A multicenter, randomized controlled study on the efficacy of agomelatine in ameliorating anhedonia, reduced motivation, and circadian rhythm disruptions in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Agomelatine in improving symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), providing more scientific evidence for the treatment of depression, and offering more effective therapeutic options for patients.

Methods: A total of 180 MDD patients in acute phase from 10 psychiatric hospitals of Grade three in Zhejiang Province were enrolled in this 12-week study with the competitive and consecutive pattern, and they were randomized into two different groups treated with flexible-dosage antidepressants of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or agomelatine, respectively. The subjects were evaluated with psychological scales of HAMD, HAMA, SHAPS for anhedonia, MFI-20 for fatigue, PQSI for sleep quality and MEQ for disturbances in chronobiologic rhythms at baseline, 2, 4, 8 and 12-weekend points, and TESS was used for side-effect.

Psychological trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder and trauma-related depression: A mini-review.

There are various types of traumatic stimuli, such as catastrophic events like wars, natural calamities like earthquakes, and personal trauma from physical and psychological neglect or abuse and sexual abuse. Traumatic events can be divided into type I and type II trauma, and their impacts on individuals depend not only on the severity and duration of the traumas but also on individuals' self-evaluation of the traumatic events. Individual stress reactions to trauma include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD and trauma-related depression.

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for post-traumatic stress disorder: Assessor-blinded, randomized controlled study.

Aim: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) has the potential to alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to determine whether adding TEAS to sertraline or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) could improve the anti-PTSD efficacy.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 240 PTSD patients (60 in each group) were assigned to receive simulated TEAS combined with sertraline (group A) or with CBT (group B), active TEAS combined with CBT (group C), or active TEAS combined with CBT plus sertraline (group D) for 12 weeks.

Caspase-8 Mediates Amyloid-β-induced Apoptosis in Differentiated PC12 Cells.

The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is very complex and there are currently no significant treatments for the disease. Caspase-8 is known to be involved in neuronal apoptosis. To explore a possible molecular mechanisms involved in AD pathology, this study investigated the effect of caspase-8 knockdown on amyloid-β 1-40 (Aβ1-40)-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells.

[Effects of apolipoprotein E genetic polymorphism on susceptibility of depression and efficacy of antidepressants].

Objective: To assess the effects of apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphism on the susceptibility of depression and the efficacy of antidepressants.

Methods: A total of 275 patients with depression, who met the diagnostic criteria of both CCMD-3 and DSM-4, were randomly assigned into venlafaxine group (n=136)and paroxetine group(n=139). Another 202 healthy subjects were enrolled as the control group.

[Dynamic level observation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with first-episode generalized anxiety disorder].

Objective: To examine the changing pattern of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the patients with first-episode generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Methods: The levels of plasma BDNF and the Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) scores were measured in 34 patients with first-episode GAD recruited from our hospital between January and December 2007. At baseline and Week 6, they were treated by paroxetine and compared with 31 healthy participants in the control group.

[A comparative study on mental health among students and adults in the earthquake-hit areas].

Objective: To understand mental health status of the students and adults in the earthquake disaster areas, as to providing guidance on intervention for post-disaster psychological crisis.

Methods: The Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), an appendix of The Ministry of Health of "emergency psychological crisis intervention guiding principles", was used among 1222 victims in Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan province. This questionnaire survey was conducted in 729 students and 493 adult victims in a randomized method.