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Amygdala overactivity has been frequently observed in patients with depression, as well as in nondepressed relatives of patients with depression. A remaining unanswered question is whether elevated amygdala activity in those with familial risk for depression is related to the presence of subthreshold symptoms or to a trait-level vulnerability for illness.

Yoga is an ancient mind-body philosophy from the East, commonly associated in the West with physical postures (asana), breath work (pranayama), and meditation. Empirical research has found generally positive effects, with yoga practice and interventions associated with reduced symptoms of depression. This article provides a brief introduction to yoga philosophy and an overview of the current empirical support for yoga as a treatment for depression. Yoga as a monotherapy versus treatment augmentation strategy, as well as potential physiological mechanisms of action and transdiagnostic use, are briefly addressed. Clinical considerations are also discussed from the perspective of the mental health clinician. Yoga is an ancient mind-body philosophy from the East, commonly associated in the West with physical postures (asana), breath work (pranayama), and meditation. Empirical research has found generally positive effects, with yoga practice and interventions associated with reduced symptoms of depression. This article provides a brief introduction to yoga philosophy and an overview of the current empirical support for yoga as a treatment for depression. Yoga as a monotherapy versus treatment augmentation strategy, as well as potential physiological mechanisms of action and transdiagnostic use, are briefly addressed. Clinical considerations are also discussed from the perspective of the mental health clinician. [[Psychiatr Ann.2019;49(1):11–15.]

Yoga has been in use for thousands of years in the East as a healing modality. Western practitioners are now starting to recognize the potential of yoga-based treatments. The purpose of this article is to explore the evidence-base of yoga-based treatments for depression and anxiety with the purpose of furthering the integration of yoga into conventional Western mental health treatment plans.

We compared treatment response (≥50 decrease in Nine-Item Patient Health Questionnaire total score) among 24 Latinos with major depressive disorder, presenting with and without specific psychosislike symptoms: A, hearing noises or house sounds, B, hearing voices calling one's name, C, seeing fleeting visions such as shadows, and D, symptoms more likely to be truly psychotic (e.g., poorly defined and short-lasting voices [other than B], fleeting paranoid ideation, or fleeting ideas of reference). 18 subjects (75%) endorsed symptoms of cluster A, 12 (50%) of cluster B, 10 (31%) of cluster C, and 12 (50%) of cluster D. Only subjects who reported symptoms from the Dcluster exhibited significantly unfavorable depressive outcomes (compared to those with absence of D symptoms). The authors propose a phenomenological differentiation between benign psychosislike symptoms (clusters A-C) and the expression of the psychotic continuum (cluster D) in depressed Latinos.

Attending college can be a stressful time for many students. In addition to coping with academic pressure, some students have to deal with the stressful tasks of separation and individuation from their family of origin while some may have to attend to numerous work and family responsibilities. In this context, many college students experience the first onset of mental health and substance use problems or an exacerbation of their symptoms. Given the uniqueness of college students, there is a need to outline critical issues to consider when working with this population. In this commentary, first, the prevalence of psychiatric and substance use problems in college students and the significance of assessing age of onset of current psychopathology are described. Then, the concerning persistent nature of mental health problems among college students and its implications are summarized. Finally, important aspects of treatment to consider when treating college students with mental health problems are outlined, such as the importance of including parents in the treatment, communicating with other providers, and employing of technology to increase adherence. It is concluded that, by becoming familiar with the unique problems characteristic of the developmental stage and environment college students are in, practitioners will be able to better serve them.

Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disorder associated with significant personal and societal burden. There is accumulating evidence for the presence of a subtype of depression characterized by the presence of irritability that is associated with increased morbidity, risk for suicidal ideation, and functional impairments in adults. Little is known about the features of depressive symptoms with and without irritability among young adults in college. The primary aim of this study was to characterize the presentation of college students with depressive symptoms and irritability. Two-hundred eighty-seven undergraduate college students with depressive symptoms with and without irritability were compared across several psychiatric and functional outcome variables. Independent samples t-tests or logistic regressions were conducted for each outcome variable using the irritability item of the Beck Depression Inventory as a dichotomous grouping variable. Analyses were conducted separately for the men and the women. Both male and female students with depressive symptoms and severe irritability reported a greater severity of depressive symptoms compared with their peers with no or mild irritability. In the women, the presence of irritability was associated with greater symptoms of anxiety, whereas in the men, it was associated with increased likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors, including compulsive use of alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription drugs. The male and female college students with depressive symptoms with and without irritability did not differ on severity of suicidal ideation, hopelessness, or cognitive functioning. The findings from this study suggest that depressive symptoms and irritability may characterize a subtype of college students who have a greater symptom burden and with the potential need for more aggressive and prompt treatment.

Intervention research at the intersection of psychiatry and cardiology has primarily focused on the relationship between negative psychological syndromes (e.g., depression) and cardiac outcomes, with less emphasis on positive psychological attributes, such as optimism, gratitude, and well-being, as they relate to cardiac disease.

SUMMARY This article summarizes the literature on fear of hypoglycemia in pediatric Type 1 diabetes and the assessment of this fear in both children with Type 1 diabetes and their parents. The most common instrument for assessing fear of hypoglycemia in this population is the children’s and parent’s versions of the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey (HFS), although studies using other assessment measures are also reviewed. Studies using this survey have identified variables contributing to fear of hypoglycemia in children with Type 1 diabetes and their parents, such as history of frequent or traumatic hypoglycemia, as well as trait anxiety. In addition to this summary of the literature, new data are presented supporting the reliability of hypoglycemic fear assessment in younger children and comparing fear of hypoglycemia in children in different age groups (6–18 years old) and their parents. Also reviewed are studies investigating the relationship between fear of hypoglycemia and diabetes control, which have yielded inconsistent results. Given the potential importance of fear of hypoglycemia in pediatric diabetes, there has been limited research in this area.