Serotonin transporter (SERT) and dopamine transporter (DAT) levels differ in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who are in a depressed state in comparison with healthy controls. In addition, a family history of depression is a potent risk factor for developing depression, and inherited vulnerability to serotonergic and dopaminergic dysfunction is suspected in this. The aim of this study was to examine the availabilities of midbrain SERT and striatal DAT in healthy subjects with and without a first-degree family history of MDD.

Eight healthy subjects with first-degree relatives with MDD and 16 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were recruited. The availabilities of SERT and DAT were approximated using SPECT, employing [123I] 2-((2-((dimethylamino)methyl)phenyl)thio)-5-iodophenylamine (ADAM) and [99mTc] TRODAT-1 as the ligands, respectively. There are missing data for one participant with a first-degree family history of MDD from the ADAM study, due to a lack of the radio-ligand at the time of experiment.

SERT availability in the midbrain was significantly lower in subjects with a first-degree family history of MDD than in healthy subjects. However, DAT availability was no different between two groups.

The results with regard to the midbrain SERT level suggest the heritability of MDD.

Research on the impact of the continuity of care (COC) on health outcomes in patients with mental illness is limited. This observational study examined whether the longitudinal COC is associated with a decreased likelihood of death among patients with mental disorders in the French general population.

Data were derived from the French National Health Insurance (NHI) reimbursement database. Patients with any mental disorder who visited a psychiatrist at least twice within 6 months were included. The primary endpoint was death by all causes. We measured longitudinal COC with a psychiatrist twice a year between 2007 and 2010, using the COC index developed by Bice and Boxerman. The COC index was analysed as a time-dependent variable in a survival analysis after adjustments for age, gender and stratifying on comorbidities and social status.

Among 14,515 patients visiting a psychiatrist at least twice in 6 months and tracked over 3 years, likelihood of death was significantly lower in patients with higher continuity of care (hazard ratio for an increase in 0.1 of continuity, adjusted for age, sex, and stratified on comorbidities and social status: 0.83 [0.83–0.83]), particularly in those with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia.

Improving longitudinal continuity of care in mental health care may contribute to substantially decrease mortality.

Prior studies have demonstrated an inter-relationship between the diagnosis of diabetes, obesity and depression. Our data has demonstrated that baseline body mass index (BMI) was not predictive for clinical outcomes (remission at six months). Does either obesity or diabetes impact initial depression severity?

Our hypothesis was that obesity and the diagnosis of diabetes in depressed primary patients would have no effect on initial depression severity at the time of diagnosis of depression.

This study was retrospective analysis of 4,310 primary care patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder or Dysthymia with a PHQ-9 score of 10 or greater.

1. ▪ Outcome variable was initial depression severity at the time of diagnosis (as measured by PHQ-9).

2. ▪ Logistic regression modeling included the demographic variables of age, gender, marital status, the clinical variables of BMI, diagnosis of diabetes (yes/no) and clinical diagnosis (recurrent or first episode of depression, or dysthymia).

Figure 1

Odds ratio for severe depression (PHQ-9≥20) at diagnosis in depressed primary care patients, by variable (N=4,310).

1. ▪ Baseline obesity was not an independent predictor for severe depression.

2. ▪ Diagnosis of diabetes was an independent predictor for as protective for severe depression at diagnosis.

This data suggests that obesity was not associated with worsening depression severity; diabetes may be seen as protective if patients were being seen sooner and diagnosed earlier in their disease course.

L’acupuncture est une technique de plus en plus utilisée dans la prise en charge des patients consommateurs de substances. Notre étude permet d’évaluer les bienfaits subjectifs de l’acupuncture chez ces patients en utilisant les échelles visuelles analogiques (EVA) avant et après les séances.

Ces évaluations ont été proposées à l’ensemble des patients venus faire une séance d’acupuncture (auriculothérapie ou corps entier) durant les mois de juillet 2012 et mai 2013. Ils ont côté sur une échelle entre 0 et 10 leur fatigue, bien-être, stress/anxiété, détente, douleur physique avant et après les séances.

