Personality dimensions, resilience, and depression during COVID-19 pandemic: A one-year longitudinal study.

Background: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light a significant surge in depression across diverse populations. While a considerable body of research has linked this upswing to lockdowns and restrictive measures, it is crucial to recognize that lockdowns alone cannot fully elucidate the observed increase in mental health disorders, given the vast array of individual psychological responses.

Objective: This study aims to test e whether personality dimensions (Extroversion, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism) and resilience play a role in shielding individuals from developing depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, as observed in a sample of Brazilian adults.

Serum cytokine variations among inpatients with major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia healthy controls: a prospective 'true-to-life' study.

Background: There is increasing evidence of the association between chronic low-grade inflammation and severe mental illness (SMI). The objective of our study was to assess serum cytokine levels (SCLs) at admission and discharge in a true-to-life-setting population of inpatients with major depression (MD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (Sz), as well as of healthy controls.

Methods: We considered MD, BD, and Sz to be SMIs.

Protective factors against depressive symptoms among Brazilian healthcare workers during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms among healthcare workers and possible factors associated with this outcome (resilience, spirituality, social support, quality of life, among other individual variables). Our hypothesis is that some of these factors can have a protective effect on depressive symptoms.

Design: Web-based cross-sectional survey.

Structural magnetic resonance imaging findings in severe mental disorders adult inpatients: A systematic review.

In severe presentations, major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SZ), and bipolar disorder (BD) can be categorized as severe mental disorders (SMD). Our aim is to evaluate structural magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findings in adult inpatients diagnosed with SMD and hospitalized at psychiatric wards. PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched up to May 27th, 2021.

Positive Association Between Therapeutic Alliance and Quality of Life in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy: The Patient's Perspective.

Background: The therapeutic alliance (TA) is considered a common psychotherapeutic factor associated with positive results in psychotherapies. There are no studies relating the TA with quality of life (Qol).

Objectives: Our objective was to evaluate whether there is an association between the TA and Qol across three different psychotherapies.

The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised - Abbreviated (EPQR-A): psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version.

Introduction: The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised - Abbreviated (EPQR-A) consists of 24 items for assessment of the three fundamental personality traits (psychoticism, extraversion, and neuroticism) and a validity scale (lie scale). Our objectives were to assess the psychometric properties of a version of this instrument culturally adapted for Brazil.

Method: 321 participants were recruited using a non-probabilistic method.

Resilience in severe mental disorders: correlations to clinical measures and quality of life in hospitalized patients with major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

Purpose: To evaluate resilience in severe mental disorders and correlate it with clinical measures and quality of life.

Methods: Resilience (Resilience Scale, RS) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire) were prospectively evaluated in a sample of 384 hospitalized patients diagnosed with severe mental disorders (depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia). Clinical outcomes were measured using the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), Hamilton Scale-Depression (HAM-D), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and inflammatory markers: Perspectives for the management of depression.

Background: Mood disorders, including major depressive disorder, are among the main causes of disability and early mortality and constitute an important public health problem. Despite the search for a neurobiological explanation for these disorders, diagnosis and treatment are still based on subjective symptoms and psychometric assessments. Biomarkers, used as indicators of normal biological and pathological processes or pharmacological responses to a clinical intervention, may be useful in improving the current classification of psychiatric disorders, which can help understand the role of biological information in diagnosis, prognosis, and assessment of responses to intervention.

Different cytokine patterns associate with melancholia severity among inpatients with major depressive disorder.

Background: Six melancholic features (MFs) of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) represent the construct of melancholia along a continuum of severity (from least to most severe: depressed mood, work and activities, somatic symptoms, psychic anxiety, guilty feelings, psychomotor retardation). We aimed to evaluate the association between these MFs and inflammatory cytokines (IC) in the blood.

Methods: Each IC [interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17] was associated with the HAM-D MFs of 139 severely depressed inpatients, using multiple linear regressions adjusted for covariates.

The Effects of Individual Psychotherapy in BDNF Levels of Patients With Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Background: Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is considered the main cerebral neurotrophin and is produced in the central neural system and peripherals. Its levels are reduced in patients with several psychiatric disorders, but it is unclear if the response to psychotherapy can alter its concentration.

Objective: To carry out a systematic review evaluating the effects of individual psychotherapy in BDNF levels in patients with mental disorders.

