Background Many studies have predicted major depressive disorder (MDD) as the leading cause of global health by 2030 due to its high prevalence, disability, and illness. However, the actual pathophysiological mechanism behind depression is unknown. Scientists consider alterations in cytokines might be tools for understanding the pathogenesis and treatment of MDD. Several past studies on several inflammatory cytokine expressions in MDD reveal that an inflammatory process is activated, although the precise causes of that changes in cytokine levels are unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate resistin and G-CSF in MDD patients and controls to explore their role in the pathogenesis and development of depression. Methods We included 220 participants in this study. Among them, 108 MDD patients and 112 age-sex matched healthy control (HCs). We used DSM-5 to evaluate study participants. Also, we applied the Ham-D rating scale to assess the severity of patients. Serum resistin and G-CSF levels were measured using ELISA kits (BosterBio, USA). Results The present study observed increased serum resistin levels in MDD patients compared to HCs (13.82 ± 1.24ng/mL and 6.35 ± 0.51ng/mL, p <0.001). However, we did not find such changes for serum G-CSF levels between the groups. Ham-D scores showed a significant correlation with serum resistin levels but not G-CSF levels in the patient group. Furthermore, ROC analysis showed a fairly predictive performance of serum resistin levels in major depression (AUC = 0.746). Conclusion The present study findings suggest higher serum resistin levels are associated with the pathophysiology of MDD. This elevated serum resistin level may serve as an early risk assessment indicator for MDD. However, the role of serum G-CSF in the development of MDD is still unclear despite its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects.

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Background and Aims Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the fourth biggest health‐related concern that dramatically impacts individuals' mental and physical health. Alteration of serum proinflammatory cytokine levels may take part in the development and progression of MDD. We aimed to explore and compare the role of interleukin‐12 (IL‐12) in MDD patients and healthy controls (HCs) and its involvement with the disease severity. Methods The present study included 85 patients and 87 age‐sex matched HCs. A qualified psychiatrist utilized the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition (DSM‐5) criteria to diagnose patients and evaluate HCs. We applied the Ham‐D rating scale to measure the severity of depression. Serum IL‐12 levels were measured using ELISA kits. Results We observed a notable increase in the serum levels of IL‐12 in MDD patients compared to HCs (164.27 ± 10.18 pg/ml and 82.55 ± 4.40 pg/ml; p < 0.001). Moreover, we noticed a positive correlation between serum IL‐12 levels and Ham‐D scores in MDD patients ( r = 0.363; p = 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed a good predictive performance (AUC = 0.871; p < 0.001) at the cut‐off point of 53.46 pg/ml for serum IL‐12. Conclusion The current study findings support that IL‐12 levels are involved with the pathogenesis and inflammatory process in MDD. At the same time, this involvement may make this cytokine eligible for the risk evaluation of MDD. However, we recommend further interventional studies to explore more accurate associations between IL‐12 and depressive disorder.

The number of people suffering from mental illnesses has increased across the world. [1][2][3][4][5] Mental health has become an important issue than ever during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. [6][7][8][9] The pandemic has tremendously affected the health and life of people across the world. The prevalence of anxiety and depression has increased by 25% due to the Covid-19 pandemic worldwide. 10 The European Union (EU) countries reported mental disorders ranging from 16.1% to 54.8% since the beginning of the ongoing Factors associated with the poor mental health of people in 26 European countries were female sex, scarcity of healthcare services, financial crisis, and job loss during the Moreover, a meta-analysis reported that both sexes have similar infection rates; however, the increased severity and mortality due to Covid-19 were associated with the male sex. 12 Another metaanalysis showed that people aged 70 years or more have a higher risk of infection, a higher risk of developing severe symptoms, a higher need for intensive care support, and a higher risk of mortality than individuals under 70. 13 As a developing country in South East Asia, many people in Bangladesh have lost their jobs and income sources during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unemployment and poverty have increased throughout the country due to pandemic effects. 14 Also, additional fear of getting infected, death of close relatives and family members, and altered lifestyle to manage the pandemic crisis severely impacted the mental health of people across the globe. [15][16][17][18][19][20] We reported in our previous study that the prevalence of different mental disorders ranged from 38% to 73% among the general population in Bangladesh during the Covid-19 pandemic. 1,2 We anticipate that the actual prevalence and gravity of mental disorders are more serious than the reported results. Over the past few decades, the healthcare system across the world has improved to ensure better medical care for people. Medical care is now more selfdirected, information is now more accessible, and health-driving factors are now a top priority for global authorities. 21 | THE PRESENT SITUATION OF MENTAL DISORDERS AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN BANGLADESHBangladesh is a densely populated lower-middle-income country in Southeast Asia. 22 A door-to-door prevalence survey reported that 18.7% of adults and 12.6% of children met the criteria of mental disorders in Bangladesh. At least 30 million people in Bangladesh have mental disorders. 23 Therefore, primary, secondary, and tertiary level mental health services (MHS) are essential in Bangladesh. But the country does not have a structured mental healthcare system. In Bangladesh, mental health professionals (MHP) include psychiatrists, nurses, clinical psychologists, and counseling psychologists. 24

