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1.
Aust N Z J Psychiatry ; 52(9): 887-897, 2018 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29325436

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have examined differential predictors of response to psychotherapy for depression. Greater understanding about the factors associated with therapeutic response may better enable therapists to optimise response by targeting therapy for the individual. The aim of the current exploratory study was to examine patient characteristics associated with response to cognitive behaviour therapy and schema therapy for depression. METHODS: Participants were 100 outpatients in a clinical trial randomised to either cognitive behaviour therapy or schema therapy. Potential predictors of response examined included demographic, clinical, functioning, cognitive, personality and neuropsychological variables. RESULTS: Individuals with chronic depression and increased levels of pre-treatment negative automatic thoughts had a poorer response to both cognitive behaviour therapy and schema therapy. A treatment type interaction was found for verbal learning and memory. Lower levels of verbal learning and memory impairment markedly impacted on response to schema therapy. This was not the case for cognitive behaviour therapy, which was more impacted if verbal learning and memory was in the moderate range. CONCLUSION: Study findings are consistent with the Capitalisation Model suggesting that therapy that focuses on the person's strengths is more likely to contribute to a better outcome. Limitations were that participants were outpatients in a randomised controlled trial and may not be representative of other depressed samples. Examination of a variety of potential predictors was exploratory and requires replication.


Subject(s)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Depression/therapy , Predictive Value of Tests , Psychotherapy/methods , Adult , Cognition , Depression/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Neuropsychological Tests , Personality , Personality Assessment , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
2.
Bipolar Disord ; 2017 Dec 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29271072

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: (1) To examine the differences between interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) and specialist supportive care (SSC) in the longer term impacts of IPSRT and SSC on cumulative depression and mania symptoms over a further 78-week follow-up period post treatment. (2) To calculate the survival time before recurrence of a new mood episode over the 3-year period. METHODS: One hundred young people with bipolar disorder aged between 15 and 36 years who had been randomized to treatment with either IPSRT or SSC for 78 weeks were followed up for a subsequent 78 weeks. The Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation was completed at 26-week intervals. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine if there were significant differences between therapy types and a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to determine time to recurrence. Cox regression was used to assess the association between time to relapse and therapy type. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between therapies at each of the data points for either depression or mania scores. The mean change in depression and mania in both groups was significantly different for all three follow-up data points. The actuarial cumulative recurrence rates were 53% for IPSRT and 49% for SSC. There was no significant difference between the groups in time to recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: While there were no significant differences between the two therapies, there was an overall reduction in symptoms in both therapies. There may be sustained benefits in providing intensive psychotherapies in conjunction with pharmacotherapy for young people with bipolar disorder.

3.
Int J Eat Disord ; 50(8): 979-983, 2017 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28556022

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Failure to complete treatment for anorexia nervosa (AN) is- common, clinically concerning but difficult to predict. This study examines whether therapy-related factors (patient-rated pretreatment credibility and early therapeutic alliance) predict subsequent premature termination of treatment (PTT) alongside self-transcendence (a previously identified clinical predictor) in women with AN. METHODS: 56 women aged 17-40 years participating in a randomized outpatient psychotherapy trial for AN. Treatment completion was defined as attending 15/20 planned sessions. Measures were the Treatment Credibility, Temperament and Character Inventory, Vanderbilt Therapeutic Alliance Scale and the Vanderbilt Psychotherapy Process Scale. Statistics were univariate tests, correlations, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Treatment credibility and certain early patient and therapist alliance/process subscales predicted PTT. Lower self-transcendence and lower early process accounted for 33% of the variance in predicting PTT. DISCUSSION: Routine assessment of treatment credibility and early process (comprehensively assessed from multiple perspectives) may help clinicians reduce PTT thereby enhancing treatment outcomes.


