1.Dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder: research progress and challenges
Zhiyuan LI ; Shuhan HE ; Guoping HUANG
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(1):1-6
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is one of the empirically supported therapeutic approaches for borderline personality disorder (BPD). By integrating behaviorism, dialectical philosophy, biosocial theory and Zen principles, DBT aims to enhance patients' emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness and distress tolerance, thereby alleviating BPD symptoms. This article systematically reviews the theoretical foundations of DBT and its research progress in BPD treatment, to Delve into the intervention effects of DBT, as well as the adjuvant role of pharmacotherapy and physiotherapy in enhancing DBT for BPD, and analyzes the challenges faced in DBT research and clinical application. The findings are expected to provide new insights for the localization and theoretical research of DBT in China.
2.Clinical efficacy of escitalopram combined with transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation therapy for patients with major depressive disorder and its effect on plasma IL-6 and IL-10 levels
Jin LI ; Jinbo SUN ; Di WU ; Wenjun WU ; Runzhu SUN ; Shanshan XUE ; Yapeng CUI ; Huaning WANG ; Yihuan CHEN
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(1):7-13
BackgroundInvasive vagus nerve stimulation therapy has been approved for the adjunctive treatment of treatment-resistant depression, which may contribute to the anti-inflammatory properties of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), whereas the efficacy of non-invasive transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation (tcVNS) in treating major depressive disorder (MDD) and its impact on plasma inflammatory factors remain unclear. ObjectiveTo observe the effect of escitaloprom combined with tcVNS on the status of depression, anxiety and sleep quality as well as the plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in MDD patients, in order to provide references for the recovery and treatment of MDD patients. MethodsFrom August 21, 2019 to April 17, 2024, 45 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for MDD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) were recruited from the psychosomatic outpatient clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University. Subjects were divided into study group (n=23) and control group (n=22) using random number table method. All patients were treated with escitalopram. On this basis, study group added a 30-minute tcVNS therapy once a day for 4 weeks. While control group was given corresponding sham stimulation, and the duration of each stimulation lasted 30 seconds. Before and after 4 weeks of treatment, Hamilton Depression Scale-17 item (HAMD-17) was used to assess depressive symptoms, and HAMD-17 anxiety/somatization subfactor and insomnia subfactor were used to assess patients' anxiety/somatization symptoms and sleep quality. Levels of plasma IL-6 and IL-10 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsThe generalized estimating equation model yielded a significant time effect for HAMD-17 total score, anxiety/somatization subfactor score and insomnia subfactor score in both groups (Wald χ2=315.226, 495.481, 82.420, P<0.01). After 4 weeks of treatment, HAMD-17 total score and anxiety/somatization subfactor score of study group were lower than those of control group, with statistically significant differences (Wald χ2=4.967, 32.543, P<0.05 or 0.01), while no statistically significant difference was found in the insomnia subfactor score between two groups (Wald χ2=0.819, P=0.366). Significant time effects were reported on plasma IL-6 and IL-10 levels in both groups (Wald χ2=21.792, 5.242, P<0.05 or 0.01). Compared with baseline data, a reduction in plasma IL-6 levels was detected in both groups (Wald χ2=22.015, 6.803, P<0.01), and an increase in plasma IL-10 levels was reported in study group (Wald χ2=5.118, P=0.024) after 4 weeks of treatment. ConclusionEscitalopram combined with tcVNS therapy is effective in improving depressive symptoms, anxiety/somatization symptoms and sleep quality in patients with MDD. Additionally, it helps reduce plasma IL-6 levels and increase IL-10 levels. [Funded by Shaanxi Provincial Key Research and Development Program-General Project (number, 2023-YBSF-185), www.clinicaltrials.gov number, NCT04037111]
3.Effect of target characteristics on prospective memory in patients with depressive disorder
Min CHEN ; Dongsheng LYU ; Zheng WANG ; You HOU
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(1):14-21
