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ABSTRACT: Background: The 24-item Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS-24) has three subscales to evaluate dysfunctional attitudes predisposing to depression in the areas of achievement, dependency and self-control. Aim: The purpose of the present investigation was to characterize the three subscales in relation to broad dimensions of personality. Methods: The subjects were 528 healthy Japanese volunteers. Personality assessment was conducted by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), which has seven dimensions. The correlations of the DAS-24 subscales with the TCI dimensions were examined by the multiple regression analysis. Results: All DAS-24 subscales had negative correlations with the self-directedness dimension. However, the three subscales had differential patterns of correlations with the reward dependence, persistence, cooperativeness and harm avoidance dimensions. Conclusions: The present study suggests that dysfunctional attitudes measured by the DAS-24 are closely related to low self-directedness of the TCI. Also, the differential patterns of correlations with some TCI dimensions support the content-specificity of the three subscales.
Nordic journal of psychiatry 12/2012; · 0.99 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Background: Previous studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) had less atrophy in some medial temporal structures than Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, very few studies have focused on the entorhinal cortex, which is closely related to episodic memory. We compared the degree of entorhinal cortex atrophy between the two types of dementia using the voxel-based specific regional analysis system for AD (VSRAD) targeting this region. Methods: The subjects consisted of 60 patients with DLB and 210 patients with AD. The degree of entorhinal cortex atrophy was quantified by application of the VSRAD to MRI data, and a Z score >2 was defined as significant atrophy. Results: The DLB group had significantly lower Z scores than the AD group (mean ± SD: 2.25 ± 1.10 vs. 2.85 ± 1.33, p < 0.01). The analysis of covariance with possible confounding factors as covariates also showed that Z scores were significantly lower in the DLB group than in the AD group (p < 0.01). The proportion of patients with atrophy was significantly lower in the DLB group than in the AD group (53 vs. 72%, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The present study using the VSRAD suggests that DLB shows less atrophy in the entorhinal cortex than AD.
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders 12/2012; 34(5-6):328-331. · 2.14 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The most characteristic symptom of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is episodic memory impairment, which is closely associated with atrophy of the entorhinal cortex. Meanwhile, atypical symptoms are more frequent in early-onset AD than in late-onset AD, suggesting that the former subtype has less atrophy in the entorhinal cortex. Therefore, we investigated whether the degree of atrophy in the entorhinal cortex is different between the two subtypes of AD using the voxel-based specific regional analysis system for AD (VSRAD) targeting this region. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 198 patients with AD. They were divided into two groups, that is, the early-onset AD group with the onset under age 65 years (n = 18) and the late-onset AD group with the onset at age 65 years or over (n = 180). The degree of atrophy in the entorhinal cortex was quantified by application of the VSRAD to magnetic resonance imaging data, and a Z-score >2 was defined as significant atrophy according to previous studies. RESULTS: The early-onset group had significantly lower Z-scores than the late-onset group (mean ± SD: 1.83 ± 0.92 vs 2.90 ± 1.40, p < 0.01). The analysis of covariance with possible confounding factors as covariates also showed that Z-scores were significantly lower in the early-onset group than in the late-onset group (p < 0.01). The proportion of patients with atrophy was significantly lower in the early-onset group than in the late-onset group (44% vs 71%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study using the VSRAD suggests that early-onset AD shows less atrophy in the entorhinal cortex than late-onset AD. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 05/2012; · 2.42 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Interpersonal sensitivity is defined as undue and excessive awareness of, and sensitivity to, the behaviour and feelings of others and is one of the vulnerable factors to depression. In a twin study, it was suggested that this personality trait was characterised by both genetic and environmental factors. In the present study, we examined the effects of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism and parental rearing on interpersonal sensitivity in 725 healthy Japanese subjects. Assessment of interpersonal sensitivity was performed by the Japanese version of the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM). Perceived parental rearing was assessed by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), which consists of the care and protection factors. The BDNF polymorphism was detected by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. There was no main effect of the BDNF genotype on the IPSM score, while the PBI factors except maternal care had significant main effect on the IPSM score. There was significant interaction effect between the BDNF genotype and maternal care of the PBI on the IPSM score. Post-hoc analysis of simple slopes showed that the negative relationship between the IPSM score and maternal care was strongest and significant in the Met/Met genotype group, intermediate in the Val/Met genotype group and weakest in the Val/Val genotype group. The present study suggests that the interaction between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and parental rearing, especially maternal care, influences interpersonal sensitivity in healthy subjects.
