The Diagnostic Apathia Scale predicts a dose-remission relationship of T-PEMF in treatment-resistant depression.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive validity of the apathy subsyndrome in patients with therapy-resistant depression in the dose-remission study with transcranial pulsating electromagnetic fields (T-PEMF).

Methods: The apathy subsyndrome consists of the symptoms of fatigue, concentration and memory problems, lack of interests, difficulties in making decisions, and sleep problems. We evaluated 65 patients with therapy-resistant depression.

Psychometric analysis of the Melancholia Scale in trials with non-pharmacological augmentation of patients with therapy-resistant depression.

Objective: The Melancholia Scale (MES) consists of the psychic core items of the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D6) (depressed mood, interests, psychic anxiety, general somatic, guilt feelings, and psychomotor retardation) and the neuropsychiatric items of the Cronholm-Ottossen Depression Scale. Patients resistant to anti-depressant medication (therapy-resistant depression) have participated in our trials with non-pharmacological augmentation. On the basis of these trials, we have evaluated to what extent the neuropsychiatric subscale of the MES (concentration difficulties, fatigability, emotional introversion, sleep problems, and decreased verbal communication) is a measure of severity of apathia when compared with the HAM-D6 subscale of the MES.

Identifying patients with therapy-resistant depression by using factor analysis.

Introduction: Attempts to identify the factor structure in patients with treatment-resistant depression have been very limited.

Methods: Principal component analysis was performed using the baseline datasets from 3 add-on studies [2 with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and one with transcranial pulsed electromagnetic fields (T-PEMF)], in which the relative effect as percentage of improvement during the treatment period was analysed.

Results: We identified 2 major factors, the first of which was a general factor.

High cortisol awakening response is associated with an impairment of the effect of bright light therapy.

Objective: We investigated the predictive validity of the cortisol awakening response (CAR) in patients with non-seasonal major depression.

Method: Patients were treated with sertraline in combination with bright or dim light therapy for a 5-week period. Saliva cortisol levels were measured in 63 patients, as an awakening profile, before medication and light therapy started.

Factors of importance for work satisfaction among nurses in a university hospital in Sweden.

The shortage of registered nurses in the healthcare sector is a problem in most countries. Swedish nurses tend to leave or seek new positions. However, few Swedish studies have addressed questions regarding what factors are of importance for nurses to perceive work satisfaction although satisfied nurses are linked to many positive organizational outcomes, e.