Depress Anxiety [JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Identification of as a Shared Potential Drug Target for Depression and Stroke Through Comprehensive Genetic Analyses.
Zhang W, Qiu L, Liu Y … +5 more , Wang Y, Tang M, Chen L, Zhang B, Jiang X
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40949012 · Full text
The coexistence of depression and stroke has long been observed; however, their intrinsic link has not been fully understood. We aimed to inform the importance of depression intervention as a primary prevention of stroke...
The coexistence of depression and stroke has long been observed; however, their intrinsic link has not been fully understood. We aimed to inform the importance of depression intervention as a primary prevention of stroke by investigating shared genetic etiology and causal relationship underlying depression and stroke. Leveraging summary statistics from the hitherto largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in European-ancestry individuals for depression ( / = 294,322/741,438) and stroke ( / = 73,652/1,234,808), we performed cross-trait linkage-disequilibrium (LD) score regression and SUPERGNOVA to quantify global and local genetic correlations, cross-trait meta-analysis to identify shared genetic loci, transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) to detect shared tissue-specific gene expression, and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to make causal inference between the two conditions. We observed a significant positive global genetic correlation between depression and stroke (rg = 0.18, =2.92 ×10). Partitioning the whole genome, we observed one genomic region (11q23.2) presenting a significant local genetic correlation. Cross-trait meta-analysis and TWAS identified two shared genetic loci ( and ) revealing potential shared biological mechanisms involving lysosome localization. MR identified a putative causal association of genetically predicted depression on stroke (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-1.19, =1.12 ×10). A considerable proportion of this association was mediated through smoking initiation (proportion-mediated [PM] = 44.0%, 95% CI = 19.9%-68.1%, =3.42 ×10), hypertension (PM = 34.0%, 95% CI = 14.5%-53.5%, =6.46 ×10), type 2 diabetes (PM = 19.0%, 95% CI = 8.5%-29.5%, =3.78 ×10), and atrial fibrillation (PM = 10.9%, 95% CI = 0.7%-21.1%, =3.61 ×10), respectively. MR in the reverse direction identified a putative association of genetically predicted stroke on depression (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.01-1.09, =1.73 ×10), which attenuated to nonsignificant when correcting for both correlated and uncorrelated pleiotropy (OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.98-1.03, =0.88). Drug target MR identified causal associations of genetically predicted level on depression (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.90-0.94, =2.04 ×10) and stroke (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.86-0.95, =3.53 ×10). Our work highlights a shared genetic basis and a putative causal relationship between depression and stroke, providing novel insights into the primary prevention of stroke by depression intervention.
Veteran Reports of Anxiety and Depression Before, During, and After COVID-19: Associations With Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Traumatic Exposures.
Chesnut R, Aronson KR, Perkins DF
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40949011 · Full text
The COVID-19 pandemic was a world-wide health emergency that resulted in individuals experiencing challenges in numerous life domains. Life domains affected included physical and mental health, finances, and social isola...
The COVID-19 pandemic was a world-wide health emergency that resulted in individuals experiencing challenges in numerous life domains. Life domains affected included physical and mental health, finances, and social isolation. Many health and research professionals evidenced concern that veterans were more likely than civilians to experience COVID-19 related problems due to their "at-risk" health status. Veterans are at-risk for health problems due to encountering unique military experiences such as traumatic exposures, development of trauma-related mental health symptoms or disorders, combat-related injuries, and disability, exposure to toxins such as burn pits and biological agents, and living with chronic stress during their transition to civilian life. It was suggested that the disruptions and challenges the COVID-19 pandemic created could trigger mental health problems among veterans. Indeed, based on cumulative stress theory, female veterans and veterans from racial and ethnic minority groups were thought to be particularly vulnerable for experiencing mental health challenges. The current study examined changes in the symptoms of depression and anxiety before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic among a large and diverse sample of post-9/11 veterans. As predicted, when compared to White male veterans, male and female veterans from racial and ethnic minority groups reported having higher symptom levels of anxiety and depression before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. All veterans, except for females from racial and ethnic minority groups, reported experiencing increases in symptoms over time. Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), combat exposure, and length of longest deployment were inconsistently associated with symptoms over time. The results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with individuals experiencing increased anxious and depressive symptoms over time, although not in a wholly consistent manner. Future global health emergencies may have differential gender- and race/ethnicity-based effects on veterans; thus, veteran-serving organizations should carefully plan their responses to such crises.