BackgroundMany studies have shown that patients with depressive disorder show impairments in prospective memory, while it is deemed necessary for facilitating their social reintegration, and the current research findings are inconsistent regarding the factors affecting prospective memory of patients with depressive disorder. ObjectiveTo explore the impact of target characteristics (emotional valence and salience) on prospective memory in patients with depressive disorder, so as to provide references for the training and recovery of prospective memory function in these patients. MethodsFrom January to December 2022, 53 patients with depressive disorder were recruited from the outpatient department of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Mental Health Center. Meanwhile, 45 healthy individuals were concurrently recruited from surrounding communities as control group. An experiment with a 2 (participant type: depressive disorder, healthy control) ×2 (target salience: salient, non-salient) ×3 (emotional valence: positive, neutral, negative) factorial design was conducted. The positive/neutral/negative emotional pictures from Chinese Affective Picture System (CAPS) were used for emotional stimulation. A dual-task experimental paradigm was adopted, and the response time and accuracy in prospective memory task and ongoing task were recorded for participants with different target characteristics. Results①In the prospective memory task, the main effect of participant type was statistically significant, with the depressive group showing lower accuracy (F=14.892, P<0.01) and longer response time (F=10.642, P=0.002) compared with control group. ② The main effect of target emotional valence on accuracy (F=7.575, P=0.001) and response time (F=3.196, P=0.044) in the prospective memory task was statistically significant. Simple effect analysis revealed that depressive group yielded a shorter response time and higher accuracy rate under negative conditions compared with positive and neutral conditions (P<0.05 or 0.01). ③ The main effect of target salience on accuracy (F=6.659, P=0.012) and response time (F=10.106, P=0.002) in the prospective memory task was also statistically significant, with higher accuracy and shorter response time for salient targets compared with non-salient targets. ConclusionPatients with depressive disorder demonstrate preferential attention to and processing of negative stimuli in prospective memory tasks, while increasing target salience may facilitate spontaneous processing of prospective memory task in patients with depressive disorder. [Funded by Inner Mongolia Health Commission Medical Health Science and Technology Project (number, 202202104)]
4.Decision-making behavior in patients with depressive disorder and its relationship with depressive and anxiety symptoms
Yuxiang WANG ; Luoya ZHANG ; Maomao ZHANG ; Juan DENG ; Yanjie PENG ; Xiaotong CHENG ; Kezhi LIU ; Wei LEI ; Jing CHEN
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(1):22-27
BackgroundPatients with depressive disorder often exhibit impaired decision-making functions. However, the relationship between decision-making abilities and depressive and anxiety symptoms in these patients remains unclear. ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of decision-making behavior in patients with depressive disorder, and to analyze its relationship with clinical symptoms. MethodsA total of 48 patients diagnosed with depressive disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) were recruited from the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine of the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from October 2020 to May 2023. Concurrently, 52 healthy individuals matched for age and gender were recruited from Luzhou as the control group. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used for assessment, and decision-making behavior was evaluated using Probabilistic Reversal Learning (PRL) task. Indicators assessed included the number of trials to criterion, perseverative errors, win-stay rate and lose-shift rate. Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between BDI and BAI scores and PRL task indicators. ResultsThe depression group showed a significantly higher lose-shift rate compared with the control group (t=3.684, P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in trials to criterion, perseverative errors and win-stay rate (t=0.329, 0.132, 0.609, P>0.05). In depression group, BDI and BAI scores were positively correlated with the win-stay rate(r=0.450, 0.398, P<0.01). ConclusionPatients with depressive disorder are more likely to change their decision-making strategies following negative outcomes. Furthermore, the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms is associated with a greater propensity to maintain existing decisions after receiving positive feedback. [Funded by 2019 Joint Project of Luzhou Science and Technology Bureau-Southwest Medical University (number, 2019LZXNYDJ39]
5.Relationship between levels of novel inflammatory indicators and aggressivity in patients with first-episode and recurrent schizophrenia
Ying'ao CUI ; Cheng YANG ; Yinghan TIAN ; Qingqing SHEN ; Huanzhong LIU
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(1):28-33