Psychiatry Research 04/2012; · 2.52 Impact Factor
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Psychiatric genetics 02/2012; 22(4):218. · 2.33 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Interpersonal sensitivity is a depression-prone personality trait closely related to anxious attachment, whereas sociotropy and autonomy are personality vulnerability factors in the cognitive theory of depression. In the present study, the relationships of interpersonal sensitivity with sociotropy and autonomy were studied in 362 healthy subjects. Interpersonal sensitivity was assessed using the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM), whereas sociotropy and autonomy were evaluated using the Sociotropy and Autonomy subscales, respectively, of the Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale. The IPSM was significantly correlated with the Sociotropy subscale (β = 0.61, p < 0.001) but not with the Autonomy subscale. All subscales of the IPSM correlated significantly with the Sociotropy subscale, and the correlation for the Separation Anxiety subscale (β = 0.56, p < 0.001) was strongest. The present study suggests that interpersonal sensitivity is correlated with sociotropy but not with autonomy in healthy subjects.
The Journal of nervous and mental disease 02/2012; 200(2):153-5. · 1.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: There have been few studies which examined the developmental origins of cognitive vulnerability of depression. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of parental rearing on sociotropy and autonomy, the personality vulnerability factors in the cognitive theory of depression.
The subjects were 416 healthy subjects. Perceived parental rearing was assessed by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), which has care and protection factors, and sociotropy and autonomy were assessed by the Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale.
In males, neither sociotropy nor autonomy was affected by paternal rearing or maternal rearing. In females, higher levels of sociotropy were related to higher maternal protection (β=0.308, p<0.01), while autonomy was affected neither by paternal rearing nor by maternal rearing.
Parental behaviors not covered by the PBI may affect formation of autonomy.
The present study suggests that parental overprotection increases sociotropy with gender specificity in parents and recipients.
Journal of affective disorders 02/2012; 136(3):824-7. · 3.76 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: There are few data concerning a clear relationship between the clinical effect of paroxetine and plasma drug concentrations, although therapeutic ranges have been established for some tricyclic antidepressants.
In this study, 120 patients with major depressive disorders were treated with 10-40 mg/day of paroxetine for 6 weeks, and a total of 89 patients completed the protocol. A clinical evaluation using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) was performed at 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks.
Significant correlations were found between the plasma concentrations of paroxetine and the percentage improvement in the total MADRS scores (r = -0.282, p < 0.01) and the final MADRS scores at 6 weeks (r = 0.268, p < 0.05). The conventional receiver-operating-characteristic curve showed the fraction of true positive results and false negative results for various cut-off levels of paroxetine concentration for response and remission. The thresholds for both response and remission that gave the maximal sensitivity and specificity for paroxetine concentrations were 64.2 ng/ml.
These results suggest that plasma paroxetine concentrations are negatively associated with improvement and that response occurs at the upper threshold of 64.2 ng/ml of paroxetine. These findings should be replicated with a larger patient sample.
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental 11/2011; 26(8):602-8. · 2.48 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: It has been suggested that the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) are composed of some clusters, which are linked to distinct genetic mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of genetic polymorphisms in the serotonergic system with three factors of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), i.e., dysphoria, retardation, and vegetative symptoms.
The subjects were 132 Japanese patients of MDD. The genotypes of tryptophan hydroxylase 218A/C, serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5HTTLPR), and 5HT2A receptor -1438G/A polymorphisms were determined by PCR methods. Statistical analyses were performed by the multiple regression analysis.
The A allele of 5HT2A polymorphism was associated with higher vegetative scores (p=0.001) and total MADRS scores (p=0.005), while the S allele of 5HTTLPR was related to higher dysphoric scores (p=0.012). The tryptophan hydroxylase genotype was not related to any factor scores or total MADRS scores.
The sample size was relatively small, and the subjects were composed of Japanese only.
This study suggests that the genetic polymorphisms in 5HT2A receptor and serotonin transporter are linked to discrete symptom clusters of MDD.
Journal of affective disorders 09/2011; 135(1-3):374-6. · 3.76 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1) is the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin, which is an essential cofactor for biosynthetic enzymes of dopamine, serotonin, and nitric oxide. In the present study, the association of functional polymorphism of the GCH1 gene (C+243T, rs841) with personality traits was examined in 902 healthy Japanese subjects. Personality traits were assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and the GCH1 genotype was detected by a PCR-RFLP method. There were no significant main effects of the GCH1 genotype on the seven TCI dimension scores, but significant interaction effects between the GCH1 genotype and gender were found on the scores of novelty seeking. Post-hoc analysis revealed that males with the C/C genotype had higher scores of novelty seeking than those with the C/T genotype or those with the T/T genotype, while in females the scores of novelty seeking were not different among the genotype groups. The present study thus suggests that the C+243T polymorphism of the GCH1 gene affects the personality trait of novelty seeking in males.
