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Objective: Childhood trauma is associated with adulthood depressive symptoms, but very few studies explored potential social and interpersonal mediators behind this association. This study made the first attempt to test the potential mediating effects of interpersonal stress in the associations between childhood betrayal and non-betrayal trauma and depressive symptoms., Method: We analyzed data in a sample of English-speaking adults from diverse backgrounds (from 19 different countries, mainly from Western countries) ( N = 468). We then replicated and compared the results with those in another convenience sample of Chinese-speaking younger adults with different cultural backgrounds and mental health status ( N = 205)., Results: The results in both samples indicated that (1) childhood betrayal trauma had a stronger relationship with depressive symptoms than childhood non-betrayal trauma and that (2) interpersonal stress was a significant mediator in the relationship between childhood betrayal trauma and depressive symptoms, even when childhood non-betrayal trauma was included as a covariate. The indirect effect of childhood non-betrayal trauma on depressive symptoms through interpersonal stress was not consistent in two samples., Conclusions: Our findings point to the importance of taking social and interpersonal contexts into account when investigating, preventing and managing depression in trauma-exposed populations. Early social interventions such as family interventions, interpersonal skills training and building social resources may have the potential to change the trajectory of the development of mental health problems in trauma survivors.

Objective: About a fourth of Chinese adolescents developed clinically significant depressive symptoms following a disaster. However, little is known about whether and how post-trauma negative life events and a sense of security are associated with depressive symptoms in this population. This study examined the psychological experiences of Chinese young people who had experienced the 2013 Ya'an earthquake in Sichuan, China., Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019. A total of 693 Chinese middle school students completed a questionnaire that measured their level of depressive symptoms, trauma exposure, stressful life events, and sense of security., Results: Results of hierarchical multiple-regression analyses showed that the level of life stress from stressful life events was positively associated with the level of depressive symptoms (β = 0.416, P < 0.001) and the level of the sense of security was negatively associated with the level of depressive symptoms (β = -0.352, P < 0.001) when analysis controlled for age, gender, and trauma exposure., Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of considering the influence of life stressors and the sense of security in devising measures and strategies for the prevention of the manifestation of depression among young people, particularly those who were exposed to disasters.

Background: Recent studies found that post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms are common in people with depressive symptoms. Although a trauma-related subtype of depression has been proposed, little is known about the persistence and clinical consequences of these symptoms., Objective: This one-year follow-up study investigated the persistence and clinical consequences of post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms in people with depressive symptoms., Methods: We analyzed longitudinal data from an international sample of people self-reporting depressive emotions ( N  = 152) (mean Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score = 17.27; SD = 6.31)., Results: More than half (58.4%) of participants with baseline post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) still met the criteria for PTSD after one year. Participants with dissociative symptoms at baseline were significantly more likely to report lifetime psychiatric hospitalization (31.2% vs 14.7%), past-year use of psychiatric hospitalization (10.4% vs 0%) and emergency services (16.9% vs 4%) than those without dissociative symptoms. All post-traumatic and dissociative symptom clusters were cross-sectionally ( r  = .286 to .528, p  < .001) and longitudinally ( r  = .181 to .462, p  < .001) correlated with depressive symptoms. A sense of current threat ( β  = .146, p  < .05) and negative self-concept ( β  = .173, p  < .05) at baseline significantly predicted depressive symptoms after one year., Conclusions: These findings contribute to the increasing body of knowledge regarding the PTSD/dissociation-depression comorbidity. Given their persistence and clinical consequences, we recommend that post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms be regularly screened for in clinical settings. The existence of a possible trauma-related subtype of depression should receive more attention in both research and clinical practice.

