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Aschbacher K, Mather M, Lehrer P, Gevirtz R, Epel E, Peiper NC. Real-time heart rate variability biofeedback amplitude during a large-scale digital mental health intervention differed by age, gender, and mental and physical health. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14533. [PMID: 38454612 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) is an efficacious treatment for depression and anxiety. However, translation to digital mental health interventions (DMHI) requires computing and providing real-time HRVB metrics in a personalized and user-friendly fashion. To address these gaps, this study validates a real-time HRVB feedback algorithm and characterizes the association of the main algorithmic summary metric-HRVB amplitude-with demographic, psychological, and health factors. We analyzed HRVB data from 5158 participants in a therapist-supported DMHI incorporating slow-paced breathing to treat depression or anxiety symptoms. A real-time feedback metric of HRVB amplitude and a gold-standard research metric of low-frequency (LF) power were computed for each session and then averaged within-participants over 2 weeks. We provide HRVB amplitude values, stratified by age and gender, and we characterize the multivariate associations of HRVB amplitude with demographic, psychological, and health factors. Real-time HRVB amplitude correlated strongly (r = .93, p < .001) with the LF power around the respiratory frequency (~0.1 Hz). Age was associated with a significant decline in HRVB (β = -0.46, p < .001), which was steeper among men than women, adjusting for demographic, psychological, and health factors. Resting high- and low-frequency power, body mass index, hypertension, Asian race, depression symptoms, and trauma history were significantly associated with HRVB amplitude in multivariate analyses (p's < .01). Real-time HRVB amplitude correlates highly with a research gold-standard spectral metric, enabling automated biofeedback delivery as a potential treatment component of DMHIs. Moreover, we identify demographic, psychological, and health factors relevant to building an equitable, accurate, and personalized biofeedback user experience.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mara Mather
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Paul Lehrer
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, USA
| | - Richard Gevirtz
- Department of Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Elissa Epel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Nicholas C Peiper
- Meru Health, San Mateo, California, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
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Yang L, Ye J, Zhu H, Tang Y, Li X. Development and evaluation of a family-child reading picture book on reducing autism spectrum disorder caregivers' psychological stress: a mixed method study. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1390430. [PMID: 38863613 PMCID: PMC11165404 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1390430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The rapid increasing prevalence of ASD has become a significant global health issue. Caregivers of children with ASD are experiencing higher level of psychological stress and mental disorders. However, interventions to improve the psychological health of caregivers of children with ASD have largely been neglected. Methods Based on the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) model, we initially did in-depth interviews with 8 caregivers, and conducted field observation in two rehabilitation centers to analyze the daily lives, the empowered components, the emotional moments of the children with autism and their caregivers. Then we designed the outline of the picture book, and developed it by a multi-disciplinary team by 4 rounds. After that, this picture book was sent out to 54 caregivers of children with ASD for family-child reading in one month. A quantitative questionnaire was administered before and after their reading to evaluate the efficacy of reducing their stress and affiliate stigma, and improving self-efficacy, resilience, empowerment capacity; and exit interviews were conducted after their initial reading to assess the acceptability, content appropriateness, perceived benefits and generalizability of this picture book. Quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive analysis and paired t-tests using IBM SPSS 26.0. Qualitative data were analyzed using template analysis. Results In total, 54 caregivers read the picture book with their child, with the total of 149 (an average of 2.76 per family) times reading in one month. Among them, 39 caregivers returned the following-up questionnaires. Although most of the outcome measures did not showed significant changes except the stress level decreased statistically significant (13.38 ± 3.864 to 11.79 ± 3.238, P=0.001), caregivers reported that the picture book echoed their daily lives and gave them a sense of warmth, inspiration, and hope, as well as some insight on family relationships and attitudes towards the disorder. They also expressed a willingness to disseminate the book to other families with children suffering ASD and the public. Conclusion This specially designed picture book has been proven to be an acceptable, content-appropriate, and effective family-centered psychological intervention, which could be easily scaled up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yang
