PURPOSE: This study was done to examine how laughter therapy impacts serotonin levels, QOL and depression in middle-aged women and to perform a path analysis for verification of the effects. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study employing a nonequivalent control group and pre-post design was conducted. Participants were 64 middle-aged women (control=14 and experimental=50 in 3 groups according to level of depression). The intervention was conducted five times a week for a period of 2 weeks and the data analysis was conducted using repeated measures ANOVA, ANCOVA and LISREL. RESULTS: Results showed that pre serotonin and QOL in women with severe depression were the lowest. Serotonin in the experimental groups increased after the 10th intervention (p=.006) and the rise was the highest in the group with severe depression (p=.001). Depression in all groups decreased after the 5th intervention (p=.022) and the biggest decline was observed in group with severe depression (p=.007). QOL of the moderate and severe groups increased after the 10th intervention (p=.049), and the increase rate was highest in group with severe depression (p<.006). Path analysis revealed that laughter therapy did not directly affect depression, but its effect was indirectly meditated through serotonin variation (p<.001). CONCLUSION: Results indicate that serotonin activation through laughter therapy can help middle-aged women by lessening depression and providing important grounds for depression control.
Adult ; Depression/pathology/*therapy ; Female ; Humans ; *Laughter Therapy ; Middle Aged ; *Quality of Life ; Serotonin/*blood ; Severity of Illness Index ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUNDElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can alleviate the symptoms of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Functional network connectivity (FNC) is a newly developed method to investigate the brain's functional connectivity patterns. The first aim of this study was to investigate FNC alterations between TRD patients and healthy controls. The second aim was to explore the relationship between the ECT treatment response and pre-ECT treatment FNC alterations in individual TRD patients.

METHODSThis study included 82 TRD patients and 41 controls. Patients were screened at baseline and after 2 weeks of treatment with a combination of ECT and antidepressants. Group information guided-independent component analysis (GIG-ICA) was used to compute subject-specific functional networks (FNs). Grassmann manifold and step-wise forward component selection using support vector machines were adopted to perform the FNC measure and extract the functional networks' connectivity patterns (FCP). Pearson's correlation analysis was used to calculate the correlations between the FCP and ECT response.

RESULTSA total of 82 TRD patients in the ECT group were successfully treated. On an average, 8.50 ± 2.00 ECT sessions were conducted. After ECT treatment, only 42 TRD patients had an improved response to ECT (the Hamilton scores reduction rate was more than 50%), response rate 51%. 8 FNs (anterior and posterior default mode network, bilateral frontoparietal network, audio network, visual network, dorsal attention network, and sensorimotor network) were obtained using GIG-ICA. We did not found that FCPs were significantly different between TRD patients and healthy controls. Moreover, the baseline FCP was unrelated to the ECT treatment response.

CONCLUSIONSThe FNC was not significantly different between the TRD patients and healthy controls, and the baseline FCP was unrelated to the ECT treatment response. These findings will necessitate that we modify the experimental scheme to explore the mechanisms underlying ECT's effects on depression and explore the specific predictors of the effects of ECT based on the pre-ECT treatment magnetic resonance imaging.

Adult ; Brain ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Depression ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electroconvulsive Therapy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the Military Mental Health Promotion Program. The program was an email based cognitive behavioral intervention. METHODS: The research design was a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Participants were 32 soldiers who agreed to participate in the program. Data were collected at three different times from January 2012 to March 2012; pre-test, post-test, and a one-month follow-up test. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 18.0. The effectiveness of the program was tested by repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: The first hypothesis that the level of depression in the experimental group who participated in the program would decrease compared to the control group was not supported in that the difference in group-time interaction was not statistically significant (F=2.19, p=.121). The second and third hypothesis related to anxiety and self-esteem were supported in group-time interaction, respectively (F=7.41, p=.001, F=11.67, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Results indicate that the program is effective in improving soldiers' mental health status in areas of anxiety and self-esteem.
Anxiety ; Cognitive Therapy ; Depression/pathology ; Electronic Mail ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; *Mental Health ; Military Personnel/*psychology ; *Program Evaluation ; Questionnaires ; Self Concept ; Severity of Illness Index ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of baicalin on nerve tissue in rat with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

