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1.
Low high-density lipoprotein and psychopathology: A review.
Douglas, J, Nasrallah, HA
Annals of clinical psychiatry : official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists. 2019;(3):209-213
Abstract
BACKGROUND An association between the level of total cholesterol and psychopathology has been the focus of numerous studies. Low total cholesterol has been found to be related to depression, personality disorders, and dissociative disorder. High cholesterol has been associated with schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. However, no reviews of the psychiatric correlates of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) have been published. We reviewed the literature for studies reporting a significant association between low or high levels of HDL and psychopathology. METHODS A search of major databases (PubMed and CINAHL) was conducted using the following keywords: HDL, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, OCD, and psychiatric disorders. RESULTS Eight studies met our search criteria. Six of the 8 studies reported significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, suicide attempts, and violent behaviors in participants with low HDL. CONCLUSIONS Overall, a low HDL may not only be associated with risk for cardiac disease, but also with increased risk for serious psychiatric disorders. Further controlled studies are warranted.
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2.
New Drug Discovery from Medicinal Plants and Phytoconstituents for Depressive Disorders.
Dereli, FTG, Ilhan, M, Akkol, EK
CNS & neurological disorders drug targets. 2019;(2):92-102
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Depression, a risk factor for several serious diseases, is a highly prevalent and life-threatening psychiatric disorder. It can affect the individual's position in life and reduce the living standards. The research on the use of medicinal plants in treating this disease has increased enormously because of the possible low rehabilitation rate and side effects of available synthetic drugs, such as sexual dysfunction, nausea, fatigue, insomnia, hypersomnia, and weight gain. CONCLUSION Therefore, this review aimed to draw attention to the antidepressant effects of culinary herbs and traditional medicinal plants and their active components, thereby promoting their use in the development of more potent antidepressants with improved side effect profile.
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3.
Depression and Treatment with Effective Herbs.
Fathinezhad, Z, Sewell, RDE, Lorigooini, Z, Rafieian-Kopaei, M
Current pharmaceutical design. 2019;(6):738-745
Abstract
Depression is a common psychiatric disease and one of the main causes of disability worldwide. In spite of certain developments in this field, chemical and synthetic drugs used for the treatment of depression disrupt the treatment process due to numerous side effects and high cost. Today, the goal of using a potential method for treating depression involves the use of medicinal and phytochemical plants, which have many therapeutic benefits. Studies have shown that medicinal plants affect the nervous system and exert antidepressant effects in various ways, including synaptic regulation of serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine, and inflammatory mediators. In this study, depression as well as the factors and mechanisms involved in its development are first addressed, and then medicinal plants effective in the treatment of depression along with their mechanisms of actions are reported.
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4.
Ten Surprising Facts About Stressful Life Events and Disease Risk.
Cohen, S, Murphy, MLM, Prather, AA
Annual review of psychology. 2019;:577-597
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Abstract
After over 70 years of research on the association between stressful life events and health, it is generally accepted that we have a good understanding of the role of stressors in disease risk. In this review, we highlight that knowledge but also emphasize misunderstandings and weaknesses in this literature with the hope of triggering further theoretical and empirical development. We organize this review in a somewhat provocative manner, with each section focusing on an important issue in the literature where we feel that there has been some misunderstanding of the evidence and its implications. Issues that we address include the definition of a stressful event, characteristics of diseases that are impacted by events, differences in the effects of chronic and acute events, the cumulative effects of events, differences in events across the life course, differences in events for men and women, resilience to events, and methodological challenges in the literature.
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5.
Distribution of the anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant compounds: Incensole and incensole acetate in genus Boswellia.
Al-Harrasi, A, Csuk, R, Khan, A, Hussain, J
Phytochemistry. 2019;:28-40
Abstract
Incensole and its acetate have shown anti-inflammatory and anti-depression activities due to their ability to activate ion channels in the brain to alleviate anxiety or depression. The natural occurrence of these two structurally and medicinally fascinating 14-membered diterpenoids was reported mainly from the genus Boswellia. Incensole and incensole acetate were detected in and isolated from both essential oils and resins of frankincense. One total synthesis was reported for incensole. Both incensole and its acetate served as precursors for several synthetic transformations. Given the fact that no specific enzymes were isolated from Boswellia trees, the major sources for incensole and incensole acetate, the biosynthetic pathway of these two compounds was only speculated. Recent studies on incensole and incensole acetate including ours have revealed another secret of the ancient drug. Understanding their mode of action will open a door in modern neurobiology and provides new insights on the mysterious diseases of the nervous system. This review interpretatively discusses the natural existence of incensole and incensole acetate, the variation of their percentages in different Boswellia species and other sources, their synthetic modifications, their biosynthesis and their therapeutic potential.
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6.
Herbal and Holistic Solutions for Neurodegenerative and Depressive Disorders: Leads from Ayurveda.
Sharma, R, Kabra, A, Rao, MM, Prajapati, PK
Current pharmaceutical design. 2018;(22):2597-2608
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, epilepsy, depression and anxiety pose a sizable global health problem, accompanying substantial burden of disorders, suicides, physical comorbidities, high fiscal expenses, and poor quality of life. There is a recent upsurge in global interest toward the area of traditional therapies and phytomedicines are widely admired by researchers owing to their natural source and fewer side effects. On the contrary, conventional synthetic drugs have been reported with undesirable but inevitable ill effects having poor patient compliance. Thus, herbal medicines are being preferred over synthetic drug therapies as an effective remedy for many brain disorders. Ayurveda provides a holistic approach to treatment along with several nootropic herbs having multi-dimensional bioactivities in various disorders. Scattered information is available pertaining to traditional Ayurvedic remedial options for various mental disorders. Present review encompasses: (i) common brain disorders and the associated changes (ii) Ayurvedic holistic approach to manage neurodegenerative and depressive disorders, and (iii) important Ayurvedic single herbs and polyherbal formulations with description of their traditional usage and administration. Concomitantly, it opens up for future investigations and standardization on Ayurvedic nootropic herbs.
