Breast cancer patients with a pre-existing mental illness are less likely to receive guideline-recommended cancer treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, with early detection and advanced treatments contributing to declining mortality rates. However, managing comorbid conditions, particularly mental illness, presents significant challenges for cancer treatment. This study systematically reviews and meta-analyses the impact of having a pre-existing mental illness on breast cancer treatment utilisation, focusing on specific treatments and comparing different mental illnesses.

Acceptability, tolerability and safety of the BRIGhTMIND trial: Connectivity-guided intermittent theta-burst stimulation versus F3- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression.

Background: The BRIGhTMIND study was a double-blind RCT comparing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation at a standard simulation site (the "F3" location given by the International 10-20 system, F3-rTMS) versus connectivity-guided intermittent theta burst stimulation (cgiTBS) for treatment-resistant depression. This present study reports the acceptability, safety, and tolerability of F3-rTMS versus cgiTBS.

Methods: The present study used quantitative and qualitative methods.

Identifying the nature of episodic memory deficits in Major Depressive Disorder using a Real-World What-Where-When task.

Deficits in episodic memory have been reported in various psychiatric conditions, including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Many widely used episodic memory tests do not have the ability to distinguish between impaired memory of separate components of a real-life event (e.g.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation as an Alternative to Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy for Difficult-to-Treat Depression.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), an implantable neurostimulator, provides a valuable long-term treatment option for patients with difficult-to-treat depression. It has been reported that previous response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) might predict a better response to VNS and that VNS could reduce or eliminate the need for maintenance ECT in some patients. We present the case of a patient who received a total of more than 120 sessions of ECT over the course of 13 years because of a major depressive disorder, with favorable response but without achieving full remission.

Connectivity-guided intermittent theta burst versus repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: a randomized controlled trial.

Disruption in reciprocal connectivity between the right anterior insula and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is associated with depression and may be a target for neuromodulation. In a five-center, parallel, double-blind, randomized controlled trial we personalized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging neuronavigated connectivity-guided intermittent theta burst stimulation (cgiTBS) at a site based on effective connectivity from the right anterior insula to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. We tested its efficacy in reducing the primary outcome depression symptoms measured by the GRID Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17-item over 8, 16 and 26 weeks, compared with structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) neuronavigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) delivered at the standard stimulation site (F3) in patients with 'treatment-resistant depression'.

The definition of treatment resistance in anxiety disorders: a Delphi method-based consensus guideline.

Anxiety disorders are very prevalent and often persistent mental disorders, with a considerable rate of treatment resistance which requires regulatory clinical trials of innovative therapeutic interventions. However, an explicit definition of treatment-resistant anxiety disorders (TR-AD) informing such trials is currently lacking. We used a Delphi method-based consensus approach to provide internationally agreed, consistent and clinically useful operational criteria for TR-AD in adults.

Alternative metrics for characterizing longer-term clinical outcomes in difficult-to-treat depression: II. Sensitivity to treatment effects.

Objective: Characteristics of difficult-to-treat depression (DTD), including infrequent symptom remission and poor durability of benefit, compel reconsideration of the outcome metrics historically used to gauge the effectiveness of antidepressant interventions.

Methods: Self-report and clinician assessments of depression symptom severity were obtained regularly over a 2-year period in a difficult-to-treat depression registry sample receiving treatment as usual (TAU), with or without vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). Alternative outcome metrics for characterizing symptom change were compared in effect size and discriminating power in distinguishing the vagus nerve stimulation + treatment as usual and treatment as usual treatment groups.

Ethnic differences in early onset multimorbidity and associations with health service use, long-term prescribing, years of life lost, and mortality: A cross-sectional study using clustering in the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

Background: The population prevalence of multimorbidity (the existence of at least 2 or more long-term conditions [LTCs] in an individual) is increasing among young adults, particularly in minority ethnic groups and individuals living in socioeconomically deprived areas. In this study, we applied a data-driven approach to identify clusters of individuals who had an early onset multimorbidity in an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse population. We identified associations between clusters and a range of health outcomes.

Baseline characteristics of a European patient population with difficult-to-treat depression (RESTORE-LIFE) treated with adjunctive vagus nerve stimulation.

Background: Major depressive disorder is a complex heterogeneous disorder. Treatment is especially challenging for patients with "difficult-to-treat depression" (DTD): a less stigmatizing and more clinically relevant framework defining depression that continues to cause significant burden despite usual treatment efforts.

Methods: RESTORE-LIFE is a prospective, observational, multicenter, post-market study being conducted in Europe and is designed to reflect real-world clinical application of adjunctive Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy (VNS) for DTD.

Treatment-resistant depression: definition, prevalence, detection, management, and investigational interventions.

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is common and associated with multiple serious public health implications. A consensus definition of TRD with demonstrated predictive utility in terms of clinical decision-making and health outcomes does not currently exist. Instead, a plethora of definitions have been proposed, which vary significantly in their conceptual framework.

A leaky umbrella has little value: evidence clearly indicates the serotonin system is implicated in depression.

