BACKGROUND

Polypharmacy in patients with chronic disease such as Migraine Headache poses potential harm in patients such that psychological distress may come in. In relation to psychological distress, Migraine Headache patients with multiple drug use are at increased risk of anxiety and depression.

The main objective of the study is to determine the association between anxiety and depression to polypharmacy in migraine headache patients by using the data in the PNA One Headache Database.

We utilized the data obtained from the Philippine Neurological Association One (PNA-1) Headache Database from 2021 to 2024 and determine the association between Anxiety and Depression to Polypharmacy in patients with Migraine.

The number of medications taken by patients does not significantly differ across depression and anxiety levels, indicating that polypharmacy has no impact on patient’s depression and anxiety. However, the study found that patients with anxiety have more tendency to report more severe headache.

The study highlights that participants, primarily middle-aged women, experience chronic headaches with high pain severity, often lasting for hours. Educational attainment may influence headache management compliance with a large proportion having only elementary education. Headache onset typically begins in early adulthood, and medication effectiveness often diminishes over time suggesting potential tolerance issues. Anxiety is associated with reporting of increased headache severity while depression does not significantly impact headache characteristics or polypharmacy. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions and revised treatment strategies to improve headache management outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is a significant global health issue linked to high mortality and morbidity rates. It contributes not only to organ damage but also to psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression. Despite the rise in hypertensive patients experiencing these mental health issues, evidence remains insufficient.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression among hypertensive patients.

Observational studies published between 2020 and 2024 were sourced from PubMed, The Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, adapted for cross-sectional studies, was utilized to evaluate study quality. A random-effects model was employed for meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence rates of anxiety and depression, alongside subgroup and sensitivity analyses to identify sources of heterogeneity.

Fifteen studies were included, with 14 eligible for quantitative analysis. The findings indicated a prevalence rate of 35% for depression (95% CI: 26%-44%) and 41% for anxiety (95% CI: 4%-78%) among hypertensive patients. Significant heterogeneity was observed in the studies (I²=98.3% for depression, I²=99.9% for anxiety). Subgroup analyses highlighted variability in assessment scales (p < 0.001), but not by region or population source. No publication bias was identified (p = 0.663 for depression, p = 0.710 for anxiety). Factors associated with depression included uncontrolled hypertension, female gender, marital status, and social support, while anxiety was linked to similar factors plus concerns about hypertension complications.

Depression and anxiety prevalence among hypertensive patients ranges from 30-42%. Uncontrolled hypertension and social support significantly impact mental health, with major barriers to psychiatric care compliance including economic constraints, lack of education, and comorbidities.

BACKGROUND

Hypertensive patients have a high risk of developing mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Conflicting studies are available regarding the association of blood pressure control among hypertensive patients diagnosed with comorbid anxiety and/or depression.

This study aimed to determine the association of hypertension control with anxiety and depression symptoms among patients in a tertiary hospital in La Union.

A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 382 hypertensive patients at the outpatient department of Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center. A validated Filipino translation of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire was used to measure depression and anxiety symptoms. Descriptive statistics, such as frequency, percentages, mean, and standard deviation were used. The chi-square test and t-test were applied to compare anxiety and depression with socio-demographic profiles and blood pressure control through odds ratios.

Out of the 382 participants, 23% have anxiety symptoms, 7.3% have depression symptoms, and 4.2% have both conditions. Age and low income were significantly associated with depression symptoms while living alone was statistically associated with anxiety symptoms. Low educational attainment was significantly associated with both depression and anxiety symptoms. While no association was found between depression symptoms and blood pressure control, the presence of anxiety symptoms increases the likelihood of poor blood pressure control.

Hypertensive patients may experience depression and anxiety symptoms. In addition, the presence of anxiety symptoms contributes to poor BP control. Hence, early detection and regular screening of mental health conditions should be implemented to improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of disease in this population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Climate anxiety is an emerging concept defined as increased anxiety about climate change and has been linked to negative mental health outcomes. As a relatively new concept, only a few have characterized it and its relationship with mental health, especially in the Global South populations. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between climate anxiety and depressive symptoms among undergraduate students from a college in a higher education institution in Manila, Philippines. Specifically, it aimed to (1) determine the proportion of undergraduate students who reported high levels of climate anxiety and depressive symptoms; and (2) determine the association between climate anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Using a cross-sectional design and a convenience sampling method, the investigators collected data through an online survey to assess levels of climate anxiety and depressive symptoms using the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), respectively. Data was analyzed using multiple logistic regression.