Bidirectional Dynamics Between Stress-Reactive Rumination and Negative Affect: Evidence From a Multimethods Study in Individuals With High Trait Anxiety.
Qingzi Z, Lanxin P, Lijing N … +5 more , Yuanyuan Z, Xiayan C, Zini C, Haowei D, Ruibin Z
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40933842 · Full text
Stress-reactive rumination (SR)-the tendency to repetitively think about stressors-has been proposed as a key cognitive mechanism linking trait anxiety to persistent negative affect (NA). However, the dynamic and context...
Stress-reactive rumination (SR)-the tendency to repetitively think about stressors-has been proposed as a key cognitive mechanism linking trait anxiety to persistent negative affect (NA). However, the dynamic and context-dependent nature of this relationship remains unclear. This study employed a multimethod experimental design to investigate the manifestation of SR in individuals with high trait anxiety (HTA) across different contexts and to examine whether SR and NA demonstrate a bidirectional predictive relationship over time. A total of 62 participants (31 with high and 31 with low trait anxiety (LTA), respectively) completed a 14-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) four times/day to record dynamic fluctuations in SR and NA over time in daily life. Afterward, participants underwent the Trier social stress test (TSST) to examine SR and NA responses under acute laboratory stress. Cross-lagged models assessed temporal associations between SR and NA in both contexts. EMA data showed that individuals with HTA reported significantly higher SR and NA than their low anxiety counterparts ( < 0.001). Cross-lagged analyses revealed a significant bidirectional predictive relationship between SR and NA, although this relationship was present only in the HTA group (SR → NA: = 0.159, < 0.001; NA → SR: = 0.072, = 0.038). In the laboratory, SR and NA were successfully induced by stress, particularly in the HTA group ( < 0.001), but cross-lagged effects were not observed. In individuals with HTA, SR demonstrates both persistence and context-dependent reactivity. The observed reciprocal dynamics between SR and NA in real-life settings underscore the role of attentional control deficits in maintaining emotional dysregulation. Interventions targeting SR may disrupt this maladaptive cycle and reduce anxiety vulnerability.
Chronic Pain and Late-Life Depression are Positively Associated in Chinese Centenarians and Oldest-Old Adults.
Fu S, Zhang Y, Wang K … +9 more , Lei W, Liu Q, Tian J, Li B, Yun T, Zhao Y, Lin J, Li Y, Feng L
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40917305 · Full text
Aging is an inevitable process. Chronic pain and late-life depression frequently coexist in older adults. This study was aimed to explore the association between chronic pain and late-life depression in Chinese centenari...
Aging is an inevitable process. Chronic pain and late-life depression frequently coexist in older adults. This study was aimed to explore the association between chronic pain and late-life depression in Chinese centenarians and oldest-old adults. According to the list provided by the Department of Civil Affairs, a household survey was conducted on all centenarian and oldest-old adults residing in 18 cities and counties of Hainan Province. The household survey method was used to collect basic information with interview questionnaires, physical examinations, and blood tests conducted by systematically trained doctors and nurses. This study used visual analog scales and numerical rating scale for pain assessment. Geriatric depression scale (GDS) was used for the evaluation of depression. All 1324 older adults had a median age of 91 years, ranging from 80 to 116 years. Among them, 349 older adults (26.4%) have depression, and 507 (38.3%) suffer from chronic pain. Comorbidity rate of chronic pain and late-life depression was 12.6% (167 participants). Furthermore, late-life depression (odds ratio [OR]: 1.591, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.218-2.078, and =0.001) was significantly and positively associated with chronic pain in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Chronic pain (OR: 1.581, 95% CI: 1.210-2.067, and =0.001) was significant and positive factor associated with late-life depression in multivariate logistic regression analysis. This study demonstrated that chronic pain and late-life depression are positively associated in Chinese centenarians and oldest-old adults. This suggests that the management of pain should be considered when treating late-life depression in older adults.
Vortioxetine Improves Brain Glymphatic System Function, Functional Connectivity, and Cognitive Functions in Major Depressive Disorder.
Guo Z, Tang X, Zhong S … +7 more , Chen G, Chen P, Chen C, Chen R, Huang L, Jia Y, Wang Y
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40917304 · Full text
The therapeutic effects of vortioxetine on mood and cognition have been documented in major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aims to examine whether vortioxetine can improve brain glymphatic system function and conn...
