Background: In Canada's largest COVID-19 serological study, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in blood donors have been monitored since 2020. No study has analysed changes in the association between anti-N seropositivity (a marker of recent infection) and geographic and sociodemographic characteristics over the pandemic.
Methods: Using Bayesian multi-level models with spatial effects at the census division level, we analysed changes in correlates of SARS-CoV-2 anti-N seropositivity across three periods in which different variants predominated (pre-Delta, Delta and Omicron).
The CERT-D program offers a new treatment approach addressing disturbed cognitive and psychosocial functioning in major depressive disorder (MDD). The current analysis of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comprises two objectives: Firstly, evaluating the program's efficacy of a personalised versus standard treatment and secondly, assessing the treatment's persistence longitudinally. Participants (N = 112) were randomised into a personalised or standard treatment group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) involves the interaction between genes and environment, including treatment. Early molecular signatures for treatment response and remission are relevant in a context of personalized medicine and stratification and reduce the time-to-decision. Therefore, we focused the analyses on patients that responded or remitted following a cognitive intervention of 8 weeks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProg Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry
December 2023
Background: DNA methylation as a biomarker is well suited to investigate dynamic processes, such as symptom improvement. For this study we focus on epigenomic state or trait markers as early signatures of cognitive improvement in individuals receiving a cognitive intervention. We performed a first epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) on patients with cognitive dysfunction in depression comparing those with vs without cognitive dysfunction and those cognitively improving vs non-improving following a cognitive intervention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProg Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry
December 2023
Cognitive dysfunction contributes significantly to the burden caused by Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Yet, while compelling evidence suggests that different biological processes play a part in both MDD aetiology and the development of cognitive decline more generally, we only begin to understand the molecular underpinnings of depression-related cognitive impairment. Developments in psychometric assessments, molecular high-throughput methods and systems biology derived analysis strategies advance this endeavour.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCognitive and emotional remediation training for depression (CERT-D): a randomised controlled trial to improve cognitive, emotional and functional outcomes in depression The aim of the current study was to evaluate an experimental treatment designed to improve psychosocial function in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) by reinforcing cognitive, emotional, and social-cognitive abilities. Participants (N = 112) with current or lifetime MDD were recruited to participate in a randomised, blinded, controlled trial. Exclusion criteria included diagnosis of a substance abuse disorder, bipolar disorder organic, eating disorders, or illness which affect cognitive function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Patients with Major Depressive Disorder experience significantly reduced subjective Quality of Life (QOL), including impaired social and emotional functioning and greater fatigue and physical pain. Mounting evidence suggests that cognitive dysfunction (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecent evidence suggests that depressed patients experience social cognitive deficits (e.g., poor affect recognition).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExpert Rev Neurother
May 2019
Cognitive dysfunction is prevalent in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), with deficits observed across several domains (e.g., executive function, memory, attention).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSocial cognition is the ability to identify, perceive and interpret socially relevant information from the external world. It is an important adaptive trait, but is frequently affected in major depressive disorder by a mood-congruent interpretive bias. The present review examined the existing body of literature to determine (i) the impact social cognitive deficits in depression have on psychosocial functioning; and (ii) the utility of psychotropic, psychological and procedural interventions employed to target these deficits.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate the extent to which cognitive measures in the recently developed THINC-integrated tool (THINC-it) are associated with global and domain specific psychosocial disability in patients with current and remitted major depressive disorder (MDD).
Methods: Cross-sectional data (N = 127) were obtained from participants with current (n = 105) or remitted (n = 22) MDD who completed the THINC-it between July 2014 and June 2018. Major depressive disorder was diagnostically assessed with DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria.
Cognitive and psychosocial dysfunction are prevalent and disabling features of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Emerging evidence suggests that poor cognitive functioning mediates the negative effect of MDD on psychosocial function. However, there is a lack of research examining the domain-specific nature of this relationship.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCognitive deficits are frequently observed in major depressive disorder (MDD), as well as impaired long-term psychosocial functioning. However, the relationship between cognitive deficits and psychosocial functioning in MDD is under-investigated. We aim to systematically review the literature on the relationship between specific cognitive impairments and psychosocial functioning in MDD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDeficits in executive functioning are frequently associated with poor psychosocial outcomes in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). However, there is a poor understanding of the domain-specific relationships between executive subdomains (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Psychosocial dysfunction is associated with poor longitudinal course of depression and is not sufficiently addressed by existing pharmaceutical or psychological treatments. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the efficacy of a novel intervention designed to improve psychosocial function in depressed individuals. Impaired cognition, emotion processing, and social cognition appear to underlie (i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose Of Review: The principal aim of this review is to highlight recent advances in our understanding of cognitive dysfunction in major depressive disorder (MDD). We review new assessment and treatment approaches, in which cognition and associated psychosocial dysfunction are considered primary outcomes.
Recent Findings: Current work suggests that cognitive dysfunction reduces occupational productivity, and interferes broadly with domains of day-to-day and social functioning.
The current research investigated whether learning spatial information from a map involves different modalities, which are managed by discrete components in working memory. In four experiments, participants studied a map either while performing a simultaneous interference task (high cognitive load) or without interference (low cognitive load). The modality of interference varied between experiments.
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