Neuroscience Letters 08/2011; 503(3):220-3. · 2.11 Impact Factor
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Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 05/2011; 45(5):427. · 2.93 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We investigated the relationship between a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) polymorphism (Val66Met) and the clinical response of patients with major depressive disorder to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; here, paroxetine and sertraline). In addition, serum BDNF levels in these patients were considered together with the clinical response.
A total of 132 patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder were enrolled in the study. 54 of these patients were male and 78 were female (age range, 20-74years; mean±S.D., 51±15). The patients' clinical improvement was evaluated using the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) before (T0) and at 8weeks after the administration of SSRI treatment (T8). Patients with at least a 50% decrease in the HAMD-17 score were classified as responders.
No correlation was observed between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and response to SSRIs or between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and serum BDNF levels at T0. An inverse correlation was found between serum BDNF levels and HAMD-17 scores at T0.
These results suggest that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is independent of both the response to SSRI treatment and serum BDNF levels. The findings in the present study reconfirm that the serum BDNF level is a state biomarker for depression.
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 02/2011; 35(4):1022-5. · 3.25 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The relationships of sociotropy and autonomy, the 2 personality traits postulated as vulnerability factors for depression, with 7 dimensions of the Temperament and Character Inventory, a comprehensive measure of personality, were studied in 305 healthy subjects. Sociotropy and autonomy were assessed by the sociotropy and autonomy subscales, respectively, of the original 60-item Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale. In multiple regression analysis, sociotropy was significantly correlated with higher harm avoidance, reward dependence (RD), and self-transcendence (ST), and lower self-directedness; and the correlation was strongest with higher RD (β = 0.27) and second strongest with lower self-directedness (β = -0.25). Meanwhile, autonomy was significantly correlated with higher persistence and ST, and lower RD; and the correlations were especially strong with higher ST (β = 0.37) and lower RD (β = -0.28). These results support Beck's concepts of these personality traits, that is, the orientation toward interpersonal relationships of sociotropy, and that toward mastery and independence of autonomy.
Comprehensive psychiatry 12/2010; 52(5):507-10. · 2.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Previous studies have shown that the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is involved in the characterization of personality traits. FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP51 or FKBP5) is a co-chaperone of heat-shock protein 90, and plays an important role in the negative feedback regulation of HPA axis function. It has been reported that a C/T single nucleotide polymorphism in the intron 2 of FKBP5 gene (rs1360780) affects FKBP5 protein levels and cortisol response to dexamethasone and psychological stress tests. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the FKBP5 polymorphism affects personality traits. In the present study, we studied the association between this polymorphism and personality traits in 826 Japanese healthy subjects. Personality traits were assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and the FKBP5 genotype was detected by a real-time PCR and cycling probe technology for SNP typing. In total subjects, the group with the T allele predictive of impaired negative feedback regulation of the HPA axis had higher scores of harm avoidance (HA) (p=0.043) and lower scores of cooperativeness (CO) (p=0.019) compared to that without the T allele. The T allele was associated with higher scores of HA in females (p=0.020) and lower scores of CO in males (p=0.015). The present study thus suggests that the FKBP5 polymorphism affects HA and CO in healthy subjects, with gender specificity.
Neuroscience Letters 11/2010; 485(3):194-7. · 2.11 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A 73-year-old male patient with delusional disorder, somatic type (DDST) who had a delusion of skin infestation with insects was presented. He was taking multiple medications to treat concomitant physical diseases. Milnacipran was selected as the treatment drug because of its low drug-interaction profile. Milnacipran treatment at the doses of 25 to 50 mg/d decreased the infestation delusion significantly, without an adverse effect or event suggestive of a drug interaction. The effectiveness of the drug was confirmed coincidentally by repeated recurrences and improvements after his deliberate discontinuation and restart of the drug, respectively. The present report suggests that milnacipran is effective for a patient with DDST and that this drug may be the first choice when the patient is taking multiple medications.
Clinical neuropharmacology 04/2010; 33(4):212-3. · 2.35 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The effects of dysfunctional parenting styles on interpersonal sensitivity were studied in 640 Japanese volunteers. Interpersonal sensitivity was assessed by the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM), and perceived parental rearing was evaluated by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), which is consisted of care and protection factors. Parental rearing was classified into 4 types, i.e., optimal parenting (high care/low protection), affectionate constraint (high care/high protection), neglectful parenting (low care/low protection), and affectionless control (low care/high protection). Males with paternal affectionless control showed higher total IPSM scores than those with paternal optimal parenting (p = 0.022). Females with maternal affectionate constraint (p = 0.001), neglectful parenting (p = 0.022), and affectionless control (p = 0.003) showed higher total IPSM scores than those with maternal optimal parenting. In males and females, dysfunctional parenting styles by the opposite-sex parents did not affected total IPSM scores. The present study suggests that in both males and females interpersonal sensitivity is increased by dysfunctional parenting styles by the same-sex parents.