A recent “umbrella” review examined various biomarkers relating to the serotonin system, and concluded there was no consistent evidence implicating serotonin in the pathophysiology of depression. We present reasons for why this conclusion is overstated, including methodological weaknesses in the review process, selective reporting of data, over-simplification, and errors in the interpretation of neuropsychopharmacological findings. We use the examples of tryptophan depletion and serotonergic molecular imaging, the two research areas most relevant to the investigation of serotonin, to illustrate this.

Autonomic dysregulation, cognition and fatigue in people with depression and in active and healthy controls: observational cohort study.

Background: Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation might be relevant to the pathophysiology of fatigue and cognitive impairment in depression and perhaps should be considered when making prescribing decisions.

Aims: To determine the relationship of self-reported ANS symptoms with fatigue, cognition and prescribed medication in people with a diagnosis of depression, in comparators without depression but with other mental health, neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative disorders (active controls) and in healthy controls.

Method: Cross-sectional analysis of an opportunistic sample from England.

Alternative metrics for characterizing longer-term clinical outcomes in difficult-to-treat depression: I. Association with change in quality of life.

Background: In difficult-to-treat depression (DTD) the outcome metrics historically used to evaluate treatment effectiveness may be suboptimal. Metrics based on remission status and on single end-point (SEP) assessment may be problematic given infrequent symptom remission, temporal instability, and poor durability of benefit in DTD.

Methods: Self-report and clinician assessment of depression symptom severity were regularly obtained over a 2-year period in a chronic and highly treatment-resistant registry sample ( = 406) receiving treatment as usual, with or without vagus nerve stimulation.

The burden associated with, and management of, difficult-to-treat depression in patients under specialist psychiatric care in the United Kingdom.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is common and often has sub-optimal response to treatment. Difficult-to-treat depression (DTD) is a new concept that describes 'depression that continues to cause significant burden despite usual treatment efforts'.

Aims: To identify patients with likely DTD in UK secondary care and examine demographic, disease and treatment data as compared with 'non-DTD' MDD patients.

Patient perspectives of lithium and quetiapine augmentation treatment in treatment-resistant depression: A qualitative assessment.

Background: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) has a profound cost to patients and healthcare services worldwide. Pharmacological augmentation is one therapeutic option for TRD, with lithium and quetiapine currently recommended as first-line agents. Patient opinions about pharmacological augmentation may affect treatment outcomes, yet these have not been systematically explored.

Connectivity-Guided Theta Burst Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Versus Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Moderate to Severe Depression: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol and SARS-CoV-2-Induced Changes for a Randomized Double-blind Controlled Trial.

Background: Depression is a substantial health and economic burden. In approximately one-third of patients, depression is resistant to first-line treatment; therefore, it is essential to find alternative treatments. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a neuromodulatory treatment involving the application of magnetic pulses to the brain that is approved in the United Kingdom and the United States in treatment-resistant depression.

A Delphi-method-based consensus guideline for definition of treatment-resistant depression for clinical trials.

Criteria for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and partially responsive depression (PRD) as subtypes of major depressive disorder (MDD) are not unequivocally defined. In the present document we used a Delphi-method-based consensus approach to define TRD and PRD and to serve as operational criteria for future clinical studies, especially if conducted for regulatory purposes. We reviewed the literature and brought together a group of international experts (including clinicians, academics, researchers, employees of pharmaceutical companies, regulatory bodies representatives, and one person with lived experience) to evaluate the state-of-the-art and main controversies regarding the current classification.

Study protocol for a randomised placebo-controlled trial of pramipexole in addition to mood stabilisers for patients with treatment resistant bipolar depression (the PAX-BD study).

Background: Treatment Resistant Bipolar Depression (TRBD) is a major contributor to the burden of disease associated with Bipolar Disorder (BD). Treatment options for people experiencing bipolar depression are limited to three interventions listed by National Institute for Health and Care: lamotrigine, quetiapine and olanzapine, of which the latter two are often not well tolerated. The majority of depressed people with BD are therefore prescribed antidepressants despite limited efficacy.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Patients Receiving Maintenance Therapy With Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Series of 10 Cases.

Objectives: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a mainstay in both acute and long-term management of difficult-to-treat depression. However, frequent acute courses of ECT or prolonged maintenance ECT treatment may increase adverse-effect burden and/or reduce patient acceptability. Therefore, we investigated the effectiveness of adjunctive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy as an alternative strategy for long-term maintenance treatment in ECT-responsive patients.

A retrospective examination of care pathways in individuals with treatment-resistant depression.

Background: Individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) experience a high burden of illness. Current guidelines recommend a stepped care approach for treating depression, but the extent to which best-practice care pathways are adhered to is unclear.

Aims: To explore the extent and nature of 'treatment gaps' (non-adherence to stepped care pathways) experienced by a sample of patients with established TRD (non-response to two or more adequate treatments in the current depressive episode) across three cities in the UK.

Assessment for vagus nerve stimulation in patients with difficult-to-treat depression: a model from the Newcastle Regional Affective Disorders Service (RADS).

Background: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been shown to improve long-term outcomes for some patients with difficult-to-treat depression (DTD).

Objectives: Set out criteria to support the identification of patients for whom VNS is a suitable treatment option.

Methods: Published clinical evidence, coupled with clinical experience garnered at the Regional Affective Disorders Service (RADS; Newcastle, UK) to inform VNS criteria.