Increased Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Are Associated With High Intrinsic Religiosity Among Depressed Inpatients.

Recognition of the importance of religion and spirituality in psychiatry is increasing, and several studies have shown a predominantly inverse relationship between religiosity and depression. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a widely studied brain neurotrophin responsible for synaptic plasticity, dendritic and neuronal fiber growth, and neuronal survival. The objective of the present study was to evaluate BDNF levels across high and low intrinsic religiosity (IR) in depressed inpatients.

Longitudinal Investigation of Psychotherapy Outcomes (LIPO): Description of the Study Protocol.

Despite extensive research in the field of psychotherapies, few studies have compared the primary psychotherapies of naturalistic design, which represents real-life situations. The objectives of this study were to evaluate three modalities of evidence-based psychotherapy for clinical, psychosocial, and biological outcomes and to identify the mediators and confounders of this process. Our primary hypothesis is that all psychotherapies will improve clinical and psychosocial outcomes and will increase BDNF levels.

Can Religious Coping and Depressive Symptoms Predict Clinical Outcome and Quality of Life in Panic Disorder? A Brazilian Longitudinal Study.

Few studies have investigated the relationship between spiritual/religious coping (S/R coping) and panic disorder (PD). This Brazilian longitudinal study evaluated if S/R coping and depressive symptoms can predict PD remission and improved quality of life (QoL). There were 101 outpatients with PD who were followed up for 12 to 16 weeks.

Lower levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor are associated with melancholic psychomotor retardation among depressed inpatients.

Objectives: Melancholic depression is a type of depression which is closely related to biological variables than are other types of depression. Its clinical features can be assessed using six items on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D ). Previous studies have shown, using item response theory, that the symptom depressed mood is the least severe melancholic feature; work and activities, somatic symptoms and psychic anxiety are of moderate severity; and feelings of guilt and psychomotor retardation are the most severe.

Readmission in psychiatry inpatients within a year of discharge: The role of symptoms at discharge and post-discharge care in a Brazilian sample.

Introduction: Readmission into inpatient psychiatric beds is a useful outcome for patients, care providers, and policymakers. This study aims to investigate the role of level of symptoms at discharge and type of post-discharge care in determining readmissions after a year before a psychiatric admission.

Methods: We performed a prospective and observational study in a general hospital psychiatric facility.

The association of electroconvulsive therapy to pharmacological treatment and its influence on cytokines.

Introduction: A growing body of evidence shows that disturbances in the immune system are involved in the pathogenesis of depression. Although the immune-modulating effects of antidepressants have been described, few studies have addressed the functioning of the immune system in relation to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This study aims to investigate if the addition of ECT to pharmacotherapy is associated with changes in cytokine levels.

The Major Depressive Disorder Hierarchy: Rasch Analysis of 6 items of the Hamilton Depression Scale Covering the Continuum of Depressive Syndrome.

Objectives: Melancholic features of depression (MFD) seem to be a unidimensional group of signs and symptoms. However, little importance has been given to the evaluation of what features are related to a more severe disorder. That is, what are the MFD that appear only in the most depressed patients.

Association between Spirituality and Adherence to Management in Outpatients with Heart Failure.

Background: Spirituality may influence how patients cope with their illness.

Objectives: We assessed whether spirituality may influence adherence to management of outpatients with heart failure.

Methods: Cross sectional study enrolling consecutive ambulatory heart failure patients in whom adherence to multidisciplinary treatment was evaluated.

Remission of depression following electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is associated with higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Introduction: Research on the association between electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and increased brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels has produced conflicting result. There have been few studies which have evaluated BDNF levels in clinical contexts where there was remission following treatment. The objective of this study was to investigate whether remission of depression following ECT is associated with changes in BDNF levels.

Combining ECT with pharmacological treatment of depressed inpatients in a naturalistic study is not associated with serum BDNF level increase.

Background: BDNF blood levels are reduced in MDD. They can be increased with pharmacologic treatment and ECT, but it is not clear whether the combination of treatments promotes an additional increase. The present study aims to evaluate whether combined treatment promotes an increase in BDNF, restoring the level to that of non-depressed controls.

Quality of life in caregivers of children and adolescents with Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a group of genetic disorders of collagen biosynthesis, characterized by low bone density leading to fractures. Most patients exhibit functional impairment and require the aid of a caregiver. The aim of this study is to assess the quality of life (QoL) of caregivers of patients with OI.