Subject(s)
Anorexia Nervosa/therapy , Patient Dropouts/statistics & numerical data , Psychotherapy/methods , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Patient Dropouts/psychology , Psychotherapeutic Processes , Spirituality , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
4.
Am J Hum Biol ; 29(1)2017 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27562613

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes that cap the ends of linear chromosomes. Telomeric DNA decreases with age and shows considerable heterogeneity in the wider population. There is interest in the application of telomere length measures as a biomarker of general health or "biological age," and the possibility of using mean telomere length to gauge individual disease risk, and to promote lifestyle changes to improve health. This study examined the effectiveness of telomere length as a biomarker for an individual's current overall health status by assessing several measures of general health including SF-36v2 score, current smoking status and a comprehensive obesity phenotype. METHODS: Participants were from the Canterbury Health, Ageing and Lifecourse (CHALICE) cohort, a New Zealand population based multidisciplinary study of aging. Telomere length measurements were obtained on DNA from peripheral blood samples at age 49-51 (n = 351), using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. RESULTS: No associations were found between telomere length measured at age 49-51 and any measures of current health status. The only significant association observed was between telomere length and gender, with females having longer telomere length than men. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that telomere length measurements are unlikely to provide information of much predictive significance for an individual's health status.


Subject(s)
Health Status Indicators , Telomere/physiology , Biomarkers/analysis , Female , Health Status , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , New Zealand , Obesity/physiopathology , Phenotype , Sex Factors
5.
PeerJ ; 4: e2826, 2016.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28028484

ABSTRACT

We describe the Temperament and Character Inventory personality traits, demographic features, physical and mental health variables associated with hoarding behaviour in a random community sample of midlife participants in New Zealand. A sample of 404 midlife participants was recruited to a study of ageing. To assess hoarding behaviours participants completed the Savings Inventory-Revised (SI-R), personality was assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory and self-reported health was measured by the Short Form-36v2 (SF-36v2). Other measures were used to assess socio-demographic variables and current mental disorders. Participants were split into four groups by SI-R total score (scores: 0-4, 5-30, 31-41 and >41). Those who scored >41 on the SI-R were classified as having pathological hoarding. Trend tests were calculated across the four hoarding groups for socio-demographic, personality, mental and physical health variables. SI-R scores ranged from 0 to 58. The prevalence of pathological hoarding was 2.5% and a further 4% reported sub-clinical symptoms of hoarding. Higher hoarding behaviour scores were related to higher Temperament and Character Inventory scores for Harm Avoidance and lower scores for Self-directedness. Persistence and Cooperativeness scores were lower too but to a lesser extent. Trend analysis revealed that those with higher hoarding behaviour scores were more likely to be single, female, unemployed, receive income support, have a lower socio-economic status, lower household income and have poorer self-reported mental health scores. Current depression rates were considerably higher in the pathological hoarding group. Increasing SI-R hoarding behaviour scores were associated with higher scores of negative affect (Harm Avoidance) and lower scores of autonomy (Self-directedness). Those with pathological hoarding or sub-clinical symptoms of hoarding also reported widespread mental and socio-economic problems. In this study it is clear to see the physical, mental and socio-economic problems experienced by those achieving the highest hoarding scores. The prevalence of pathological hoarding was 2.5%, similar to the prevalence reported by other studies. The personality traits associated with hoarding behaviours are discussed.

6.
Int J Eat Disord ; 49(10): 958-962, 2016 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27566961

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Therapist adherence to cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), and specialist supportive clinical management (SSCM) for anorexia nervosa (AN), was examined across three phases of therapy in a randomized clinical trial. METHOD: Adherence in early, middle, and late phase therapy sessions from 53 of 56 participants in the trial was assessed using the CSPRS-AN by independent raters after listening to complete therapy sessions. RESULTS: The three forms of psychotherapy were distinguishable by blind raters. Subscale scores were higher for the corresponding therapy than the other therapy modalities. In CBT and SSCM, a phase-by-therapy effect was found, with the CBT subscale highest for CBT, intermediate for SSCM, lowest for IPT, and elevated in the middle phase of CBT and SSCM. The SSCM subscale was highest for SSCM, intermediate for CBT, lowest for IPT, and elevated in the middle phase of SSCM. Adherence to activities around normalizing eating, weight gain, and education about anorexia nervosa was higher in SSCM than in either CBT or IPT. DISCUSSION: Ensuring the distinctiveness of therapies in existing clinical trials with differential treatment outcome is essential. Research on adherence to therapy modalities has the potential to help understanding of the effective components of new and existing treatments for AN. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:958-962).


