Association Between Depressive Symptoms and Metabolic Syndrome in Japanese Community-Dwelling Older People: A Cross-Sectional Analysis From the Baseline Results of the Fujiwara-Kyo Prospective Cohort Study.

Association between depressive symptoms and metabolic syndrome in Japanese community-dwelling older people: a cross-sectional analysis from the baseline results of the Fujiwara-kyo prospective cohort study.

Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2013 Mar 22;
Morikawa M, Okamoto N, Kiuchi K, Tomioka K, Iwamoto J, Harano A, Saeki K, Fukusumi M, Hashimoto K, Amano N, Hazaki K, Yanagi M, Iki M, Yamada F, Kishimoto T, Kurumatani N

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome contains many risks for medical diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which might precipitate depressive symptoms in the older people. However, the association between depressive symptoms and metabolic syndrome in Japanese community-dwelling older people is unclear. This study was performed to answer this important question. METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses were performed on 3796 community-dwelling independent older people (?65?years, 1911 men and 1885 women) from the 2007-2008 baseline examination of the Fujiwara-kyo study, a prospective cohort study on successful aging. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15-item short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale and metabolic syndrome was defined according to the 2005 International Diabetes Federation. Covariates were social supports, negative life events, health behavior, education, cognitive function, anthropometric status, and others. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the relationships between depressive symptoms and these variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale-15 ?6) and metabolic syndrome were 14.8% and 16.6%, respectively. Significant protective factors against depressive symptoms were higher education, more opportunity for drinking of alcohol, better social supports, and more walking daily. Metabolic syndrome was statistically associated with depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio?=?1.32, 95% confidence interval?=?1.03-1.68). Other risk factors significantly associated with depressive symptoms were sleep disturbance, visual or hearing impairment, and negative life events. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed an association between metabolic syndrome and depressive symptoms in ambulatory Japanese older people, as in western countries. HubMed – depression

Improving psychometric assessment of the Beck Depression Inventory using Multidimensional Item Response Theory.

Biom J. 2013 Mar 22;
Fragoso TM, Cúri M

We studied the latent factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) under the light of Multidimensional Item Response Theory models. Under a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo setting, we chose the most adequate model, estimated its parameters and verified its fit to the data. An evaluation of the inventory in terms of the assumed dimensions seems to agree with previous investigations in the factor structure of the BDI present in the literature. Cognitive and somatic-affective latent traits were identified in the analysis making possible the interpretation of symptom evolution along these dimensions, in terms of probability of their appearance. HubMed – depression

[Job Insecurity versus Unemployment: Unequal in Socioeconomic Status but Comparable Detrimental Effects on Mental Health and Health Care Utilization].

Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol. 2013 Mar; 63(3-4): 138-44
Mewes R, Rief W, Martin A, Glaesmer H, Brähler E

Knowledge about differential effects of unemployment and job insecurity on mental health and health care utilization are of high relevance. There are no studies which compare unemployed persons and persons with an insecure job in terms of different mental health indicators, and which investigate the mediating effect of mental health on health care utilization. Somatoform symptoms, anxiety, depression, physical health, and health care utilization were assessed in 161 unemployed persons, 218 persons with an insecure job, and 957 securely employed persons. Unemployed persons and persons with an insecure job showed equally worse mental health than securely employed persons on average. They also had significantly higher health care utilization. Mental health was a full mediator between job insecurity and unemployment on the one hand and health care utilization on the other hand. An adequate mental health care is necessary for unemployed persons as well as for persons with an insecure job. HubMed – depression

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