Simvastatin add-on to escitalopram in patients with comorbid obesity and major depression (SIMCODE): study protocol of a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Introduction: Major depressive disorder (MDD) and obesity are both common disorders associated with significant burden of disease worldwide. Importantly, MDD and obesity often co-occur, with each disorder increasing the risk for developing the other by about 50%-60%. Statins are among the most prescribed medications with well-established safety and efficacy.

Evidence for Stress-like Alterations in the HPA-Axis in Women Taking Oral Contraceptives.

Using oral contraceptives has been implicated in the aetiology of stress-related disorders like depression. Here, we followed the hypothesis that oral contraceptives deregulate the HPA-axis by elevating circulating cortisol levels. We report for a sample of 233 pre-menopausal women increased circulating cortisol levels in those using oral contraceptives.

Gender-specific association between childhood trauma and rheumatoid arthritis: a case-control study.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with a variety of emotional stressors, but findings remain inconclusive if RA is related to childhood trauma, which is known to have long-lasting negative consequences for physical health decades into adulthood. We investigated the association between childhood trauma and RA by comparing histories of child abuse and neglect between RA patients and adults from the general population in a cross-sectional case-control study.

Methods: 331 patients with definite RA and 662 gender- and age-matched adults from the general population were administered the self-report Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) for the assessment of emotional, physical and sexual abuse as well as emotional and physical neglect.

Associations between the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and "mind-reading" in humans--an exploratory study.

Background/aims: The application of intranasal oxytocin enhances facial emotion recognition in normal subjects and in subjects with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In addition, various features of social cognition have been associated with variants of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). Therefore, we tested for associations between mind-reading, a measure for social recognition and OXTR polymorphisms.

Childhood trauma in multiple sclerosis: a case-control study.

Objective: To investigate the association between childhood trauma and multiple sclerosis (MS) by comparing histories of child abuse and neglect between patients with MS and adults from the general population in a cross-sectional case-control study. Previous research has demonstrated a connection between MS and a variety of emotional stressors, but childhood trauma, which is known to have long-lasting negative consequences for physical health decades into adulthood, has not been studied.

Methods: The self-reported Childhood Trauma Questionnaire for the assessment of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and emotional and physical neglect was administered to 234 patients with definite MS and 885 adults from the general population.

Alexithymia, hypertension, and subclinical atherosclerosis in the general population.

Objectives: As a personality trait, alexithymia is assumed to present a longstanding risk factor for emotional dysregulation that also affects the autonomic nervous system. Therefore, we hypothesize that alexithymia is associated with hypertension and carotid atherosclerosis in the general population.

Methods: A total of 1168 subjects (age <65 years) from the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) were eligible for complete case analyses.

Trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, and physical illness: findings from the general population.

Objective: To determine in a general population sample the differential impact on physical health of exposure to traumatic experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma exposure and PTSD have been associated with physical illness in specific populations, such as veterans.

Methods: Medical histories including cardiovascular, endocrine, pulmonary, and other chronic diseases were obtained from 3171 adults living in the community.

Influence of DRD2 and ANKK1 genotypes on apomorphine-induced growth hormone (GH) response in alcohol-dependent patients.

Background: D(2) receptor function can be assessed by growth hormone (GH) response to apomorphine. Several association studies between dopamine receptor polymorphisms and results of the apomorphine challenge test with normal and alcohol-dependent subjects yielded inconsistent results. In this pilot study, we tested polymorphisms from the DRD2 region for GH response to apomorphine challenge in more detail.

Early onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder and associated comorbidity.

Background: Previous studies have aimed to identify subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) based on their age of onset (AOO). Obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (OCS disorders) such as tic disorders have been particularly associated with an early onset in some studies. However, subtypes of early- and late-onset OCD are unevenly determined, and the biological and the clinical validity of these subtypes are unknown.

The German version of the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia: factor structure, reliability, and concurrent validity in a psychiatric patient sample.

Background: Recently, the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA) was developed to supplement the self-assessment of alexithymia and/or offer a different method of measuring the alexithymia construct. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a German language translation of the TSIA in a psychiatric patient sample.

Methods: Translation and back-translation were performed until a high agreement of cross-language equivalence was obtained between the German and the original English language version of the TSIA.

Association of posttraumatic stress disorder with low-grade elevation of C-reactive protein: evidence from the general population.