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7.
Efficacy and Safety of Xiaoyao Formula as an Adjuvant Treatment for Post-Stroke Depression: A Meta-Analysis.
Jin, X, Jiang, M, Gong, D, Chen, Y, Fan, Y
Explore (New York, N.Y.). 2018;(3):224-229
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiaoyao formula (XYF) as an adjuvant treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD) by conducting a meta-analysis. METHODS Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang databases were searched up to May 2016. Randomized controlled trials investigating XYF plus antidepressants versus antidepressants alone for patients with PSD were considered. RESULTS A total of 607 PSD patients were identified from 7 trials. Adjuvant treatment with XYF had additional benefits in terms of improved total response rates (risk ratio [RR] 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.30), reduced Hamilton's depressive scale (weighted mean difference [WMD] -5.21; 95% CI: -7.48 to -2.95), and decreased Scandinavian Stroke Scale (WMD -6.35; 95% CI: -8.27 to -4.43). No serious adverse events were observed in any of the included trials. CONCLUSIONS Adjuvant treatment with XYF appears to have additional benefits in the treatment of PSD, without increasing serious adverse events.
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8.
Inflammatory theory of depression.
Gałecki, P, Talarowska, M
Psychiatria polska. 2018;(3):437-447
Abstract
Brain diseases are one of the most socially and economically burdening diseases in Europe. Among all brain diseases, more than 60% of social and economic costs are generated by mental disorders (mainly depressive disorders and anxiety disorders). Recurrent depressive disorders have been a significant civilizational problem in recent times. Among the biological and psychological theories explaining the causes of depression, the hypothesis involving an active inflammatory process taking place in a human organism is becoming increasingly important. The following are considered inflammation markers: inflammatory enzymes (e.g., manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO), inducible nitric oxide synthase), proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and the phenomenon of oxidative stress. Through the kynurenine pathway, these factors lead to a deficit in serotonin and melatonin, which is considered one of the main reasons of depression. We can consider depression to be a chronic cold of the organism, which develops in response to the action of greater or smaller everyday stressors. This paper presents results of recent studies regarding this matter.
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9.
The epidemiology of PTSD and depression in refugee minors who have resettled in developed countries.
Reavell, J, Fazil, Q
Journal of mental health (Abingdon, England). 2017;(1):74-83
Abstract
BACKGROUND With an increasing number of refugees migrating across continents, the crisis is very apparent. AIM: A literature review of patterns, risk factors and effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in refugee minors was carried out involving those who have resettled in different developed countries. METHODS Papers were narrowed down by reading the abstracts and methods to ascertain whether the refugee children had resettled in developed countries and to ensure that they had not just been internally displaced. RESULTS High incidences of PTSD and depression were found in refugee minors and poorer mental health was correlated with increased exposure to violence. Factors such as social support and family security were important in reducing the rates of PTSD and depression, whereas the implications of age and gender were unclear. Long-term effects from these mental illnesses indicated scholastic issues, but no further worsening of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Further research is needed regarding the follow-up of refugee minors with PTSD and depression to allow the establishment of more effective support systems, as long-term outcomes become more clearly understood. Few papers discuss the influence of religion, which may be an interesting line of future research as refugees move to more secular societies.
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10.
Role of Medicinal Plants for Liver-Qi Regulation Adjuvant Therapy in Post-stroke Depression: A Systematic Review of Literature.
Zeng, LF, Cao, Y, Wang, L, Dai, YK, Hu, L, Wang, Q, Zhu, LT, Bao, WH, Zou, YP, Chen, YB, et al
Phytotherapy research : PTR. 2017;(1):40-52
Abstract
Current evidence demonstrated certain beneficial effects of medicinal herbs as an adjuvant therapy for post-stroke depression (PSD) in China; Chai-hu (Chinese Thorowax Root, Radix Bupleuri) is an example of a medicinal plant for Liver-Qi regulation (MPLR) in the treatment of PSD. Despite several narrative reports on the antidepressant properties of MPLR, it appears that there are no systematic reviews to summarize its outcome effects. Therefore, the aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness and safety of MPLR adjuvant therapy in patients with PSD. Seven databases were extensively searched from January 2000 until July 2016. Randomized control trials (RCTs) involving patients with PSD that compared treatment with and without MPLR were taken into account. The pooled effect estimates were calculated based on Cochrane Collaboration's software RevMan 5.3. Finally, 42 eligible studies with 3612 participants were included. Overall, MPLR adjuvant therapy showed a significantly higher effective rate (RR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.19, 1.27; p < 0.00001) compared to those without. Moreover, the administration of MPLR was superior to abstainers regarding Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score changes after 3 weeks (WMD = -4.83; 95% CI = -6.82, -2.83; p < 0.00001), 4 weeks (WMD = -3.25; 95% CI = -4.10, -2.40; p < 0.00001), 6 weeks (WMD = -4.04; 95% CI = -5.24, -2.84; p < 0.00001), 8 weeks (WMD = -4.72; 95% CI = -5.57, -3.87; p < 0.00001), and 12 weeks (WMD = -3.07; 95% CI = -4.05, -2.09; p < 0.00001). In addition, there were additive benefits in terms of response changes for the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and other self-rating scores. No frequently occurring or serious adverse events were reported. We concluded that there is supporting evidence that adjuvant therapy with MPLR is effective in reducing the depressive symptoms and enhancing quality of life for patients with PSD. More well-designed RCTs are necessary to explore the role of MPLR in the treatment of PSD. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.