Depression is a common mental health disorder that negatively affects daily functioning and quality of life. Unfortunately, depression is often a recurrent disorder. Current treatment guidelines are based on clinical features of the disease, but new evidence points to sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics that influence the severity and prognosis of depression. Specifically, a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal highlights smoking and a feeling of lack of control over one’s life as significant predictors of a negative long-term prognosis of depression.
The population-based survey evaluated nearly 600 people aged 16 or older who participated in a national health survey. The national survey included more than 17,000 participants, and the subjects in this evaluation were those who had reported a major depressive episode in the first year of the survey. The participants were followed for six years. More than half (64.5%) of the participants were women, and, at baseline, the average age of the group was approximately 39 years. Most of the participants were white (91.7%) and earned a middle to high income (81.5%). Nearly two-thirds had achieved greater than a high school education.
Over the follow-up period, slightly more than half (55.3%) of the survey population experienced repeated episodes of depression. The authors evaluated numerous physical, emotional, psychological, social, and demographic characteristics of the participants to examine their association with depressive episodes. Daily smoking and low mastery (feeling that life circumstances are beyond one’s control) were significant predictors of recurrent depression. A history of depression, which is already a well-established risk factor for future episodes of depression, was also significantly related to recurrent depressive episodes in this study. The association between risk factors and depressive episodes varied with the severity of depression.
Due to the nature of the study and the small sample size, the direction of effect and causal mechanisms are unclear. However, interventions that promote smoking cessation and increase mastery may provide positive mental health outcomes. Smoking cessation has obvious health benefits, and high levels of mastery are linked to regular physical activity, a healthy diet, decreased metabolic risk factors, and a decreased risk of death from cardiovascular factors. In fact, high levels of mastery at baseline were protective against recurrent episodes of depression in this population.
Smoking and mastery are simple and straightforward to assess in routine clinical practice. According to the authors of the current study, these novel prognostic factors may offer new avenues for treatment of depression and prevention of recurrent depressive episodes.
References
Colman I, Naicker K, Zeng Y, Ataullahjan A, Senthilselvan A, & Patten SB (2011). Predictors of long-term prognosis of depression. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association medicale canadienne, 183 (17), 1969-76 PMID: 22025655
Howland RH, Wilson MG, Kornstein SG, Clayton AH, Trivedi MH, Wohlreich MM, & Fava M (2008). Factors predicting reduced antidepressant response: experience with the SNRI duloxetine in patients with major depression. Annals of clinical psychiatry : official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists, 20 (4), 209-18 PMID: 19034753
Katon W, Unützer J, & Russo J (2010). Major depression: the importance of clinical characteristics and treatment response to prognosis. Depression and anxiety, 27 (1), 19-26 PMID: 19798766
Depression is a common mental health disorder that negatively affects daily functioning and quality of life. Unfortunately, depression is often a recurrent disorder. Current treatment guidelines are based on clinical features of the disease, but new evidence points to sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics that influence the severity and prognosis of depression. Specifically, a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal highlights smoking and a feeling of lack of control over one’s life as significant predictors of a negative long-term prognosis of depression.
The population-based survey evaluated nearly 600 people aged 16 or older who participated in a national health survey. The national survey included more than 17,000 participants, and the subjects in this evaluation were those who had reported a major depressive episode in the first year of the survey. The participants were followed for six years. More than half (64.5%) of the participants were women, and, at baseline, the average age of the group was approximately 39 years. Most of the participants were white (91.7%) and earned a middle to high income (81.5%). Nearly two-thirds had achieved greater than a high school education.
Over the follow-up period, slightly more than half (55.3%) of the survey population experienced repeated episodes of depression. The authors evaluated numerous physical, emotional, psychological, social, and demographic characteristics of the participants to examine their association with depressive episodes. Daily smoking and low mastery (feeling that life circumstances are beyond one’s control) were significant predictors of recurrent depression. A history of depression, which is already a well-established risk factor for future episodes of depression, was also significantly related to recurrent depressive episodes in this study. The association between risk factors and depressive episodes varied with the severity of depression.