METHODSRats were randomly divided into five groups: the sham-operated group, the ICH model group, and the three baicalin treated groups treated respectively with small, medium and large doses of baicalin. ICH rat model was established by injecting collagenase VII into caudate nucleus. Baicalin was given by peritoneal injection to the baicalin treated groups, and saline was given to the other two groups once a day started from 2 h after modeling. Animals were sacrificed in batches on the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 10th day of treatment to take their brains for detecting protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) expression and cell apoptosis in brain tissue surrounding hematoma by Western blot and TUNEL method, respectively. And the water content of brain was estimated by dry-wet weight method.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the PAR-1 expression and TUNEL-positive cells were significantly reduced in the baicalin treated groups; and brain edema was also significantly reduced (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe up-regulated PAR-1 expression after ICH in rats might play an important role in inducing cell apoptosis and brain edema. Baicalin shows significant protective effect on ICH rats, which may be related to its effects in inhibiting PAR-1 expression and decreasing apoptosis cells, so as to reduce brain edema.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; drug therapy ; Depression, Chemical ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, PAR-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of "Shuganjieyu" (SGJY) capsules on neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal CA3 area and the expression of caspase-3 in the brain of rat depression model, and to investigate its pharmacological mechanisms in depression treatment. METHODS: Adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: a control, a model, a SGJY and a fluoxetine group. The rat depression model was established under chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and separate feeding. The behaviors were measured by open-field test, sucrose consumption and forced swimming test. We observed the neuronal morphology structure and neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampal CA3 area. We detected the rat caspase-3 expression level of medial prefrontal cortex ( mPFC) and hippocampal CA3 area by Western blot. RESULTS: After 21-day stress, compared with the model group, spontaneous activity and sucrose consumption and preference percentage of the rats in the SGJY group significantly increased, while the immobility time in forced swimming test, the number of apoptotic cells and the protein levels of caspase-3 significantly reduced (P<0.01 or 0.05). There was no significant difference between the SGJY group and the fluoxetine group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION SGJY capsules can reduce the depression symptoms of CUMS and help to increase hippocampal neuron generation, survival and neogenesis, reduce the protein levels of caspase-3, and reverse neurocyte apoptosis in the rat depression model with the same efficacy as fluoxetine.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; CA3 Region, Hippocampal ; enzymology ; pathology ; Capsules ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Depression ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Neurons ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Baisong tablets on the nerve-biochemistry and neuroendocrine of chronic mild unpredicted stress depression in rats. METHODS: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to 4 groups: a normal control (NC), a model control (MC), a fluoxetine control (FC) and a Baisong tablet treatment group (BST). All rats except the control group were singly housed and exposed to an unpredicted sequence of mild stressor. The levels of serotonin (5-HT), glutamate (Glu) and gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA) of the hippocampus were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The concentration of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (CORT) in the plasma of the rats were detected by radio-immunity. The CRHmRNA expressions in the hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex were semiquantified by RT-PCR method. The differences of BDNF and TrkB protein expression in CA1 and CA3 pyramidal and dentate gyrus granule cells layers of hippocampus were investigated with immunohistochemistry technique. RESULTS: In comparison with NC group, the levels of 5-HT, and GABA of the hippocampus in MC rats reduced significantly (P<0.01), and the concentration of CRH, ACTH, and CORT of the plasma and the level of Glu of the hippocampus and CRH mRNA expression in the brain increased significantly. Fluoxetine or Baisong could significantly regulate the abnormal changes of all the above. CONCLUSION Chronic mild unpredicted stress can affect neuroendoerine and cause depression, and Baisong tablet has antagonism against it.
Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone ; metabolism ; Depression ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Physiological ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