Cent quatre vingt-quatre fiches anonymes avant/après ont été analysées. Cinquante sujets ont participé. Au niveau déclaratif : 24,5 % d’abstinents, 22,2 % en sevrage, 40,2 % consomment régulièrement une ou plusieurs substances (42 % alcool, 58 % de tabac, 20 % de crack, 38 % de cannabis). Les bienfaits ressentis sont multiples dans les jours qui suivent une séance : 64 % ont un meilleur sommeil, 48 % moins anxieux, 54 % disent avoir moins envie de consommer, 16 % remarquent une meilleure gestion de leurs émotions. L’ensemble des patients ont rapporté une diminution de leurs anxiété/stress (p = 0,0001), sensation de fatigue (p = 0,001) et douleur physique (p = 0,0001). Ils signalent également une amélioration de leur détente (p = 0,001) et de leur bien-être (p = 0,001). Nous avons également observé que les effets de l’acupuncture semblent être supérieurs chez les patients consommateurs par rapport aux patients qui déclarent être abstinents et que les bienfaits étaient supérieurs avec l’acupuncture corps entier versus auriculothérapie.

Dans notre population, les séances d’acupunctures semblent améliorer les ressentis des patients dans plusieurs domaines. L’étude se poursuit afin de mieux étudier non seulement les biais liés à la relaxation et aux croyances magico-religieuses mais aussi en étudiant différents paramètres objectifs comme la diminution de la consommation.

Understanding suicidal ideation may help develop more effective suicide screening and intervention programs. The interpersonal and the cognitive-deficit theories seek to describe the factors leading to suicidal behavior. In the military setting it is common to find over- and under-reporting of suicidal ideation. This study sought to determine the relationship between these two models and determine to what degree their components can indirectly predict suicidal ideation.

Suicide attempters (n = 32) were compared with non-suicidal psychologically treated peers (n = 38) and controls (n = 33), matched for sex and age (mean 19.7 years). Pearson's analysis was used to quantify the relationship between the variables from the two models and hierarchal regression analysis was used to determine the explanation of suicidal ideation variance by these variables.

Suicide attempters have more difficulties in problem-solving, negative emotion regulation and burdensomeness compared with their peers (P < .001). These variables are all closely correlated with each other and to suicide ideation (r > ± 0.5; P < .001). Prior suicide attempt, loneliness and burdensomeness together explain 65% (P < .001) of the variance in suicidal ideation.

Suicidal ideation is strongly correlated with components of interpersonal and cognitive difficulties. In addition to assessing current suicidal ideation, clinicians should assess past suicide attempt, loneliness and burdensomeness.

We evaluate for the first time the associations of brain white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with neuropsychological variables among middle-aged bipolar I (BPI), II (BPII) and major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and controls using a path model.

Thirteen BPI, 15 BPII, 16 MDD patients, and 21 controls underwent brain MRI and a neuropsychological examination. Two experienced neuroradiologists evaluated WMHs on the MRI scans. We constructed structural equation models to test the strength of the associations between deep WMH (DWMH) grade, neuropsychological performance and diagnostic group.

Belonging in the BPI group as opposed to the control group predicted higher DWMH grade (coefficient estimate 1.13, P = 0.012). The DWMH grade independently predicted worse performance on the Visual Span Forward test (coefficient estimate −0.48, P = 0.002). Group effects of BPI and MDD were significant in predicting poorer performance on the Digit Symbol test (coefficient estimate −5.57, P = 0.016 and coefficient estimate −5.66, P = 0.034, respectively).

Because of the small number of study subjects in groups, the negative results must be considered with caution.

Only BPI patients had an increased risk for DWMHs. DWMHs were independently associated with deficits in visual attention.

To test whether firstly, different parental rearing components were associated with different dimensions of psychiatric symptoms in adulthood, secondly BDNF-Val66Met polymorphism moderated this association and thirdly, this association was due to genetic confounding.

Perceived parental rearing according to Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), psychiatric symptoms evaluated with the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the BDNF-Val66Met polymorphism were analyzed in a sample of 232 adult twins from the general population.

In the whole sample, paternal care was negatively associated with depression. Maternal overprotection was positively associated with paranoid ideation, obsession-compulsion and somatization. Gene-environment interaction effects were detected between the BDNF-Val66Met polymorphism and maternal care on phobic anxiety, paternal care on hostility, maternal overprotection on somatization and paternal overprotection also in somatization. In the subsample of MZ twins, intrapair differences in maternal care were associated with anxiety, paranoid ideation and somatization.

Met carriers were, in general, more sensitive to the effects of parental rearing compared to Val/Val carriers in relation to anxiety and somatization. Contra-intuitively, our findings suggest that high rates of maternal care might be of risk for Met carriers regarding anxiety. Results from analyses controlling for genetic confounding were in line with this finding.

Adjustment disorder with anxiety (AjD-A) is a common cause of severe anxiety symptoms, but little is known about its prevalence in old age.