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jinlin Ye
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hongrui Zhu
- School of International Nursing, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Yao Tang
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xianhong Li
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Lee J, Barger B. Factors Predicting Poor Mental and Physical Health in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results from 2016 to 2019 National Survey of Children's Health. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:915-930. [PMID: 36562931 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05870-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Although poor health has been reported in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), most studies excluded fathers and focused on mental health. We combined 2016-2019 data from the National Surveys of Children's Health to determine child and parent characteristics that predict poor mental and physical health in fathers (n = 818) and mothers (n = 2111) of children with ASD. For fathers of children with ASD, higher parenting stress was significantly associated with greater odds of poor physical health, whereas racial and ethnic minorities and living at 400% above the federal poverty were significantly associated with lower odds of poor mental health. For mothers of children with ASD, greater child sleep problems were significantly associated with greater odds of poor physical health, and two-parent household living 400% above the poverty line was significantly associated with reported lower odds of poor mental health. Continued efforts to reduce parenting stress and improve child sleep problems, along with expanding existing services and coverages of ASD services, especially for low-income families, may help reduce the burden on these families, preventing adverse future health outcomes in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiwon Lee
- School of Nursing, Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur Street, Urban Life Building Suite 911, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
| | - Brian Barger
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Brown RL, Epel EE, Lin J, Dubal DB, Prather AA. Associations between klotho and telomere biology in high stress caregivers. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:7381-7396. [PMID: 37580799 PMCID: PMC10457041 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Aging biomarkers may be related to each other through direct co-regulation and/or through being regulated by common processes associated with chronological aging or stress. Klotho is an aging regulator that acts as a circulating hormone with critical involvement in regulating insulin signaling, phosphate homeostasis, oxidative stress, and age-related inflammatory functioning. Both klotho and telomere length are biomarkers of biological aging and decrease with age; however, the relationship between them is not well understood. Here we test the association between klotho levels and the telomere length of specific sorted immune cells among a healthy sample of mothers caregiving for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; i.e., experiencing higher caregiving stress) or a child without ASD, covarying age and body mass index, in order to understand if high stress associated with caregiving for a child with an ASD may be involved in any association between these aging biomarkers. In 178 caregiving women (n = 90 high-stress mothers of children with ASD, n = 88 low-stress mothers of neurotypical children), we found that klotho levels were positively associated with telomere length in PBMCs (an effect driven by CD4+ and CD8+CD28- T cells) among high-stress mothers of children with an ASD but not among low-stress mothers of neurotypical children. There were no significant associations between klotho and telomerase activity in either group, across cell types assessed here. Our results suggest that klotho levels and telomere length may be associated through a coordinated downregulation of longevity factors occurring under higher stress caregiving conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan L. Brown
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
| | - Elissa E. Epel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
| | - Dena B. Dubal
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute of Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
| | - Aric A. Prather
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
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Gao Y, Hu R, Zhang Y, Yuan M, Xu Y, Ma J. Perceived stress in Chinese patients with coronary heart disease: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e051419. [PMID: 35361637 PMCID: PMC8971805 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Studies have shown that chronic stress is closely linked to the occurrence and development of cardiovascular disease. To date, few studies have focused on perceived stress in coronary heart diseases (CHD) patients and the possible factors influencing the stress. This study aims to investigate the perceived stress of patients with CHD and determine the individual attributes closely associated with it. