Anxiety disorders are common and have a substantial impact on people with epilepsy (PWE). However, they often go under-recognized. In recent years, epilepsy-specific anxiety has gained increasing attention in the literature. To improve mental health care for people with epilepsy (PWE), we developed and validated the traditional Chinese versions of the Epilepsy Anxiety Survey Instrument (EASI) and its brief screener (brEASI) among PWE in Hong Kong.

We developed the TC-EASI through forward and backward translation, followed by a review by an expert panel and a focus group. We tested the instrument among PWE aged 18 years and older using the Chinese Bilingual version of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision (CB-SCID), which is the gold standard for diagnosing anxiety disorders. We examined the internal consistency and the test-retest reliability of the TC-EASI and TC-brEASI. We performed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess the factor structure of the TC-EASI. We also examined convergent and divergent validity using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21 (DASS-21), and the Liverpool Adverse Events Profile (LAEP). Furthermore, we analyzed the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) of the TC-brEASI.

We included 203 Chinese PWE; 19.7% had at least one current anxiety disorder, 7.4% had a panic disorder, and 5.9% had agoraphobia without panic disorder. Both internal consistency and test-retest reliability were satisfactory. The TC-EASI revealed two latent constructs: epilepsy-specific anxiety and typical anxiety. Convergent and divergent validity were established. A cut-off score of ≥9 for the TC-brEASI yielded a sensitivity of 89.2% (95% CI = 79.2-99.2%), a specificity of 82.5% (95% CI = 76.8-88.3%), and an area under curve (AUC) of 0.925 (95% CI = 0.887-0.964).

The traditional Chinese versions of the EASI and brEASI are reliable and valid epilepsy-specific measures.

Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) such as anxiety and depression have been associated with metabolic dysfunction-Associated steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). The Mediterranean Diet (MD) has been shown to improve metabolic health and reduce CMDs. We previously reported that a calorie-restricted MD adapted to the Asian food culture has beneficial effects on body composition, liver fat, and cardiometabolic markers in Chinese Singaporean women with MASLD.

This secondary analysis examines the effects of an Asian-adapted MD on the symptoms of anxiety and depression in the same population.

In a double-blind, parallel-design, randomized controlled trial, 84 Chinese- Singaporean females with MASLD were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 groups for 12 weeks: adapted Asian MD with C15:0 supplementation (n = 29), diet without C15:0 supplementation (n = 26), or control (habitual diet and no C15:0 supplementation, n = 29). Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Beck Inventory Questionnaire (BDI-II) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

Paired t-tests showed a statistically significant reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms within the groups. Particularly, the Diet+C15 group showed a significant decrease in trait anxiety scores (M = 38.62, SE = 1.84 to M = 34.10, SE = 1.73), t (28) = 3.73, p < 0.001, with a medium-to-large effect size (d = 0.69) Jacobson and Truax's reliable change criteria showed clinically reliable improvements in anxiety and depression postintervention.

The Asian-adapted MD shows potential benefits for reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, particularly trait anxiety in women with MASLD. However, given the complexity of CMD, findings should be interpreted cautiously. Future research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these effects and explore underlying mechanisms.

http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05259475.

White blood cell (WBC) counts, DNA methylation, and gene expression are reported to be associated with psychosis. However, it is not known whether these associations precede the onset of psychosis or whether they are relevant for the stratification of psychosis risk in clinically high-risk individuals. The STEP (Staged Treatment in Early Psychosis) clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of a sequential intervention strategy for preventing psychosis in a cohort of young people at ultra-high risk (UHR) of psychosis. Participants were assessed for remission of UHR status after up to 6 months of treatment with psychosocial therapy.

Cell-type proportions estimated from whole-blood DNA methylation samples (N = 91) were used to test for associations between WBC proportions at trial baseline and remission of UHR status (31 remitters, 60 nonremitters), including at which step of the trial remission occurred. DNA methylome-wide association and differential expression analyses were conducted to test for associations with remission of UHR status.

Baseline lymphocyte cell proportions (odds ratio [OR], 0.23; 95% CI, 0.07-0.62; p = 9.2 × 10^-3) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.37-7.46; p = .012) were significantly associated with remission status. There were suggestive associations between specific cell types and the timing of remission during the trial; however, these did not survive correction for multiple testing. No methylation probes or differentially expressed genes were associated with remission status when cell-type proportions were included as covariates.

