Depression and Alterations in Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis Function in Male Abstinent Methamphetamine Abusers.

Depression and alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis function in male abstinent methamphetamine abusers.

Hum Psychopharmacol. 2013 Aug 4;
Li SX, Yan SY, Bao YP, Lian Z, Qu Z, Wu YP, Liu ZM

The present study was to investigate depression and alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis function in methamphetamine (METH) abusers after abstinence. Depression was assessed using the 13-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-13) scale; blood samples from in-patients who were METH abusers and age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls were collected. The demographic characteristics and history of METH abuse also was assessed. We found that serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and thyroxine were increased; and serum levels of cortisol, triiodothyronine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone were decreased; and the BDI score was higher in METH abusers compared with control. In addition, there was no correlation between the BDI-13 score and any of hormones of HPA and HPT axis was found. Particularly, we found abnormally higher ACTH level and mismatched with lower cortisol level in abstinent METH abusers. These results indicate that METH abusers and that their HPA and HPT functions are all altered after abstinence. Chronically using METH may destroy the regulatory function of the HPA axis, especially the feedback regulation of cortisol to ACTH. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. HubMed – depression

Mortality in depressed and non-depressed primary care Swedish patients: a 12-year follow-up cohort study.

Fam Pract. 2013 Aug 2;
Strömberg R, Backlund LG, Johansson SE, Löfvander M

Data regarding mortality among depressed patients in Swedish primary care is limited.We compared mortality in a cohort of depressed and non-depressed patients at long-term follow-up and compared these values with standardized mortality rates (SMRs) in the Swedish population. Hazards ratios (HRs) for the relationship between death and depression, psychosocial factors and lifestyle were analysed, and we explored the proportion of unnatural causes of deaths.Mortality was studied in a cohort of 124 depressed and 280 non-depressed patients 12 years after being diagnosed with depression in primary care. Mortality and the mortality rates and SMRs in depressed and non-depressed patients were compared by gender. Cox regression was applied to calculate HRs for the risk of dying for explanatory variables, including depression, psychosocial factors and lifestyle.A larger number of depressed patients, 11% (n = 14), compared with non-depressed patients, 4% (n = 12), died (P = 0.008), with significantly higher values among depressed men (P = 0.014). SMRs did not differ from those of the Swedish population. Depression was the only variable associated with a significantly elevated risk of death (HR, 3.34; 95% CI, 1.38-8.08). Nearly one-third of deaths had unnatural causes when alcohol-related deaths were included.This study underlines the importance of careful follow-up of all depressed patients’ mental and physical health and the intervention on unhealthy lifestyles. Large primary care database studies are needed to explore the association between depression, co-morbid somatic diseases, lifestyle and mortality. HubMed – depression

Mental health status and risk of new cardiovascular events or death in patients with myocardial infarction: a population-based cohort study.

BMJ Open. 2013; 3(8):
Nielsen TJ, Vestergaard M, Christensen B, Christensen KS, Larsen KK

To examine the association between mental health status after first-time myocardial infarction (MI) and new cardiovascular events or death, taking into account depression and anxiety as well as clinical, sociodemographic and behavioural risk factors.Population-based cohort study based on questionnaires and nationwide registries. Mental health status was assessed 3 months after MI using the Mental Component Summary score from the Short-Form 12 V.2.Central Denmark Region.All patients hospitalised with first-time MI from 1 January 2009 through 31 December 2009 (n=880). The participants were categorised in quartiles according to the level of mental health status (first quartile=lowest mental health status).Composite endpoint of new cardiovascular events (MI, heart failure, stroke/transient ischaemic attack) and all-cause mortality.During 1940 person-years of follow-up, 277 persons experienced a new cardiovascular event or died. The cumulative incidence following 3 years after MI increased consistently with decreasing mental health status and was 15% (95% CI 10.8% to 20.5%) for persons in the fourth quartile, 29.1% (23.5% to 35.6%) in the third quartile, 37.0% (30.9% to 43.9%) in the second quartile, and 47.5% (40.9% to 54.5%) in the first quartile. The HRs were high, even after adjustments for age, sociodemographic characteristics, cardiac disease severity, comorbidity, secondary prophylactic medication, smoking status, physical activity, depression and anxiety (HR3rd quartile 1.90 (95% CI 1.23 to 2.93), HR2nd quartile 2.14 (1.37 to 3.33), HR1st quartile 2.23 (1.35 to 3.68) when using the fourth quartile as reference).Low mental health status following first-time MI was independently associated with an increased risk of new cardiovascular events or death. Further research is needed to disentangle the pathways that link mental health status following MI to prognosis and to identify interventions that can improve mental health status and prognosis. HubMed – depression

Psychological distress symptoms’ clusters in brain tumor patients: factor analysis of depression and anxiety scales.

Psychooncology. 2013 Aug 3;
Bunevicius A, Tamasauskas S, Deltuva V, Tamasauskas A, Bunevicius R

HubMed – depression