Probing the oral-brain connection: oral microbiome patterns in a large community cohort with anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms, and periodontal outcomes.

The role of the oral microbiome in mental health has recently been appreciated within the proposed oral-brain axis. This study examined the structure and composition of the salivary microbiome in a large-scale population-based cohort of individuals reporting mental health symptoms (n = 306) compared to mentally healthy controls (n = 164) using 16S rRNA sequencing. Mental health symptoms were evaluated using validated questionnaires and included depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with accompanying periodontal outcomes.

Biomarkers for Psychosis: Are We There Yet? Umbrella Review of 1478 Biomarkers.

Background And Hypothesis: This umbrella review aims to comprehensively synthesize the evidence of association between peripheral, electrophysiological, neuroimaging, neuropathological, and other biomarkers and diagnosis of psychotic disorders.

Study Design: We selected systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies on diagnostic biomarkers for psychotic disorders, published until February 1, 2018. Data extraction was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

If you feel you can't, you won't: the role of subjective and objective cognitive competence on psychosocial functioning in depression.

Background: The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the role of sociodemographic, clinical, and cognitive - both objective and subjective - factors in overall and in specific domains of psychosocial functioning, in patients with depression at different clinical states of the disease (remitted and non-remitted).

Methods: A sample of 325 patients with major depressive disorder, 117 in remission and 208 in non-remission, were assessed with a semi-structured interview collecting sociodemographic, clinical, cognitive (with neuropsychological tests and the Perceived Deficit Questionnaire), and functional (Functioning Assessment Short Test) characteristics. Backward regression models were conducted to determine associations of global and specific areas of functioning with independent factors, for both clinical states.

Response and Safety Outcomes in Treatment-Resistant Depression After Subcallosal Cingulate Gyrus Deep Brain Stimulation: Long-term Follow-up Study.

To replicate previous findings and to investigate related clinical factors of long-term benefits and safety of subcallosal cingulate gyrus deep brain stimulation (SCG-DBS) for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Sixteen patients with TRD (with either major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, and criteria) receiving chronic SCG-DBS were followed for up to 11 years (January 2008 to June 2019). Demographic, clinical, and functioning data were collected pre-surgery and during the follow-up.

Randomized clinical trial of integral cognitive remediation program for major depression (INCREM).

Background: Despite achieving clinical remission, patients with depression encounter difficulties to return to their premorbid psychosocial functioning. Cognitive dysfunction has been proposed to be a primary mediator of functional impairment. Therefore, the new non-pharmacological procognitive strategy INtegral Cognitive REMediation for Depression (INCREM) has been developed with the aim of targeting cognitive and psychosocial functioning.

Vortioxetine in major depressive disorder: from mechanisms of action to clinical studies. An updated review.

Introduction: Vortioxetine is a multimodal-acting antidepressant that provides improvements on cognitive function aside from antidepressants and anxiolytic effects. Vortioxetine has been found to be one of the most effective and best tolerated options for major depressive disorder (MDD) in head-to-head trials.

Areas Covered: The present review intends to gather the most relevant and pragmatic data of vortioxetine in MDD, specially focusing on new studies that emerged between 2015 and 2020.

Gut microbiota, innate immune pathways, and inflammatory control mechanisms in patients with major depressive disorder.

Although alterations in the gut microbiota have been linked to the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD), including through effects on the immune response, our understanding is deficient about the straight connection patterns among microbiota and MDD in patients. Male and female MDD patients were recruited: 46 patients with a current active MDD (a-MDD) and 22 in remission or with only mild symptoms (r-MDD). Forty-five healthy controls (HC) were also recruited.

Unhappy While Depressed: Examining the Dimensionality, Reliability and Validity of the Subjective Happiness Scale in a Spanish Sample of Patients with Depressive Disorders.

Despite the considerable amount of research evidence on the significant role of subjective happiness on mental health, there is no psychometric study of the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) in psychiatric samples. This study was aimed at exploring the psychometric properties of the SHS in a Spanish sample of patients with depressive disorders. Participants were 174 patients with a depressive disorder (70% diagnosed as major depressive disorder) who completed the SHS, the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR), and the EQ-5D Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-5D VAS).

Glutamatergic and GABA-ergic abnormalities in First-episode depression. A 1-year follow-up 1H-MR spectroscopic study.

Background: Previous magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS) studies have reported brain metabolic abnormalities in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Nevertheless, results have been inconsistent, focusing on fully developed major depression neglecting first episode patients (FED). Longitudinal studies have also been rare and with short follow-up periods.

Association study of polymorphisms within inflammatory genes and methylation status in treatment response in major depression.

Background: Although pharmacogenetics for major depressive disorder (MDD) is gaining momentum, the role of genetics in differences in response to antidepressant treatment is controversial, as they depend on multifactorial and polygenic phenotypes. Previous studies focused on the genes of the serotonergic system, leaving apart other pathological factors such as the inflammatory pathway. The main objective of the study was to assess whether treatment response might be associated with specific inflammation-related genetic variants or their methylation status.

