Polygenic Contributions to Lithium Augmentation Outcomes in Unipolar Depression.

Importance: Lithium augmentation is an effective treatment for patients with major depression after inadequate antidepressant response, but therapeutic outcomes vary considerably between individuals. Molecular studies may provide novel insights into treatment prediction and guide personalized therapy.

Objective: To investigate the association of polygenic risk scores (PRS) for schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BIP) with clinical outcomes after lithium augmentation.

Polygenic contributions to lithium augmentation outcomes in antidepressant non-responders with unipolar depression.

Objective: Lithium augmentation (LA) is an effective treatment for patients with major depression after inadequate antidepressant response, but therapeutic outcomes vary considerably between individuals. Molecular studies could yield novel insights into treatment prediction to enable personalized therapy choices. Here, we investigated the effects of polygenic risk scores (PRS) for schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BIP) on clinical outcomes following LA.

Sexual dysfunctions associated with antipsychotic drug intake: a retrospective analysis of the FDA adverse events reporting system (FAERS).

Sexual dysfunctions (SD) are common and debilitating side effects of antipsychotics. The current study analyzes the occurrence of antipsychotic-related SD using data from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). FAERS was queried for sexual dysfunction adverse events (encoded by 35 different MedDRA preferred terms) secondary to amisulpride, aripiprazole, chlorprothixene, clozapine, haloperidol, loxapine, olanzapine, pipamperone, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone from 2000 to 2023.

Turning the spotlight: Hostile behavior in creative higher education and links to mental health in marginalized groups.

Hostile, discriminatory, and violent behavior within the creative industries has attracted considerable public interest and existing inequalities have been discussed broadly. However, few empirical studies have examined experiences of hostile behavior in creative higher education and associated mental health outcomes of early career artists. To address this gap, we conducted a survey among individuals studying at higher education institutions for art and music (N = 611).

Depressive symptoms among individuals identifying as asexual: a cross-sectional study.

Although asexuality became a growing research subject over the last decade, data on the mental health of individuals identifying as asexual is still rare. The key objective of the present study was to examine depressive symptoms among individuals identifying as asexual. Data of LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Trans*, Queer, Inter*, Asexual and/or + indicating others within the community) and cisgender heterosexual individuals was collected through an online survey during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Germany.

Lithium treatment for affective disorders: Exploring the potential of salivary therapeutic monitoring.

Lithium is one of the most effective medications for treatment-resistant depression and bipolar disorder. However, lithium has a narrow therapeutic window: overdosing can lead to life-threatening lithium intoxication while underdosing results in a lack of desired therapeutic effects. Therefore, lithium treatment requires close monitoring with regular laboratory assessments of blood serum concentrations.

Safety and Healthcare Resource Utilization in Patients Undergoing Left Atrial Appendage Closure-A Nationwide Analysis.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) has emerged as a non-pharmacological alternative for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) not suitable for anticoagulation therapy. Real-world data on peri-procedural outcomes are limited. The aim of this study was to analyze outcomes of peri-procedural safety and healthcare resource utilization in 11,240 adult patients undergoing LAAC in the United States between 2016 and 2019.

Rapid Detection of Lithium Concentrations in Oral Fluid.

Background: Lithium medication is considered to be the first-line treatment for bipolar disorder as a monotherapy, and for treatment-resistant depression with lithium augmentation. However, because of potential toxicity, lithium levels must be monitored frequently. Recent studies have demonstrated a significant correlation between lithium levels measured in serum and those detected in oral fluid, suggesting that oral fluid analysis may represent an easy, noninvasive means to monitor lithium levels.

[Changes in the provision of primary care and psychotherapy in Germany during the first two lockdowns in 2020 and 2021: A two-wave survey giving consideration to gender identity and sexual orientation].

Introduction: Measures against the COVID-19 pandemic led to restrictions in ambulatory health care in Germany. While the restrictions have been described from claims data, the patients' perspective has been missing. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-, inter- and asexual persons (LGBTIA) might have been particularly affected by these restrictions because of their vulnerability.