Due to the nature of the study and the small sample size, the direction of effect and causal mechanisms are unclear. However, interventions that promote smoking cessation and increase mastery may provide positive mental health outcomes. Smoking cessation has obvious health benefits, and high levels of mastery are linked to regular physical activity, a healthy diet, decreased metabolic risk factors, and a decreased risk of death from cardiovascular factors. In fact, high levels of mastery at baseline were protective against recurrent episodes of depression in this population.
Smoking and mastery are simple and straightforward to assess in routine clinical practice. According to the authors of the current study, these novel prognostic factors may offer new avenues for treatment of depression and prevention of recurrent depressive episodes.
References
Colman I, Naicker K, Zeng Y, Ataullahjan A, Senthilselvan A, & Patten SB (2011). Predictors of long-term prognosis of depression. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association medicale canadienne, 183 (17), 1969-76 PMID: 22025655
Howland RH, Wilson MG, Kornstein SG, Clayton AH, Trivedi MH, Wohlreich MM, & Fava M (2008). Factors predicting reduced antidepressant response: experience with the SNRI duloxetine in patients with major depression. Annals of clinical psychiatry : official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists, 20 (4), 209-18 PMID: 19034753
Katon W, Unützer J, & Russo J (2010). Major depression: the importance of clinical characteristics and treatment response to prognosis. Depression and anxiety, 27 (1), 19-26 PMID: 19798766
Depression is a common mental health disorder that negatively affects daily functioning and quality of life. Unfortunately, depression is often a recurrent disorder. Current treatment guidelines are based on clinical features of the disease, but new evidence points to sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics that influence the severity and prognosis of depression. Specifically, a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal highlights smoking and a feeling of lack of control over one’s life as significant predictors of a negative long-term prognosis of depression.
The population-based survey evaluated nearly 600 people aged 16 or older who participated in a national health survey. The national survey included more than 17,000 participants, and the subjects in this evaluation were those who had reported a major depressive episode in the first year of the survey. The participants were followed for six years. More than half (64.5%) of the participants were women, and, at baseline, the average age of the group was approximately 39 years. Most of the participants were white (91.7%) and earned a middle to high income (81.5%). Nearly two-thirds had achieved greater than a high school education.
Over the follow-up period, slightly more than half (55.3%) of the survey population experienced repeated episodes of depression. The authors evaluated numerous physical, emotional, psychological, social, and demographic characteristics of the participants to examine their association with depressive episodes. Daily smoking and low mastery (feeling that life circumstances are beyond one’s control) were significant predictors of recurrent depression. A history of depression, which is already a well-established risk factor for future episodes of depression, was also significantly related to recurrent depressive episodes in this study. The association between risk factors and depressive episodes varied with the severity of depression.
Due to the nature of the study and the small sample size, the direction of effect and causal mechanisms are unclear. However, interventions that promote smoking cessation and increase mastery may provide positive mental health outcomes. Smoking cessation has obvious health benefits, and high levels of mastery are linked to regular physical activity, a healthy diet, decreased metabolic risk factors, and a decreased risk of death from cardiovascular factors. In fact, high levels of mastery at baseline were protective against recurrent episodes of depression in this population.
Smoking and mastery are simple and straightforward to assess in routine clinical practice. According to the authors of the current study, these novel prognostic factors may offer new avenues for treatment of depression and prevention of recurrent depressive episodes.
