Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Genetic Analysis Of Endometriosis And Depression Identifies Shared Loci And Implicates Causal Links With Gastric Mucosa Abnormality, Emmanuel Adewuyi, Divya Mehta, Yadav Sapkota, Asa Auta, Kosuke Yoshihara, Mette Nyegaard, Lyn R. Griffiths, Grant W. Montgomery, Daniel I. Chasman, Dale R. Nyholt

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Evidence from observational studies indicates that endometriosis and depression often co-occur. However, conflicting evidence exists, and the etiology as well as biological mechanisms underlying their comorbidity remain unknown. Utilizing genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, we comprehensively assessed the relationship between endometriosis and depression. Single nucleotide polymorphism effect concordance analysis (SECA) found a significant genetic overlap between endometriosis and depression (PFsig-permuted = 9.99 × 10−4). Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) analysis estimated a positive and highly significant genetic correlation between the two traits (rG = 0.27, P = 8.85 × 10−27). A meta-analysis of endometriosis and depression GWAS (sample size = …

Sleep Characteristics And Mood Of Professional Esports Athletes: A Multi-National Study, Sangha Lee, Daniel Bonnar, Brandy Roane, Michael Gradisar, Ian C. Dunican, Michele Lastella, Gemma Maisey, Sooyeon Suh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Esports is becoming increasingly professionalized, yet research on performance management is remarkably lacking. The present study aimed to investigate the sleep and mood of professional esports athletes. Participants were 17 professional esports athletes from South Korea (N = 8), Australia (N = 4), and the United States (N = 5) who played first person shooter games (mean age 20 ± 3.5 years, 100% male). All participants wore a wrist-activity monitor for 7–14 days and completed subjective sleep and mood questionnaires. Participants had a median total sleep time of 6.8 h and …

Life In A Time Of Covid: A Mixed Method Study Of The Changes In Lifestyle, Mental And Psychosocial Health During And After Lockdown In Western Australians, Ranila Bhoyroo, Paola Chivers, Lynne Millar, Caroline Bulsara, Ben Piggott, Michelle Lambert, Jim Codde

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Western Australian government imposed multiple restrictions that impacted daily life activities and the social life. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on the community’s physical, mental and psychosocial health. Methods: Approximately 2 months after a three-month lockdown, a cross-sectional study was opened to Western Australian adults for an 8-week period (25th August – 21 October 2020). Participants competed a 25-min questionnaire adapted from the Western Australia Health and Wellbeing Surveillance system. Participants provided information on their socio-demographic status, lifestyle behaviours, mental health, and psychosocial …

Wellbeing Of Breastfeeding Women In Australia And New Zealand During The Covid‐19 Pandemic: A Cross‐Sectional Study, Vanessa S. Sakalidis, Alethea Rea, Sharon L. Perrella, Jacki Mceachran, Grace Collis, Jennifer Miraudo, Stuart A. Prosser, Lisa Y. Gibson, Desiree Silva, Donna T. Geddes

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, breastfeeding women have experienced restricted access to support, placing them at increased risk of mental health concerns and limited breastfeeding assistance. This study investigated the effect of the pandemic on feeding choices and maternal well-being amongst breastfeeding mothers living in Australian and New Zealand. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey that examined feeding methods, maternal mental wellbeing, worries, challenges, and positive experiences during the pandemic. Most women were exclusively breastfeeding (82%). Partial breastfeeding was associated with perceived low milk supply and longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic. Reduced mental health and wellbeing was associated with lower …

The Relationship Between Abdominal Pain And Emotional Wellbeing In Children And Adolescents In The Raine Study, Oyekoya T. Ayonrinde, Oyedeji A. Ayonrinde, Leon A. Adams, Frank M. Sanfilippo, Therese A. O’ Sullivan, Monique Robinson, Wendy H. Oddy, John K. Olynyk

