Purpose: This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, quality of life, and family functioning in a sample of the general female population, exploring difficulties encountered in managing family and work responsibilities and burden of care when taking care of a loved one. This study was, moreover, aimed at investigating factors capable of influencing severe depressive symptomatology in the context of socio-demographics, traumatic events, individual vulnerability, and family functioning. Method: The sampling method used in this research was non-probability sampling. The survey took place during a Hospital Open Weekend (8–10 October 2021) organized by the National Gender Observatory on Women’s Health “Fondazione Onda” on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day. Results: A total of 211 women were interviewed (mean age = 35.6, 53% living alone, more than 15% with financial difficulties, 47% exposed to the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake). More than 50% of the sample reported a higher complexity in managing their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to their previous routine, with no statistically significant differences between working women and non-workers, although the latter obtained higher scores for depressive symptomatology and poorer quality of life. Compared to non-caregivers, female caregivers (22.3%) in charge of the care of loved ones affected by physical (10.9%) or psychiatric disabilities (11.4%) complained of a poorer quality of life, especially in general health perception (p = 0.002), physical function (p = 0.011), role limitations related to physical problems (p = 0.017), bodily pain (p = 0.015), mental health (p = 0.004), and social functioning (p = 0.007). Women caring for people affected by mental disorders seemed to experience a more significant worsening in vitality (p = 0.003) and social functioning (p = 0.005). Approximately 20% of the total sample reported severe depressive symptomatology. Previous access to mental health services (O.R. 10.923; p = 0.000), a low level of education (O.R. 5.410; p = 0.021), and difficulties in management of everyday lives during the COVID-19 pandemic (O.R. 3.598; p = 0.045) were found to be the main variables predictive of severe depressive psychopathology. Old age, good problem-solving skills, and ability to pursue personal goals were identified as protective factors. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic underlined the need for support amongst emotionally vulnerable women with pre-existing mental health conditions, partly reflecting the cumulative effects of traumas.

Purpose: This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, quality of life, and family functioning in a sample of the general female population, exploring difficulties encountered in managing family and work responsibilities and burden of care when taking care of a loved one. The study was moreover aimed at investigating factors capable of influencing severe depressive symptomatology in the context of socio-demographics, traumatic events, individual vulnerability, and family functioning. Method: During a weekend devoted to Mental Health initiatives (October 8-10, 2021), 211 women were interviewed (47% exposed to the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake). Results: More than 50% of the sample reported a higher complexity in managing their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to their previous routine, with no statistically significant differences between working women and non-workers, although the latter obtained higher scores for depressive symptomatology and poorer quality of life. Compared to non-caregivers, women caregivers (22.3%) in charge of the care of loved ones affected by physical (10.9%) or psychiatric disabilities (11.4%) complained of a poorer quality of life, with those caring for people affected by mental disorders seeming to experience a more significant worsening. Approximately 20% of the total sample reported severe depressive symptomatology. Previous access to mental health services (O.R. 10.923), low level of education (O.R. 5.410) and difficulties in management of their everyday lives during the COVID-19 pandemic (O.R. 3.598) were found to be the main variables predictive of severe depressive psychopathology. Old age, good problem-solving skills and ability to pursue personal goals were identified as protective factors. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic underlined the need for support for emotionally vulnerable women with pre-existing mental health conditions, partly reflecting the cumulative effects of traumas.

