Early Life Stress and Major Depressive Disorder-An Update on Molecular Mechanisms and Synaptic Impairments.

Early life stress (ELS), characterized as abuse, neglect, and abandonment, can cause several adverse consequences in the lives of affected individuals. ELS experiences can affect an individual's development in variable ways, persisting in the long term and promoting lasting impacts, considering that early exposure to stressors can be biologically incorporated, as prolonged stimulation of stress response systems affects the development of the brain structure and other body systems, increasing the risk of diseases associated with stress and cognitive impairment. This type of stress increases the risk of developing major depressive disorder (MDD) in a severe form that does not respond adequately to traditional antidepressant treatments. Several alterations are studied as mechanisms that relate ELS with MDD, such as epigenetic alterations, neurotransmitters, and neuronal signaling. This review discusses research that brings evidence about the ELS mechanisms involved in synaptic impairments and MDD. The processes involved in epigenetic changes and the HPA axis are highlighted, as well as changes in neurotransmitters and neuronal signaling mechanisms.

Stress levels, psychological symptoms, and C-reactive protein levels in COVID-19: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Although many studies have pointed out a possible relationship between COVID-19 and the presence of psychiatric disorders, the majority of the studies have significant limitations. This study investigates the influence of COVID-19 infection on mental health. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included an age- and sex-matched sample of adult individuals positive (cases) or negative (controls) for COVID-19. We evaluated the presence of psychiatric conditions and C-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: Findings showed greater severity of depressive symptoms, higher levels of stress, and greater CRP in cases. The severity of depressive and insomnia symptoms, as well as the CRP were more remarkable in individuals with moderate/severe COVID-19. We found a positive correlation between stress and severity of anxiety, depression, and insomnia in individuals with or without COVID-19. There was a positive correlation between CRP levels and severity of depressive symptoms in cases and controls, and a positive correlation between CRP levels and the severity of anxiety symptoms and stress levels only in individuals with COVID-19. Individuals with COVID-19 and depression had greater CRP than those with COVID-19 without current major depressive disorder. LIMITATIONS: We cannot infer causality because this is a cross-sectional study, and the majority of COVID-19 sample was asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, which may limit the generalizability of our findings for moderate/severe cases. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with COVID-19 showed greater severity of psychological symptoms, which may impact on the development of psychiatric disorders in the future. CPR seem to be a promising biomarker for earlier detection of post-COVID depression.

Estados emocionais de idosas a partir do teste de apercepção temática / Emotional states of elderly women using the thematic apperception test / Estados emocionales de ancianas a contar del test apercebimiento temático

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar estados emocionais em 10 idosas de 70 a 80 anos, participantes de um grupo de terceira idade. Foi realizado um estudo qualitativo tendo como instrumentos: Teste de Apercepção Temática, Mini Exame do Estado Mental e um questionário sociodemográfico. Foi realizada análise de conteúdo conforme método de Bellak. Como resultado as idosas expressaram necessidades internas de cumprimento do papel materno e emoções que apontaram para o desejo de se manterem ativas, felizes e altruístas, com necessidade de valorização, apoio e ajuda. Revelaram ansiedades vinculadas ao medo de perdas, solidão, dependência, sentimento de incapacidade e preocupação em relação ao futuro. Demonstraram estruturação de ego saudável e superego flexível. Concluiu-se também que o TAT permite a investigação e análise de aspectos emocionais da personalidade em idosas e possibilita uma compreensão psicodinâmica do funcionamento psicológico presente no envelhecimento.(AU)

The aimed of this study was to investigate emotional states of 10 elderly women aged between 70 and 80 years, members of an elderly group. It was conducted a qualitative study having as instruments the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), the Mini Mental State Examination and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The analysis was performed with content analysis by Bellack method. As a result, the women expressed internal needs of keep themselves complying with the maternal role. They also showed emotions that point to the desire of keeping themselves activate, happy and altruistic, as well as needing valorization, support and help. Furthermore, they revealed anxieties associated to fear of loss, loneliness, dependency, feeling of being incapable and concerns about the future. They showed a healthy ego structure and a flexible superego. It’s concluded that TAT allows the investigation and analysis of emotional states of personality in elderly women, also permitting a psychodynamic comprehension of the psychological functioning of aging.(AU)