Among the 148 respondents (N=325), 14.86% had high climate anxiety (i.e., CCAS score >= 3) and 62.84% had high depressive symptoms (i.e., PHQ-9 score >= 10). Regression analysis showed that the odds of those having high climate anxiety reporting high depressive symptoms are higher than those with low climate anxiety, though this is not significant (OR = 2.53, p=0.144).

The study verifies the existence of climate anxiety among undergraduate students and reflects an alarming mental health situation in the selected college. It is recommended that wide-scope investigations on the current state of climate anxiety and mental health among the youth be done to verify their impacts, along with inter-sectoral efforts such as increasing awareness through health education interventions to improve the youths’ mental health literacy and resilience to the effects of climate change, and promoting climate change-responsive mental health services to address these as pressing threats to youth health.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Filipino farmers face unique occupational challenges that increase the risk of mental health issues, particularly anxiety. This study aims to determine the different personal, environmental, socioeconomic, occupational, and psychosocial factors associated with anxiety symptoms among Filipino farmers in Central Luzon.

Chain referral sampling method was used to recruit participants for the study, who underwent screening based on the eligibility criteria. Eligible participants were then asked about anxiety symptoms using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), while the validated, researcher-constructed Data Collection Tool for Factors Associated with Anxiety Symptoms (DCFAAS) was used to determine the farmers’ exposure to a variety of factors. Microsoft Excel was utilized in computing for frequency and percent distribution of participants, in each factor. Binary logistic regression was used to compute crude and adjusted odds ratio of each factor thru IBM SPSS Statistics®.

Among the 113 eligible farmers enrolled in the study, only 19 (16.8%) experienced anxiety symptoms, with excessive worrying, which was seen among 45 participants (39.8%). The mental health of Filipino farmers was significantly affected by the presence of physical illness (OR = 10.70 [95% CI 1.367, 83.773]) and having relatives affecting work completion (OR = 6.45 [95% CI 1.346, 30.896]). 

Despite the low prevalence of anxiety symptoms in this study, the findings suggest government policies to improve mental health service access to farmers, to integrate psychosocial support into agricultural programs, and to address family-related work pressures. By addressing these factors, it can improve farmer productivity and promote overall well-being, putting emphasis on the mental health of the Filipino farmers.

INTRODUCTION: In the early phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, children with COVID-19 in Singapore required hospital isolation. We aimed to explore the psychological experiences of children and their caregivers isolated in a tertiary university hospital due to COVID-19. METHODS: A prospective mixed-methods design was used to evaluate the psychological status of hospitalised family units with one or more children aged <18 years who had severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Patient medical records were reviewed for demographic and clinical information. Parents and children ≥7 years of age underwent a psychologist-administered telephone-based interview. Self-reported, age-appropriate instruments, Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire, and Screen for Adult/Child Anxiety-Related Disorders, were used to assess anxiety and depression, respectively. Participants were also interviewed qualitatively. RESULTS: Fifteen family units were hospitalised between March 2020 and May 2020. Of these, 13 (73%) family units were recruited. The median age of the children and median hospitalisation duration were 57 months and 21 days, respectively. Median number of COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction swabs performed for each child was eight. All children had asymptomatic to mild SARS-CoV-2 disease. The criteria indicative of anxiety disorder were met by 40% of adults and 80% of children, while the criteria indicative of separation anxiety were met by 60% of parents and 100% of children. One child met the criteria indicative of depression. Uncertainty, separation, prolonged hospitalisation and frequent swabs caused significant reported anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Families, especially children, had heightened anxiety while in hospital isolation. Therefore, home-based recovery from COVID-19 and psychological support for children and their families, with focus on early recognition of anxiety disorders, are recommended. We support review of paediatric isolation policy as the pandemic evolves.
Humans ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Male ; Child ; Female ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Anxiety/etiology* ; Prospective Studies ; Adolescent ; Hospitalization ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Adult ; Child, Preschool ; Pandemics ; Parents/psychology* ; Caregivers/psychology* ; Family/psychology* ; Depression ; Patient Isolation/psychology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture and moxibustion combined with umbilical therapy on anxiety and depression in patients with neurogenic bladder (NB) after spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: Thirty cases of NB after SCI with anxiety and depression were selected and treated with acupuncture and moxibustion combined with umbilical therapy. Acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV20), Yintang (GV24⁺), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Shenmen (HT7), Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3), once a day, continuous treatment for 4 weeks. Ginger moxibustion was applied at the bladder meridian of foot taiyang and governor vessel, once a day, continuous treatment for 4 weeks. In treatment of umbilical therapy, Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri), Yujin (Radix Curcumae), Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi) were ground and mixed with the same amount of honey, put into the application, and the application was placed on the navel after filling the navel with fine salt, once a day for 4 weeks. Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) score, Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) score, urodynamic indexes (maximum urinary flow rate [Qmax], maximum detrusor pressure [Pdet-max], residual urine volume [RUV]), neurogenic bladder symptom score (NBSS), urinary symptom distress scale (USDS) score were compared before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of HAMA, HAMD, NBSS, USDS and RUVwere lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and Qmax and Pdet-max were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.3 (28/30). CONCLUSION Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with umbilical therapy can effectively relieve anxiety and depression symptoms, improve urination disorders in patients with NB after SCI.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Spinal Cord Injuries/psychology* ; Depression/etiology* ; Anxiety/etiology* ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic/etiology* ; Young Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Acupuncture Points