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. PARTICIPATES A total of 2215 patients with CHD were enrolled and perceived stress was assessed with the Chinese version Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS). Participants were divided into two groups due to CPSS score and binary logistic regression was applied to analyse the factors that affected perceived stress level. RESULTS The mean CPSS score of Chinese patients with CHD was 27.16±6.35 Compared with participants who received senior middle school education or below, those with a university degree had a higher probability of high perceived stress (OR 1.453, 95% CI 1.206 to 1.750); this difference was more evident in participants with a master or doctoral degree (OR 1.928, 95% CI 1.290 to 2.882). Also engaging in mental labour (OR 1.389, 95% CI 1.144 to 1.686), having children (OR 2.226, 95% CI 1.098 to 4.515) and having a habit of risky alcohol consumption (OR 1.492, 95% CI 1.146 to 1.944) were associated with perceived stress. CONCLUSION Patients who had higher educational attainment, engaged in mental labour, had children, and had a habit of risky alcohol consumption were much easier to perceive the stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Gao
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Senior Department of Cardiology, the Sixth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Hu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Senior Department of Cardiology, the Sixth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yingyue Zhang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Senior Department of Cardiology, the Sixth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Menghan Yuan
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Senior Department of Cardiology, the Sixth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Xu
- Senior Department of Cardiology, the Sixth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Ma
- Senior Department of Cardiology, the Sixth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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Aschbacher K, Cole S, Hagan M, Rivera L, Baccarella A, Wolkowitz OM, Lieberman AF, Bush NR. An immunogenomic phenotype predicting behavioral treatment response: Toward precision psychiatry for mothers and children with trauma exposure. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 99:350-362. [PMID: 34298096 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory pathways predict antidepressant treatment non-response among individuals with major depression; yet, this phenomenon may have broader transdiagnostic and transtherapeutic relevance. Among trauma-exposed mothers (Mage = 32 years) and their young children (Mage = 4 years), we tested whether genomic and proteomic biomarkers of pro-inflammatory imbalance prospectively predicted treatment response (PTSD and depression) to an empirically-supported behavioral treatment. Forty-three mother-child dyads without chronic disease completed Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) for roughly 9 months. Maternal blood was drawn pre-treatment, CD14 + monocytes isolated, gene expression derived from RNA sequencing (n = 34; Illumina HiSeq 4000;TruSeqcDNA library), and serum assayed (n = 43) for C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß). Symptoms of PTSD and depression decreased significantly from pre- to post-treatment for both mothers and children (all p's < 0.01). Nonetheless, a higher pre-treatment maternal pro-inflammatory imbalance of M1-like versus M2-like macrophage-associated RNA expression (M1/M2) (ß = 0.476, p = .004) and IL-1ß (ß=0.333, p = .029), but not CRP, predicted lesser improvements in maternal PTSD symptoms, unadjusted and adjusting for maternal age, BMI, ethnicity, antidepressant use, income, education, and US birth. Only higher pre-treatment M1/M2 predicted a clinically-relevant threshold of PTSD non-response among mothers (OR = 3.364, p = .015; ROC-AUC = 0.78). Additionally, higher M1/M2 predicted lesser decline in maternal depressive symptoms (ß = 0.556, p = .001), though not independent of PTSD symptoms. For child outcomes, higher maternal IL-1ß significantly predicted poorer PTSD and depression symptom trajectories (ß's = 0.318-0.429, p's < 0.01), while M1/M2 and CRP were marginally associated with poorer PTSD symptom improvement (ß's = 0.295-0.333, p's < 0.056). Pre-treatment pro-inflammatory imbalance prospectively predicts poorer transdiagnostic symptom response to an empirically-supported behavioral treatment for trauma-exposed women and their young children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirstin Aschbacher
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, United States; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, United States; The Institute for Integrative Health, United States.
| | - Steve Cole
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, United States
| | - Melissa Hagan
- Department of Psychology, College of Science & Engineering, San Francisco State University, United States
| | - Luisa Rivera
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, United States
| | | | - Owen M Wolkowitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, United States
| | - Alicia F Lieberman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, United States
| | - Nicole R Bush
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, United States; Center for Health and Community, University of California San Francisco, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Medicine, University of California San Francisco, United States.
