and stroke severity, and VRF and demographic information were obtained.
RESULTS:

A total of 102 patients were recruited within 4 months post-stroke. Using a score of ≥16 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale to determine depressive symptoms, 38 patients (age 72.1 ± 15.6, 44.7% male) screened positive for depressive symptoms and 64 (age 70.1 ± 13.6, 51.6% male) screened negative. Analysis of VRFs showed that only hypertension (P = .044) independently predicted the presence of depressive symptoms (χ(2) = 4.742, P = .029, Nagelkerke R (2) = .062).
CONCLUSIONS:

Hypertension was associated with post-stroke depressive symptoms, while there was no relationship between PSD and other VRFs. Hypertension may have a greater impact than other VRFs on mood following stroke and may have a role in prevention and treatment of PSD.

Learning lucid dreaming and its effect on depression in undergraduates

by Isaac Taitz

An experiential avoidance conceptualization of depressive rumination: Three tests of the model.

by Richard Liu

Flucht vor der Gesellschaft? Ursachen, Folgen und Wechselwirkungen von Depression und Selbstmord

by Robert Friebe

Poster: Exploring the Impact of Spirituality, Hopelessness, Depression, and Anxiety on the Life Satisfaction of Individuals with a Terminal Illness

by Ryan Hale

Poster Presentation for my Thesis

Are Vascular Risk Factors Associated With Post-Stroke Depressive Symptoms?

by Abby Li

Psychometric Qualities of the UCLA Loneliness Scale-Version 3 as Applied in a Turkish Culture

by Mithat Durak

The University of California, Los Angeles, Loneliness Scale-Version 3 (UCLA LS3) is the most frequently used... more The University of California, Los Angeles, Loneliness Scale-Version 3 (UCLA LS3) is the most frequently used loneliness assessment tool. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the UCLA LS3 by utilizing two separate and independent samples: Turkish university students (n = 481) and elderly (n = 284). The results demonstrate that the 3-factor model reveals significant results in both samples in terms of goodness of fit indices in confirmatory factor analysis. In addition to satisfactory reliability, the concurrent and discriminant validity of the scale were supported in both samples by revealing the association of the UCLA LS3 with conceptually related measures (i.e., social support, social provision, depression, positive affect, negative affect, and self esteem in the sample of university students; geriatric depression, self esteem and life satisfaction in the sample of elderly) and the unrelated measure (i.e., social desirability). In addition to examining the psychometric properties of the UCLA LS3, the present study adds to the present literature about loneliness, shedding light on a non-western culture.

Factors associated with the symptoms of depression and anxiety among male Turkish prisoners: a life crisis and personal growth model perspective

by Mithat Durak

Key Words: prisoners, anxiety, depression, locus of control, prison-life stress, situational factors

The factors associated with depression and anxiety disorders in the prison populations have been empirically tested in... more The factors associated with depression and anxiety disorders in the prison populations have been empirically tested in various studies. The aim of the present study was to examine the factors associated with the symptoms of depression and anxiety in a sample of 179 Turkish male prisoners. For this purpose, a model conceptualized by Schaefer and Moos (1998) was used as the theoretical framework for this study. The role of locus of control (as a personality trait); prison type, crime type, time spent in prison (as situational and crime-related variables); and the effect of prison-life stress on the prisoners' level of depression and anxiety symptoms were tested by using two separate structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses. Results revealed that by playing a mediator role, prison-life stress affected locus of control and situational and crime-related variables and hence, indirectly influenced depression and anxiety symptoms. Examining the role of the situational and personality factors on prisoners will provide a new departure for further studies conducted within prison settings.

WORK STRESS SCALE FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS

by Mithat Durak

Work Overload
2. Insufficient division of labor in the work place
3. Work overload
6. Having to control... more Work Overload
2. Insufficient division of labor in the work place
3. Work overload
6. Having to control prisoners’ inappropriate behaviors
26. Being inspected by various committees in the work place
29. Night shifts leading to additional workload
35. Excessive responsibilities of my position


Role Conflict and Role Ambiguity
4. Intentions of the personnel’s, prisoners’, and visitors’ breaking down the rules of prison
9. The prison managers’ ignorance of the needs and ideas of the personnel
11. Being held responsible for someone else’s misconduct at work
14. Not being able to work in the area that I’m proficient in
15. Prisoners, visitors, and lawyers not agreeing with the correctional officers’ body search
19. Arbitrary decisions and frequent changes of decision
21. Ambiguity of instructions at
22. Not being able to declare my opinions anywhere work
27. Managers’ differences in their attitudes and behaviors towards prisoners
31. Obstruction of performing my routine work by the commands of the prison authorities


Inadequacies in Physical Conditions of Prison
7. Insufficiency of the working environment to meet such needs as drinking, eating, etc
24. Insufficiency of the physical conditions (e.g. ventilation, lightening, heating) in the work place
25. Feeling myself as a prisoner
34. Insufficient communication means (e.g. TV, radio) in the work place


Threat Perception
8. The risk of being threatened particularly due to my position
12. Being involved in arguments and fights with prisoners
16. Fearing crime report about myself
18. Being under suspicion on a misconduct
23. Having to be cautious all the time at work
30. In the community, my job is referred to as “key keeper” rather than “prison guard” (implying the applications of harsh discipline)
32. Encountering unusual events (e.g. run away, rebellion, fire) in the work place


General Problems
1. Economic problems
5. Not being able to participate in social activities (e.g. sports, reading, cinema) due to my work
10. Not having enough quality time with family due to my work
13. Having health problems due to my work
17. Ignoring the needs of my family due to my work
20. Reflecting my work problems on my family
28. Transportation problems when commuting to and from my work
33. Having insufficient time with my friends and relatives due to my work



Reference

Şenol-Durak, Emre, Durak, Mithat, & Gençöz, Tülin. (2006). Development of work stress scale for correctional officers. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 16(1), 153-164. doi: 10.1007/s10926-005-9006-z