Our results indicate the potential importance of WBCs for further stratification of psychosis risk in UHR individuals and reinforce the importance of routine collection of WBC data for future clinical trials.

Good interpersonal relationships are associated with improved functioning, quality of life, and a better prognosis in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Little information is available regarding relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction within couples where 1 partner has BD.

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine relationship and sexual satisfaction in patients with BD and partners to patients with BD.

Patients with BD and partners to patients with BD were included, and outcomes were assessed using semi-structured interviews and questionnaires.

Couple satisfaction was measured by the self-reported questionnaire Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI-4), and sexual satisfaction was measured by 3 self-reported questions. Multiple regression analyses were used to compare the groups adjusting for sex, age, mood symptoms, overall functioning, and stress symptoms. The results were compared to general populations.

One hundred eleven patients with BD and 74 partners were included. We found a significant difference between patients with BD and partners concerning relationship satisfaction measured with the CSI, with partners being less satisfied (P = .050). Comparing relationship satisfaction in patients with BD and partners to the general population, we found that the general population was more satisfied in each CSI item (P < .050). In multiple regression analyses adjusted for sex, age, mood symptoms, stress, and function, patients with BD were more satisfied with their sexual life over the last year compared to partners (P = .039). They further rated the importance of a good sexual life higher than partners (P = .006). Finally, more patients with BD and partners rated their sex life the last year as being bad to extremely bad compared to the control group from the general population (partners = 21.1%, BD = 23.4%, general population = 16%).

In clinical practice, it is essential to focus on relationships including sexual life in patients with BD and partners as both groups have a lower degree of relationship and sexual satisfaction compared to the general population.

The use of validated questionnaires and clinical ratings is a strength, albeit the cross-sectional design is a limitation.

Patients with BD reported a higher degree of satisfaction with their relationship and sexual life compared to their partners. Compared to the general population, both groups expressed lower degree of relationship and sexual satisfaction.

From understanding others' mental states to interpreting social cues, aging impairs social abilities. These impairments might not seem surprising given they rely on other cognitive functions such as memory, attention and decision-making, which are known to decline with age. It is, however, unclear to what degree impairments of more basic perceptual abilities, such as eye-gaze detection, contribute to or even precede the decline in social skills. Previous studies have obtained mixed results when investigating whether aging impairs fundamental perceptual processing of social information. Our study expands on previous findings by showing that aging impairs the ability to rapidly detect and discriminate gaze direction. Using breaking Continuous Flash Suppression (b-CFS), we tested whether preconscious automatic processing of direct eye contact was prioritized over the processing of averted gaze direction, as previously established in younger adults. Our results show that, on average, older adults (65-89 years old, n = 19) lack this direct gaze advantage and do not exhibit significant differences in detecting direct vs. averted gaze direction. These results provide important insights into age-related deficits in social cognition, suggesting social processing deficits may manifest at the earliest automatic stages of perceptual processing. Future work examining the relationship between alterations in gaze processing and decline in higher-level cognitive functions could inform the development of early detection tools and clinical interventions.

TikTok is a significant part of social media usage, since 25.6% of the total global population has a TikTok account, and, thus, scholars should pay attention to its association with users' mental health.

To synthesize and evaluate the association between problematic TikTok use and mental health.

We applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines in our review. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024582054). We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ProQuest, and CINAHL until September 02, 2024.

We identified 16 studies with 15,821 individuals. All studies were cross-sectional and were conducted after 2019. Quality was moderate in 10 studies, good in three studies, and poor in three studies. Our random effects models showed a positive association between TikTok use and depression (β = 0.321, 95% confidence interval: 0.261 to 0.381, p < 0.001, I² = 78.0%, n = 6 studies), and anxiety (β = 0.406, 95% confidence interval: 0.279 to 0.533, p < 0.001, I² = 94.8%, n = 4 studies). Data to perform meta-analysis with the other mental health variables were limited. However, our descriptive data showed a positive association between TikTok use and body image issues, poor sleep, anger, distress intolerance, narcissism, and stress.

Our findings suggest that problematic TikTok use has a negative association with several mental health issues. Given the high levels of TikTok use, especially among young adults, our findings are essential to further enhance our understanding of the association between TikTok use and mental health. Finally, there is a need for further studies of better quality to assess the association between problematic TikTok use and mental health in a more valid way.