The psychological burden of COVID-19 on the desire for parenthood in minoritized sexual identities: a study on depressive symptoms and family planning in Germany.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe and is associated with significant clinical and humanitarian burden. The desire for parenthood has been described to be positively correlated with psychological well-being: An unfulfilled wish for parenthood is associated with impaired mental health, and the wish for parenthood is a predictor for the development of depressive symptoms. While higher rates of anxiety and depression have been reported in individuals with minoritized sexual identities (compared to heterosexual individuals) during the COVID-19 pandemic, the specific impact of the pandemic and its social restriction measures on this population is poorly understood.

Depression in primary care and the role of evidence-based guidelines: cross-sectional data from primary care physicians in Germany.

Background: Depression is the most common mental health burden worldwide. Primary care physicians (PCPs) play a key role in the care provision for people with depression. The first objective of the present study was to examine the health care situation of depression in primary care, focusing on the cooperation between PCPs and mental health specialists.

Loneliness and depressive symptoms differ by sexual orientation and gender identity during physical distancing measures in response to COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing measures to prevent transmission of the virus have been implemented. The effect of physical distancing measures on loneliness especially for vulnerable groups remained unclear. Thus, we aimed to investigate loneliness in relation with depressive symptoms among lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, inter, asexual, and queer (LGBT) persons compared with cis-heterosexual persons during the pandemic.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexual Health in Cis Women Living in Germany.

Background: Preliminary research shows a substantial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's sexual health, whereby empirical work on sexual well-being of minoritized sexual identities is still rare.

Aim: The objective of this study was to explore sexual health in heterosexual, lesbian and bisexual cis women during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

Methods: An anonymous nationwide online survey was conducted among cis women during the first nationwide lockdown in Germany from April 20th to July 20th, 2020.

Electrocardiographic Changes During Initiation of Lithium Augmentation of Antidepressant Pharmacotherapy.

Purpose/background: Lithium augmentation of antidepressants represents a common strategy to overcome treatment resistance in patients with major depressive disorder. The use of lithium has been associated with cardiovascular adverse effects such as QTc prolongation and tachyarrhythmia. Although the previous studies investigated monotherapy with lithium, the aim of this study was to investigate electrocardiographic changes in LA.

A GWAS top hit for circulating leptin is associated with weight gain but not with leptin protein levels in lithium-augmented patients with major depression.

Lithium-treated patients often suffer from weight gain as a common adverse event. In an earlier investigation, we found an impact of two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs10487506 and rs2278815) at the leptin gene on weight gain but not on leptin protein levels in serum under lithium augmentation. A recent genome-wide association study identified a polymorphism at the leptin gene locus (rs10487505) associated with circulating leptin protein levels.

Faster speed of onset of the depressive episode is associated with lower cytokine serum levels (IL-2, -4, -6, -10, TNF-α and IFN-γ) in patients with major depression.

Introduction: Cytokines might play a key role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). The speed of onset of depressive episodes has been discussed as an important clinical parameter in MDD. The aim of this study was to investigate a potential influence of the speed of onset of the depressive episode on cytokine serum levels.

Well-being during COVID-19 pandemic: A comparison of individuals with minoritized sexual and gender identities and cis-heterosexual individuals.

Background: Preliminary empirical data indicates a substantial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being and mental health. Individuals with minoritized sexual and gender identities are at a higher risk of experiencing such negative changes in their well-being. The objective of this study was to compare levels of well-being among cis-heterosexual individuals and individuals with minoritized sexual and gender identities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Efficacy and Adverse Effects of Tranylcypromine and Tricyclic Antidepressants in the Treatment of Depression: A Systematic Review and Comprehensive Meta-analysis.

Purpose: We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of the comparison of tranylcypromine (TCP) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in the treatment of depression because such work is lacking in medical scientific literature.

Methods: Literature was searched for studies of TCP controlled by TCAs in multiple databases and in reviews of TCP and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. The natural logarithm of the odds ratio (logOR) and the pooled logOR according to a fixed effect model were calculated for the numbers of responders and nonresponders.

Treatment response of lithium augmentation in geriatric compared to non-geriatric patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Background: Lithium augmentation (LA) of antidepressants is an effective strategy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Nevertheless, it is rarely used in geriatric patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate treatment response of LA in geriatric compared to non-geriatric patients.