Subject(s)
Anorexia Nervosa/therapy , Patient Compliance , Psychotherapy/methods , Adult , Cognition , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Female , Humans , Specialization , Treatment Outcome , Weight Gain , Young Adult
7.
Psychiatry Res ; 240: 412-420, 2016 06 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27149410

ABSTRACT

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is the recommended treatment for binge eating, yet many individuals do not recover, and innovative new treatments have been called for. The current study compares traditional CBT with two augmented versions of CBT; schema therapy, which focuses on early life experiences as pivotal in the history of the eating disorder; and appetite-focused CBT, which emphasises the role of recognising and responding to appetite in binge eating. 112 women with transdiagnostic DSM-IV binge eating were randomized to the three therapies. Therapy consisted of weekly sessions for six months, followed by monthly sessions for six months. Primary outcome was the frequency of binge eating. Secondary and tertiary outcomes were other behavioural and psychological aspects of the eating disorder, and other areas of functioning. No differences among the three therapy groups were found on primary or other outcomes. Across groups, large effect sizes were found for improvement in binge eating, other eating disorder symptoms and overall functioning. Schema therapy and appetite-focused CBT are likely to be suitable alternative treatments to traditional CBT for binge eating.


Subject(s)
Binge-Eating Disorder/therapy , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/methods , Psychotherapy/methods , Adult , Binge-Eating Disorder/psychology , Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
8.
Personal Ment Health ; 10(2): 84-95, 2016 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27120419

ABSTRACT

AIM: The ICD-11 Personality Disorders Committee has proposed five personality domains: Detached, Anankastic, Negative Affective, Dissocial and Disinhibited. We attempted to validate these proposed domains in a large sample of patients with major depression. METHODS: Participants from five treatment studies received a SCID assessment interview to assess DSM-5 personality disorder symptoms. Personality disorder symptoms were assigned to the five proposed domains. Confirmatory factor analysis in an exploratory framework was used to test the hypothesized domain structure. RESULTS: A total of 606 patients were included in the analysis. A series of models were tested on the data set. The best fitting model produced five domains. Three domains detached, anankastic and negative affective were similar to the ICD-11 proposed domains. The Disinhibited domain did not emerge as a distinct factor but loaded onto a single Dissocial/Disinhibited factor. The model was improved by adding a separate Antisocial domain. The remaining domain incorporating borderline, histrionic and narcissistic symptoms is tentatively labelled Borderline to retain continuity with clinical practice and research. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed ICD-11 personality disorder domains were partially validated. We have five domains currently labelled Detached, Anankastic, Negative Emotional, Antisocial and Borderline. The sample studied limits the generalizability of our findings. In particular, the broad domain we have called Borderline requires further study. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Subject(s)
International Classification of Diseases , Personality Disorders/classification , Personality Disorders/diagnosis , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Adult , Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Humans , Male , Personality Assessment , Reproducibility of Results
10.
Aust N Z J Psychiatry ; 50(2): 167-73, 2016 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26698820

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Bipolar disorder is a chronic relapsing disorder associated with high rates of suicide, suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury. The study aimed to prospectively identify the rates of suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury in young people participating in an adjunctive randomised controlled psychotherapy for bipolar disorder and to identify differences in individuals who engaged in nonsuicidal self-injury, made suicide attempts or did both. METHOD: In all, 100 participants aged 15-36 years with bipolar disorder received 78 weeks of psychotherapy and were followed up for a further 78 weeks. Data were collected using the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation. RESULTS: Suicide attempts reduced from 11% at baseline to 1% at the end of follow-up (week 156). Similarly, self-harm reduced from 15% at baseline to 7% at the end of follow-up. Individuals who engaged in both nonsuicidal self-injury and made suicide attempts differed from those with who only made suicide attempts, engaged in nonsuicidal self-injury or did neither. They were characterised by a younger age of illness onset and higher comorbidity. CONCLUSION: Adjunctive intensive psychotherapy may be effective in reducing suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury and warrants further attention. Particular attention needs to be paid to individuals with early age of onset of bipolar disorder.


Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/psychology , Bipolar Disorder/therapy , Psychotherapy , Self-Injurious Behavior/psychology , Suicide, Attempted/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Comorbidity , Female , Humans , Male , Prospective Studies , Young Adult
11.
Aust N Z J Psychiatry ; 50(2): 135-44, 2016 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25999526

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Adverse childhood experiences are well-recognized risk factors for a variety of mental health issues, including depression, suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-injury. However, less is known about whether childhood adversity, in the form of low parental care, overprotection and abuse, is associated with suicide attempt and non-suicidal self-injury within a sample of depressed adults. METHOD: The sample of outpatients (n = 372) was drawn from two randomized depression trials. Childhood adversity variables, depression severity, age of first depressive episode (major depression episode onset), lifetime suicide attempt and non-suicidal self-injury were recorded at baseline. The association between variables and outcome measures was examined using partial correlations, univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. RESULTS: Low maternal care was significantly associated with suicide attempt; low paternal care was associated with non-suicidal self-injury; overprotection was not associated with either outcome. Other risk factors for suicide attempt were major depression episode onset and baseline depression severity. Major depression episode onset was also a risk factor for non-suicidal self-injury. Abuse, regardless of how it was measured, was not significantly associated with either behaviour after adjusting for its correlations with low maternal or paternal care. CONCLUSION: In this sample of depressed adults, the quality of ongoing, intra-familial relationships, as measured by levels of parental care, had a greater impact on suicide attempt and non-suicidal self-injury than abuse. As the findings were not a priori hypotheses, they require replication. Although the cross-sectional study design limits causal determination, the findings suggest different childhood risk factors for suicide attempt and non-suicidal self-injury and underscore the impact of low parental care on these two behaviours. These findings signal to clinicians the importance of asking specifically about suicide attempts, and non-suicidal self-injury, as well as levels of parental care in childhood. When endorsed, low parental care may be considered an important factor in contextualizing a patient's depression and potential risk for suicide and non-suicidal self-injury.


Subject(s)
Child Abuse/psychology , Depressive Disorder, Major/psychology , Maternal Behavior/psychology , Suicide, Attempted/psychology , Adult , Age of Onset , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Multivariate Analysis , Parent-Child Relations , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Risk Factors , Young Adult
12.
Behav Res Ther ; 74: 72-9, 2015 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26432173

ABSTRACT

Little is known about the factors that contribute to a positive psychotherapy outcome. There is still considerable debate as to whether specific factors (e.g. severity of symptoms, comorbidity) or nonspecific factors (e.g. alliance, therapy process) are most important in influencing outcome. This study examined the additional contribution that therapeutic process and alliance made to previously identified specific predictors of response to CBT and IPT for depression over the course of therapy. The previously identified specific factors were belief that childhood reasons caused the depression, recurrent depression, perceptions about how logical therapy was and comorbid personality disorder symptoms. One hundred and sixty five adult outpatients with major depression were treated for depression in a randomised clinical trial examining predictors of response to Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Interpersonal Psychotherapy. All therapy sessions were audiorecorded to enable objective ratings of therapeutic process and alliance. Process factors - patient psychic distress, patient participation and patient alliance had the strongest associations with outcome. The early and middle stage of therapy process did not account for any additional variance other than that previously identified by the patient predictors, however, at the end stage of therapy process contributed a further 14%.