The therapeutic effects of vortioxetine on mood and cognition have been documented in major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aims to examine whether vortioxetine can improve brain glymphatic system function and connections among functional brain networks and to explore the underlying relationships among these changes. A total of 34 patients with MDD and 41 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited in the study. All participants underwent mood and cognitive assessment, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state functional MRI scans at baseline and 8-week follow-up. The DTI analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index, and functional connectivity (FC) were assessed. Cognitive assessment was conducted using the Chinese version of Measurement Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Correlation analysis was subsequently performed to explore underlying association among these indexes. Compared to HCs, patients with MDD showed decreased DTI-ALPS indexes at baseline; patients with MDD showed increased the default mode network (DMN) FC between the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)-precuneus; patients with MDD displayed decreased attention/vigilance, verbal learning, visual learning, social cognition, and global cognition. Treatment with vortioxetine, patients with MDD displayed reduced depressive symptoms, increased DTI-ALPS indexes, decreased DMN FC, and improved attention/vigilance, verbal learning, visual learning, social cognition, and global cognition. Moreover, the increased DTI-ALPS indexes correlated with improved global cognition, and decreased DMN FC in MDD, respectively. The current study indicated vortioxetine improves glymphatic system function and brain connections within the DMN in MDD. Furthermore, the restoration of glymphatic function is linked to improved brain function and cognition. : ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: ChiCTR2200057820.
The Impact of Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy on Depressive and Anxiety Behaviors in Offspring: A Meta-analysis.
Zhang K, Wang Y, Shu Z … +3 more , Huang Y, Feng L, Yang W
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40904630 · Full text
Smoking during pregnancy is known to adversely affect offspring health; however, the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and the risk of depression and anxiety in offspring remains inconsistent. This me...
Smoking during pregnancy is known to adversely affect offspring health; however, the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and the risk of depression and anxiety in offspring remains inconsistent. This meta-analysis aimed to clarify this relationship. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and OVID databases for articles published between 2000 and 2024. The odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the association. A total of 11 studies involving 1,775,220 participants met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed that maternal smoking during pregnancy was significantly associated with an increased risk of depression in offspring (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.09-1.63). Stratified analysis by cigaret consumption dose showed that heavy maternal smoking (≥ 10 cigarets/day) further increased the risk of both depression (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.21-2.14) and anxiety (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.32-1.72) in offspring. In conclusion, this meta-analysis provides evidence that maternal smoking during pregnancy may elevate the risk of depression and anxiety in offspring, particularly with heavy smoking. Preventing maternal smoking and reducing exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy could have significant benefits for offspring mental health and well-being.
Reducing Test Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study of Evening Bright Light Exposure in University Students.
Dick M, Lackner HK, Weiss EM … +1 more , Canazei M
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40904629 · Full text
University students often experience high levels of stress and anxiety during exam periods, adversely affecting their well-being and academic performance. This study investigated the short-term effects of evening bright...
University students often experience high levels of stress and anxiety during exam periods, adversely affecting their well-being and academic performance. This study investigated the short-term effects of evening bright light (BL) exposure on several psychophysiological stress measures during exam preparation. In this preregistered randomized controlled pilot study, 35 university students were assigned either to an intervention group exposed to BL (1500 lx, 4000 K; = 18) or a control light (CL) group with standard lighting (100 lx, 3000 K; = 17) for 4 h over five consecutive evenings. Outcomes included questionnaires (test anxiety, general anxiety, psychological distress), cognitive performance (2-back, go-/no-go task [GNT]), physiological stress (heart rate variability [HRV]), and subjective and objective sleep quality measures (actigraphy). The BL group showed significant reductions in test anxiety by the last evening. Both groups improved in working memory performance over time. HRV analysis revealed mixed results, with some indications of reduced stress in the BL group on the first day. No adverse effects of evening BL were found on sleep parameters, and participants reported significantly higher satisfaction with the BL exposure. Evening BL exposure during exam preparation may help reduce test anxiety without significantly disrupting sleep. Although cognitive performance effects were limited, the perceived usefulness suggests that BL could be a well-accepted supportive measure for students during stressful academic periods. Further research is needed to optimize light-based interventions for student well-being.
Characterizing Psychiatric Disorders Through Graph Neural Networks: A Functional Connectivity Analysis of Depression and Schizophrenia.
Lee JW, Kim YE, Votinov M … +6 more , Xu M, Kim SY, Lee M, Wagels L, Habel U, Jo HG
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40895757 · Full text
Major depressive disorder (MDD) and schizophrenia (SZ) are among the most debilitating psychiatric disorders, characterized by widespread disruptions in large-scale brain networks. However, the commonalities and distinct...
