Objective: This study aimed to assess the dyadic dynamics of benefit finding, stigma, and suicide risk on the depression severity of individuals with schizophrenia and their caregivers. Methods: We prospectively recruited a total of 72 individuals with schizophrenia and 72 caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia from a medical center in Taiwan between August 2022 and July 2023. Patients with schizophrenia and their caregivers were assessed using the Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire, Benefit Finding Scale, Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue, Suicide Assessment Scale, and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Results: The most prevalent psychiatric diagnoses in the caregivers were depressive disorders (29.2%). Using structural equation modeling, we found that patients’ suicidal risk (β = 0.45, p < 0.001) may contribute to the severity of depression in individuals with schizophrenia. We also found that caregivers’ BF degree (β = −0.25, p < 0.01) and suicidal risk (β = 0.64, p < 0.001) may contribute to the severity of depression in the caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia. Furthermore, we found that caregivers’ suicidal risk (β = 0.28, p < 0.05) and caregivers’ stigma (β = −0.31, p < 0.01) level may contribute to the severity of depression in individuals with schizophrenia. Discussion: Clinicians should actively manage caregivers’ stigma and provide positive reinforcement for caregivers’ BF, as this may help reduce depression in both caregivers and individuals with schizophrenia. Additionally, assessing suicide risk in both groups is essential for preventing suicides among individuals with schizophrenia and caregivers alike.

This study aims to examine the co-occurrence rate of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and adrenal gland disorders, as well as whether pharmacotherapy may affect ADHD patients’ risk of developing adrenal gland disorder. One group of patients newly diagnosed with ADHD (n = 75,247) and one group of age- and gender-matching controls (n = 75,247) were chosen from Taiwan′s National Health Insurance database during the period of January 1999 to December 2011. Both patients and controls were monitored through December 31, 2011, in order to identify the occurrence of adrenal gland disorders (ICD-9-CM code 255.X). We also explored the potential effect of methylphenidate (MPH) and atomoxetine (ATX) treatments on the risk of developing adrenal gland disorders. We found that ADHD patients showed a significantly increased probability of developing an adrenal gland disorder compared to the control group (0.2% of ADHD vs. 0.1% of controls). However, neither MPH nor ATX treatment significantly influenced the patients’ risk of developing adrenal gland dysfunction. We propose that patients with ADHD had greater comorbid rates with adrenal gland dysfunction than the control subjects. Nevertheless, undergoing treatment with MPH or ATX did not significantly influence the risk of developing adrenal gland dysfunction among ADHD patients.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common progressive neurodegenerative disorders, and its caregivers often experience a significant burden. This prospective study aimed to assess the dyadic dynamics of depression and anxiety severity in patients with PD and their caregivers, as well as changes in severity over a one-year follow-up period. We recruited 181 patients with PD and their respective caregivers from a medical center. Psychological well-being was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). We examined trends in depression and anxiety within PD patient-caregiver dyads and identified associated factors over the one-year follow-up. A total of 101 patients with PD and 101 caregivers completed the study. Patients had significantly higher HAM-D and HAM-A scores than their caregivers. Additionally, both patients and caregivers exhibited a significant increase in HAM-D scores at the one-year follow-up compared to baseline. Female gender and a history of suicide among caregivers of patients with PD were associated with greater severity of caregiver anxiety. Additionally, the use of anxiolytics and hypnotics by caregivers was associated with increased severity of both depression and anxiety. Furthermore, patients' HAM-D scores were significantly correlated with caregivers' depression severity. Over the course of one year, depression severity worsened in both patients with PD and their caregivers. The severity of patients' depression was closely linked to that of their caregivers, highlighting the importance of addressing and managing dyadic interactions to prevent mutual worsening of depression and anxiety.