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7
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Associations between increased circulating endothelial progenitor cell levels and anxiety/depressive severity, cognitive deficit and function disability among patients with major depressive disorder. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18221. [PMID: 34521977 PMCID: PMC8440504 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97853-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The association of major depressive disorder (MDD) with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) through endothelial dysfunction is bidirectional. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs), essential for endothelial repair and function, are associated with risks of various CVDs. Here, the relationship of cEPC counts with MDD and the related clinical presentations were investigated in 50 patients with MDD and 46 healthy controls. In patients with MDD, a battery of clinical domains was analysed: depressed mood with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), anxiety with Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), cognitive dysfunction and deficit with Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and Perceived Deficits Questionnaire-Depression (PDQ-D), somatic symptoms with Depressive and Somatic Symptom Scale (DSSS), quality of life with 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and functional disability with Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Immature and mature cEPC counts were measured through flow cytometry. Increased mature and immature cEPC counts were significantly associated with higher anxiety after controlling the confounding effect of systolic blood pressure, and potentially associated with more severe depressive symptoms, worse cognitive performance and increased cognitive deficit, higher social disability, and worse mental health outcomes. Thus, cEPCs might have pleiotropic effects on MDD-associated symptoms and psychosocial outcomes.
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Trujillo MA, Mendes WB. An ignored minority status: Consequences for sexual minorities living in a biased society. SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY COMPASS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/spc3.12638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Trujillo
- Department of Psychiatry University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA
| | - Wendy Berry Mendes
- Department of Psychiatry University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA
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Aschbacher K, Hagan M, Steine IM, Rivera L, Cole S, Baccarella A, Epel ES, Lieberman A, Bush NR. Adversity in early life and pregnancy are immunologically distinct from total life adversity: macrophage-associated phenotypes in women exposed to interpersonal violence. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:391. [PMID: 34282132 PMCID: PMC8289995 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01498-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Early childhood and pregnancy are two sensitive periods of heightened immune plasticity, when exposure to adversity may disproportionately increase health risks. However, we need deeper phenotyping to disentangle the impact of adversity during sensitive periods from that across the total lifespan. This study examined whether retrospective reports of adversity during childhood or pregnancy were associated with inflammatory imbalance, in an ethnically diverse cohort of 53 low-income women seeking family-based trauma treatment following exposure to interpersonal violence. Structured interviews assessed early life adversity (trauma exposure ≤ age 5), pregnancy adversity, and total lifetime adversity. Blood serum was assayed for pro-inflammatory (TNF-a, IL-1ß, IL-6, and CRP) and anti-inflammatory (IL-1RA, IL-4, and IL-10) cytokines. CD14+ monocytes were isolated in a subsample (n = 42) and gene expression assayed by RNA sequencing (Illumina HiSeq 4000; TruSeq cDNA library). The primary outcome was a macrophage-associated M1/M2 gene expression phenotype. To evaluate sensitivity and specificity, we contrasted M1/M2 gene expression with a second, clinically-validated macrophage-associated immunosuppressive phenotype (endotoxin tolerance) and with pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels. Adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status, and psychopathology, higher adversity in early life (ß = .337, p = 0.029) and pregnancy (ß = .332, p = 0.032) were each associated with higher M1/M2 gene expression, whereas higher lifetime adversity (ß = -.341, p = 0.031) was associated with lower immunosuppressive gene expression. Adversity during sensitive periods was uniquely associated with M1/M2 imbalance, among low-income women with interpersonal violence exposure. Given that M1/M2 imbalance is found in sepsis, severe COVID-19 and myriad chronic diseases, these findings implicate novel immune mechanisms underlying the impact of adversity on health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirstin Aschbacher
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA.
- The Institute for Integrative Health, San Francisco, USA.