BackgroundAggressive behavior in schizophrenic patients could result in legal disputes and public safety concerns. In patients with illness episodes of different numbers, there may exist differences in the association between levels of novel inflammatory indicators and aggressivity. ObjectiveTo investigate the differences in the correlation between levels of novel inflammatory indicators and aggressivity in patients with first-episode and recurrent schizophrenia, in order to search for inflammatory biomarkers to assess aggression level in schizophrenic patients. MethodsA total of 168 schizophrenic patients were selected as subjects, who were hospitalized for acute disease onset in Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University from October 2022 to April 2024 as well as met the diagnostic criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5). Patients were divided into first-episode group (n=58) and recurrent group (n=110). Meanwhile, 110 healthy controls from community who matched in age and gender with the patient group were recruited. All patients were evaluated with Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). All subjects went through examination of the levels of novel inflammatory indicators, including neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil/high-density lipoprotein ratio (NHR), monocyte/high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) and platelet/high-density lipoprotein ratio (PHR). Spearman correlation analysis was adopted to investigate the correlation between levels of novel inflammatory indicators and the total score of MOAS in patients with first-episode and recurrent schizophrenia. ResultsThe levels of NLR, MLR, PLR, NHR, MHR and PHR in first-episode group were higher than those in control group (adjusted P<0.01). The levels of NLR, MLR, NHR, MHR and PHR in recurrent group were higher than those in control group (adjusted P<0.01). No significant difference was observed in the comparison in the levels of six novel inflammatory indicators between first-episode group and recurrent group (adjusted P>0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed, the MOAS total score of recurrent group was positively correlated with the levels of NLR, MLR and PLR (r=0.234, 0.192, 0.243, P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in the correlation between MOAS total score and levels of six novel inflammatory indicators in first-episode group (P>0.05). ConclusionAmong patients with first-episode and recurrent schizophrenia, the correlation between levels of novel inflammatory indicators and aggressivity could differ. NLR, MLR and PLR might be the biomarkers for assessing aggression level in recurrent schizophrenic patients. [Funded by Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation (number, 2108085MH275)]
6.Impact of "Internet +" empowerment education based on timing it right on psychological craving, anxiety symptoms and relapse rates in patients with alcohol dependence
Hao WANG ; Wei LI ; Wen'ge ZHEN ; Yuanyuan LI ; Jie LIU
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(1):34-40
BackgroundAlcohol dependence patients are prone to relapse after their attempts to quit drinking, which poses a considerable threat to their physical and mental health and creates a heavy burden on their families. Currently, empowerment education is increasingly being utilized in the rehabilitation management of chronic diseases, but there remains a striking lack of empirical research on the application of "Internet +" empowerment education based on timing it right in alcohol dependence patients. ObjectiveTo explore the impact of "Internet +" empowerment education based on timing it right on patients with alcohol dependence, in order to maximize the reduction in relapse rates, craving for alcohol and severity of anxiety symptoms. MethodsA total of 120 patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Addiction Medicine, Hebei Provincial Mental Health Center from May 2022 to April 2023 and met the diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence in the International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10) were enrolled, and they were classified into study group (n=62) and control group (n=58) using random number table methods. Both groups received standard medication and routine care. Additionally, study group underwent a 6-month "Internet +" empowerment education based on timing it right. At baseline, all subjects were assessed using Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Three months and six months after intervention, assessments were conducted using PACS, SAS and Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). ResultsThe relapse rates after three and six months of intervention were both lower in study group than those in control group, with statistically significant differences (χ2=8.575, 8.828, P<0.01). ANOVA with repeated measures on PACS total score and scores of each item revealed a significant time effect, group effect and time×group interaction effect (F=159.714~837.751, 84.645~393.606, 24.302~137.896, P<0.01). And significant time effect, group effect and time×group interaction effect were also reported on SAS scores (F=166.237, 65.325, 24.724, P<0.01). Conclusion"Internet +" empowerment education based on timing it right may help reduce relapse rates, alcohol cravings and severity of anxiety symptoms among patients with alcohol dependence. [Funded by 2023 Annual Hebei Provincial Medical Scientific Research Project Plan (number, 20231537)]