Subject(s)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/methods , Depressive Disorder, Major/therapy , Psychotherapy/methods , Adult , Comorbidity , Depression/therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Personality Disorders/therapy , Prognosis
13.
Psychiatry Res ; 230(1): 102-7, 2015 Nov 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26337483

ABSTRACT

Bipolar disorder (BD) is considered a highly heritable and genetically complex disorder. Several cognitive functions, such as executive functions and verbal memory have been suggested as promising candidates for endophenotypes. Although there is evidence for deficits in facial emotion recognition in individuals with BD, studies investigating these functions as endophenotypes are rare. The current study investigates emotion recognition as a potential endophenotype in BD by comparing 36 BD participants, 24 of their 1st degree relatives and 40 healthy control participants in a computerised facial emotion recognition task. Group differences were evaluated using repeated measurement analysis of co-variance with age as a covariate. Results revealed slowed emotion recognition for both BD and their relatives. Furthermore, BD participants were less accurate than healthy controls in their recognition of emotion expressions. We found no evidence of emotion specific differences between groups. Our results provide evidence for facial recognition as a potential endophenotype in BD.


Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/diagnosis , Bipolar Disorder/psychology , Endophenotypes , Facial Expression , Facial Recognition , Adult , Cognition/physiology , Emotions/physiology , Executive Function/physiology , Facial Recognition/physiology , Female , Humans , Male , Memory/physiology , Middle Aged , Photic Stimulation/methods , Reaction Time/physiology , Young Adult
14.
Psychiatry Res ; 229(3): 715-23, 2015 Oct 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26282228

ABSTRACT

A majority of bipolar patients (BD) show functional difficulties even in remission. In recent years cognitive functions and personality characteristics have been associated with occupational and psychosocial outcomes, but findings are not consistent. We assessed personality and cognitive functioning through a range of tests in BD and control participants. Three cognitive domains-verbal memory, facial-executive, and spatial memory-were extracted by principal component analysis. These factors and selected personality dimensions were included in hierarchical regression analysis to predict psychosocial functioning and the use of self-management strategies while controlling for mood status. The best determinants of good psychosocial functioning were good verbal memory and high self-directedness. The use of self-management techniques was associated with a low level of harm-avoidance. Our findings indicate that strategies to improve memory and self-directedness may be useful for increasing functioning in individuals with bipolar disorder.


Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/psychology , Cognition , Neuropsychological Tests/statistics & numerical data , Personality , Social Behavior , Verbal Learning , Adult , Affect , Case-Control Studies , Cognition Disorders/complications , Female , Humans , Male , Memory , Middle Aged , Personality Disorders/complications , Self Care , Social Skills
15.
Int J Eat Disord ; 48(7): 912-8, 2015 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26010980

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The present study sought to replicate the finding of Wildes and Marcus, Behav Res Ther, 50, 266-274, 2012 that higher levels of weight suppression at pretreatment predict greater total weight gain, faster rate of weight gain, and bulimic symptoms amongst patients admitted with anorexia nervosa. METHOD: Participants were 56 women with anorexia nervosa diagnosed by using strict or lenient weight criteria, who were participating in a randomized controlled psychotherapy trial (McIntosh et al., Am J Psychiatry, 162, 741-747, 2005). Thirty-five women completed outpatient treatment and post-treatment assessment. Weight suppression was the discrepancy between highest lifetime weight at adult height and weight at pretreatment assessment. Outcome variables were total weight gain, rate of weight gain, and bulimic symptoms in the month prior to post-treatment assessment [assessed using the Eating Disorders Examination (Fairburn et al., Binge-Eating: Nature, Assessment and Treatment. New York: Guilford, 1993)]. RESULTS: Weight suppression was positively associated with total weight gain and rate of weight gain over treatment. Regression models showed that this association could not be explained by covariates (age at onset of anorexia nervosa and treatment modality). Weight suppression was not significantly associated with bulimic symptoms in the month prior to post-treatment assessment, regardless of whether bulimic symptoms were examined as continuous or dichotomous variables. DISCUSSION: The present study reinforces the previous finding that weight suppression predicts total weight gain and rate of weight gain amongst patients being treated for anorexia nervosa. Methodological issues may explain the failure of the present study to find that weight suppression predicts bulimic symptoms. Weight suppression at pretreatment for anorexia nervosa should be assessed routinely and may inform treatment planning.