Testing the efficacy of INtegral Cognitive REMediation (INCREM) in major depressive disorder: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Given the limitation of pharmacological treatments to treat cognitive symptoms in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), cognitive remediation programs has been proposed as a possible procognitive intervention but findings are not conclusive. This study investigates the efficacy of an INtegral Cognitive REMediation (INCREM) that includes a combination of a Functional Remediation (FR) strategy plus a Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) in order to improve not only cognitive performance but also the psychosocial functioning and the quality of life.

Methods: A single blind randomized controlled clinical trial in 81 patients with a diagnosis of MDD in clinical remission or in partial remission.

Looking into the effect of multi-item symptom domains on psychometric characteristics of the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR).

Exploring depressive symptom severity is progressively shifting from the traditional assessment of symptom domains to detailed examination of individual symptoms. This study aimed at determining whether using an alternative scoring method (i.e.

Efficacy of prospective pharmacogenetic testing in the treatment of major depressive disorder: results of a randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Background: A 12-week, double-blind, parallel, multi-center randomized controlled trial in 316 adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing for drug therapy guidance.

Methods: Patients with a CGI-S ≥ 4 and requiring antidepressant medication de novo or changes in their medication regime were recruited at 18 Spanish public hospitals, genotyped with a commercial PGx panel (Neuropharmagen®), and randomized to PGx-guided treatment (n = 155) or treatment as usual (TAU, control group, n = 161), using a computer-generated random list that locked or unlocked psychiatrist access to the results of the PGx panel depending on group allocation. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving a sustained response (Patient Global Impression of Improvement, PGI-I ≤ 2) within the 12-week follow-up.

Rationale and methods of the iFightDepression study: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of an internet-based self-management tool for moderate to mild depression.

Background: During the last decade online interventions have emerged as a promising approach for patients with mild/moderate depressive symptoms, reaching at large populations and representing cost-effective alternatives. The main objective of this double-blind, randomized controlled trial is to examine the efficacy of an internet-based self-management tool (iFightDepression) for mild to moderate depression as an add-on to treatment as usual (TAU) versus internet-based psychoeducation plus TAU.

Methods: A total of 310 participants with major depression disorder (MDD) will be recruited at four different mental-health facilities in Spain.

Lack of relationship between plasma levels of escitalopram and QTc-interval length.

Despite safety concerns raised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), evidence supporting QT-lengthening effects of escitalopram is far to be conclusive. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between escitalopram plasma levels (Escit-PL) and corrected QT-interval length (QTc-length) in 91 outpatients recruited from a hospital setting. Fifteen patients had an abnormally prolonged QTc-interval, and 3 had QTc-intervals ≥500 ms.

NATURALISTIC COURSE OF MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER PREDICTED BY CLINICAL AND STRUCTURAL NEUROIMAGING DATA: A 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP.

Background: Despite its high recurrence rate, major depression disorder (MDD) still lacks neurobiological markers to optimize treatment selection. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic potential of clinical and structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) in the long-term MDD clinical outcomes (COs).

Methods: Forty-nine MDD patients were grouped into one of four different CO categories according to their trajectory: recovery, partial remission, remission recurrence, and chronic depression.

A randomized double-blind crossover trial of deep brain stimulation of the subcallosal cingulate gyrus in patients with treatment-resistant depression: a pilot study of relapse prevention.

Background: To date, antidepressant drugs show limited efficacy, leaving a large number of patients experiencing severe and persistent symptoms of major depression. Previous open-label clinical trials have reported significant sustained improvements with deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subcallosal cingulate gyrus (SCG) in patients with severe, chronic treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This study aimed to confirm the efficacy and measure the impact of discontinuation of the electrical stimulation.

Cognitive functioning after deep brain stimulation in subcallosal cingulate gyrus for treatment-resistant depression: an exploratory study.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is being investigated as a therapeutic alternative for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), but its cognitive safety has been scarcely explored. The aim of this exploratory study is to evaluate cognitive function of patients before and after deep brain stimulation of the subgenual cingulate gyrus (SCG). Eight treatment-resistant depressed patients were implanted in subgenual cingulate gyrus.

Immediate cerebral metabolic changes induced by discontinuation of deep brain stimulation of subcallosal cingulate gyrus in treatment-resistant depression.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) studies have shown that the antidepressant effect of chronic deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subcallosal cingulate gyrus (SCG) may be consequence of modifications of brain metabolism at key structures involved in depression. Like clinical benefits, these metabolic changes may reverse when the stimulation is discontinued, even preceding clinical worsening. However no data on immediate effects of DBS discontinuation are available.

The Spanish version of the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report (QIDS-SR16): a psychometric analysis in a clinical sample.

Background: Psychometrically robust and easy-to-administer scales for depressive symptoms are necessary for research and clinical assessment. This is a psychometric study of the Spanish version of the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report (QIDS-SR16) in a clinical sample.

Method: One-hundred and seventy-three patients (65% women) with a psychiatric disorder including depressive symptoms were recruited.