Publications by authors named "Haruka Higuma"
Natural reduced water suppressed anxiety and protected the heightened oxidative stress in rats.
Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat
September 2017
Background: In Japan, the effects of reduced water, such as hydrogen-rich electrolyzed reduced water and natural reduced water, like Hita Tenryosui water, have been examined. The purpose of the present study was to identify the role of natural reduced water in anxiety and blood biochemical analysis.
Materials And Methods: Natural reduced water and distilled water were administered to rats for 180 consecutive days, and their effect on anxiety-like behavior and depression was examined by using elevated plus maze, light/dark, forced swimming, and conditioned fear tests.
Background: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) has a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions. BPD may be linked to an abnormal brain anatomy, but little is known about possible impairments of the white matter microstructure in BPD or their relationship with impulsivity or risky behaviors. The aims of the present study were to explore the relationship between BPD and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters and psychological tests.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) has a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfection, and mental and interpersonal control at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency. The aims of the present study were to explore the relationship between OCPD and psychological stress and psychological tests.
Methods: We evaluated 63 OCPD patients and 107 healthy controls (HCs).
Article Synopsis
- Major depressive disorder (MDD) often resists traditional treatments, and initial NIRS evaluations showed that patients exhibited reduced functioning in the frontotemporal cortex during verbal fluency tasks.
- A study conducted on treatment-naive MDD patients assessed their reactions to SSRIs over 12 weeks and compared their brain responses to healthy controls, finding significant differences in hemodynamic responses between groups before treatment.
- The research identified confusion as a key predictor for treatment response, but acknowledged limitations like a small sample size and the challenges of NIRS measurement accuracy that need addressing in future studies.
Background: Patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) experience unusual fear in normal social situations. The verbal fluency task (VFT) was administered while subjects were undergoing near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) scanning. The purpose of VFT was to examine the functions of the frontal and temporal lobes.
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- Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) is characterized by high anxiety and discomfort in social situations; this study aimed to examine how AVPD relates to physical and psychological stress and various psychological tests.
- The research involved 93 AVPD patients and 355 nonpatient controls, measuring their stress responses through salivary amylase and cortisol levels during specific stress tests, along with administering several psychological assessments.
- Findings revealed that female AVPD patients had lower cortisol responses to stress compared to controls, while AVPD patients generally showed significantly higher levels of anxiety, mood disturbance, and other psychological issues compared to nonpatients.
The present study was to investigate the effects of 6 FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP5) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on brain structure using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and the psychological tests to psychological stress. We genotyped 112 healthy controls with respect to 6 SNPs (rs) of FKBP5. We examined the Beck Depression Inventory and the State (STAI-S) and Trait (STAI-T) versions of the Spielberger Anxiety Inventory and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) to evaluate mood.
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- Stress coping involves cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage stress through problem-focused and emotion-focused strategies, with genetic factors like BDNF and NTRK2 influencing these coping mechanisms.
- A study of 252 participants found significant links between BDNF and various emotion-focused coping strategies, as well as between NTRK2 and cognitive problem-solving strategies.
- The results suggest that genetic variations in BDNF and NTRK2 may contribute to how individuals handle stress and their personality traits.
Article Synopsis
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is marked by emotional instability, tumultuous relationships, and issues with self-identity.
- The study involved measuring stress hormone levels in BPD patients and comparing their psychological responses to those of a control group during stress tests.
- Results showed that BPD patients exhibited significantly higher anxiety and depression levels and varying hormonal responses to stressors based on gender, indicating different stress response mechanisms among males and females.
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of transmembrane protein 132D (TMEM132D), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor alpha 6 subunit (GABRA6) genotypes with cingulate, frontal cortex and hippocampal emotional processing in panic disorder (PD) and major depressive disorder (MDD).
Method: The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TMEM132D, COMT, and GABRA6 were examined in patients with MDD, PD, and healthy controls. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed in patients with MDD, PD, and healthy controls.
Background: Decreased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is implicated in enhanced stress responses. The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is associated with psychological changes; for example, carriers of the Met allele exhibit increased harm avoidance as well as a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety disorder.
Methods: To analyze the effects of BDNF Val66Met on stress responses, we tested 226 university students (88 women and 138 men) using a social stress procedure (Trier Social Stress Test [TSST]) and an electrical stimulation stress test.
Previous studies have reported that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is involved with personality traits. We examined the association between corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor (CRHR) genes and personality traits. We investigated the 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms of intron CRHR (six in CRHR1 and six in CRHR2, respectively) in 218 healthy volunteers using TaqMan PCR assays.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: The underlying pathogenic mechanisms and predictors of recurrence in major depressive disorder are still largely unknown. Hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis dysregulation are thought to be related to the development and course of depression.