Subject(s)
Anorexia Nervosa/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Body Weight , Female , Humans , Outpatients , Weight Gain , Young Adult
16.
Depress Anxiety ; 32(6): 437-44, 2015 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25677736

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Metacognitive therapy (MCT) is an innovative treatment model addressing patterns of negative thinking seen in emotional disorders. Unlike cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), MCT has strategies targeting dysfunctional cognitive and metacognitive processes underlying perseverative thinking patterns and attentional biases. The aim of this pilot study was to compare changes in neuropsychological functioning related to executive function and attention in outpatients with depression following treatment with MCT or CBT. METHODS: Forty-eight participants referred for outpatient treatment of depression were randomized to 12 weeks of MCT (n = 23) or CBT (n = 25). Mood severity and neuropsychological functioning were assessed at pretreatment, 4 weeks, and at end treatment (12 weeks). RESULTS: There were no significant group differences at pretreatment or 4 weeks on any neuropsychological test, although overall both groups showed a small improvement by 4 weeks. At end treatment, the MCT group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in performance on a task requiring spatial working memory and attention than the CBT group. Changes in executive functioning and attention were independent of change in mood symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: MCT may have an advantage over CBT in improving aspects of executive function, including attention. MCT's emphasis on attentional training and flexible control of thinking may have a beneficial effect on neuropsychological functioning, consistent with the purported mechanism of action.


Subject(s)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/methods , Depressive Disorder/therapy , Metacognition , Neuropsychological Tests , Adolescent , Adult , Attention , Cognition Disorders/diagnosis , Executive Function , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Psychotherapy, Group , Thinking , Young Adult
17.
J Affect Disord ; 174: 503-10, 2015 Mar 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25554995

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Depression commonly co-occurs with alcohol use disorders but predictors of depression treatment outcome in patients with both conditions are not well established. METHODS: Outpatients with alcohol dependence and major depression (n=138) were prescribed naltrexone and randomized to citalopram or placebo for 12 weeks, followed by a 12-week naturalistic outcome phase. General linear mixed models examined predictors of Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score over 24 weeks. Predictors included whether depression was independent or substance-induced, and demographic, alcohol use, and personality variables (Temperament and Character Inventory subscales). RESULTS: Most improvement in drinking and depression occurred between baseline and week 3. During follow-up, patients with substance-induced depression reduced their drinking more and they had better depression outcomes than those with independent depression. However, greater reduction in drinking was associated with better depression outcomes for both independent and substance-induced groups, while antidepressant therapy had no effect for either group. Baseline demographic and alcohol use variables did not predict depression outcomes. Among personality variables, high self-directedness was a strong predictor of better depression outcomes. LIMITATIONS: Subjects were not abstinent at baseline. The influence of naltrexone on depression outcomes could not be tested. CONCLUSION: Alcohol dependent patients with substance-induced depression have better short term depression outcomes than those with independent depression, but this is largely because they reduce their drinking more during treatment.


Subject(s)
Alcoholism/complications , Citalopram/therapeutic use , Depressive Disorder, Major/complications , Depressive Disorder, Major/drug therapy , Naltrexone/therapeutic use , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Depressive Disorder, Major/chemically induced , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Personality Inventory , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
18.
Bipolar Disord ; 17(2): 128-38, 2015 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25346391

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This randomized, controlled clinical trial compared the effect of interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) to that of specialist supportive care (SSC) on depressive outcomes (primary), social functioning, and mania outcomes over 26-78 weeks in young people with bipolar disorder receiving psychopharmacological treatment. METHODS: Subjects were aged 15-36 years, recruited from a range of sources, and the patient groups included bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and bipolar disorder not otherwise specified. Exclusion criteria were minimal. Outcome measures were the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation and the Social Adjustment Scale. Paired-sample t-tests were used to determine the significance of change from baseline to outcome period. Analyses of covariance were used to determine the impact of therapy, impact of lifetime and current comorbidity, interaction between comorbidity and therapy, and impact of age at study entry on depression. RESULTS: A group of 100 participants were randomized to IPSRT (n = 49) or SSC (n = 51). The majority had bipolar I disorder (78%) and were female (76%), with high levels of comorbidity. After treatment, both groups had improved depressive symptoms, social functioning, and manic symptoms. Contrary to our hypothesis, there was no significant difference between therapies. There was no impact of lifetime or current Axis I comorbidity or age at study entry. There was a relative impact of SSC for patients with current substance use disorder. CONCLUSIONS: IPSRT and SSC used as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy appear to be effective in reducing depressive and manic symptoms and improving social functioning in adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder and high rates of comorbidity. Identifying effective treatments that particularly address depressive symptoms is important in reducing the burden of bipolar disorder.


