Nonspecific Effect of Stress on Brain Gray Matter Volume in Drug-naive Female Patients with First Depressive Episode

Abstract

Background:This study aimed to observe the differences in brain gray matter volume in drug-naive female patients after the first episode of major depression with and without stressful life events (SLEs) before the onset of depression.Methods:Forty-three drug-naive female patients voluntarily participated in the present study after the first major depressive episode. The life event scale was used to evaluate the severity of the impact of SLEs during 6 months before the onset of the major depressive episode. High-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were obtained, and the VBM and SPM8 software process were used to process and analyze the MRI.Results:Compared to that in patients without SLEs, the volume of brain gray matter was lower in the bilateral temporal lobe, right occipital lobe, and right limbic lobe in the SLE group. However, the gray matter volume did not differ significantly between the two groups after the application of false discovery rate (FDR) correction.Conclusions:Although the results of the present study suggest the absence of significant differences in brain gray matter volume between female drug-naive patients after the first episode of major depression with and without SLEs after FDR correction, the study provides useful information for exploring the definitive role of stress in the onset of depression.

Testing the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Relieving Nurses’ Ageism Toward Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The use of CBT techniques also proved to have a significant positive effect on nurses’ interpersonal relationships. Death anxiety is associated with increased psychological strain (Zhuo et al 2016 ) and social and role dysfunction that negatively impact interpersonal relationships (Craighead and Dunlop 2014 ). The high levels of anxiety associated with caring for older adults may lead nurses to avoid interacting or spending time with older adults (Deasey et al 2018 ) or, in some cases, to address them in an offensive or disrespectful manner (Liu et al 2013 , 2015 ).…”

Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Versus Interpersonal Psychotherapy in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

“…Major depression disorder (MDD) is one of the most prevalent disorders worldwide, as it affects about 25% women and 12% men over the lifespan. [ 1 2 3 ] It increases the psychological strain,[ 4 ] impacts the quality of life,[ 5 ] impairs the role functioning,[ 6 ] reduces productivity,[ 7 ] and is considered to be one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. [ 8 ] Depressive disorders are associated with high levels of health service usage,[ 9 ] and are projected to rank first in disease burden among high-income countries by 2030.…”