This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of AjD-A in outpatients over the age of 60 who consecutively consulted 34 general practitioners and 22 psychiatrists during a 2-week period. The diagnosis of AjD-A was obtained using the optional module for diagnostic of adjustment disorder of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). The study procedure also explored comorbid psychiatric conditions and documented recent past stressful life events, as well as social disability and current pharmacological and non-pharmacological management.

Overall, 3651 consecutive subjects were screened (2937 in primary care and 714 in mental health care). The prevalence rate of AjD-A was 3.7% (n = 136). Up to 39% (n = 53) of AjD-A subjects had a comorbid psychiatric condition, mostly of the anxious type. The most frequently stressful life event reported to be associated with the onset of AjD-A was personal illness or health problem (29%). More than 50% of the AjD-A patients were markedly to extremely disabled by their symptoms. Compared to patients who consulted psychiatrists, patients who were seen by primary care physicians were older, had obtained lower scores at the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, benefited less frequently from non-pharmacological management and received benzodiazepines more frequently.

AjD-A appears to be a significantly disabling cause of anxiety symptoms in community dwelling elderly persons, in particular those presenting personal health related problems. Improvement of early diagnosis and non-pharmacological management of AjD-A would contribute to limit risks of benzodiazepine overuse, particularly in primary care settings.

Prior studies have demonstrated an inter-relationship between the diagnosis of diabetes, obesity and depression. Our data has demonstrated that baseline body mass index (BMI) was not predictive for clinical outcomes (remission at six months).

Our hypothesis was that obesity (BMI ≥30) and the diagnosis of diabetes in depressed primary patients would have no effect on depression remission rates six months after diagnosis.

This study was retrospective analysis of 1, 894 primary care patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder or Dysthymia with a PHQ-9 score of 10 or greater.

1. ▪ Outcome variable was clinical remission (PHQ-9 < 5) at six months.

2. ▪ Logistic regression modeling included the demographic variables of age, gender, marital status, the clinical variables of BMI, baseline PHQ-9 score, diagnosis of diabetes (yes/no) and clinical diagnosis (recurrent or first episode of depression, or dysthymia).

Figure 1

Odds ratio for clinical remission (PHQ-9<5) at six months in depressed primary care patients, by variable (N=1,894).

Controlling for age, gender, marital status, race, clinical diagnosis and clinical site with logistic regression modeling.

1. ▪ Baseline obesity was not an independent predictor for depression outcome at six months.

2. ▪ Diagnosis of diabetes was not an independent predictor for depression outcome at six months.

This data suggests that obesity and diabetes were not associated with worsening clinical outcomes in depression management.

Little is known about the clinical characteristics and motivations for engaging in non-suicide self-injury (NSSI) behaviors in adolescence. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence, characteristics and functions of NSSI among adolescents in community settings, and to explore risk factors related to this behavior.

Two hundred and seventy-five adolescents aged 12 to 17 were recruited randomly from different High Schools in Israel. They completed self-report questionnaires assessing NSSI (Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory), depression (Children's Depression Inventory – CDI) and impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale – BIS-II).

In the past year, 20.7% of the participants reported engaging NSSI at least once. Among them, 42.1% declared they are still engaging in NSSI at the present. Motives for NSSI were internal emotion regulation reasons, external emotion regulation reasons for social influences. In addition, the NSSI group reported significantly higher levels of depressive, impulsivity and suicidal ideations. Depressive symptoms were found as significant predictors of NSSI in the future.

High rates of NSSI among community adolescents were found. Depression, impulsivity and suicidal ideation were found significantly related to NSSI. Mental health professionals in schools and in primary care should routinely assess NSSI among adolescents.

Gender differences in psychosis have been investigated, and the results have contributed to a better understanding of the disease, but many questions are unanswered. In clinical terms, women and men with psychosis differ in terms of access to social support, tendency of substance abuse, level of functioning and symptom patterns. We aimed to investigate how gender differences at onset of psychosis develop during the first 5 years of treatment.

A total of 578 patients with a first-episode psychosis in the schizophrenia spectrum were included in the Danish OPUS trial – a randomized clinical trial comparing 2 years of intensive early-intervention programme with standard treatment. All patients were assessed with validated instruments at inclusion, and after 2 and 5 years. Data were analysed for significant gender differences.

Males have significantly higher levels of negative symptoms at all times, and are more likely to live alone and suffer from substance abuse. Females reach higher levels of social functioning at follow-up, and show a greater tendency to be employed or in education than males. Markedly more women than men live with children. More women than men reach a state of recovery and are more compliant with medication.

