Depression predicts chronic pain interference in racially-diverse, low-income patients

Abstract

Background: Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care in the US, with prevalence estimates ranging from 11% to 40%. Mindfulness meditation has been associated with significant improvements in pain, depression, physical and mental health, sleep, and overall quality of life. Group medical visits are increasingly common and are effective at treating myriad illnesses, including chronic pain. Integrative Medical Group Visits (IMGV) combine mindfulness techniques, evidence based integrative medicine, and medical group visits and can be used as adjuncts to medications, particularly in diverse underserved populations with limited access to non-pharmacological therapies.

Objective and design: The objective of the present study was to use a blended analytical approach of machine learning and regression analyses to evaluate the potential relationship between depression and chronic pain in data from a randomized clinical trial of IMGV in diverse, income disadvantaged patients suffering from chronic pain and depression.

Methods: The analytical approach used machine learning to assess the predictive relationship between depression and pain and identify and select key mediators, which were then assessed with regression analyses. It was hypothesized that depression would predict the pain outcomes of average pain, pain severity, and pain interference.

Results: Our analyses identified and characterized a predictive relationship between depression and chronic pain interference. This prediction was mediated by high perceived stress, low pain self-efficacy, and poor sleep quality, potential targets for attenuating the adverse effects of depression on functional outcomes.

Conclusions: In the context of the associated clinical trial and similar interventions, these insights may inform future treatment optimization, targeting, and application efforts in racialized, income disadvantaged populations, demographics often neglected in studies of chronic pain.

From: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34908146

Citation:

Nephew BC, Incollingo Rodriguez AC, Melican V, Polcari JJ, Nippert KE, Rashkovskii M, Linnell LB, Hu R, Ruiz C, King JA, Gardiner P. Depression predicts chronic pain interference in racially diverse, income-disadvantaged patients. Pain Med. 2021 Dec 15:pnab342. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnab342. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34908146.

Selegiline: The Effects of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors on the Behavior and Physiology of Caenorhabditis Elegans

Abstract

Research detailing the mechanisms behind antidepressants, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, is lacking. This study investigates the effects of selegiline on the behavior and metabolic pathways of the model organism C. elegans through egg-laying, thrashing, and lipid composition assays. A survey was conducted to contextualize these results in terms of broader impact by demonstrating depression prevalence. Our results showed that selegiline impacts the egg-laying timeline and thrashing frequency of C. elegans. Analyses of lipid assay data show marked differences in fatty acid composition. On a survey measuring depressive symptoms, WPI students averaged a score of 24.3, which is considered at risk for depression. These results highlight the prevalence of depression and the importance of understanding the physiology while providing insight into potential biological mechanisms implicated in depression.

From: https://digital.wpi.edu/concern/student_works/000003157

From: https://digital.wpi.edu/pdfviewer/z316q4643?_ga=2.197583402.488864774.1641652836-207998548.1641652836

Authors: 

Kathryn Nippert, Emily Stead, and Luigi Apollon 

Advised By: Professor Jagan Srinivasan, Ph.D., Department of Biology & Biotechnology Professor Angela C. Incollingo Rodriguez, Ph.D., Department of Social Science and Policy Studies Professor Carissa Lynn Olsen, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on the web without editorial or peer review. 

The Media as a Source of Weight Stigma for Pregnant and Postpartum Women

Abstract

Objective: The media often contain weight‐stigmatizing material. However, little is known about pregnant and postpartum women’s experiences with media‐based weight stigma.

Methods: Two studies investigated weight stigma in the media from multiple perspectives. Study 1 analyzed open‐response examples of weight‐stigmatizing experiences coming from the media, broadly defined, from 123 pregnant and postpartum women (from a larger sample of 501). Study 2 identified online news‐media articles about pregnancy and weight published during the study 1 data collection period (August to November 2017).

Results: Study 1 revealed that weight stigma was common and frequent in media, manifesting across three themes: (1) ideal appearance of pregnant bodies, (2) pressure to quickly “bounce back” after birth to a prepregnancy appearance, and (3) media praising celebrities for achieving either of the previous themes. Study 2 identified 33 articles. A content analysis revealed that women with overweight or obesity were rarely portrayed in images. Additionally, discussion of weight was often negative, focusing on adverse maternal–child health consequences. Finally, media‐communicated ideals for weight and weight loss were often unrealistic and did not reference medical guidelines.

Conclusions: This work is the first to document that online news media are a pervasive and potentially distressing source of pregnancy‐related weight stigma, suggesting much‐needed reform in media guidelines.

From: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/oby.23032?af=R

Authors: Kathryn E.Nippert, A. Janet Tomiyama  Stephanie M. Smieszek  Angela C. Incollingo Rodriguez

First published: 20 November 2020 - https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23032

Pregnant and postpartum women’s experiences of weight stigma in healthcare

Abstract

Background: Weight stigma is a societal phenomenon that is very prevalent in healthcare, precipitating poor patient-provider relationships, discontinuity of care, and delayed cancer screening. Little research, though, has investigated weight stigma in prenatal and postpartum healthcare. To address this gap, this study examined the prevalence and frequency of weight-stigmatizing experiences in prenatal and postpartum healthcare.

From: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343924668_Pregnant_and_postpartum_women's_experiences_of_weight_stigma_in_healthcare

Authors: Angela C. Incollingo Rodriguez, Stephanie M. Smieszek, Kathryn E. Nippert and A. Janet Tomiyama

Published in August 2020 Springer Nature

Exploration of A Robot Development Program for the Costa Rican Fire Department

Abstract

The goal of our project was to develop a comprehensive report on the potential benefits and implementation of a robot program for the Bomberos of Costa Rica to expand their capabilities in emergency situations and reduce risk to emergency personnel. We researched existing firefighting robot technology and conducted interviews of Bomberos stations in order to gather information about the most frequent and dangerous emergencies, and recommended action plans for developing a robotic program that would best benefit the needs of the Bomberos.

From: https://digital.wpi.edu/concern/student_works/9g54xk88n?locale=en

Authors

Kathryn E. Nippert, Jacob Ciolfi, Kalani Picho, and Lisa Spalding

Sponsored by: Ana Maria Ortega, Encargada de la Unidad de T.I.EL Benemerito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica

Date: 5 March 2020