Major depressive disorder (MDD) and schizophrenia (SZ) are among the most debilitating psychiatric disorders, characterized by widespread disruptions in large-scale brain networks. However, the commonalities and distinctions in their large-scale network distributions remain unclear. The present study aimed to leverage advanced deep learning techniques to identify these common and distinct patterns, providing insights into the shared and disorder-specific neural mechanisms underlying MDD and SZ. Recent advances in graph neural networks (GNNs) offer a powerful framework for analyzing brain connectivity patterns, enabling automated learning of complex, high-dimensional network features. In this study, we applied state-of-art GNN architectures to classify MDD and SZ patients from healthy controls (HCs), respectively, using a multisite resting-state fMRI dataset. The attention-based hierarchical pooling GNN (SAGPool) model achieved the highest performance, with mean accuracies of 71.50% for MDD and 75.65% for SZ classification. Using a perturbation-based explainability method, we identified prominent functional connections driving model decisions, revealing distinct patterns of the large-scale network disruption across disorders. In MDD, alterations were dominantly observed in the default mode network (DMN), whereas SZ exhibited prominent alterations in the ventral attention network (VAN). Notably, specific functional connections identified by our model showed significant correlations with clinical symptoms, particularly positive and general symptoms measured by the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) in SZ patients. Our findings demonstrate the utility of GNNs for uncovering complex connectivity patterns in psychiatric disorders and provide novel insights into the distinct neural mechanisms underlying MDD and SZ. These results highlight the potential of graph-based models as tools for both diagnostic classification and biomarker discovery in psychiatric research.
Exploring Bridge Symptoms in Postpartum Women With Comorbid Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Wei W, Xiong M, Tian M … +4 more , Liu P, Zhou C, Cheng H, Zhang C
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40895756 · Full text
Postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD) are prevalent among women. However, the specific symptoms that serve as bridges remain unknown between these two disorders. The objecti...
Postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD) are prevalent among women. However, the specific symptoms that serve as bridges remain unknown between these two disorders. The objective of this study is to establish a symptom network model for PPD and PP-PTSD and investigate the bridge symptoms and their interrelationships in cases of comorbid PPD and PP-PTSD. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Wuhan from March 2024 to November 2024. PPD was evaluated using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and PP-PTSD was measured using the Chinese version of the Perinatal PTSD Questionnaire. The "Postpartum Depression-Postpartum Post-traumatic Stress Disorder" network model was constructed and analyzed using R software version 4.2.3. Healthcare professionals should focus on the severe bridge symptoms reported by postpartum women. To enhance awareness and alleviate anxiety levels, it is advisable to implement positive psychological interventions.
The Specificity of Metacognition Questionnaire-30 Subdimensions: Findings From Connectome-Based Predictive Modeling.
Hu R, Yu M, Li L … +5 more , He H, Wei S, Ma J, Gu Y, Dai Z
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40881737 · Full text
The maladaptive metacognition measured by the Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30) is often linked to a wide range of affective disorders. However, few studies have elucidated the neural underpinnings of different met...
The maladaptive metacognition measured by the Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30) is often linked to a wide range of affective disorders. However, few studies have elucidated the neural underpinnings of different metacognition subdimensions. Additionally, the relationship between these functional neural bases and longitudinal changes in individual emotional distresses remains unclear. A total of 180 college students completed brain imaging and a battery of behavioral assessments. Employing the connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM), we delineated the functional connectivity (FC) network of each metacognition subdimension. Then, the mediation model was used to explore the relationships between FC networks, metacognition subdimensions, and emotional distresses. Default mode network (DMN) was found to be the general network of three significant subdimensions. Specifically, the FC network of cognitive self-consciousness (CSC) was scattered and mainly relied on DMN and frontoparietal network; need to control thoughts (NC) was largely consisted of the correlates between DMN and ventral attention network (VAN); negative beliefs about uncontrollability and danger of worry (NEG) was primarily associated with DMN and its correlates with visual network. CSC, NC, and NEG could mediate the relationship between the corresponding FC network and emotional distresses. Additionally, the CSC related and NEG related FCs could effectively predict the change of anxiety positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). These findings demonstrated the common and distinct FC bases of maladaptive metacognition. The excessive FCs of CSC and NEG might be responsible for impaired self-check-related ability and further increase the risk of several affective disorders.