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Abstract:Background: Drug taking behavior and drug dependence is a multi-factorial disorder. Personality is a very important determining factor of drug dependence. Objectives: To find out the possible relationship between personality traits and substance use disorders. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional and case-control study conducted in the department of Psychiatry of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and Central Drug Addiction Treatment Center, Dhaka for a period of one year (January 2005 to December 2005). From five hundred respondents, 250 had the history of substance use disorders selected as case, and equal number were age, sex, habitat and economic background matched controls were taken. Personality traits of both cases and control were measured by applying Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Results: Mean ± SD psychoticism (8.42±3 vs 4.33±1.8), Neuroticism (11.89±2.3 vs 9.83±2) were significantly higher (P<0.01) in cases than controls. It was found that psychoticism was 2.3 times and neurticism was 1.7 times higher in substance users than that of controls. There were no significant differences of mean distribution of extroversion and lie scales among the cases & controls. This study also revealed that, there was no significant relationship between personality traits and different variables related to substance use except that psychoticism was significantly higher in those substance users who had have positive history of troubles with law than those having no history of trouble with law (8.82±3.2 & 7.95±2.7 respectively). Conclusion: Personality traits may have an influence on persons with substance use disorder which detoriates quality of life.

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Nearly 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, which is 1 person every 40 seconds. In 2015, suicide alone accounted for 1.4% of all deaths worldwide, making it the 17th leading cause of death. 1 60% of these occur in Asia as estimated. 1 A recent review of suicide in Asia demonstrates higher average suicide rates in Asia compared to high-income countries. 2 Despite the fact that it is an enormous public health issue, suicide receives relatively less attention.According to the latest data published in may 2014 by World Health Organization (WHO), suicide deaths in Bangladesh reached 10,167 or 1.40% of total deaths. The age adjusted death rate is 7.63 per 100,000 of population which ranks Bangladesh 97 th in the world. 3 So it is crucial to understand the predisposing factors behind the suicide attempts among the population for preventing it. Given that most people who choose to end their lives do so for complex reasons, psychiatric problems such as depression and other mood disorders play a central role. 4 Recent studies of Deliberate Self Harm (DSH) from other countries have reported high rates of psychiatric disorders as well. 5-10 Study showed suicide attempt rates are 10-40 times higher than rates for completed suicides. 11 The methods used for suicidal attempts are usually different, ranging from self-poisoning to hanging, self-cutting etc. This may be related to the differences in the accessibility of certain methods. In the WHO Multicentre Study, 64 per cent of males and 80 percent of females used self poisoning. 12 And more than 50% of the suicide attempters made more than one attempt, and nearly 20% of the second attempts were made within 12 months after the first attempt. 11 There is also socio demographic risk factors in relation to repetition, which belong to the age group of 25 to 49 years, being divorced, unemployed, and coming from low social class. 12 In this study SummarySuicide is a perplexing phenomenon of taking one's own life. Reasons behind suicide attempts are also unique. Clinical characteristics of these patients have not been adequately studied from a psychosocial and psychiatric point in Bangladesh. This study was aimed to assess the sociodemographic profile and psychiatric morbidities in suicide attempters. This was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted from May 2017 to September 2017. A total of 101 patients were selected purposively who were admitted following suicide attempt in different departments of Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH). Medical officers in the psychiatry department interviewed them by using a semi-structured questionnaire. Diagnosis was made according to DSM-IV. The results showed that the majority of the respondents were socio-economically deprived young persons. Most (42%) of them were <20 years of age with female (53%) preponderance. Among them 51% were unmarried, 73% were rural dwellers 37% were students and 58% attempts were impulsive. Among the respondents 63% had no prior suicidal thoughts, 56% resorted to poisoning, 49% attempted due to dom...