Depression Treatment: Correlates and Predictors of Disability in “vulnerable” United States Hispanics With Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Correlates and predictors of disability in “vulnerable” United States Hispanics with rheumatoid arthritis.
Filed under: Depression Treatment
Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2012 Apr 5;
Karpouzas GA, Dolatabadi S, Moran R, Li N, Nicassio PM, Weisman MH
OBJECTIVE: United States Hispanics with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience worse functional outcomes compared to Caucasians. The determinants of disability, however, are not well established in large Hispanic cohorts. In the present report, we identified factors associated with disability in a cross-sectional design, and evaluated their individual contributions to disability over time. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty one Hispanic subjects from a single center were evaluated. Disease activity, serologies, radiographs, treatments, irreversible articular damage (defined as subluxation, arthrodesis, fusion, or prosthesis) and joint replacement surgeries were recorded. Self-reported disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index [HAQ-DI]), patient- pain by visual analogue scale, and depression assessments were collected. Cross-sectional factors associated with disability were identified, and their effects on future disability were evaluated in a subgroup of 114 patients assessed 6 months later. RESULTS: Six parameters were independently related to disability cross-sectionally: pain was the strongest (p<0.0001), followed by irreversible articular damage, disease activity, depression, age, and fibromyalgia (all p<0.03). Baseline parameters predicting disability 6 months later included - in decreasing significance- irreversible articular damage (p=0.004), depression, disease activity, age, and pain (all p<0.04). CONCLUSION: In cross-sectional analysis, self-reported pain had the strongest relationship with disability; however, factors such as irreversible articular damage, depression and disease activity were more important in predicting future disability. Most of these factors are amenable to targeted interventions and should be addressed in an effort to improve functional outcomes. © 2012 by the American College of Rheumatology. HubMed – depression
Responding to secondary traumatic stress: A pilot study of torture treatment programs in the United States.
Filed under: Depression Treatment
J Trauma Stress. 2012 Apr 4;
Akinsulure-Smith AM, Keatley E, Rasmussen A
Providers who care for torture survivors may be at risk for secondary traumatic stress, yet there has been little documentation of the effects of repeated exposure to traumatic issues on their emotional health or exploration of the support systems and resources available to address their emotional needs. This study assessed the secondary stress experiences of service providers (N = 43) within the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs in the United States and examined the supports offered by their organizations. The study found a significant correlation between rates of anxiety and depression among providers, r(34) = .49, p = .003. Although these participants reported that their work with survivors of torture was stressful, 91% indicated that their organizations offered a variety of stress-reduction activities. Overall, participants reported that their own personal activities were the most-effective stress reducers. The results are discussed in light of challenges that professionals who work with this population face and the effectiveness of support systems available to support their work.
HubMed – depression
Vaccinium myrtillus Ameliorates Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Induced Depression: Possible Involvement of Nitric Oxide Pathway.
Filed under: Depression Treatment
Phytother Res. 2012 Apr; 26(4): 488-97
Kumar B, Arora V, Kuhad A, Chopra K
Chronic unpredictable stressors can produce a situation similar to clinical depression and such animal models can be used for the preclinical evaluation of antidepressants. Nitric oxide, a secondary messenger molecule, has been implicated in neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity, learning, aggression and depression. Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) extract is a potent inhibitor of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species and cytokine production. The present study investigated the role of nitric oxide in the antidepressant action of Vaccinium myrtillus in unpredictable chronic mild stress-induced depression in mice. Animals were subjected to different stress paradigms daily for a period of 21?days to induce depressive-like behavior. Pretreatment with l-arginine significantly reversed the protective effect of bilberry (500?mg/kg) on chronic stress-induced behavioral (immobility period, sucrose preference) and biochemical (lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels; endogenous antioxidant activities) in stressed mice. Furthermore, l-NAME (10?mg/kg) pretreatment with a sub-effective dose of bilberry (250?mg/kg) significantly potentiated the protective effect of bilberry extract. The study revealed that modulation of the nitric oxide pathway might be involved in antidepressant-like effects of Vaccinium myrtillus in stressed mice. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
HubMed – depression
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