Subject(s)
Antimanic Agents/therapeutic use , Bipolar Disorder/therapy , Depression/therapy , Interpersonal Relations , Psychotherapy/methods , Social Adjustment , Adolescent , Adult , Bipolar Disorder/psychology , Combined Modality Therapy , Depression/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Substance-Related Disorders/psychology , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
19.
PLoS One ; 9(12): e113955, 2014.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25437198

ABSTRACT

We observed apparent non-Mendelian behaviour of alleles when genotyping a region in a CpG island at the 5' end of the maternally imprinted human MEST isoform. This region contains three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in total linkage disequilibrium, such that only two haplotypes occur in the human population. Only one haplotype was detectable in each subject, never both, despite the use of multiple primers and several genotyping methods. We observed that this region contains motifs capable of forming several G-quadruplex structures. Circular dichroism spectroscopy and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis confirmed that at least three G-quadruplexes form in vitro in the presence of potassium ions, and one of these structures has a Tm of greater than 99°C in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) buffer. We demonstrate that it is the methylated maternal allele that is always lost during PCR amplification, and that formation of G-quadruplexes and presence of methylated cytosines both contributed to this phenomenon. This observed parent-of-origin specific allelic drop-out has important implications for analysis of imprinted genes in research and diagnostic settings.


Subject(s)
CpG Islands , Depressive Disorder, Major/genetics , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Proteins/chemistry , Proteins/genetics , Alleles , Circular Dichroism , DNA Methylation , G-Quadruplexes , Genomic Imprinting , Humans , In Vitro Techniques/methods , Models, Molecular , Potassium/chemistry , Sequence Analysis, DNA
20.
Int Psychogeriatr ; 26(12): 2061-71, 2014 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25140789

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Health is an important aspect of individuals' lives as they age. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of sociodemographic factors, diagnosed chronic health conditions, and current depression with attitudes to aging in midlife. METHODS: A cross-sectional baseline analysis was conducted on the first 300 participants from the Canterbury Health, Ageing and Life Course study in New Zealand, a stratified randomized community longitudinal study of adults recruited between 49 and 51 years. Attitudes were measured using the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire (AAQ) and analyzed with a range of prevalent diagnosed chronic conditions, current depression, and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Individuals perceived their physical aging more negatively after a diagnosis of hypertension, arthritis or asthma. Diagnosed lifetime depression and anxiety, and current depression, showed strong relationships with attitudes to aging across domains. After controlling for sociodemographic factors and current depression, individuals with diagnosed hypertension, arthritis, asthma, lifetime depression or anxiety continued to report significantly more negative attitudes to aging. Current depression showed the strongest associations with attitudes to aging and mediated relationships of health on attitudes to aging. CONCLUSIONS: Physical and mental health are related to attitudes to aging. Most chronic conditions examined are significantly associated with attitudes toward aging in the physical change domain. Diagnosed lifetime depression and anxiety, and current depression, are negatively related across attitudinal domains. Individuals can feel positive about aging while experiencing poorer health, but this is more difficult in the presence of low mood.


Subject(s)
Aging , Chronic Disease/psychology , Depression , Quality of Life/psychology , Aging/physiology , Aging/psychology , Attitude to Health , Cross-Sectional Studies , Demography , Depression/physiopathology , Depression/psychology , Female , Health Status , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , New Zealand , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires
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