BACKGROUND: While emotional distress, encompassing anxiety and depression, has been associated with negative clinical outcomes, its impact across various clinical departments and general hospitals has been less explored. Previous studies with limited sample sizes have examined the effectiveness of specific treatments (e.g., antidepressants) rather than a systemic management strategy for outcome improvement in non-psychiatric inpatients. To enhance the understanding of the importance of addressing mental health care needs among non-psychiatric patients in general hospitals, this study retrospectively investigated the impacts of emotional distress and the effects of early detection and management of depression and anxiety on hospital length of stay (LOS) and rate of long LOS (LLOS, i.e., LOS >30 days) in a large sample of non-psychiatric inpatients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 487,871 inpatients from 20 non-psychiatric departments of a general hospital. They were divided, according to whether they underwent a novel strategy to manage emotional distress which deployed the Huaxi Emotional Distress Index (HEI) for brief screening with grading psychological services (BS-GPS), into BS-GPS ( n = 178,883) and non-BS-GPS ( n = 308,988) cohorts. The LOS and rate of LLOS between the BS-GPS and non-BS-GPS cohorts and between subcohorts with and without clinically significant anxiety and/or depression (CSAD, i.e., HEI score ≥11 on admission to the hospital) in the BS-GPS cohort were compared using univariable analyses, multilevel analyses, and/or propensity score-matched analyses, respectively. RESULTS: The detection rate of CSAD in the BS-GPS cohort varied from 2.64% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.49%-2.81%) to 20.50% (95% CI: 19.43%-21.62%) across the 20 departments, with a average rate of 5.36%. Significant differences were observed in both the LOS and LLOS rates between the subcohorts with CSAD (12.7 days, 535/9590) and without CSAD (9.5 days, 3800/169,293) and between the BS-GPS (9.6 days, 4335/178,883) and non-BS-GPS (10.8 days, 11,483/308,988) cohorts. These differences remained significant after controlling for confounders using propensity score-matched comparisons. A multilevel analysis indicated that BS-GPS was negatively associated with both LOS and LLOS after controlling for sociodemographics and the departments of patient discharge and remained negatively associated with LLOS after controlling additionally for the year of patient discharge. CONCLUSION Emotional distress significantly prolonged the LOS and increased the LLOS of non-psychiatric inpatients across most departments and general hospitals. These impacts were moderated by the implementation of BS-GPS. Thus, BS-GPS has the potential as an effective, resource-saving strategy for enhancing mental health care and optimizing medical resources in general hospitals.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Psychological Distress ; Inpatients/psychology* ; Aged ; Anxiety/diagnosis* ; Depression/diagnosis*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anxiety-like behaviors, circadian rhythms and sleep, and to elucidate the possible underlying mechanisms of the abnormal sleep behavior in Shank3 gene knockout (Shank3-KO) mice. The anxiety-like behaviors were detected by elevated plus-maze (EPM) test, open field test (OFT) and tail suspension test (TST). The circadian rhythms were detected by running wheel test. The electroencephalogram (EEG)/electromyogram (EMG) recordings were performed synchronically by polysomnograph. The distribution of SHANK3 in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), paraventricular thalamus (PVT), nucleus accumbens (NAc), basolateral amygdala (BLA) and hippocampal CA2 region in wild type (WT) mice was detected by immunofluorescence assay. The protein expression of c-Fos in PVT, ACC and NAc was also detected by immunofluorescence assay during light cycle. The colocalization of c-Fos and vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (Vglut2, a marker for glutamatergic neurons) in the PVT was detected by immunofluorescence double labeling experiment. The results of EPM test showed that, compared with the WT mice, the Shank3-KO mice showed less time in open arms and less number of open arm entries. The results of OFT showed that the Shank3-KO mice showed less time in central area and less number of central area entries. The immobility time of Shank3-KO mice was increased in the TST. The results of running wheel rhythm test showed that the phase shift time of Shank3-KO mice in the continuous dark period was increased. The results of EEG/EMG recording showed that, compared with the WT mice, the duration of wakefulness in Shank3-KO mice was increased and the duration of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep was decreased during light phase; The bout number of wakefulness was increased, the bout number of NREM sleep was decreased, NREM-wake transitions were increased, and wake-NREM transitions were decreased during light phase. SHANK3 was expressed in ACC, PVT, NAc and BLA in the WT mice. The expression of c-Fos in the PVT of Shank3-KO mice was up-regulated 2 h after entering the light phase, and majority of c-Fos was co-localized with Vglut2. These results suggest that the anxiety level of Shank3-KO mice is increased, the regulation of the internal rhythms is decreased, and the bout number of wakefulness is increased during light phase. The glutamatergic neurons in PVT may be involved in the regulation of abnormal sleep behavior in Shank3-KO mice during the light phase.
Animals ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/physiology* ; Male ; Midline Thalamic Nuclei/cytology* ; Circadian Rhythm/physiology* ; Sleep/physiology* ; Anxiety/physiopathology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/metabolism* ; Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microfilament Proteins