Background and Objectives: Usual treatment approaches for late-life depression primarily involve selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Recently, the potential role of vortioxetine has garnered attention. This study aimed to investigate whether vortioxetine is superior to SSRIs in terms of efficacy and tolerability in older people with moderate-to-severe depression. Methods: The Vortioxetine in the Elderly versus SSRIs: a Pragmatic Assessment (VESPA) study was an assessor-blinded, randomized, parallel-group, superiority trial, comparing flexible doses of vortioxetine versus SSRIs in older adults with depression. This is a post-hoc analysis that excluded participants with milder symptoms of depression. The primary outcome was the change in Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores. Secondary outcomes included clinical response (MADRS total score reduction of ≥ 50%), remission (a MADRS score < 10), and discontinuation rates. Clinical measures were conducted at baseline and at 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month (endpoint) visits. Results: In total, 302 individuals (mean age: 73.4 ± 5.9 years; 68.9% females), comprising 152 randomized to vortioxetine and 150 to SSRIs (sertraline N = 92; paroxetine N = 19; escitalopram N = 19; citalopram N = 16; fluoxetine N = 3; fluvoxamine N = 1), were included in this post-hoc analysis. No significant differences in MADRS improvement between vortioxetine and SSRIs were observed at any follow-up visits and 6-month endpoint (−11.8 ± 10.6 versus −14.0 ± 11.6; p = 0.12). This was further confirmed by a subgroup analysis excluding drug discontinuers (−16.8 ± 9.0 versus −17.6 ± 10.3; p = 0.51). In addition, people treated with vortioxetine did not exhibit better rates of response (44.1 versus 53.0%; p = 0.11), remission (25.7 versus 34.7%; p = 0.09), and discontinuation (38.0 versus 30.2%; p = 0.17), including discontinuation owing to either side effects or inefficacy, compared with those treated with SSRIs. Conclusions: Vortioxetine was not superior to SSRIs in terms of efficacy and tolerability in older adults with moderate-to-severe depression. Additional trials, possibly based on fixed doses of vortioxetine, are needed. Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03779789, registered on 12 Dec 2018; EudraCT number: 2018-001444-66.

Toxic romantic relationships, a popular term referring to intimate partner violence (IPV) characterized by psychological, physical, and sexual violence, are a growing concern among young people. This pilot study aimed to preliminarily validate the vignette task on IPV, the “Mind 4 partner abuse” task, and to investigate the cognitive patterns and emotional profiles concerning IPV. Our research involved 228 university students from the University of L’Aquila who participated in an online psychoeducational program to raise awareness of the risks of IPV. Participants completed the “Mind 4 partner abuse” task, which included five vignettes depicting escalating violence in relationships. The task assessed participants’ emotional responses (anger, anxiety/fear, sadness, shame/guilt) and cognitive responses (functional-assertive or dysfunctional) to each vignette. In addition, for convergent validation, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) was administered to assess empathic abilities. Five distinct factors were identified: active coping and legal awareness (ACLA), emotional distress (ED), assertiveness and autonomy defense (AAD), assertive reaction and self-empowerment (ARSE), and refusal of public humiliation and dignity assertion (RDA). One factor out of the five, emotional distress (ED), identified a dysfunctional cognitive pattern. The instrument showed a good convergent validity with the IRI. The correlation analysis showed that the IRI personal distress scale was negatively associated with ACLA and positively associated with ED. The IRI Empathic Concern scale was positively associated with RDA. In the dysfunctional cognitive pattern, as measured by the “Mind 4 Partner Abuse” vignette task, the ED factor was positively correlated with anxiety, sadness, shame, and guilt. The potential of the vignette task to identify high-risk cognitive profiles is promising, but it has yet to be confirmed. Given the limitations of the study, the findings offer only preliminary indications of cognitive patterns in young adults and their perceptions of romantic relationships, as assessed through a psychoeducational intervention. Further research with larger and more diverse samples, as well as more robust task designs, is necessary before firm conclusions can be drawn.

Introduction: Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men. Discrimination based on female sex is a common stress factor. Previous literature has demonstrated that overt forms of sexism, such as physical violence, are associated with higher depression rates among women. However, little research has focused on everyday sexism and women’s depression. Everyday sexism refers to interpersonal experiences of sexism in daily life, which are not violent but nonetheless result in inequality in the relationship and chronic stress due to repeated exposure, primarily in workplaces and public environments. The present systematic review aimed to assess the relationship between everyday sexism and women’s depression. Method: Research articles indexed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus electronic databases were included based on keyword searches. The inclusion criteria for the present study were: research articles in English, published between 1 January 2004 and 31 August 2024, and studies addressing the relationship between sexism and women’s depression in the adult female population. Sixteen studies were included. Results: Exposure to sexist discrimination is associated with depressive symptomatology among adult women across age groups. Internalised sexist beliefs, on the other hand, vary regarding the ambivalent sexism approach. Internalised hostile sexist beliefs were related to depression, whereas internalised benevolent sexism did not show such a relationship with depressive symptomatology. Conclusion: Exposure to sexism and internalisation of hostile sexist beliefs are related to depressive symptoms among women.