| | - Melissa Hagan
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- Department of Psychology, College of Science & Engineering, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, USA
| | - Iris M Steine
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
- Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Luisa Rivera
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Steve Cole
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | | | - Elissa S Epel
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Alicia Lieberman
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Nicole R Bush
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
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10
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Hamlat EJ, Prather AA, Horvath S, Belsky J, Epel ES. Early life adversity, pubertal timing, and epigenetic age acceleration in adulthood. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:890-902. [PMID: 33423276 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given associations linking early life adversity, pubertal timing, and biological aging, we examined the direct and indirect effects of early life trauma on adult biological aging (via age of menarche). METHODS Participants were premenopausal women (N = 183). Path models evaluated whether early life trauma predicted early pubertal timing and thereby, adult epigenetic age acceleration (indexed via four epigenetic clocks: Horvath DNAm Age, Hannum DNAm Age, DNAm PhenoAge, and DNAm GrimAge). Secondary analyses explored the effects of type of trauma (abuse and neglect) and adult chronic stress status (caregiver of child with autism and non-caregiver). RESULTS Early life trauma and earlier age at menarche independently predicted accelerated aging based on one of the four epigenetic clocks, DNAm GrimAge, though early life trauma was not associated with age of menarche. Childhood abuse, but not neglect, predicted faster epigenetic aging; results did not differ by chronic stress status. CONCLUSIONS Early trauma and early menarche appear to exert independent effects on DNAm GrimAge, which has been shown to be the strongest epigenetic predictor of mortality risk. This study identifies a potential correlate or determinant of accelerated epigenetic aging-menarcheal age. Future research should address the limitations of this study by using racially diverse samples.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jay Belsky
- University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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Salomon RE, Tan KR, Vaughan A, Adynski H, Muscatell KA. Minimally-invasive methods for examining biological changes in response to chronic stress: A scoping review. Int J Nurs Stud 2020; 103:103419. [PMID: 31945603 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.103419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nurse researchers are increasingly interested in incorporating biological indicators related to chronic stress, or repeated or constant exposure to psychological stressors. Minimally invasive collection methods may improve access to vulnerable populations. OBJECTIVE To map biological indicators measured through minimally invasive methods investigating biological changes in response to chronic stress. DESIGN, DATA SOURCES, AND METHODS The paper seeks to answer two questions: What are the characteristics of the minimally-invasive methods used to measure the biological correlates of chronic stress? What are the limitations regarding the use of the minimally-invasive methods and/or biological indicators identified above? Authors completed a scoping review following guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for Scoping Reviews. A literature search was completed in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus. 2518 articles were screened and 145 studies were included. Data were extracted using a standardized extraction tool, compiled, and coded. RESULTS Studies included minimally-invasive methods to measure the hypothalamic-adrenal-pituitary axis (N = 173), immune and inflammatory markers (N = 118), and adult neurogenesis (N = 6). Cortisol was most frequently measured (N = 136), usually in saliva (N = 86). Studies included a variety of limitations for the methods and indicators, including concerns about timing and accuracy of collection, frequency of sampling, and controlling for acute stressors. CONCLUSIONS Nurse researchers have access to many minimally-invasive methods to measure altered biological processes related to chronic stress. A gap identified by this review is the paucity of minimally-invasive methods for investigating neurogenesis; the measurement of brain derived neurotrophic factor in plasma is a distal proxy and further research is needed to test the response of peripheral levels to psychosocial stress interventions. Additionally, while this scoping review allows nurse researchers to consider possible biological indicators to include in their research, future research is still needed on some of the basic premises of stress research, including agreement on the conceptualization of chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Salomon
- School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, UCSF Box 0608, San Francisco, CA 94143-0608, USA.
| | - Kelly R Tan
- School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, UCSF Box 0608, San Francisco, CA 94143-0608, USA.
| | - Ashley Vaughan
- School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, UCSF Box 0608, San Francisco, CA 94143-0608, USA.
| | - Harry Adynski
- School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, UCSF Box 0608, San Francisco, CA 94143-0608, USA.
| | - Keely A Muscatell
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #3270, 235 E. Cameron Avenue, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7295, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, USA.