7.Rumination level and its influencing factors among middle-advanced cancer inpatients: a multicenter cross-sectional study
Songmei DU ; Xiaolin WU ; Dan HE ; Qinggui WU ; Yuying LIAN ; Hongxia GONG
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(1):41-45
BackgroundRumination can play a certain degree role of psychological adjustment in cancer patients. Previous studies have focused on studying the level of rumination in a single type of cancer patient, but there is a lack of comprehensive investigation and influencing factor research on rumination levels in different types of cancer patients. ObjectiveTo explore the level of rumination and its influencing factors among middle-advanced cancer inpatients, so as to provide certain guidance for targeted psychological care in clinical practice. MethodsFrom January 2021 to December 2022, a systematic sampling technique was used to recruit 346 patients with TNM stage III or above tumors hospitalized in Nuclear Industry 416 Hospital, Chengdu Sixth People's Hospital and the First People's Hospital of Yibin. All individuals were assessed using Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) and the Chinese version of Event-Related Ruminant Inventory (C-ERRI), and Logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify the influencing factors of rumination. ResultsIn terms of C-ERRI, patients scored (15.59±5.61) on intrusive rumination and (14.59±5.43) on deliberate rumination. Education levels of junior high school/high school/vocational training school (OR=0.817, P<0.01) and junior college and above (OR=0.579, P<0.05) were the protective factors of intrusive rumination, whereas annual personal incomes of <10 000 yuan (OR=4.918, P<0.01) or 10 000~50 000 yuan (OR=2.076, P<0.01) and low (OR=6.882, P<0.01) or middle (OR=3.114, P<0.01) level of social support were the risk factors of intrusive rumination. For deliberate rumination, education levels of junior high school/high school/vocational training school (OR=0.574, P<0.01) and junior college and above (OR=0.449, P<0.05) were the protective factors, and low (OR=1.391, P<0.01) or middle (OR=1.161, P<0.05) levels of social support were the risk factors. ConclusionThe level of intrusive rumination of inpatients with middle-advanced cancer is related to education level, economic status and social support, furthermore, the level of deliberate rumination is related to the educational level and social support. [Funded by Medical Research Project of Chengdu Health Commission ( number, 2020119)]
8.Analysis of latent profiles and influencing factors of sleep in first-trimester pregnant women
Siqi LIU ; Shu CAI ; Yunfang LIANG ; Yingyao TAN
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(1):46-52
BackgroundSleep disorder in the first trimester is a fairly common health problem, and previous studies have mainly reflected the overall sleep quality through scale assessments, which may not accurately capture the differences among various subtypes. ObjectiveTo explore the latent profiles of sleep quality in first-trimester pregnant women and identify the physiological, psychological and social factors, in order to provide practical references for the development of personalized interventions for sleep disorders in first-trimester pregnant women. MethodsA total of 1 066 first-trimester pregnant women who visited the obstetric outpatient clinic of a tertiary A hospital in Shenzhen from October 2021 to October 2022 were investigated using the general information questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Chinese version of short International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-S-C) and Social Capital Assessment Tool in Pregnancy for Maternal Health (SCAT-MH). Then the sleep profiles were identified through latent profile analysis, and the robust mixture regression model was employed to determine the influencing factors of sleep profiles. ResultsA 3-profile solution showed the best fit: 732 cases (68.67%) of good sleep quality group, 87 cases (8.16%) of low sleep efficiency group, and 247 cases (23.17%) of daytime dysfunction group. In comparison with subjects in good sleep quality group, first-trimester pregnant women in low sleep efficiency group were at a younger age (OR=0.951, 95% CI: 0.922~0.980), held a Bachelor's degree or above (OR=1.869, 95% CI: 1.260~2.773) and exhibited lower levels of social capital (OR=0.962, 95% CI: 0.951~0.973), while those in daytime dysfunction group were at an older age (OR=1.072, 95% CI: 1.027~1.120) and had higher levels of depression (OR=1.166, 95% CI: 1.115~1.218). Pregnant women who were workers (OR=0.507, 95% CI: 0.293~0.876) were less likely to report daytime dysfunction. ConclusionThree latent profiles with significant heterogeneity are derived from the sleep quality of first-trimester pregnant women, and levels of depression and social capital are the main influencing factors of sleep quality. [Funded by Industry-University-Research Innovation Fund for Chinese Universities (number, 2023HT018)]
9.Effects of loneliness, social support and social media use on post-traumatic stress symptoms among post-earthquake adolescents