Long-Term Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Managing Subclinical Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Chan RCF, Chen M, Chan JLM … +2 more , Shum DHK, Cao Y
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40861245 · Full text
Recent research has emphasized the continuum of depression, highlighting the significance of early intervention for subclinical depression. However, previous studies often focused on specific populations or lacked compar...
Recent research has emphasized the continuum of depression, highlighting the significance of early intervention for subclinical depression. However, previous studies often focused on specific populations or lacked comparisons across participants and intervention characteristics in the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This systematic review and meta-analysis (CRD42024498284) aimed to address these gaps by examining the effectiveness of CBT in managing subclinical depression and its potential for preventing the transition to major depression. A comprehensive search across seven databases from inception to March 2025, identified 23 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 5877 participants. Meta-regression, sensitivity analysis, and funnel plots were utilized to assess heterogeneity, publication bias, and study quality. CBT significantly improved subclinical depressive symptoms (at postassessment: = -0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -1.57 to -0.20 and follow-up: = -0.56; 95% CI: -0.93 to -0.18) and anxiety symptoms (at postassessment: = -0.92; 95% CI: -1.84 to -0.00 and follow-up: = -0.70; 95% CI: -1.15 to -0.25), but had no notable impact on quality of life. Meta-regression analysis identified the number of CBT sessions as factors influencing CBT effectiveness in managing depressive symptoms. While there are statistically significant results (RR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.50-0.77) indicating CBT's preventive efficacy in transitioning from subclinical to major depression, evidences were limited by the self-reporting data. The majority of included studies came from Europe which limited generalizability, and comparisons between different types of CBT, education levels, and CBT components were limited. In general, CBT has been demonstrated to be effective in managing depressive symptoms over time. Additional research, particularly from diverse regions and comparative studies between CBT and alternative treatments, is imperative to overcome the current study's limitations.
Self-Medication in Individuals With Depression and Symptoms of Depression in the European Union: Prevalence and Associated Factors.
Yeamans S, Carrasco-Garrido P, Hernández-Barrera V … +1 more , Gil-De-Miguel Á
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40861244 · Full text
Depression is a growing public health problem in the European Union (EU), with many individuals turning to self-medication (SM) to manage their symptoms. This cross-sectional study uses data from the third wave of the Eu...
Depression is a growing public health problem in the European Union (EU), with many individuals turning to self-medication (SM) to manage their symptoms. This cross-sectional study uses data from the third wave of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS; 2018-2020) to examine the prevalence and determinants of SM among people with recognized depression and depressive symptoms. A total of 25,701 respondents were analyzed. Prevalence of SM among individuals with recognized depression and symptoms of depression in the EU is 38.46% in men and 46.84% in women, varying considerably between countries. An important finding of this study is the impact of medication availability, with access to over-the-counter (OTC) medications outside of pharmacies nearly doubling SM likelihood (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.98). Additionally, the results reveal marked differences in how these men and women self-medicate. Specifically, women are more likely to self-medicate with depressive symptoms versus recognized depression (AOR = 1.28), whereas the opposite is observed in men (AOR = 0.69). Among women, younger age groups with depression symptoms are particularly likely to self-medicate (15-24 AOR = 1.60; 25-44 AOR = 1.93) and the results reinforce education as a strong predictor of SM (higher education vs. no education AOR = 5.63). Visits to medical/surgical specialists are also linked to SM in women (AOR = 1.32). This study also highlights potentially concerning relationships between SM and alcohol use in men with recognized depression (AOR = 1.42) and prescribed medicine (AOR = 1.68). Differences are also observable in the effect of employment on SM (AOR = 1.45) in men with depression symptoms and women with recognized depression. In contrast, physical activity (PA; high vs. low AOR = 1.32) and healthcare barriers (distance/transportation issues AOR = 1.89 in women; AOR = 1.55 in men, inability to afford care AOR = 1.38) display similar positive associations in men and women. Taken together, these findings underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of SM and point to potential gaps in depression care across the EU, emphasizing the need for gender-sensitive public health strategies and a closer look at OTC medication access.
A Machine Learning-Based Case-Control Study on Suicide Risk Identification: Integrating Acoustic and Linguistic Features Under Stress Conditions.
Lin Q, Zhang J, Wang W … +3 more , Tan C, Wu X, Zhao J
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40821764 · Full text
Suicide is a significant global public health issue, with current risk assessment methods primarily relying on psychiatrists' clinical judgment and scale-based evaluations, which can be challenging to implement. Recently...
