Integrated bioinformatics and interaction analysis to advance chronotherapies for mental disorders.

Introduction: Robust connections have been identified between the pathophysiology of mental disorders and the functioning of the circadian system. The overarching objective of this study was to investigate the potential for circadian rhythms to be leveraged for therapeutics in mental disorders.

Methods: We considered two approaches to chronotherapy-optimal timing of existing medications ("clocking the drugs") and redressing circadian abnormalities with small molecules ("drugging the clock").

Holding a mirror to society? The socio-demographic characteristics of students commencing health professional programmes, and all courses, at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka (the University of Otago), 1994-2023.

Aim: To present selected key findings from a longitudinal analysis of the socio-demographic characteristics of students entering all courses at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka (the University of Otago), all health professional programmes combined, and 11 individual health professional programmes between 1994 and 2023.

Method: Data sources: 1) university electronic collections of student data (programme details, demographics, schooling, home address), and 2) publicly available datasets (some socio-demographic variables). Analyses included counts and proportions of commencing students, disaggregated by time period and socio-demographic variables, and commencement rates per 100,000 population aged 18-29 years.

Help-seeking intentions and depression treatment beliefs amongst Sri Lankan Australians: A survey following a mental health literacy framework.

There is evidence that Asian migrants in Australia may be relatively reluctant to seek professional help for depression. Reluctance may be related to poor mental health literacy, including limited knowledge of help-seeking options and treatments, and a preference to seek help from informal networks. This study investigated Sri Lankan Australians' knowledge about managing depression by examining their hypothetical help-seeking intentions and perceptions about interventions and help-providers' helpfulness.

A pre-post trial to examine biological mechanisms of the effects of time-restricted eating on symptoms and quality of life in bipolar disorder.

Background: The primary objective of this trial is to examine the mechanisms of time-restricted eating (TRE) as an adjunct to psychiatric care for people with bipolar disorder (BD) with sleep or circadian disruptions. This study builds on prior studies of circadian disruption in BD as well as growing evidence that TRE improves circadian functioning.

Methods: One-hundred fifty participants diagnosed with BD 1 or II will be recruited via advertising in the local community.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a multi-component lifestyle therapy program versus psychological therapy for managing mood disorders (HARMON-E): protocol of a randomised non-inferiority trial.

Background: Mood disorders, including unipolar and bipolar depression, contribute significantly to the global burden of disease. Psychological therapy is considered a gold standard non-pharmacological treatment for managing these conditions; however, a growing body of evidence also supports the use of lifestyle therapies for these conditions. Despite some clinical guidelines endorsing the application of lifestyle therapies as a first-line treatment for individuals with mood disorders, there is limited evidence that this recommendation has been widely adopted into routine practice.

Active components and mechanisms of action of psychological interventions in bipolar disorder: A systematic literature review.

Objective: The efficacy of psychological interventions for bipolar disorder (BD) is well established, but much remains unknown about how change occurs. The primary objective of this exploratory study was to audit what is known about active components and mechanisms of action of psychological interventions for BD.

Method: We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42022323276).

Who benefits from digital interventions for bipolar disorder? Stage of illness characteristics as predictors of changes in quality of life.

Objectives: This study explored the potential role of stage-related variables in intervention outcomes in bipolar disorder (BD). Specifically, we aimed to identify which subgroups of individuals were most likely to experience improved quality of life following digitally delivered psychosocial interventions for BD.

Methods: The study involved a secondary analysis of combined data from two randomised control trials (RCTs).

A randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of time-restricted eating versus Mediterranean diet on symptoms and quality of life in bipolar disorder.

Background: The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to establish the effectiveness of time-restricted eating (TRE) compared with the Mediterranean diet for people with bipolar disorder (BD) who have symptoms of sleep disorders or circadian rhythm sleep-wake disruption. This work builds on the growing evidence that TRE has benefits for improving circadian rhythms. TRE and Mediterranean diet guidance will be offered remotely using self-help materials and an app, with coaching support.

Protocol for a randomised controlled trial of ketamine versus ketamine and behavioural activation therapy for adults with treatment-resistant depression in the community.

Introduction: Although short-term benefits follow parenteral ketamine for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (TR-MDD), there are challenges that prevent routine use of ketamine by clinicians. These include acute dissociative effects of parenteral ketamine, high relapse rates following ketamine dosing and the uncertain role of psychotherapy. This randomised controlled trial (RCT) seeks to establish the feasibility of evaluating repeated oral doses of ketamine and behavioural activation therapy (BAT), compared with ketamine treatment alone, for TR-MDD.

Pain-sensorimotor interactions: New perspectives and a new model.

How pain and sensorimotor behavior interact has been the subject of research and debate for many decades. This article reviews theories bearing on pain-sensorimotor interactions and considers their strengths and limitations in the light of findings from experimental and clinical studies of pain-sensorimotor interactions in the spinal and craniofacial sensorimotor systems. A strength of recent theories is that they have incorporated concepts and features missing from earlier theories to account for the role of the sensory-discriminative, motivational-affective, and cognitive-evaluative dimensions of pain in pain-sensorimotor interactions.