Este trabajo ha tenido por finalidad investigar estados emocionales em 10 ancianas de 70 a 80 años, integrantes de un grupo de tercera edad. Ha sido efectuado um studio cualitativo con los siguientes instrumentos: Test de Apercibimiento Temático (TAT), Mini Examen del Estado Mental y um cuestionario sociodemográfico.El análisis de su contenido ha sido realizado según el método de Bellak. Como resultado, las ancianas han expresado necesidades interiores de cumplir el rol materno y emociones que señalaron para el deseo de mantenerse activas, dichosas y altruistas, com necesidad de valoración, apoyo y ayuda. Ellas han revelado ansiedades vinculadas al temor de pérdidas, soledad, dependencia , sentimiento de incapacidad y preocupacin respecto al porvenir. Han demonstrado también estructuracion de ego saludable y superego flexible. Se ha llegado a conclusión de que el TAT permite la investigación y el análisis de aspectos emocionales de la personalidad en ancianas, posibilitando una comprensión sicodinámica del funcionamento sicológico presente al proceso de envejecer.(AU)

Estados emocionais de idosas a partir do teste de apercepção temática / Emotional states of elderly women using the thematic apperception test / Estados emocionales de ancianas a contar del test apercebimiento temático

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar estados emocionais em 10 idosas de 70 a 80 anos, participantes de um grupo de terceira idade. Foi realizado um estudo qualitativo tendo como instrumentos: Teste de Apercepção Temática, Mini Exame do Estado Mental e um questionário sociodemográfico. Foi realizada análise de conteúdo conforme método de Bellak. Como resultado as idosas expressaram necessidades internas de cumprimento do papel materno e emoções que apontaram para o desejo de se manterem ativas, felizes e altruístas, com necessidade de valorização, apoio e ajuda. Revelaram ansiedades vinculadas ao medo de perdas, solidão, dependência, sentimento de incapacidade e preocupação em relação ao futuro. Demonstraram estruturação de ego saudável e superego flexível. Concluiu-se também que o TAT permite a investigação e análise de aspectos emocionais da personalidade em idosas e possibilita uma compreensão psicodinâmica do funcionamento psicológico presente no envelhecimento.

The aimed of this study was to investigate emotional states of 10 elderly women aged between 70 and 80 years, members of an elderly group. It was conducted a qualitative study having as instruments the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), the Mini Mental State Examination and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The analysis was performed with content analysis by Bellack method. As a result, the women expressed internal needs of keep themselves complying with the maternal role. They also showed emotions that point to the desire of keeping themselves activate, happy and altruistic, as well as needing valorization, support and help. Furthermore, they revealed anxieties associated to fear of loss, loneliness, dependency, feeling of being incapable and concerns about the future. They showed a healthy ego structure and a flexible superego. It’s concluded that TAT allows the investigation and analysis of emotional states of personality in elderly women, also permitting a psychodynamic comprehension of the psychological functioning of aging.

Este trabajo ha tenido por finalidad investigar estados emocionales em 10 ancianas de 70 a 80 años, integrantes de un grupo de tercera edad. Ha sido efectuado um studio cualitativo con los siguientes instrumentos: Test de Apercibimiento Temático (TAT), Mini Examen del Estado Mental y um cuestionario sociodemográfico.El análisis de su contenido ha sido realizado según el método de Bellak. Como resultado, las ancianas han expresado necesidades interiores de cumplir el rol materno y emociones que señalaron para el deseo de mantenerse activas, dichosas y altruistas, com necesidad de valoración, apoyo y ayuda. Ellas han revelado ansiedades vinculadas al temor de pérdidas, soledad, dependencia , sentimiento de incapacidad y preocupacin respecto al porvenir. Han demonstrado también estructuracion de ego saludable y superego flexible. Se ha llegado a conclusión de que el TAT permite la investigación y el análisis de aspectos emocionales de la personalidad en ancianas, posibilitando una comprensión sicodinámica del funcionamento sicológico presente al proceso de envejecer.