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Abdominal pain is a common reason for medical visits. We examined the prevalence, gastrointestinal, and emotional significance of abdominal pain in a population-based cohort serially followed up from birth to 17 years. Children and adolescents from Generation 2 of the Raine Study participated in comprehensive cross-sectional assessments at ages 2, 5, 8, 10, 14 and 17 years. At 17 years, medical history, general health, gastrointestinal symptoms, medications, health practitioner attendance, and self-rated unhappiness were recorded. Longitudinal data regarding abdominal pain or unhappiness, from serial questionnaires, were analysed to identify factors associated with abdominal pain and adverse emotional health at age …

Exploring The Association Between Recent Concussion, Subconcussive Impacts And Depressive Symptoms In Male Australian Football Players, Sarah Ann Harris, Paola T. Chivers, Fleur L. Mcintyre, Ben Piggott, Max Bulsara, Fiona H. Farringdon

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objectives: To explore the association between depressive symptoms and recent head-related trauma (diagnosed concussion, subconcussive impacts) in semiprofessional male Australian Football (AF) players.

Methods: Sixty-nine semiprofessional male players from a West Australian Football League (WAFL) club participated in the study (M age =21.81, SD=2.91 years). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Injuries and potential confounding variables (eg, pre-existing mental health condition; alcohol or drug hangovers; experiencing a stressful event) were self-reported anonymously using the WAFL Injury Report Survey. Both tools were administered every 2-weeks over the first 22-weeks of the WAFL season. Controlling for …

Are Negative Beliefs About Psychosis Associated With Emotional Distress In Adults And Young People With Such Experiences? A Meta-Analysis, Esmira Ropaj, Andrew Jones, Joanne Dickson, Zabina Gill, Peter J. Taylor

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 The Authors. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society Objective: Emotional distress, including depression and anxiety, is commonly reported amongst individuals experiencing psychosis. The beliefs individuals hold about the meaning of their psychosis may explain the distress they experience. The current meta-analysis aimed to review the association between beliefs about psychosis experiences and emotional distress. Method: Three electronic databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and CINAHL) were searched using keywords and controlled vocabulary (e.g., Medical Subject Headings) from date of inception to August 2019. A total of 19 …

Depression And Prostate Cancer: Examining Comorbidity And Male-Specific Symptoms, Simon M Rice, John L Oliffe, Mary T Kelly, Prue Cormie, Suzanne K. Chambers, John S Ogrodniczuk, David Kealy

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Depression in men with prostate cancer is a significant and complex issue that can challenge clinicians' diagnostic efforts. The objective of the current study was to evaluate prototypic and male-specific depression symptoms and suicidal ideation in men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer relative to those with and without comorbidity. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Male Depression Risk Scale-22 (MDRS-22) were completed online along with demographic and background variables by 100 men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer ( n = 54 prostatectomy, n = 33 receiving active treatment). Hierarchical logistic regression was used to examine recent (past 2 …

Early Diagnosis And Nutritional Treatment Stabilizes Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ian James Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The reliable diagnostic identification of neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disease, and depression has been associated with some biological markers (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics) but to date, these markers do not have the sensitivity/specificity of a diagnostic test. Biomarker tests that are relevant to global chronic disease are now applicable to neuropsychiatric diseases to prevent autoimmune disease, endoplasmic reticulum stress associated mitophagy with relevance to neuron apoptosis. Metabolic abnormalities has been linked to neuropsychiatric disorder with the careful nutritional assessment of patients reported in many published studies. Early interventions with genomic medicine now assist in the prevention of autoimmune disease …

Efficacy Of The Aussie Optimism Program: Promoting Pro-Social Behavior And Preventing Suicidality In Primary School Students. A Randomised-Controlled Trial, Clare M. Roberts, Robert T. Kane, Rosanna M. Rooney, Yolanda Pintabona, Natalie Baughman, Sharinaz Hassan, Donna Cross, Stephen R. Zubrick, Sven R. Silburn