Our study aimed to establish the relationship between the number of depressive symptoms and the clinical characteristics of major depressive disorder (MDD). This would enable us to predict the clinical significance of the number of depressive symptoms in MDD patients. Using data from the Clinical Research Center for Depression (CRESCEND) study in Korea, 853 patients with DSM-IV MDD were recruited. The baseline and clinical characteristics of groups with different numbers of depressive symptoms were compared using the χ2 test for discrete variables and covariance (ANCOVA) for continuous variables. In addition, the scores of these groups on the measurement tools were compared by ANCOVA after adjusting the potential effects of confounding variables. After adjusting the effects of monthly income and history of depression, a larger number of depressive symptoms indicated higher overall severity of depression (F [4, 756] = 21.458, P < 0.001) and higher levels of depressive symptoms (F [4, 767] = 19.145, P < 0.001), anxiety symptoms (F [4, 765] = 12.890, P < 0.001) and suicidal ideation (F [4, 653] = 6.970, P < 0.001). It also indicated lower levels of social function (F [4, 760] = 13.343, P < 0.001), and quality of life (F [4, 656] = 11.975, P < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in alcohol consumption (F [4, 656] = 11.975, P < 0.001). The number of depressive symptoms can be used as an index of greater illness burden in clinical psychiatry.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Analysis of Variance ; Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use ; Anxiety ; *Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major/drug therapy/*pathology/psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sex Factors ; Suicidal Ideation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the mediation of psychological distress in the relationship between disturbance in ADL from chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy and quality of life in order to provide a basis for planning nursing interventions to improve the quality of life in cancer patients. METHODS: A purposive sample of 130 patients treated with chemotherapy were recruited in the cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires. The instruments were the Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tool (CIPNAT), Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). RESULTS: The mean score for disturbance in ADL from chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy was 3.30. Overall quality of life was 2.48. The mean score was 1.04 for psychological distress. The prevalence was 35.4% for anxiety and 47.7% for depression. There were significant correlations among the three variables, disturbance in ADL from chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy, psychosocial distress, and quality of life. Psychosocial distress had a complete mediating effect (beta= -.74, p <.001) in the relationship between disturbance in ADL from chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy and quality of life (Sobel test: Z= -6.11, p <.001). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, nursing intervention programs focusing on disturbance of ADL management, and decrease of psychological distress are highly recommended to improve quality of life in cancer patients.
*Activities of Daily Living ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Anxiety ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms/drug therapy/pathology/*psychology ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/*etiology ; *Quality of Life ; Self Report ; Stress, Psychological ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of physical symptoms, anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL) during chemotherapy for colorectal cancer patients in South Korea and to identify factors influencing their QOL. METHODS: Data were collected from 144 colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy during 2012 at one general hospital located in Seoul. Physical symptoms were measured by the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Gastrointestinal Cancer Module, and anxiety and depression were measured by the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale. QOL was measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe post hoc test, Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Mean age of the participants was 56.6 and most of them were not employed. In terms of cancer stage, 38.2% were in stage 3, followed by stage 4 (34.7%). The most frequent symptom was lack of appetite, followed by sleep disturbance and fatigue. The mean score for anxiety was 5.40 with a prevalence of 23% and that of depression 8.85 with a prevalence of 64.6%. The mean score for quality of life was 81.93 out of 136 and 75.3% of the variance in QOL was explained by depression, symptoms, anxiety, treatment place, and occupational status. Depression was the strongest predictive factor. CONCLUSION: Oncology professionals need to pay special attention to relieving depression as well as physical symptoms to improve QOL during chemotherapy for colorectal cancer patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Anxiety ; Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy/pathology/*psychology ; Depression/epidemiology ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prevalence ; *Quality of Life ; Republic of Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects and anti-depression mechanisms of Kaixin Jieyu Decoction (, KJD).

METHODSThe rat vascular depression (VD) model was established by ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries (LBCCA) combined with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham, VD model, VD + high-dose KJD [15.4 g/(kg·d) of crude drug], VD + medium-dose KJD [7.7 g/(kg·d) of crude drug], and VD + fluoxetine [2.4 mg/(kg·d)] groups (n=8 in each group), and the treatments lasted for 21 days. Changes of behavior and hippocampus pathology were observed. The level of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) protein and mRNA in hippocampus was detected respectively by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSCompared with the sham group, rats in model group showed a variety of behavioral obstacles, including a significant reduction in sucrose consumption percentage, horizontal and vertical activity scores in open-field tests (P<0.05 or P<0.01), pathological damage like neuronal degeneration, necrosis, and a significant decrease of GFAP protein and mRNA in hippocampus (P<0.01); compared with the model group, rats in the high-dose KJD group, medium-dose KJD group and fluoxetine group obtained notable higher behavioral scores, and pathological injury lessened in hippocampus with a increased expression of GFAP protein and mRNA P<0.05 or P<0.01); compared with the medium-dose KJD group and fluoxetine group, GFAP mRNA in high-dose KJD group expressed higer (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONLBCCA combined with CUMS may cause depression-like behavioral changes resulting in the VD model of rats whose depression state can be ameliorated by KJD, and the mechanism of cerebral protection is related possibly with promoting expression of GFAP in hippocampus.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Depression ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats, Wistar ; Transition Temperature