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The aim of the study was to explore the relationships between recent changes of anhedonia or particular symptoms of recent changes of anhedonia and suicidal ideation taking into account the severity of suicidal ideations. In a group of 173 medical students, scores of the anhedonia subscale (ANH-BDI) of the BDI-II (i.e. 4 anhedonia items: loss of pleasure, loss of interest, loss of energy and loss of interest in sex) were compared between 95 subjects without suicidality, 24 subjects with life-time suicidal ideation, 28 subjects with recent suicidal ideation and 26 planners. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were performed referring to groups as independent variables, the cognitive-affective subscale (CA-BDI) of the BDI-II as a covariate, the ANH-BDI and each of the four anhedonia items as dependent variables. High levels of loss of interest characterized planners when compared to the other three groups. Loss of interest could be associated with recent and severe suicidal ideation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The literature shows the negative psychological impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on frontline healthcare workers. However, few are known about the mental health of physicians and nurses working in general hospitals during the outbreak, caring for patients with COVID-19 or not. Objectives: This survey assessed differences in mental health in physicians and nurses working in COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 medical care units. Design: A cross-sectional mixed-mode survey was used to assess burnout, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stress. Setting: A total of 1,244 physicians and nurses from five general hospitals in Belgium, working in COVID-19 care units (CCU), non-COVID-19 care units (NCCU), or both (CCU + NCCU) were informed of the study. Participants: Six hundred forty-seven healthcare workers participated in the survey (response rate = 52%). Measurements: Validated instruments were used to assess the outcomes: the PFI (burnout/professional fulfillment), the ISI (insomnia), and the DASS-21 (depression, anxiety, and stress). Results: Results showed high prevalence of burnout, insomnia, depression, and anxiety among participants. After adjusting for confounders, multivariate analysis of variance showed no differences between CCU, NCCU, and CCU + NCCU workers. Univariate general linear models showed higher level of burnout, insomnia, and anxiety among nurses in comparison to physicians. Being a nurse, young, isolated, with an increased workload were risk factors for worse mental health outcomes. Limitations: The mental health of the tested sample, before the outbreak, is unknown. Moreover, this cross-sectional design provides no information on the evolution of the mental health outcomes over time. Conclusion: Directly caring for patients with COVID-19 is not associated with worse mental health outcomes among healthcare workers in general hospitals. High prevalence of burnout, insomnia, depression, and anxiety among physicians and nurses requires special attention, and specific interventions need to be implemented. Protocol Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04344145. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationships between hedonic deficits, type D personality and suicidal ideation were explored in a group of medical students. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 382 medical students filled out several questionnaires measuring suicide risk, depression (using the Beck Depression Inventory, i.e. BDI), type D personality (using the type D personality scale-14, i.e. DS-14) and anhedonia (using the anhedonia subscale of the BDI, the Snaith Hamilton Pleasure Scale, the Anticipatory and Consummatory subscales of the Physical Anhedonia Scale). Results: State anhedonia and, in particular, recent change of state anhedonia and not trait anhedonia was significantly associated with suicidal ideation, specifically when depression was controlled for. Negative affectivity component of type D personality and anhedonia were independent predictors of suicidal ideation even when depression was controlled for. Loss of pleasure and not loss of interest was a significant predictor of suicidal ideation. Conclusions: Change of state anhedonia and its component of loss of pleasure measuring dissatisfaction in life could be a risk factor of suicidal ideation in medical students. Dissatisfaction, particularly in the medical course, could be a strong predictor of suicidal ideation in medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationships between anhedonia and suicidal ideation or suicide attempts were explored in a large sample of physicians using the interpersonal psychological theory of suicide. We tested two hypotheses: firstly, that there is a significant relationship between anhedonia and suicidality and, secondly, that anhedonia could mediate the relationships between suicidal ideation or suicide attempts and thwarted belongingness or perceived burdensomeness. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 557 physicians filled out several questionnaires measuring suicide risk, depression, using the abridged version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-13), and demographic and job-related information. Ratings of anhedonia, perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness were then extracted from the BDI-13 and the other questionnaires. Results: Significant relationships were found between anhedonia and suicidal ideation or suicide attempts, even when significant variables or covariates were taken into account and, in particular, depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses showed significant partial or complete mediations, where anhedonia mediated the relationships between suicidal ideation (lifetime or recent) and perceived burdensomeness or thwarted belongingness. For suicide attempts, complete mediation was found only between anhedonia and thwarted belongingness. When the different components of anhedonia were taken into account, dissatisfaction—not the loss of interest or work inhibition—had significant relationships with suicidal ideation, whereas work inhibition had significant relationships with suicide attempts. Conclusions: Anhedonia and its component of dissatisfaction could be a risk factor for suicidal ideation and could mediate the relationship between suicidal ideation and perceived burdensomeness or thwarted belongingness in physicians. Dissatisfaction, in particular in the workplace, may be explored as a strong predictor of suicidal ideation in physicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]