Burnout among oncology healthcare providers (HCPs) poses significant challenges to both personal well-being and patient care quality. To inform targeted interventions, this study assessed burnout prevalence and its predictors among HCPs in a tertiary cancer center in Jordan. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 10, 2023, to April 14, 2024, using an online questionnaire available in both English and Arabic. The survey, distributed via email and social media, included the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and sociodemographic items. Descriptive statistics, binary logistic, and group comparisons analyzed the relationships between demographic/work characteristics, depression, and burnout. Of 996 respondents, 692 (69.4%) completed the survey. Most participants were male (54.6%) and Muslim (98.3%), with 41.6% aged under 30. Respondents included physicians (17.1%), nurses (28.0%), and other healthcare roles (54.9%). Burnout levels were high, with 75.7% reporting high emotional exhaustion (EE), 35.3% experiencing high depersonalization (DP), and 27.2% showing low personal accomplishment (PA). Binary logistic regression analysis identified significant predictors of high EE, including lower income (<500 JD ≈ 705 USD, p = 0.004), thoughts of quitting (p = 0.000), and lack of burnout training (p = 0.007). High DP was associated with a lack of hobbies (p = 0.003) and thoughts of quitting (p = 0.000), while low PA was linked to a higher patient caseload (p = 0.000). Elevated PHQ-9 scores, indicative of depression, were significantly correlated with increased burnout across all dimensions (p < 0.001). In conclusion, burnout is highly prevalent among oncology HCPs in Jordan, with strong associations between burnout and specific demographic and work-related factors. Targeted interventions emphasizing stress management, organizational support, and effective coping mechanisms are crucial to mitigate burnout and enhance job satisfaction among oncology staff.

This study examined the current state of mental health literacy (MHL)-related educator training, certification, and policy in Nova Scotia, Canada. It addressed three research questions: (i) How has Nova Scotia's educational policy landscape responded to the Evergreen Framework's (EF's) strategic directions? (ii) What are the strengths and gaps in current MHL-related policies? (iii) What sources of MHL training are available to preservice educators through Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) and early childhood education (ECE) programs and to in-service educators through Master of Education (M.Ed.) programs and professional development (PD). A deductive content analysis was used to evaluate the alignment of provincial policies with the EF. An environmental scan and systematic analysis were conducted across ECE, B.Ed., and M.Ed. programs, as well as PD offerings and curriculum content. Findings indicate that while aspects of MHL are embedded within inclusive education policies and select course offerings, explicit training in MHL is limited and inconsistently implemented. PD opportunities and regional education center resources vary widely, and MHL competencies are not mandated for certification. The study provides recommendations for policy and training reform.

The field of Neurochemistry spent decades trying to understand how the brain works, from nano to macroscale and across diverse species. Technological advancements over the years allowed researchers to better visualize and understand the cellular processes underpinning central nervous system (CNS) function. This review provides an overview of how novel models, and tools have allowed Neurochemistry researchers to investigate new and exciting research questions. We discuss the merits and demerits of different in vivo models (e.g., Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, Ratus norvegicus, and Mus musculus) as well as in vitro models (e.g., primary cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and immortalized cells) to study Neurochemical events. We also discuss how these models can be paired with cutting-edge genetic manipulation (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9 and engineered viral vectors) and imaging techniques, such as super-resolution microscopy and new biosensors, to study cellular processes of the CNS. These technological advancements provide new insight into Neurochemical events in physiological and pathological contexts, paving the way for the development of new treatments (e.g., cell and gene therapies or small molecules) that aim to treat neurological disorders by reverting the CNS to its homeostatic state.

Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often lacks diagnostic, prognostic, and monitoring value in Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly in early disease stages. To improve its utility, we aimed to identify optimal atrophy markers for different intended uses.

We included 363 older adults; cognitively unimpaired individuals who were negative or positive for amyloid beta (Aβ) and Aβ-positive patients with subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia of the Alzheimer type. MRI and neuropsychological assessments were administered annually for up to 3 years.

Accelerated atrophy of medial temporal lobe subregions was evident already during preclinical AD. Symptomatic disease stages most notably differed in their hippocampal and parietal atrophy signatures. Atrophy-cognition relationships varied by intended use and disease stage.

With the appropriate marker, MRI can detect abnormal atrophy already during preclinical AD. To optimize performance, atrophy markers should be tailored to the targeted disease stage and intended use.

Subregional atrophy markers detect ongoing atrophy in preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD). Subjective cognitive decline in preclinical AD links to manifest atrophy. Optimal atrophy markers differ by the disease stage and intended use.