How psychedelic-assisted therapy works for depression: expert views and practical implications from an exploratory Delphi study.

As investigations into the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to treat depression continue, there is a need to study the possible mechanisms of action that may contribute to the treatment's antidepressant effects. Through a two-round Delphi design, the current study investigated experts' opinions on the psychological mechanisms of action associated with the antidepressant effects of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and the ways such mechanisms may be promoted through the preparation, dosing, and integration components of treatment. Fourteen and fifteen experts, including both clinical psychedelic researchers and therapists, participated in Round 1 and Round 2 of the study, respectively.

Circadian biology to advance therapeutics for mood disorders.

Mood disorders account for a significant global disease burden, and pharmacological innovation is needed as existing medications are suboptimal. A wide range of evidence implicates circadian and sleep dysfunction in the pathogenesis of mood disorders, and there is growing interest in these chronobiological pathways as a focus for treatment innovation. We review contemporary evidence in three promising areas in circadian-clock-based therapeutics in mood disorders: targeting the circadian system informed by mechanistic molecular advances; time-tailoring of medications; and personalizing treatment using circadian parameters.

A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Facilitators to Accessing and Utilising Mental Health Services amongst Sri Lankan Australians.

Many individuals with mental health conditions avoid, delay, discontinue, or do not seek mental health services and treatments, despite the existence of evidence-based treatments and support methods. Little is known about the barriers to mental health service utilisation for Sri Lankan Australians, and there is no research on factors that facilitate access for this group. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, this study explored the perspectives of Sri Lankan Australians ( = 262) on the facilitators of mental health service utilisation.

Positioning of psychodynamic psychotherapy in the treatment of depression: A comparison of the RANZCP 2020 and NICE 2022 guidelines.

Objective: To compare the 2022 NICE guidelines (NG222) and 2020 RANZCP clinical practice guidelines (MDcpg) recommendations for the treatment of depression using psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Conclusions: Both guidelines recommend psychological interventions first-line. However, only short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STPP) is recommended, and in the NG222 it is ranked last for less severe depression and 7th for more severe depression.

Digital self-report instruments for repeated measurement of mental health in the general adult population: a protocol for a systematic review.

Introduction: Digital technologies present tremendous opportunities for enabling long-term measurement of mental health in the general population. Emerging studies have established preliminary efficacy of collecting self-report data digitally. However, a key challenge when developing a new self-report instrument is navigating the abundance of existing instruments to select relevant constructs for measurements.

Can Sri Lankan Australians Recognise Depression? The Influence of Acculturation, Age and Experiences with Depression on Recognition.

Mental health literacy is an important determinant of mental health help-seeking and is associated with improved mental health. There is evidence that mental health literacy may be lower amongst some migrant communities in Australia. The present study conducted the first cross-sectional survey of mental health literacy in Sri Lankan Australians between April and October 2020.

Clinical guidelines for the use of lifestyle-based mental health care in major depressive disorder: World Federation of Societies for Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (ASLM) taskforce.

Objectives: The primary objectives of these international guidelines were to provide a global audience of clinicians with (a) a series of evidence-based recommendations for the provision of lifestyle-based mental health care in clinical practice for adults with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and (b) a series of implementation considerations that may be applicable across a range of settings.

Methods: Recommendations and associated evidence-based gradings were based on a series of systematic literature searches of published research as well as the clinical expertise of taskforce members. The focus of the guidelines was eight lifestyle domains: physical activity and exercise, smoking cessation, work-directed interventions, mindfulness-based and stress management therapies, diet, sleep, loneliness and social support, and green space interaction.

Pterygoid muscle activity in speech: A preliminary investigation.

Background: Speaking depends on refined control of jaw opening and closing movements. The medial pterygoid muscle (MPT), involved in jaw closing, and the lateral pterygoid muscle (LPT), involved in jaw opening, are two key mandibular muscles in mastication and are likely to be recruited for controlled movements in speech.

Objectives: Three hypotheses were investigated, that during speech the MPT and LPT: (1) were both active, (2) but exhibited different patterns of activity, (3) which fluctuated with the vowels and consonants in speech.

The management of depression: the evidence speaks for itself.

Comparing the recommendations of two recently published national clinical practice guidelines for depression, this editorial highlights the concordance of advice concerning the selection and sequencing of therapies. Lifestyle and psychological interventions feature prominently and there is broad agreement regarding medication choice and optimisation strategies. The guidelines are therefore a useful resource.

Using a digital personal recovery resource in routine mental health practice: feasibility, acceptability and outcomes.

Background: Digital technologies enable the dissemination of multimedia resources to support adults with serious mental illness in their self-management and personal recovery. However, delivery needs to accommodate engagement and accessibility challenges.

Aims: We examined how a digital resource, designed for mental health workers and consumers to use together in session, would be used in routine practice.