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with several somatic diseases, and low-grade inflammation may be one psychobiological mechanism mediating this relationship. We assessed the association between PTSD and elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP; >3mg/L) in a large general population sample.

Methods: About 3049 adults living in the community were included in the present study.

Tooth loss and cognitive impairment.

Objectives: Chronic subclinical inflammation may elevate the risk of cognitive impairment. Periodontitis is associated with subclinical inflammation and accounts in part for tooth loss. The hypothesis was tested that periodontitis and tooth loss as a proxy of chronic periodontitis is associated with cognitive impairment in the elderly.

Associations between the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and affect, loneliness and intelligence in normal subjects.

Associations of oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) variants and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have been reported in earlier studies; in one of the studies associations with IQ and daily living skills were found additionally. Variations of the oxytocin receptor gene might also regulate affect, attachment and separation beyond the diagnostic borders of autism. We tested hypotheses of associations between positive and negative affects and social and emotional loneliness (285 adults), IQ (117 adolescents) and polymorphisms of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR rs53576, rs2254298 and rs2228485) in normal subjects.

Interpersonal evaluation bias in borderline personality disorder.

Background: The cognitive theory of personality disorders hypothesizes that the emotional dysregulation and interpersonal problems in individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are, at least partially, caused by dysfunctional cognitive schemas. These schemas lead to biased evaluation of environmental and interpersonal stimuli.

Method: This study examined the interpersonal evaluations of individuals with BPD, depressive and healthy control participants with the thin-slice judgments paradigm.

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder in patients with somatization disorder.

Objective: Given the association between severe childhood trauma, adult somatization and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD), the purpose of the present paper was to assess this syndrome and its clinical correlates in patients with somatization disorder (SD).

Methods: A total of 28 patients (82% women, mean age = 41.7+/-10.

No association of seropositivity for anti-Borrelia IgG antibody with mental and physical complaints.

Undiagnosed chronic Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi is considered a differential diagnoses in medically unexplained symptoms like arthralgias, distal paresthesias, depressive symptoms, lack of concentration and fatigue. The aims of the study were to assess the association of mental and physical complaints with seropositivity for anti-Borrelia IgG in a general population sample. Seropositivity indicated an infection with Borrelia in the past.

Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in the elderly: findings from a German community study.

Objective: The present study assessed the risk of trauma exposure and subsequent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in an elderly community sample. Furthermore, gender differences and psychiatric comorbidity were analyzed.

Method: 3170 adults living in a German community were assessed by the PTSD module of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and the Composite International Diagnostic-Screener.

Alexithymia and outcome in psychotherapy.

Background: About 25% of all patients seeking psychotherapeutic treatment are considered to be alexithymic. Alexithymia has been assumed to be negatively associated with therapeutic outcome. On the other hand, it is unclear to which extent alexithymia itself may be modified by psychotherapeutic interventions.

Childhood maltreatment in patients with somatization disorder.

Objective: There is converging evidence indicating a close association between trauma, particularly childhood trauma, and adult somatization, but studies using both structured interviews and self-report measures to assess childhood adversities in patients with somatization disorder are scarce.

Methods: A total of 28 patients (82% women, mean age=41.7+/-10.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Background: Previous studies suggested an association between exposure to trauma or stressful life events and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This study investigates the hypothesis that traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) precede the onset of OCD.

Sampling And Methods: 210 cases with OCD from university treatment facilities were compared with 133 sex- and age-matched controls from the adult general population.

Alcohol consumption is associated with an interaction between DRD2 exon 8 A/A genotype and self-directedness in males.

Background: Both reduced postsynaptic dopamine D(2) receptor function and the character variable self-directedness (SDD) are related to the level of alcohol consumption. We examined for interactions between DRD2 exon 8(rs6276), a polymorphism which has been associated with various alcohol-related phenotypes, SDD and alcohol consumption.

Methods: A total of 144 male and 186 female probands with alcohol dependence or abuse diagnoses and without were included in the study.

Harm avoidance in subjects with obsessive-compulsive disorder and their families.

Introduction: This study investigates the role of harm avoidance (HA) as a possible risk factor in the familiality of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). HA is considered to be a genetically influenced personality trait with an increasingly understood neuroanatomical basis.

Method: 75 subjects with OCD from hospital sites and a community sample and their 152 first degree relatives and 75 age and sex matched controls with their 143 first degree relatives were evaluated with structured clinical interviews (DSM-IV).