References
Colman I, Naicker K, Zeng Y, Ataullahjan A, Senthilselvan A, & Patten SB (2011). Predictors of long-term prognosis of depression. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association medicale canadienne, 183 (17), 1969-76 PMID: 22025655
Howland RH, Wilson MG, Kornstein SG, Clayton AH, Trivedi MH, Wohlreich MM, & Fava M (2008). Factors predicting reduced antidepressant response: experience with the SNRI duloxetine in patients with major depression. Annals of clinical psychiatry : official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists, 20 (4), 209-18 PMID: 19034753
Katon W, Unützer J, & Russo J (2010). Major depression: the importance of clinical characteristics and treatment response to prognosis. Depression and anxiety, 27 (1), 19-26 PMID: 19798766
Hearing Melodies And Speech Cues - Is There A Central Brain Area?@import "/css/pagelayout.css";@import "/css/default.css";@import "/css/defaultnews.css";Your MNT login | registerhomeopinions forumcontact usnews categories:a - b Abortion Acid Reflux / GERD ADHD Aid / Disasters Alcohol / Addiction / Drugs Allergy Alternative Medicine Alzheimer's / Dementia Anxiety / Stress Arthritis / Rheumatology Asbestos / Mesothelioma Asthma Autism Back Pain Bio-terrorism / Terrorism Biology / Biochemistry Bipolar Bird Flu / Avian Flu Blood / Hematology Body Aches Bones / Orthopaedics Breast Cancer c - d Cancer / Oncology Cardiovascular / Cardiology Caregivers / Homecare Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine Cholesterol CJD / vCJD / Mad Cow Disease Cleft Palate Clinical Trials / Drug Trials Colorectal Cancer Complementary Medicine Compliance Conferences COPD Cosmetic Medicine Crohn's Cystic Fibrosis Dentistry Depression Dermatology Diabetes Drug Approvals Dyslexia e - g Ear, Nose and Throat Eating Disorders Eczema / Psoriasis Endocrinology Epilepsy Erectile Dysfunction Eye Health / Blindness Fertility Fibromyalgia Flu / Cold / SARS GastroIntestinal Genetics Gout Gynecology h - l Headache / Migraine Health InsuranceHearing / Deafness Heart Disease HIV / AIDS Huntingtons Disease Hypertension Immune System / Vaccines Infectious Diseases Inflammatory Bowel Disease Irritable Bowel Syndrome IT / Internet / E-mail Litigation Liver Disease / Hepatitis Lung Cancer Lupus Lymphology / Lymphedema Lymphoma / Leukemia m - o Medical Devices / Diagnostics Medical Malpractice Medical Practice Management Medical Students / Training Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP Melanoma / Skin Cancer Men's Health Menopause Mental Health MRI / PET / Ultrasound MRSA / Drug Resistance Multiple Sclerosis Muscular Dystrophy / ALS Myeloma Neurology / Neuroscience Nursing / Midwifery Nutrition / Diet Obesity / Weight Loss / FitnessOvarian Cancer p - r Pain / Anesthetics Palliative Care / Hospice Care Pancreatic Cancer Parkinson's Disease Pediatrics / Children's Health Pharma / Biotech Industry Pharmacy / Pharmacist Plastic Surgery Pregnancy / Obstetrics Premature Ejaculation Preventive Medicine Primary Care / General Practice Prostate / Prostate Cancer Psychology / Psychiatry Public Health Radiology / Nuclear Medicine Regulatory Affairs Rehabilitation Respiratory Restless Legs Syndrome s - z Schizophrenia Seniors / Aging Sexual Health / STDs Sleep / Sleep Disorders Smoking / Quit Smoking Sports Medicine / Fitness Statins Stem Cell Research Stroke Swine Flu Transplants / Organ Donations Tropical Diseases Tuberculosis Urology / Nephrology Vascular Veterans / Ex-Servicemen Veterinary Viruses / Bacteria Water - Air Quality / Agriculture Women's Health Hearing Melodies And Speech Cues - Is There A Central Brain Area?Editor's Choice Academic Journal Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience Article Date: 01 Dec 2011 - 8:00 PST
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Current Article Ratings: Patient / Public:Healthcare Prof: To a human, hearing the perceptual feature of sound known as pitch is vital. This pitch allows individuals to enjoy music and recognize the inflection of speech. According to prior investigations, there is a particular region in the brain that may be accountable for perceiving pitch. Although, whether this "pitch center" really exists is currently being debated by auditory neuroscientists.