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The efficacy of an enhanced version of the Aussie Optimism Program (AOP) was investigated in a cluster randomized controlled trial. Grade 6 students aged 10–11 years of age (N = 2288) from 63 government primary schools in Perth, Western Australia, participated in the pre, post, and follow-up study. Schools were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: Aussie Optimism with teacher training, Aussie Optimism with teacher training plus coaching, or a usual care condition that received the regular Western Australian Health Education Curriculum. Students in the Aussie Optimism conditions received 20, 1-h lessons relating to social and interpersonal skills and …

An Integrative Study Of Motivation And Goal Regulation Processes In Subclinical Anxiety, Depression And Hypomania, Joanne M. Dickson, Sheri Johnson, Christopher Huntley, Peter Taylor

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Research has implicated motivation and goal regulation in susceptibility to mood disorders. We studied for the first time key facets of motivation and goal regulation concurrently in relation to affective symptoms. The cross-national sample comprised 510 university students from the United States (n = 279) and United Kingdom (n = 231). Participants completed self-report measures of motivation, conditional goal setting, urgency, depression, anxiety, and mania risk. Structural Equation Modeling results found that behavioral activation system scores correlated negatively with depression and positively with mania risk, but were unrelated to anxiety. High conditional goal setting correlated uniquely with higher …

The Efficacy Of A Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For War-Affected Young Migrants Living In Australia: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial, Chew S. Ooi, Rosanna M. Rooney, Clare Roberts, Robert T. Kane, Bernadette Wright, Nikos Chatzisarantis

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Preventative and treatment programs for people at risk of developing psychological problems after exposure to war trauma have mushroomed in the last decade. However, there is still much contention about evidence-based and culturally sensitive interventions for children. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of the Teaching Recovery Techniques in improving the emotional and behavioral outcomes of war-affected children resettled in Australia.

Methods and Findings: A cluster randomized controlled trial with pre-test, post-test, and 3-month follow-up design was employed. A total of 82 participants (aged 10–17 years) were randomized by school into the 8-week intervention ( …

Goal Fluency, Pessimism And Disengagement In Depression, Joanne M. Dickson, Nicholas Moberly, Christian O'Dea, Matt Field

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Despite the development of prominent theoretical models of goal motivation and its importance in daily life, research has rarely examined goal dysregulation processes in clinical depression. Here we aimed to investigate problematic aspects of goal regulation in clinically depressed adults, relative to controls. Depressed participants (n = 42) were recruited from two Improving Access to Psychological Therapy clinics in north-west England. Control participants (n = 51) were recruited from the same region. Participants generated personal approach goals (e.g., improve my marathon time) and avoidance goals (e.g., avoid getting upset over little things) and completed self-report measures of goal attainment likelihood …

The Effects Of Testosterone Supplementation On Cognitive Functioning In Older Men, Eka Wahjoepramono, Prita Asih, Vilia Aniwiyanti, Kevin Taddei, Satvinder Dhaliwal, Stephanie Fuller, Jonathan Foster, Malcolm Carruthers, Giuseppe Verdile, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Ralph Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Reduction in testosterone levels in men during aging is associated with cognitive decline and risk of dementia. Animal studies have shown benefits for testosterone supplementation in improving cognition and reducing Alzheimer’s disease pathology. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study of men with subjective memory complaint and low testosterone levels, we investigated whether testosterone treatment significantly improved performance on various measures of cognitive functioning. Forty-four men were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests to establish the baseline prior to being randomly divided into two groups. The first group (Group A) received 24 weeks of testosterone treatment (T treatment) followed by 4 …

Exercise Improves Physical Function And Mental Health Of Brain Cancer Survivors: Two Exploratory Case Studies, Gregory T. Levin, Kenneth M. Greenwood, Favil Singh, Daphne Tsoi, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Malignant brain tumors are unpredictable and incurable, with 5-year survival rates less than 30%. The poor prognosis combined with intensive treatment necessitates the inclusion of complementary and supportive therapies that optimize quality of life and reduce treatment-related declines in health. Exercise therapy has been shown to be beneficial in other cancer populations, but no evidence is available for brain cancer survivors. Therefore, we report results from 2 preliminary cases.