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12
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Naheed A, Islam MS, Hossain SW, Ahmed HU, Uddin MMJ, Tofail F, Hamadani JD, Hussain AHME, Munir K. Burden of major depressive disorder and quality of life among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder in urban bangladesh. Autism Res 2019; 13:284-297. [PMID: 31647184 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This cross-sectional study examined the burden of depression and quality of life (QoL) among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) attending six schools offering special educational services for children with ASD in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh. All consenting mothers were 18 years of age and older and met criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) on the Structured Interview for DSM-V-TR Research Version-non patient edition administered by trained raters. QoL was assessed by the EuroQol five-dimensional standardized questionnaire. MDD was diagnosed in 45% of mothers and was proportionally higher among those who did not work outside the home, had no childcare support at home, expressed low level of satisfaction with the quality of providers when they had sought care for their children with ASD, and reported being recipient of negative attitudes from neighbors toward their children with ASD. QoL was negatively associated with MDD, mothers' illness, and low satisfaction with the health care providers for children with ASD, as well as experiencing a negative attitude by neighbors toward their children. QoL was positively associated with the reported family monthly income and improvement of the children with ASD on school attendance. The prevalence of MDD among mothers of children with ASD was high and associated with poor QoL. Integrating mental health services and supports for mothers in the ASD care of children is likely to address the high burden of depression they face, and improve their overall quality of life. Autism Res 2020, 13: 284-297. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: The levels of depression were assessed among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) attending six schools offering special educational services for children with ASD in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh. Almost one in two mothers was found to have major depression. The quality of life of these mothers was generally poor. Integrating mental health services for mothers with ASD care in children is likely to address the burden of depression among the mothers of children with ASD and improve overall quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliya Naheed
- Initiative for Non-Communicable Diseases, Health Systems and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Saimul Islam
- Initiative for Non-Communicable Diseases, Health Systems and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Helal Uddin Ahmed
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bangladesh (NIMH,B), Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M M Jalal Uddin
- National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital, Bangladesh (NINS,B), Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fahmida Tofail
- NCSD Administration, Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Jena Derakhshani Hamadani
- Maternal and Neonatal Health, Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - A H M Enayet Hussain
- Planning and Development, Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Kerim Munir
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Department and Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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13
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Radin RM, Mason AE, Laudenslager ML, Epel ES. Maternal caregivers have confluence of altered cortisol, high reward-driven eating, and worse metabolic health. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216541. [PMID: 31075126 PMCID: PMC6510426 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal models have shown that chronic stress increases cortisol, which contributes to overeating of highly palatable food, increased abdominal fat and lower cortisol reactivity. Few studies in humans have simultaneously examined these trajectories. We examined premenopausal women, either mothers of children with a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder (n = 92) or mothers of neurotypical children (n = 91). At baseline and 2-years, we assessed hair cortisol, metabolic health, and reward-based eating. We compared groups cross-sectionally and prospectively, accounting for BMI change. Caregivers, relative to controls, had lower cumulative hair cortisol at each time point, with no decreases over time. Caregivers also had stable levels of poor metabolic functioning and greater reward-based eating across both time points, and evidenced increased abdominal fat prospectively (all ps ≤.05), independent of change in BMI. This pattern of findings suggest that individuals under chronic stress, such as caregivers, would benefit from tailored interventions focusing on better regulation of stress and eating in tandem to prevent early onset of metabolic disease, regardless of weight status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M. Radin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Ashley E. Mason
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Mark L. Laudenslager
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Elissa S. Epel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
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Padden C, Concialdi-McGlynn C, Lydon S. Psychophysiological measures of stress in caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review. Dev Neurorehabil 2019; 22:149-163. [PMID: 29652216 DOI: 10.1080/17518423.2018.1460769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often self-report heightened levels of stress and physical health problems. This paper reviewed studies assessing physiological measures of stress among parents of children with ASD. METHODS Systematic database searches identified 15 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Studies were reviewed to determine: (a) control group characteristics; (b) caregiver and care recipient characteristics; (c) setting; (d) physiological measures employed; (e) physiological outcomes; and (f) stressor type. A measure of methodological quality was also applied. RESULTS Salivary cortisol was the most common physiological measure employed. A pattern of blunted physiological activity emerged within the reviewed studies, though some studies reported normal or even higher physiological activity among this population. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggested dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis and autonomic nervous system for some, but not all, parents of children with ASD. Further research is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciara Padden