In a review report published in the Journal of Neurophysiology, Dr Daniel Bendor, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, writes about a recent investigation that claimed this pitch center might not exist after all, or that it might not be located where thought it was.
Dr. Bendor outlines previous cases of scientists who claimed to have discovered a pitch processing center in an area of human auditory cortex located in lateral Heschl's gyrus. Dr. Bendor also outlines additional more recent studies that revealed data contradicting these earlier discoveries.
The study highlights decades-old investigations, indicating that the auditory cortex plays a crucial role in perceiving pitch. This finding was originally discovered by researchers training cats to distinguish pitch. The researchers then removed the auditory cortex on both sides of the brain - rendering the cats unable to distinguish pitch, even though the animals could still discriminate other aspects of sound, such as frequency.
According to experiments using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), a method that analyzes brain activity while patients are actively performing tasks in an MRI scanner, the lateral Heschl's gyrus is the principle player in pitch perception. Numerous fMRI investigations have scanned individuals' brains whilst participants listen to noise, after which they compared the brain activity to when subjects listened to a sound called iterated ripple noise (IRN), comparable to noise, but with a pitch component. Yet, recent ones comparing IRN and an IRN stimulus modified to have no pitch discovered that both sounds appear to stimulate the same area of the brain, indicating that this region might not contribute to pitch perception after all.
Bendor highlights that it is too early to dismiss the existence of a pitch center, although further examinations are required in order to verify its existence. According to Bendor, even though auditory cortex overlaps Heschl's gyrus, between subjects the exact placement can vary. Intersubject variability presents a considerable problem when averaging data across multiple subjects, and could be one reason why an fMRI study fails to replicate a result.
Bendor states that other studies indicate that a different region in the brain behind the lateral Heschl's gyrus (the anterior planum temporale), might contribute in pitch perception - a subject that requires additional research.
The existence of a pitch center, particularly one located in the lateral Heschl's gyrus, remains an open question.
Dr. Bendor, explains:
"Although there is general agreement that the auditory cortex is essential for pitch perception, whether pitch processing is localized within a single functionally-specific region within the auditory cortex remains a controversial issue among auditory neuroscientists."
Dr. Bendor is affiliated with the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Written by Grace Rattue Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Additional References Citations Visit our neurology / neuroscience section for the latest news on this subject. "Does a Pitch Center Exist in Auditory Cortex?" Daniel Bendor JN Physiol Published online before print November 2011, doi: 10.?1152/?jn.?00804.?2011
Source: American Physiological Society (APS) Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
MLA Grace Rattue. "Hearing Melodies And Speech Cues - Is There A Central Brain Area?." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 1 Dec. 2011. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. APA Grace Rattue. (2011, December 1). "Hearing Melodies And Speech Cues - Is There A Central Brain Area?." Medical News Today. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/238519.php.
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Different brain structures control eye reflexes in the course of life
Structures in the midbrain that developed early in evolution can be responsible for functions in newborns which in adults are taken over by the cerebral cortex. New evidence for this theory has been found in the visual system of monkeys by a team of researchers from the RUB. The scientists studied a reflex that stabilizes the image of a moving scene on the retina to prevent blur, the so-termed optokinetic nystagmus. They found that nuclei in the midbrain initially control this reflex and that signals from the cerebral cortex (neocortex) are only added later on. PD Dr. Claudia Distler-Hoffmann from the Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology and Prof. Dr. Klaus-Peter Hoffmann from the Department of Animal Physiology report in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Why the neocortex needs help
To control sensorimotor functions (e.g. eye movements), the adult brain is equipped with different areas in the neocortex, the evolutionarily youngest part of the cerebrum. "This raises the question, why older subcortical structures in the brain have not lost the functions that can also be controlled by the neocortex" says Hoffmann. The neocortex of primates is, however, not fully functional shortly after birth and therefore cannot control the optokinetic nystagmus. "This is most probably also the case with people" says Distler-Hoffmann. Nevertheless, this reflex works directly after birth.