Background: To improve the outcomes of depression treatment, personalized treatments that take individual needs into account are recommended. Recent research suggests that a subgroup of depressed people who suffer from co-occurring dissociation may be more likely to have encountered traumatic or stressful experiences and they may also have more psychosocial intervention needs., Methods: This study examined the prevalence and correlates of dissociative symptoms in an online convenience sample of people (N = 410) from 18 different countries/regions who reported clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms (indicated by Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≥10)., Results: Over 60% of participants exhibited clinically significant levels of dissociative symptoms (indicated by a Multiscale Dissociation Inventory total score &gt;66). Compared with those with low levels of dissociative symptoms, participants with high levels of dissociative symptoms reported more traumas, interpersonal stress, depression and trauma-related symptoms. Emotional constriction in particular had a weak but significant negative correlation with the level of perceived medication benefits., Limitations: The use of an online convenience sample could limit the generalizability of our findings. Our cross-sectional data could not demonstrate causal relationships between the study variables., Conclusions: The findings highlight a need for complex health interventions for depressed people with co-occurring dissociative symptoms, focusing not only on depressive symptoms but also addressing trauma and dissociation-related symptoms., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The association and overlap between psychotic and dissociative phenomena have been increasingly recognized. Previous studies found that psychotic symptoms are closely associated with post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms and that these trauma-related phenomena may mediate the relationship between trauma and psychotic symptoms. It remained less explored which specific post-traumatic and dissociative symptom clusters are particularly associated with psychotic symptoms. This cross-sectional study used a data-driven approach (network analysis) to explore the associations among different psychotic and post-traumatic/dissociative symptom clusters in an online convenience predominantly female sample (N = 468)(59.2% had ever seen a psychiatrist). Participants completed well-established multidimensional measures that assessed different symptom clusters of psychosis, dissociation, and PTSD. In addition, multiple mediation analysis was conducted to examine which post-traumatic/dissociative symptoms could mediate the relationship between childhood and adulthood trauma and different psychotic symptoms. Our results confirmed previous findings that PTSD and dissociative symptoms are closely associated with psychotic symptoms. More importantly, both data-driven and multiple mediation analysis results indicated that identity dissociation was particularly associated with perceptual anomalies and bizarre experiences, while emotional constriction was particularly associated with negative symptoms. It is important to screen for trauma and dissociation and provide trauma-and dissociation-informed care when working with people at risk of or experiencing psychosis. Further longitudinal studies using more representative samples are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with dissociative symptoms are generally poly-symptomatic and require high levels of healthcare resources. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms are two major disabling comorbid symptoms in people with dissociative symptoms. While the sense of control over symptoms may be associated with PTSD and dissociative symptoms, the interplay among these factors over time remains unexplored. This study examined the predictors of PTSD and depressive symptoms in people with dissociative symptoms. Longitudinal data from 61 participants with dissociative symptoms were analyzed. Participants completed self-report measures of dissociative, depressive, and PTSD symptoms and the sense of control over symptoms two times (T1 & T2) with an interval of over one month. PTSD and depressive symptoms were not transient or time-specific, but they persisted over time in our sample. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that, after controlling for age, treatment usage and baseline symptom severity, T1 symptom management scores (β = −.264, p =.006) negatively predicted T2 PTSD symptoms, while T1 PTSD symptoms (β =.268, p =.017) positively predicted T2 depressive symptoms. T1 depressive symptoms (β = −.087, p =.339) did not predict T2 PTSD symptoms. The findings highlight the importance of improving symptom management skills and treating comorbid PTSD symptoms when working with people with dissociative symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have examined public psycho-behavioural responses in the early stages of the epidemic, little is known after mass vaccination has been implemented. This study aimed to investigate the public's behavioural (adoption of COVID-19 precautionary measures) and psychological (depression, anxiety and stress) responses to COVID-19 and their relationships after the launch of the territory-wide vaccination programme in Hong Kong. Methods: A cross-sectional survey study using anonymous online or face-to-face questionnaires was conducted between June 2021 and September 2021. A convenience sample of Hong Kong Chinese residents aged ⩾18 years were recruited online by referrals and from a university-run community vaccination centre. Results: A total of 1893 valid questionnaires were received. The results showed that Hong Kong residents have high levels of adoption of precautionary measures and low levels of depression, anxiety and stress after the mass vaccination. Hierarchical regression analysis identified that in the fully adjusted model, the adoption of precautionary measures was a consistent protective factor (β ranged −1.51 to −1.67, p < 0.001) for depression, anxiety and stress amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: This study offers new information on the public's psycho-behavioural responses to the pandemic, as well as insights into public health planning after introducing the mass vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood adversities have been increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor for depression. However, the underlying mediating mechanism between childhood adversities and depression requires further investigation. The literature shows that childhood adversities are also closely associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and that PTSD symptoms can predict depressive symptoms. It remains unexplored whether PTSD symptoms can act as a mediator between childhood adversities and depression. The primary goal of this study was to examine whether PTSD symptoms would mediate the relationship between childhood adversities and depressive symptoms. We examined in a convenience sample of Hong Kong adults aged 18 or above (N = 418) whether PTSD symptoms would mediate the relationship between childhood adversities and depressive symptoms. We then examined and compared the results with those in another convenience sample of Chinese-speaking young adults (mainly from Taiwan and Hong Kong) aged between 18 and 24 (N = 205). Participants in both samples completed online surveys that included measures of childhood adversities, PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms. Childhood adversities were significantly associated with depressive symptoms; and this relationship was mediated by PTSD symptoms in both samples. This study is one of very few studies demonstrating that PTSD symptoms mediate the relationship between childhood adversities and depressive symptoms. Our findings suggest that addressing unresolved PTSD symptoms for adults with childhood adversities may help in preventing or treating depressive symptoms. Therefore, PTSD symptoms should be taken into account in the prevention and management of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]