Suicide is a significant global public health issue, with current risk assessment methods primarily relying on psychiatrists' clinical judgment and scale-based evaluations, which can be challenging to implement. Recently, interest has increased in using vocal and linguistic features to identify suicide risk. This study investigates speech-based methods for assessing suicide risk in two phases involving 90 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar disorder (BD). In Phase 1, three types of question-answer materials with different emotional valences (positive, neutral, and negative) were employed. The model combining acoustic and word frequency features from negative emotional valence materials achieved the highest accuracy at 77.82%. Phase 2 introduced stress factors, highlighting that speech data collected under stress better reflects participants' psychological states, providing more insights into suicide risk. These findings emphasize the potential of speech analysis in suicide prevention, while also calling for further research to validate and expand these results.
A Meta-Analysis of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Studies on Glutamatergic Neurometabolite Levels in Major Depressive Disorder.
Tao S, Deng R, Wei M … +6 more , Huang Y, Sun H, Yang S, Li S, Xiao C, Li M
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40778365 · Full text
Glutamatergic neurometabolite dysregulation has recently garnered attention in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, studies have reported heterogeneous results for changes in neurometabolite l...
Glutamatergic neurometabolite dysregulation has recently garnered attention in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, studies have reported heterogeneous results for changes in neurometabolite levels across brain regions and whether these changes are related to antidepressant intervention. Herein, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate consistent findings by searching PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and SinoMed from the start date of these databases to May 2023 (PROSPERO#CRD42023405205). Among the 2529 publications screened, 55 studies were included in the meta-analysis, with 1400 MDD patients and 1322 healthy controls. The results revealed significant decreases in Glx (glutamate + glutamine) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC), glutamate in the ACC and γ-aminobutyric acid in the occipital cortex in MDD patients compared with healthy controls. However, changes in neurometabolite levels from pre to posttherapeutic-intervention in MDD patients were not significant. Heterogeneity was moderate-to-high across all neurotransmitters and brain regions. Nonetheless, these findings inform current translation efforts for MDD research.
The Relationship Between Anxiety and Employment Status in a German Working-Age Population: Findings on Sex-Specific Prevalence Rates and Associated Factors of Anxiety From the LIFE-Adult-Study.
Görres C, Pabst A, Zülke AE … +8 more , Glaesmer H, Hinz A, Engel C, Kirsten T, Reyes N, Loeffler M, Riedel-Heller SG, Löbner M
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40771399 · Full text
Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental illnesses worldwide, with a 12-month prevalence rate of 14%-15.3%. Prior research has demonstrated a correlation between unemployment and impaired mental health. The...
Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental illnesses worldwide, with a 12-month prevalence rate of 14%-15.3%. Prior research has demonstrated a correlation between unemployment and impaired mental health. The primary objective of this study is to examine the relationship between anxiety and employment status in Germany. The sample consisted of 4885 working-age participants (18-65 years) from the baseline survey of a population-based cohort study. Anxiety was assessed using the General Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7). Employment status was divided into four groups: full-time employment (FTE group), part-time employment (PTE group), ALG I (ALG I group, being unemployed receiving entitlement-based benefits), and ALG II (ALG II group, being unemployed receiving means-tested benefits). Negative binomial regressions were conducted to examine the association between anxiety, employment status, sociodemographic variables (age, sex, marital status, and education), and social resources (Lubben Social Network Scale 6 [LSNS-6]). The prevalence of anxiety symptoms (FTE group: 5.0%, PTE group: 4.8%, ALG I group: 2.7%, and ALG II group: 17.6%) differed between employment status groups. The ALG II group exhibited a markedly elevated prevalence compared to all other groups ( < 0.001). The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was higher among females in the FTE group (7.6%) compared to males (2.9%) in the same category ( < 0.001). The initial regression model indicated a statistically significant association between anxiety symptoms and the ALG II group ( < 0.001) and the PTE group (=0.006). After including additional variables, this effect maintained its statistical significance. Factors associated with a higher risk of anxiety symptoms were female sex ( < 0.001), low educational level (=0.007), and less social resources ( < 0.001). Unemployed individuals who receive ALG II are at the highest risk of developing anxiety symptoms among those who are able to work. These findings suggest the need for targeted psychosocial and occupational support for unemployed individuals receiving ALG II.