Design And Setting: Over a ten-year period, we investigated whether the results of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) testing and combined dexamethasone/corticotropin-releasing hormone (DEX/CRH) testing could be correlated with the recurrence of depression in 25 outpatients with clinically remitted major depression for at least 10 years.
Article Synopsis
- Salivary α-amylase (sAA) is a potential indicator of stress response linked to the sympathoadrenal medullary system; this study examines its levels in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) compared to healthy individuals.
- Findings show that OCD patients exhibited significantly higher scores for anxiety and depression while having lower vigor compared to healthy controls, but no differences were observed in heart rate variability (HRV) between the two groups.
- The research indicates that OCD patients had elevated sAA levels under stress, suggesting a heightened sensitivity to stressors, potentially marking a unique characteristic of OCD.
Article Synopsis
- * Forty-five patients over 50 years old with moderate MDD were treated for 8 weeks, with 12 showing positive responses and 33 not responding to SSRIs; a comparison group of 30 healthy individuals was also included.
- * Results indicated that non-responsive patients had lower brain blood flow in certain areas compared to responders and controls, suggesting that low blood flow in the frontal cortex may be an indicator of poor SSRI response in older adults.
Article Synopsis
- Two models exist regarding ghrelin's role in stress responses: it may either contribute to stress-induced depression and anxiety or help alleviate these symptoms.
- A study measured serum ghrelin levels and mood/anxiety scores in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) and panic disorder, comparing treatment-resistant patients to responders and healthy controls.
- Findings showed higher ghrelin levels in treatment-resistant patients, suggesting that lower ghrelin levels may enhance the effect of antidepressant treatments in MDD and panic disorder.
Article Synopsis
- Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) and cortisol were measured in healthy volunteers after stress tests to assess their roles in stress response, revealing distinct patterns in each biomarker.
- Participants were tested with the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and electric stimulation stress, showing that sAA spiked quickly and returned to normal, while cortisol rose more slowly and stayed elevated longer.
- Findings indicated no gender differences in sAA responses, but females had higher cortisol levels after the TSST, and younger participants exhibited greater sAA activity, linking cortisol levels to stress intensity.
Association of CRHR1 and CRHR2 with major depressive disorder and panic disorder in a Japanese population.
Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet
June 2012
Article Synopsis
- - Major depressive disorder (MDD) and panic disorder (PD) have both stress and genetic factors contributing to their development, linked to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and specific receptors like CRHR1 and CRHR2.
- - A study identified specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these receptors that are associated with MDD and PD, investigating a total of 178 MDD patients, 180 PD patients, and 285 healthy controls.
- - Notable findings included associations of certain SNPs (like rs110402, rs242924, and rs3779250) and haplotypes in CRHR1 with MDD, and CRHR1 SNPs also
Psychosocial stress-induced activation of salivary α-amylase (sAA) functions is as a marker of sympathoadrenal medullary system (SAM) activity. However, in contrast to salivary cortisol, sAA has been less extensively studied in panic disorder patients. The present study measured sAA and salivary cortisol levels in patients with panic disorder following electrical stimulation stress.
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- The main treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), but about one-third of patients don’t respond to them and continue to struggle with symptoms.
- Researchers added aripiprazole to SSRI treatment for 13 patients who previously did not respond to SSRIs, administering the combination for at least 7 weeks.
- The results showed significant improvement in OCD symptoms, but many patients also experienced side effects, needing additional medications to manage these issues.
Salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol responsiveness following electrical stimulation stress in major depressive disorder patients.
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry
March 2012
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is often associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by chronic stress. In comparison, psychosocial stress-induced activation of salivary α-amylase (sAA) functions as a marker of sympathoadrenal medullary system (SAM) activity. However, in contrast to salivary cortisol, sAA has been less extensively studied in MDD patients.
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- Previous studies hint that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) might be linked to depression and anxiety behaviors; this study aimed to explore its relationship with anxiety and mood scores in patients with panic disorder and healthy individuals.
- Researchers analyzed 67 panic disorder patients and 97 controls, categorizing them based on their response to treatment; despite no strong link between HGF levels and anxiety or personality scores, they found a noteworthy correlation between HGF and fatigue in controls.
- The good response patients had higher HGF levels compared to the poor response group and controls, suggesting that elevated HGF might be essential for effective antidepressant treatment in panic disorder patients.