Methods

Two female patients diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme and oligodendroglioma participated in a structured and supervised 12-week exercise program. The program consisted of two 1-hour resistance and aerobic exercise sessions …

The Mental Health Of Nurses In Acute Teaching Hospital Settings: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Lin Perry, Scott Lamont, Scott Brunero, Roybyn Gallagher, Christine Duffield

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Nursing is an emotionally demanding profession and deficiencies in nurses' mental wellbeing, characterised by low vitality and common mental disorders, have been linked to low productivity, absenteeism and presenteeism. Part of a larger study of nurses' health, the aim of this paper was to describe the mental health status and related characteristics of nurses working in two acute metropolitan teaching hospitals. Methods: A cross sectional survey design was used. Results: A total of 1215 surveys were distributed with a usable response rate of 382 (31.4%). Altogether 53 nurses (14%) reported a history of mental health disorders, of which n=49 …

Support After Brain Tumor Means Different Things: Family Caregivers' Experiences Of Support And Relationship Changes, T. Ownsworth, E. Goadby, Suzanne K. Chambers

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Shorter hospital stays and greater emphasis on outpatient care means that family members have the primary responsibility for supporting a person with brain tumor to manage the physical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional effects of the illness and its treatment. Given the integral role of family caregivers, it is essential to understand their experience of the impact of brain tumor and their own support needs. Accordingly, this qualitative study aimed to investigate family caregivers' experiences of support and relationship changes in the context of brain tumor. In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 family caregivers (8 spouse/partner, 3 parents) of people with …

The Potential Role Of Exercise In Neuro-Oncology, Prue Cormie, A.K. Nowak, Suzanne K. Chambers, Daniel A. Galvao, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Patients with brain and other central nervous system cancers experience debilitating physical, cognitive, and emotional effects, which significantly compromise quality of life. Few efficacious pharmacological strategies or supportive care interventions exist to ameliorate these sequelae and patients report high levels of unmet needs in these areas. There is strong theoretical rationale to suggest exercise may be an effective intervention to aid in the management of neuro-oncological disorders. Clinical research has established the efficacy of appropriate exercise in counteracting physical impairments such as fatigue and functional decline, cognitive impairment, as well as psychological effects including depression and anxiety. While there is …

Integrating Psychosocial Care Into Neuro-Oncology: Challenges And Strategies, Suzanne K. Chambers, L. Grassi, M.K. Hyde, J. Holland, J. Dunn

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Approximately 256,000 cases of malignant brain and nervous system cancer were diagnosed worldwide during 2012 and 189,000 deaths, with this burden falling more heavily in the developed world. Problematically, research describing the psychosocial needs of people with brain tumors and their carers and the development and evaluation of intervention models has lagged behind that of more common cancers. This may relate, at least in part, to poor survival outcomes and high morbidity associated with this illness, and stigma about this disease. The evidence base for the benefits of psychosocial care in oncology has supported the production of clinical practice guidelines …

Anxiety Symptoms, Cerebral Amyloid Burden And Memory Decline In Healthy Older Adults Without Dementia: 3-Year Prospective Cohort Study, Robert H. Pietrzak, J C. Scott, Alexander Neumeister, Yen Ying Lim, David Ames, Kathyrn A. Ellis, Kara Harrington, Nicola T. Lautenschlager, Cassandra Szoeke, Ralph Martins, Colin L. Masters, Victor L. Villemagne, Christopher C. Rowe, Paul Maruff

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Although beta-amyloid, anxiety and depression have been linked cross-sectionally to reduced memory function in healthy older adults without dementia, prospective data evaluating these associations are lacking. Using data from an observational cohort study of 178 healthy older adults without dementia followed for 3 years, we found that anxiety symptoms significantly moderated the relationship between beta-amyloid level and decline in verbal (Cohen's d = 0.65) and episodic (Cohen's d = 0.38) memory. Anxiety symptoms were additionally linked to greater decline in executive function, irrespective of beta-amyloid and other risk factors. These findings suggest that interventions to mitigate anxiety symptoms may help …