First the brain stem, then the cerebral cortex
The researchers examined what information controls the optokinetic nystagmus in the first weeks after birth. During the first two weeks, the reflex is controlled by signals from the retina, which are transmitted to two nuclei in the midbrain. The neocortex then adds its information and takes over during the first months of life. The optokinetic reflex, which was studied by the researchers also at the behavioural level, is almost identical under the control of the midbrain and the neocortex. It occurs, for example, when watching a moving scene. First the eyes follow the passing scene, then they move quickly in the opposite direction back to their original position. On this reflex, monkeys and humans build their slow eye tracking movements with which they keep "an eye" on moving objects.
Detecting maldevelopments in the visual system at an early stage
The optokinetic nystagmus changes if the visual system does not develop normally. Lens aberrations, corneal opacity and strabismus affect the reflex. "These findings from research with primates are important for recognizing and treating maldevelopments in the visual system of infants and young children at an early stage" explains Distler-Hoffmann.
Additional References Citations Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source. Visit our neurology / neuroscience section for the latest news on this subject. Bibliographic record C. Distler, K.-P. Hoffmann (2011): Visual pathway for the optokinetic reflex in infant macaque monkeys, Journal of Neuroscience, doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4302-11.2011 Ruhr-University Bochum Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
Scientists have developed a way to evaluate new treatments for some forms of attention deficit disorder. Working in mice, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis showed that they can use brain scans to quickly test whether drugs increase levels of a brain chemical known as dopamine...
How the brain controls impulsive behavior may be significantly different than psychologists have thought for the last 40 years. That is the unexpected conclusion of a study by an international team of neuroscientists published in the Aug. 31 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience...
A research group from the University of Leeds has shown that infection by the brain parasite Toxoplasma gondii, found in 10-20 per cent of the UK's population, directly affects the production of dopamine, a key chemical messenger in the brain. Their findings are the first to demonstrate that a parasite found in the brain of mammals can affect dopamine levels...
A team of researchers at the MedUni's Clinical Department of Neuroradiology and Musculoskeletal Radiology has demonstrated for the first time ever that there are foetal brain developments that can be measured using functional magnetic resonance tomography in the womb. This means, says study leader Veronika Schöpf, that pathological changes to brain development will be detectable earlier than they are currently and appropriate measures can be taken in good time.
In the study, 16 foetuses between the 20th and 36th weeks of pregnancy were measured. Measurements were taken of the brain's resting state networks. These networks remain in a state of readiness at rest and their activity increases after appropriate stimulation. The examinations are completely stress-free for the mothers and extend "normal" MRI scans by just a few minutes.
Functional defects are detected earlier
"We have been able to demonstrate, for the first time ever, that the resting state networks are formed in utero and that these can be imaged and measured using functional imaging," explains Schöpf, who is part of the working group led by Daniela Prayer, Head of the Department of Neuroradiology and Musculoskeletal Radiology and head of the world's leading centre for pre-natal magnetic resonance imaging at the MedUni Vienna.
This discovery means that, in future, the developmental progress of brain activity in the foetus can be measured and other findings and prognoses made regarding possible malfunctioning processes. As a result, functional defects, such as of the optic nerves or motor system, can be detected while the foetus is still in the womb - an achievement that was previously impossible so that parents can be offered more informed advice and counselling, for example.
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Source: Medical University of Vienna
Visit our neurology / neuroscience section for the latest news on this subject. Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report: MLA
Medical University of Vienna. "MedUni Vienna: Development Of The Brain Network In The Foetus Now Measurable For The First Time In The Womb." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 25 Nov. 2011. Web.
27 Nov. 2011. APA
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