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The timing of autism spectrum disorder detection in research and clinical practice is characterised by substantial heterogeneity ranging from infancy to school age. In this study, we examined the age of diagnosis and its associated individual and socio-familial factors in Chinese children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. A sample of 1235 autism spectrum disorder children from 132 rehabilitation organisations in Shenzhen was investigated in 2021. We found a mean age of diagnosis of 31.4 ± 12.7 months and a median of 30.0 months. Although 71.7% of the children received their diagnosis between 25 and 36 months of age, and 13.3% were diagnosed early (⩽24 months), 15.1% did not have their symptoms detected until preschool or later years (>36 months). The diagnosis was likely delayed (>36 months) if the children were older, were less severe and presented with no intellectual impairment. The odds of delayed autism spectrum disorder diagnosis were more than 9 times higher among migrant autism spectrum disorder children than those with local household registrations. The study underscores the importance of identifying culturally sensitive socio-economic determinants in autism spectrum disorder detection in addition to clinical factors, as the former are likely to affect the quality of life of many autism spectrum disorder children and their families. Timely detection is an issue of paramount importance in the care of children with autism spectrum disorder. Whether the delayed autism spectrum disorder diagnosis can be explained by children's clinical presentations and socio-familial status in China is a question to be addressed. We investigated 1235 autism spectrum disorder children from 132 rehabilitation organisations in Shenzhen, China. These children were found to have a mean age of diagnosis of 31.4 ± 12.7 months and a median age of diagnosis of 30.0 months. The majority of these children were able to receive their diagnosis during toddlerhood. However, about one in six were not diagnosed until they entered preschool or later, thus missing the golden window of opportunity for early intervention. The age of diagnosis was likely to be late if the children were older, were less severe and presented with no intellectual impairment. The odds of having a delayed autism spectrum disorder diagnosis were more than 9 times higher among migrant autism spectrum disorder children than among those with local household registrations, thus underscoring the importance of identifying culturally sensitive socio-economic determinants in autism spectrum disorder detection, as these factors are likely to affect the quality of life of many autism spectrum disorder children and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychological distress is a common occurrence among women during the perinatal period. Maternal psychological distress (MPS) can also have a negative influence on neonatal outcomes such as infant health, child development or mother-child interaction. Hence, interventions to improve mental wellbeing during this period are vital. Mindfulness based intervention (MBI) has been found to be effective in reducing psychological distress. Delivery of MBI via the internet, making it accessible and inexpensive, is showing a promising positive effect in reducing psychological distress. A randomized control trial with sufficient power is required to confirm its positive effect among pregnant women. The positive effects of MBI have been found to be associated with heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback; however, the efficacy of MBI on HRV has been rarely studied among pregnant women. Also, the potential association of HRV with MBI and psychological wellbeing needs further examination. This research aims to test the effectiveness of guided mobile-based perinatal mindfulness intervention (GMBPMI) among pregnant women experiencing psychological distress during the pre- and post-natal period, as well as examining the efficacy of GMBPMI on HRV. Method: This study is a randomized controlled trial that follows a parallel design. Consenting pregnant women in their second trimester (between 12th and 20th week gestation) will be randomly assigned to an intervention group (GMBPMI) or a control group (psychoeducation). The intended sample size is 198, with 99 participants in each group. Three levels of outcomes will be measured at baseline, post intervention in both the intervention and control groups, and at 36-week gestation and five-week postpartum. The primary outcomes include maternal psychological stress, mindfulness and positive appraisal HRV. Secondary outcomes are psychological and physical wellbeing. Tertiary outcomes include obstetric and neonatal outcomes, and social support. Analyses will follow an intention-to-treat method and repeated measures MANOVA will be conducted to compare changes in primary and secondary outcomes. A series of mixed-effects models will be fitted to assess the mediation effects. Discussion: This trial expects to increase understanding of GMBPMI on HRV and psychological wellbeing for pregnant women, with extended support in both pre-and post-natal periods. The study could also potentially provide evidence for delivery of cost-effective and accessible services to pregnant women. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04876014, registered on 30 March 2021. Protocol Version 1.0., 10 May 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been shown to predict the coupling of depression and inflammation in adulthood. Trust within intimate relationships, a core element in marital relations, has been shown to predict positive physical and mental health outcomes, but the mediating role of trust in partners in the association between CSA and inflammation in adulthood requires further study. The present study aimed to examine the impact of CSA on inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6 and IL-1β) in adults with depression and the mediating role of trust. A cross-sectional survey data set of adults presenting with mood and sleep disturbance was used in the analysis. CSA demonstrated a significant negative correlation with IL-6 level (r = -0.28, p<0. 01) in adults with clinically significant depression, while trust showed a significant positive correlation with IL-6 level (r = 0.36, p <.01). Sobel test and bootstrapping revealed a significant mediating role for trust between CSA and IL-6 level. CSA and trust in partners were revealed to have significant associations with IL-6 level in adulthood. Counterintuitively, the directions of association were not those expected. Trust played a mediating role between CSA and adulthood levels of IL-6. Plausible explanations for these counterintuitive findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stagnation syndrome, a diagnostic entity in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been long regarded as the TCM counterpart of major depression in Western medicine. The study investigated the prevalence of major depression among stagnation syndrome patients and evaluated their well-being and functioning outcomes. In total, 117 patients diagnosed with stagnation syndrome were measured using Stagnation Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Body-Mind-Spirit Well-Being Inventory. Results indicate major depression among stagnation syndrome patients was characterized by a high co-occurrence rate and worse physical, mental, and functional outcomes. More than one-quarter (26.5%) of the patients met the DSM-V diagnostic criteria for major depression and over half (53%) exceeded the PHQ-9 cutoff (score above 10) for moderate/severe depression symptoms. The wellness of the stagnation syndrome patients was worse (M = 298.2, SD = 66.5) than that of the general population (M = 360.9, SD = 79.9), with a large Cohen’s d value of 0.9. The “wellness outlook” of the depressed stagnation syndrome patients appeared grimmer (M = 252.3, SD = 52.2). The correlation between stagnation and depression was higher for affective symptoms than somatic symptoms. Physical distress did not mediate the relationship between stagnation and daily functioning. These might suggest that stagnation syndrome and major depression may share some similar psychological mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors investigated sociodemographic predictors of the mental health status of college students ( N = 308) in Guam. Results indicated prevalence rates of 17.8%, 40.2%, and 25.6% for moderate or more severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. Psychological distress was found to be predicted by gender, ethnicity, living arrangement, and academic level. Comparisons with college students in the U.S. mainland and Hong Kong were also examined. Implications for counseling services and strategies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]