Anxiety disorder is a highly prevalent psychological illness, and research has shown that obesity is a significant risk factor for its development. This study explored the ameliorative effects and mechanisms of saponins from Panax japonicus(SPJ) on anxiety disorder in mice fed a high-fat diet(HFD). Fifty C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal control diet(NCD) group, HFD group, and low-and high-dose SPJ groups. At week 12, six mice from the HFD group were further divided into a control group(treated with DMSO) and an exogenous fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21) group(administered rFGF21). The anxiety-like behavior of the mice was assessed using the open field test and elevated plus maze test. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and oil red O staining were performed to observe pathological changes in the liver and adipose tissue. Glucose metabolism was evaluated through the glucose tolerance test(GTT) and insulin tolerance test(ITT). Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of FGF21 and its downstream-related proteins in the liver and cortex, along with the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF), disks large homolog 4(DLG4), and synaptophysin(SYP) in the cortex. Real-time quantitative fluorescent PCR(qPCR) was used to detect the expression of FGF21 and its receptor genes in the liver and cortex. Immunofluorescence staining was employed to examine the expression of neuronal activator c-Fos, FGF21, and the FGF21 co-receptor β-klotho in the cerebral cortex. The results showed that SPJ significantly improved the frequency of activity in the open arms of the elevated plus maze and the central area of the open field in HFD mice, up-regulated the expression of BDNF, DLG4, and SYP, and effectively alleviated anxiety-like behaviors in HFD mice. Compared with the NCD group, HFD mice exhibited up-regulated expression of FGF21 in the liver and cerebral cortex, while the expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1(FGFR1) and β-klotho was significantly down-regulated, suggesting that HFD mice exhibited FGF21 resistance. SPJ markedly up-regulated the β-klotho levels in HFD mice, reversing FGF21 resistance. Further comparison with exogenously administered FGF21 revealed that SPJ activates brain cortical regions in a consistent manner, and additionally, SPJ promotes the number and colocalization of c-Fos and β-klotho positive cells in the brain cortex. In summary, SPJ effectively alleviates anxiety-like behaviors in HFD mice. Its mechanism is associated with up-regulation of β-klotho expression in the brain, reversal of FGF21 resistance, and subsequent activation of neurons in the cerebral cortex and amygdala.
Animals ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects* ; Fibroblast Growth Factors/genetics* ; Mice ; Male ; Panax/chemistry* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Anxiety/etiology* ; Saponins/administration & dosage* ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/genetics* ; Humans ; Liver/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*