Zhaoran GUO ; Qicheng CHE ; Zhihong WU ; Wei SHI
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(1):53-58
BackgroundPost-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) is highly prevalent in adolescents who have experienced earthquake, which seriously threatens their physical and mental health, yet there is currently a lack of research on the effects of loneliness, social support and social media use on PTSS among post-earthquake adolescents. ObjectiveTo assess the PTSS among adolescents experiencing MS6.0 Luxian, Sichuan, earthquake on 16 September 2021, and to investigate the effects of loneliness, social support and social media use on PTSS, so as to provide references for the intervention of PTSS among post-earthquake adolescents. MethodsOn November 12, 2021, simple random sampling technique was used to select 2 522 post-earthquake adolescents in Luxian county of Luzhou city in Sichuan province. All subjects were assessed using Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-3) and Social Media Use Scale (SM-10). Binary Logistic regression was used to determine the factors influencing PTSS among post-earthquake adolescents. ResultsPTSS was detected in 91 (3.61%) adolescents. Binary Logistic regression revealed that perceived social support from family members (OR=0.926, 95% CI: 0.879~0.976) was a protective factor for PTSS among post-earthquake adolescents. Lack of companionship (OR=1.764, 95% CI: 1.141~2.727), feeling isolated (OR=2.037, 95% CI: 1.282~3.236), and viewing negative emotional response of disaster victims through social media (OR=1.615, 95% CI: 1.291~2.020) were risk factors for PTSS among post-earthquake adolescents. ConclusionLack of companionship, feeling isolated, and viewing negative emotional response of disaster victims through social media pose a negative impact on PTSS among post-earthquake adolescents, while perceived social support from family members exert a positive impact on PTSS among post-earthquake adolescents. [Funded by Humanity and Social Science Youth foundation of Ministry of Education of China (number, 22YJC190019); Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province (number, 2023NSFSC1486)]
10.Influence of academic procrastination on college students' mobile phone dependence: the pathways of cognitive emotion regulation strategies and anxiety
Zimo YANG ; Jiacheng GAO ; Jiayi MA ; Jiangli JIAO
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(1):59-64
BackgroundIt has been shown that academic procrastination, cognitive emotion regulation strategies, anxiety and mobile phone dependence are closely related, but the detailed mechanism by which academic procrastination contributes to mobile phone dependence remains largely unclear and mediation analysis is currently lacking. ObjectiveTo explore the mediation role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies and anxiety in the relationship between academic procrastination and mobile phone dependence among college students, so as to provide references for the prevention and intervention of college students' mobile phone dependence. MethodsIn March 2023, 474 students from Xinjiang Normal University were selected by random sampling technique, and Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI), Procrastination Assessment Scale-Students (PASS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Chinese version (CERQ-C) were used to conduct the survey. Pearson correlation analysis was adopted to examine the correlation among all variables, and Process 3.5 macro program was utilized to determine the mediation effect of cognitive emotion regulation strategies and anxiety on the relationship between academic procrastination and mobile phone dependence among college students. Results①PASS scores were positively correlated with the scores on CERQ-C negative cognitive emotion regulation strategy, BAI and MPAI (r=0.374, 0.229, 0.661, P<0.01), CERQ-C negative cognitive emotion regulation strategy scores were positively correlated with BAI and MPAI scores (r=0.372, 0.498, P<0.01), and BAI scores were positively correlated with MPAI scores (r=0.340, P<0.01). ② Both negative cognitive emotion regulation strategy and anxiety exerted an mediation effect on the relationship between academic procrastination and mobile phone dependence among college students, with an effect value of 0.094 (95% CI: 0.056~0.137) and 0.013 (95% CI: 0.001~0.029), and a chained mediation effect of negative cognitive emotion regulation strategy and anxiety on the relationship between academic procrastination and mobile phone dependence among college students was also documented, with an effect value of 0.015 (95% CI: 0.006~0.026). ConclusionAcademic procrastination is proved to be effective in predicting college students' mobile phone dependence both directly and indirectly through either separate or chained mediation of negative cognitive emotion regulation strategy and anxiety. [Funded by Social-Science Fund Project in Xinjiang (number, 2023CSH068); Scientific Research Projects of Universities in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (number, XJEDU2023P081)]

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