Depression (differential diagnoses)

About: Depression (differential diagnoses) is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 56557 publications have been published within this topic receiving 2048357 citations.

Major depression is a risk factor for seizures in older adults

Abstract: We tested the hypothesis that major depression meeting DSM-III-R criteria or medical therapies for depression increase the risk for unprovoked seizures. Major depression was associated with a sixfold increased risk for unprovoked seizures (95% CI, 1.56-22). The risk remained increased even when controlling for age, sex, length of medical follow-up, and medical therapies for depression. In the absence of known prior neurological insult, major depression is associated with an increased risk for unprovoked seizures.

Cognitive reactivity to sad mood provocation and the prediction of depressive relapse.

Abstract: Context Episode remission in unipolar major depression, while distinguished by minimal symptom burden, can also be a period of marked sensitivity to emotional stress as well as an increased risk of relapse. Objective To examine whether mood-linked changes in dysfunctional thinking predict relapse in recovered patients who were depressed. Design In phase 1 of this study, patients with major depressive disorder were randomly assigned to receive either antidepressant medication or cognitive behavior therapy. In phase 2, patients who achieved clinical remission underwent sad mood provocation and were then observed with regular clinical assessments for 18 months. Setting Outpatient psychiatric clinics at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario. Participants A total of 301 outpatients with major depressive disorder, aged 18 to 65 years, participated in phase 1 of this study and 99 outpatients with major depressive disorder in remission, aged 18 to 65 years, participated in phase 2. Main Outcome Measure Occurrence of a relapse meetingDSM-IVcriteria for a major depressive episode as assessed by the longitudinal interval follow-up evaluation and a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score of 16 or greater. Results Patients who recovered through antidepressant medication showed greater cognitive reactivity following the mood provocation than those who received cognitive behavior therapy. Regardless of type of prior treatment, the magnitude of mood-linked cognitive reactivity was a significant predictor of relapse over the subsequent 18 months. Patients whose mood-linked endorsement of dysfunctional attitudes increased by a minimum of 8 points had a significantly shorter time to relapse than those whose scores were not as elevated. Conclusions The vulnerability of remitted depressed patients for illness relapse may be related to the (re)activation of depressive thinking styles triggered by temporary dysphoric states. This is the first study to link such differences to prognosis following successful treatment for depression. Further understanding of factors predisposing to relapse/recurrence in recovered patients may help to shorten the potentially lifelong course of depression.

Depression and suicide attempt as risk factors for incident unprovoked seizures.

Abstract: Major depression has been shown to increase the risk for development of epilepsy, but prior studies have not evaluated whether this is due to specific symptoms of depression. We conducted a population-based case-control study of all newly diagnosed unprovoked seizures among Icelandic children and adults aged 10 years and older to test the hypothesis that major depression is a risk factor for developing unprovoked seizure and epilepsy, and to address whether specific symptoms of depression account for this increased risk. Cases were matched to the next two same sex births from the population registry. Using standardized interviews, we ascertained symptoms of major depression to make a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) diagnosis. A history of major depression was 1.7-fold more common among cases than among controls (95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.7). A history of attempted suicide was 5.1-fold more common among cases than among controls (95% confidence interval, 2.2-11.5). Attempted suicide increased seizure risk even after adjusting for age, sex, cumulative alcohol intake, and major depression or number of symptoms of depression. Major depression and attempted suicide independently increase the risk for unprovoked seizure. These data suggest that depression and suicide attempt may be due to different underlying neurochemical pathways, each of which is important in the development of epilepsy.

Prospective study of the psychiatric disorders of childbirth.

Abstract: A representative sample of 105 women were assessed by Goldberg's Standardised Psychiatric Interview (SPI) on two occasions during pregnancy and twice more in the puerperium. Total SPI scores increased significantly after childbirth. Thirteen of the sample had a severe postnatal depression and a further 17 women had milder depression, which in 15 lasted at four weeks. Marked deterioration of their martial relationships was reported by the depressed women but no other social or obstetric characteristics of postnatal depression were found. Women with severe postnatal blues were particularly at risk of developing persistent depressive symptoms subsequently. The only two women referred to a psychiatrist had personality disorders rather than depressive illnesses.