Hypoactivity of the Prefrontal Cortex During Go/No-Go Task in Patients With Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Chen CA, Lin PT, Hsu MY … +8 more , Lee CY, Chen IM, Lin YT, Huang YJ, Chen PH, Chen JJ, Lin GH, Huang YJ
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40761833 · Full text
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent mental health condition affecting cognitive functions like response inhibition. The neural mechanisms underlying the interplay between inhibitory ability and anxiety regu...
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent mental health condition affecting cognitive functions like response inhibition. The neural mechanisms underlying the interplay between inhibitory ability and anxiety regulation in GAD remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the prefrontal cortex (PFC) alterations when anxiety regulation shares neural resources with response inhibition in patients with GAD compared to healthy controls and to explore the relationship between anxiety and PFC activity. The hemodynamic responses of bihemispheric PFC were measured in 19 GAD patients and 38 healthy controls using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during the Go/No-Go task and were compared between the groups. The correlations between PFC activity and task performance and those between PFC activity and anxiety levels were analyzed. The GAD group exhibited lower hemoglobin concentration across the PFC during both baseline and task sessions, with significant hypoactivity in the bihemispheric dorsomedial PFC (DMPFC) at baseline (=0.035-0.049), and more widespread hypoactivity during the task in the bihemispheric DMPFC ( < 0.001-0.033) and dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC; =0.012-0.042), as well as the right ventromedial PFC (VMPFC; =0.019-0.037). Higher baseline prefrontal activity was associated with poorer task accuracy ( = -0.576 to -0.417) and greater trait anxiety ( = 0.441-0.514). When transitioning to the task, better accuracy correlated with increased activation in the left DMPFC ( = 0.405-0.593), whereas higher anxiety levels were linked to reduced activation in the left DMPFC ( = -0.512) and right DMPFC ( = -0.435). This study reveals that patients with GAD exhibit significant hypoactivity in the PFC during response inhibition, correlating with both task performance and anxiety levels. These findings emphasize the importance of targeting PFC dysfunction in the development of diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions for GAD.
Factors Associated With Suicidal Ideation in College Students of Health Sciences.
Luceño-Moreno L, Vázquez-Estévez D, Martín-García J … +1 more , Talavera-Velasco B
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40761832 · Full text
Suicide is the leading cause of death in people between 15 and 29 years of age, and its increase is worrying. Compared to other disciplines, university students of Health Sciences present a higher risk of suicidal ideati...
Suicide is the leading cause of death in people between 15 and 29 years of age, and its increase is worrying. Compared to other disciplines, university students of Health Sciences present a higher risk of suicidal ideation. The aim of this research was to identify which factors are associated with suicidal ideation in these students. A total of 412 university students from different Health Sciences specialties participated. The results indicate that higher levels of self-esteem, resilience, and perceived efficacy are associated with less suicidal ideation, while presenting more exhaustion, cynicism, stress, anxiety, and depression is related to a higher frequency of suicidal thoughts. Not seeking information about suicide and being in the first or second year were associated with more suicidal ideation. Not consuming alcohol or having close experiences of suicide was associated with less suicidal ideation. The profile of the university student with more suicidal ideation is one with high scores in depression and anxiety, and low scores in self-esteem. It is expected that these data can be considered in future suicide prevention programs.
The Relationship Between Nursing Students' Perception of Obstetric Violence, Pre-Pregnancy Fear of Childbirth, and Moral Sensitivity: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Erbil N, Akın Yamak Ö, Boyraz Yanık HG
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40746374 · Full text
Nursing students' perceptions of obstetric violence and moral sensitivity can affect their pre-pregnancy fear of childbirth levels. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between nursing students' moral sen...
