Comorbidity among depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in naturalistic clinical samples: A cross-cultural network analysis.

Comorbidity between depression and anxiety is well-established across various settings and cultures. We approached comorbidity from the network psychopathology perspective and examined the depression, anxiety/autonomic arousal and stress/tension symptoms in naturalistic clinical samples from Serbia, Italy and Croatia. This was a multisite study in which regularized partial correlation networks of the symptoms, obtained via self-reports on the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) in three cross-cultural, clinical samples (total N = 874), were compared with respect to centrality, edge weights, community structure and bridge centrality. A moderate degree of similarity in a number of network indices across the three networks was observed. While negative mood emerged to be the most central node, stress/tension nodes were the most likely bridge symptoms between depressive and anxiety/autonomic arousal symptoms. We demonstrated that the network structure and features in mixed clinical samples were similar across three different languages and cultures. The symptoms such as agitation, restlessness and inability to relax functioned as bridges across the three symptom communities explored in this study. Important theoretical and clinical implications were derived.

The Dimensions of Ruminative Thinking: One for All or All for One.

The Ruminative Thought Scale (RTS) was developed to measure the ruminative thinking style, presumably common to various psychopathological disorders. However, prior factor-analytic research was inconclusive regarding unidimensionality versus multidimensionality of the RTS. The present study was conducted on a large, heterogeneous Serbian sample ( N = 838). A subsample was retested 6 months later providing information about symptoms of depression and various anxiety symptoms. Results showed that a bifactor model of the RTS (representing one general and four group factors) had a better fit than the second-order and one-factor models. The subscale scores were not prospective predictors of symptoms of depression and anxiety, over and above the contribution of the total score. The RTS is a reliable transdiagnostic measure of repetitive thinking. Although there is some clustering of more homogeneous items, there is not enough evidence to support interpretation of the subscales.

Stressful Life Events and Personality Traits in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus.

The onset and aggravation of symptoms in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) are related to psychosomatic constitution and stress involvement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of stressful life events and neuroticism as a personality trait in patients with OLP. A total of 32 patients with clinically and histopathological proven cases of OLP (16 with the nonerosive and 16 with erosive form), along with 31 healthy controls without oral lesions matched for age and sex were included in the study. Neurotic tendency and intensity of anxiety, depression, and negative affects and the number and type of stressful life events were investigated by the instruments Big Five Plus Two and Holmes and Rahe`s Social Readjustment Rating Scale, respectively. Data about life experience in war and its consequences were also collected. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed significantly greater anxiety, depression and negative affects tendency, as well as greater intensity and number of experienced stressful life events compared with controls (P<0.01). The distribution of subjects with at least one stressful event (P<0.01), family matters (P<0.01) and war experiences (P<0.05) was significant in the OLP group. The logistic regression results (OR=1.97) indicate that with each new stressful event a person is about two times more likely to get OLP. The degree, number, and type of stressful life changes and neuroticisms tendency independently play an important role in the onset or reactivation of OLP, depending on the individual's psychological constitution and the large differences in each person's ability to cope and their particular reactions to stress.

[Is Vojvodina a risk area for contact weed allergies?].

INTRODUCTION: After detecting erythema multiforme due to contact with weeds, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale, Compositae) and common chickweed (Stellaria media, Caryophyllaceae), which are ubiquitous plants in Vojvodina, and concerning properties of commercial screening allergens in detection of allergy to plants, we investigated contact allergy to dandelion and to common chickweed, using their extracts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Epicutaneous tests were performed using originally prepared ether extracts of these plants, 0.1% and 3% pet., in 263 individuals: 43 with extrinsic atopic dermatitis, 55 with allergic contact dermatitis, 118 with non-allergic chronic inflammatory skin diseases and 47 healthy adults. RESULTS: Our results have shown that testing with both extracts (both concentrations) represents a safe method, since no irritation or sensibilization occurred. The overall prevalence of allergy to dandelion extract was 1.14%, and for common chickweed extract 2.28%. DISCUSSION: Plant allergies (especially Compositae) cannot always be detected by standard screening allergens. Additional testing with dandelion extract can detect most cases, which is in agreement with our results. Isolation of essential oil from common chickweed proved the allergenic potential of this plant. The prevalence of detected allergy to dandelion as well as to common chickweed was higher than 1%. CONCLUSION: These ubiquitous weeds and high prevalence of detected allergies have included Vojvodina into a risk zone for getting contact sensitivity to dandelion and common chickweed. Dandelion extract should be considered for Compositae screening series and common chickweed extract for specific plant series in Vojvodina.