The Journal of nervous and mental disease 12/2009; 197(12):938-41. · 1.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: According to the Cloninger's theory, personality consists of temperaments, which are automatic emotional reactions and habits, and characters, which are the self-concepts about goals and values. It has been suggested that temperaments are highly heritable and related to catecholaminergic neurotransmission. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of catecholamines such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which are deeply involved in human mental functions and behaviors. It has recently been reported that the C-824T single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of the TH gene (rs10770141) affects promoter activity of the TH gene and urinary catecholamine levels. In the present study, the association of this polymorphism with personality traits was examined in 740 healthy Japanese subjects. Personality traits were assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and the TH genotype was detected by a PCR-RFLP method. In total subjects, there were no significant differences in the seven TCI dimension scores between the TH genotype groups. In males, the subjects with the T allele predictive of elevated levels of dopamine and norepinephrine had lower scores of novelty seeking than those without this allele, while in females none of the TCI scores was different between the two genotype groups. The present study thus suggests that the C-824T polymorphism in the TH gene promoter may affect the personality trait of novelty seeking in healthy males. However, taken the effects of multiple comparisons into account, the present result should be interpreted with caution, necessitating a replication in a different sample.
Behavioural brain research 11/2009; 208(1):209-12. · 3.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In the present study, we investigated the effects of sertraline on plasma levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), homovanillic acid (HVA), and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in 59 depressed patients treated with sertraline. We also examined the relationship between the dynamics of the catecholamine metabolites, BDNF, serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) gene polymorphism (long and short alleles), and the clinical response to sertraline. The extent of clinical improvement was evaluated using the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (Ham-D) before and 8 weeks after treatment with sertraline. Responders were defined as showing at least a 50% decrease in the Ham-D score. Baseline plasma HVA levels of responders to sertraline treatment were significantly lower than those of non-responders (p = 0.02). In addition, a positive correlation was identified between changes in plasma HVA levels and the rate of response to sertraline treatment (p = 0.001). A trend toward higher baseline serum BDNF levels was found in responders compared with non-responders (p = 0.095). In addition, serum BDNF levels were slightly increased (not significant) in responders (p = 0.058), but not in non-responders. Responders had a higher short-allele genotype frequency in the 5-HTTLPR for the promoter region than did non-responders (p = 0.037). These results suggest that pre-treatment plasma HVA levels and the 5-HTTLPR genotype for the promoter might be associated with a response to sertraline.
Journal of Psychopharmacology 10/2009; 24(12):1764-71. · 3.04 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: There have been several studies showing the relationship between sex hormones and personality traits. Cytochrome P450 19 (CYP 19, aromatase) is the rate-limiting enzyme for the conversion of androgens into estrogens, and it has been reported that the C/T single nucleotide polymorphism in the 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) of CYP19 gene (rs10046) affects dispositions of estradiol and testosterone. Therefore, it is hypothesized that this polymorphism affects personality traits. In the present study, the association of this polymorphism with personality traits was examined in 633 healthy Japanese subjects. Personality traits were assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and the CYP19 genotype was detected by a PCR-RFLP method. In males, the group with the T allele predictive of elevated levels of estradiol and decreased levels of testosterone had lower scores of harm avoidance than that without the T allele (p=0.015). In females, none of the seven TCI dimensions was different between the two genotype groups. The present study thus suggests that the C/T polymorphism in the 3'UTR of CYP19 gene affects personality trait of harm avoidance in healthy males.
Behavioural brain research 07/2009; 205(1):234-7. · 3.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In the present study, we investigated the relationship between the serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic regions (5-HTTLPR) or plasma paroxetine levels and clinical response to paroxetine in depressed patients. Sixty patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder were enrolled in the study. Twenty-two were male and 38 were female, with ages ranging from 25 to 71 (mean +/- SD = 42 +/- 16) years. The clinical improvement of patients was assessed using the Hamilton rating scale for depression (Ham-D) before and every week after paroxetine administration. According to the data reported previously, patients with an at least 50% decrease in their Ham-D score were classified as responders. The results showed that the plasma paroxetine levels at 4 weeks were significantly higher in responders (rapid responders) than in nonresponders. On the other hand, no significant associations were found between the L genotype (L/L, L/S) or S genotype (S/S) and the response rates either at 4 weeks or 8 weeks. These results suggest that patients with higher plasma levels at 4 weeks might respond rapidly to paroxetine treatment, but the final response rate at 8 weeks will be independent of the plasma paroxetine levels and the 5-HTTLPR L/S genotype.
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental 07/2009; 24(6):489-94. · 2.48 Impact Factor