Nursing students' perceptions of obstetric violence and moral sensitivity can affect their pre-pregnancy fear of childbirth levels. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between nursing students' moral sensitivity, perception of obstetric violence, and pre-pregnancy fear of childbirth. The research was designed as a cross-sectional study. This study was conducted between November 1, 2024, and November 15, 2024, with the participation of 315 nursing students. Data were collected face-to-face using the Personal Information Form, Pre-pregnancy Fear of Childbirth Scale, Obstetric Violence Perception Scale, and Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ). Ethical committee approval and institutional permission were obtained before starting the study. Parametric data were analyzed using -tests and one-way ANOVA, while nonparametric tests were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Pearson correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were also conducted. Statistical significance was set at < 0.05. The average age of the students included in the study was 21.67 ± 1.37, with 50.5% being 4th-year students, 79.7% being female, and 66% choosing nursing as their profession voluntarily. It was determined that 66% of the participants preferred vaginal birth, 38.1% had previously heard the term obstetric violence, 18.1% had witnessed someone being subjected to obstetric violence, and 89.2% thought that nurses or midwives needed communication knowledge and skills. A weak correlation was found between the Pre-pregnancy Fear of Childbirth Scale and the Obstetric Violence Perception Scale ( = 0.134, =0.018). It was also determined that the predictor of pre-pregnancy fear of childbirth was the students' perception of obstetric violence ( = 0.170, = 0.028, =0.013). The study concluded that the perception of obstetric violence is a predictor of pre-pregnancy fear of childbirth. Additionally, a negative and weak relationship was found between students' moral sensitivity scores and 'intrapartum mistreatment.
Core Symptoms and Dynamic Interactions of Depressive Symptoms in Older Chinese Adults: A Longitudinal Network Analysis.
Feng Y, Chen L, Yuan Q … +4 more , Ma L, Zhao W, Bai L, Chen J
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40740343 · Full text
Depressive symptoms in older adults are associated with adverse psychosocial outcomes. Understanding how depressive symptoms interrelate can enhance intervention strategies. While network analysis has advanced our compre...
Depressive symptoms in older adults are associated with adverse psychosocial outcomes. Understanding how depressive symptoms interrelate can enhance intervention strategies. While network analysis has advanced our comprehension of depressive symptom structure, few studies have explored dynamic interactions in older populations. This study examined both cross-sectional and longitudinal networks of depressive symptoms in older adults to identify core symptoms and symptom interactions over time. Participants aged 60 and older with complete two-wave data (baseline: 2018; follow-up: 2020) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were included ( = 6621). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10), administered face-to-face by trained interviewers. Cross-sectional networks were estimated using the Ising model for each time point, and a cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) model was applied to examine longitudinal symptom interactions over time. Network accuracy and stability were assessed through bootstrap procedures. Participants had a mean age of 67.34 years, 52% male, and 93.7% Han ethnicity. "Felt depressed" ( = 1.244 at Wave 1, = 1.251 at Wave 2) demonstrated the highest strength centrality in both cross-sectional networks. Node strength exhibited strong stability (correlation stability [CS]-coefficient = 0.75 for both waves). The presence of edges ( = 0.802; < 0.001) and edge weights ( = 0.921, < 0.001) across two cross-sectional networks showed high reproducibility. In the longitudinal network, "lack of happiness" showed the highest out-expected influence (out-EI; = 1.404), followed by "felt depressed" ( = 0.994). Both in-expected influence (in-EI) and out-EI showed acceptable stability (CS-coefficient = 0.594). Targeting core symptoms, such as "felt depressed" and "lack of happiness" may disrupt depressive symptom networks and reduce overall depression severity, informing precision interventions in older adults. Clinicians could prioritize these symptoms in screening and treatment. Future research should explore whether symptom-targeted interventions can reshape network structures over time.
Associations Between Oral Microbiota Pathogens and Elevated Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Men.
Kerff F, Pasco JA, Williams LJ … +3 more , Jacka FN, Loughman A, Dawson SL
Depress Anxiety · 2025 · PMID 40727430 · Full text
Systemic inflammation is associated with depression. Certain oral bacterial species contribute to inflammation; however their potential association with mental disorders remains unclear. This study investigated the assoc...
Systemic inflammation is associated with depression. Certain oral bacterial species contribute to inflammation; however their potential association with mental disorders remains unclear. This study investigated the associations between oral microbiota pathogens and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Data came from 436 men from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. Oral microbiota was characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing, and an oral pathogen composite was created comprising , , , and species relative abundances. Binary variables were created representing elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Logistic regression was used to investigate associations between oral pathogens and elevated depressive/anxiety symptoms. Models were adjusted for confounders: age, socioeconomic status, diet, smoking, alcohol, exercise, obesity, and hypertension. We report a modest (nonsignificant) association between the pathogen composite and elevated depressive (OR 1.35 [95% CI 0.974, 1.87]) but not anxiety symptoms. Moreover, some of the comprising species were significantly associated with elevated depressive symptoms, including (1.61 [1.21, 2.13]). Our exploratory analyses revealed that several other taxa were significantly associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. The findings suggest that specific oral bacteria may contribute to symptoms of depression, warranting further research through larger and longitudinal investigations.
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