There are significant gender differences at 2- and 5-year follow-up in this large cohort of first-episode psychotic patients. Males and females show different symptomatology and different levels of social functioning.

Negative symptoms have been previously reported during the psychosis prodrome, however our understanding of their relationship with treatment-phase negative symptoms remains unclear.

We report the prevalence of psychosis prodrome onset negative symptoms (PONS) and ascertain whether these predict negative symptoms at first presentation for treatment.

Presence of expressivity or experiential negative symptom domains was established at first presentation for treatment using the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) in 373 individuals with a first episode psychosis. PONS were established using the Beiser Scale. The relationship between PONS and negative symptoms at first presentation was ascertained and regression analyses determined the relationship independent of confounding.

PONS prevalence was 50.3% in the schizophrenia spectrum group (n = 155) and 31.2% in the non-schizophrenia spectrum group (n = 218). In the schizophrenia spectrum group, PONS had a significant unadjusted (χ2 = 10.41, P < 0.001) and adjusted (OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.11–5.22, P = 0.027) association with first presentation experiential symptoms, however this relationship was not evident in the non-schizophrenia spectrum group. PONS did not predict expressivity symptoms in either diagnostic group.

PONS are common in schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses, and predict experiential symptoms at first presentation. Further prospective research is needed to examine whether negative symptoms commence during the psychosis prodrome.

Alors que dans l’étude Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA, Regier et al., 1900), la prévalence de la schizophrénie était de 11 % chez les toxicomanes aux opiacés, aucune étude à notre connaissance n’a évalué l’efficacité des traitements de substitution aux opiacés (TSO : méthadone ou buprénorphine) chez les sujets présentant une comorbidité dépendance opiacée/schizophrénie (Dervaux et al., 2009). L’objectif de cette étude rétrospective était d’évaluer les différences cliniques et toxicologiques entre deux populations de patients traitées par TSO : un groupe de patients schizophrènes et un groupe de patients sans troubles psychotiques.

Nous avons comparé les données sociodémographiques, cliniques et toxicologiques d’un groupe de 31 patients schizophrènes/schizoaffectifs (critères DSM-5) et d’un groupe de 31 patients non psychotiques, appariés sur l’âge, le sexe et le niveau d’étude, suivis dans le service d’addictologie de l’hôpital Sainte-Anne (Paris).

Les patients schizophrènes étaient pris en charge plus précocement que les patients non psychotiques (âge moyen du premier recours aux soins addictologiques : respectivement, 27,2 ± 8,3 vs 34,3 ± 8,8 ans, p = 0,002). Ils étaient suivis plus fréquemment dans le service d’addictologie (respectivement, 22,5 ± 12,1 vs 15,7 ± 7,2 consultations/6 mois, p = 0,009). Il n’y avait pas de différences significatives entre les deux groupes concernant les résultats des analyses toxicologiques urinaires recherchant la présence d’opiacés, de cocaïne, d’amphétamines, de cannabis et de benzodiazépines.

Cette étude préliminaire suggère que les patients schizophrènes avec comorbidité dépendance opiacée, traités par TSO, ont recours à des soins spécialisés plus rapidement et de façon plus intensive que les sujets dépendants aux opiacée non psychotiques. Leur consommation de substances était comparable aux sujets non psychotiques. Ces résultats vont dans le même sens que ceux d’une étude sur 129 patients avec une autre pathologie psychiatrique grave (troubles bipolaires, Maremmani et al., 2013). Des études prospectives seraient intéressantes pour confirmer ces résultats.

In middle-aged and older patients in whom antidepressant use increased in last decades, patterns of use might be of concern The objective of this study was to investigate the patterns of prevalence, incidence and duration of antidepressant use in an ageing population.

All participants (aged > 45 years) from the population-based Rotterdam Study were followed from January 1st 1991 until death, loss to follow-up, or end of the study period (December 31st 2011). Antidepressant drug dispensing, based on pharmacy records, were subdivided into Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and other antidepressants. One-year prevalence, 5-year incidence and duration of antidepressant use were calculated.

Yearly prevalence of antidepressant use increased from 3.9% in 1991 to 8.3% of the population in 2011. The increase in SSRI use was 5.8-fold, whereas use of other antidepressants doubled and TCA use remained stable over time. Incidence of all antidepressants decreased from 23.9 to 14.2 per 1000 person-years between 1992 and 2011. The duration of a first treatment episode increased over time.

Despite the prevalence of antidepressant use increased over time, incidence did not, which is most likely explained by a longer treatment duration and recurrent episodes.