- a Tizard Centre , University of Kent , Canterbury , UK
| | | | - Sinead Lydon
- b School of Psychology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland.,c School of Medicine , National University of Ireland Galway , Galway , Ireland
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15
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Mason AE, Adler JM, Puterman E, Lakmazaheri A, Brucker M, Aschbacher K, Epel ES. Stress resilience: Narrative identity may buffer the longitudinal effects of chronic caregiving stress on mental health and telomere shortening. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 77:101-109. [PMID: 30579939 PMCID: PMC6399055 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic caregiving stress may accelerate biological aging; however, the ability to integrate the meaning of caregiving through self-awareness, adaptation, and growth can buffer the negative effects of stress. Narrative researchers have shown that people who coherently integrate difficult experiences into their life story tend to have better mental health, but no prior study has examined the prospective association between narrative identity and biological indicators, such as telomere length. We tested whether narrative identity might be prospectively associated with resilience to long-term parenting stress, depressive symptoms, and protection from telomere shortening, especially among caregivers. METHODS We conducted a semi-structured interview about parenting and quantified narrative themes by applying well-validated, standardized coding systems with high inter-rater reliability among 88 mothers: 32 "caregivers" (mothers with a child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder), and 56 "controls" (mothers with a neurotypical child). To assess longitudinal changes, we measured mental health (parenting stress [PS], depressive symptoms [DS]) and leukocyte telomere length [LTL], a biomarker of aging, at baseline and again 18 months later. We examined whether narrative identity themes were related to these outcomes and whether associations differed across caregivers versus controls. RESULTS Caregivers exhibited significantly higher basal levels of PS and DS relative to controls (all p's < .05), but no significant difference in LTL (p > .05). Caregivers rated higher in the narrative theme of integration showed healthier future 18-month trajectories in PS (B = -0.832, 99% CI: [-1.315, -0.155], p < .01) and LTL (B = 1.193, 99% CI: [0.526, 2.130], p < .01), but no differences in depressive symptoms (p > .05), adjusting for age and antidepressant use. Analyses examining affective themes in caregiver narratives did not demonstrate significant associations. Narrative themes did not predict outcomes in controls. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that narratives reflecting coherent integration, but not necessarily affect, prospectively relate to psychological and biological stress resilience. Maternal caregivers' ability to tell an integrated story of their parenting experiences forecasts lower parenting stress and telomere shortening over time. This study suggests the possibility that helping individuals better integrate the meaning of stressful experiences, but not necessarily to affectively redeem them, may constitute a potential novel target for intervention among chronically stressed populations such as caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley E. Mason
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California San Francisco,Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco,Center for Health and Community, University of California San Francisco
| | | | - Eli Puterman
- School of Kinesiology, The University of British Columbia
| | | | | | - Kirstin Aschbacher
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco,Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California San Francisco
| | - Elissa S. Epel
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California San Francisco,Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco,Center for Health and Community, University of California San Francisco
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16
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Mason AE, Schleicher S, Coccia M, Epel ES, Aschbacher K. Chronic Stress and Impulsive Risk-Taking Predict Increases in Visceral Fat over 18 Months. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2018; 26:869-876. [PMID: 29566458 PMCID: PMC5916011 DOI: 10.1002/oby.22150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Revised: 01/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine whether baseline chronic stress and impulsive risk-taking synergistically predict changes in visceral fat among healthy mothers in an observational, longitudinal, 18-month study. METHODS A prospective cohort of 113 adult women (age, mean ± SD: 42.83 ± 4.70; BMI, mean ± SD: 24.86 ± 4.32; 74%, n = 84 white) completed assessments at baseline and 18-month follow-up. Chronically stressed mothers caring for a child with an autism spectrum disorder ("caregivers"; n = 72 participants) were compared with lower stress mothers caring for a neurotypical child ("controls"; n = 41). This study objectively assessed impulsive risk-taking by using the Behavioral Analog Risk Task at baseline and assessed visceral fat at baseline and 18-month follow-up by using bioelectrical impedance (ViScan; Tanita Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). RESULTS The interaction of baseline chronic caregiving stress and impulsive risk-taking predicted an 18-month change in visceral fat, such that greater impulsive risk-taking was associated with greater 18-month increases in visceral fat among caregivers (ß = 0.423; P = 0.005) but not among controls (ß = -0.030; P = 0.802), both in unadjusted models and after accounting for covariates. Neither chronic stress nor impulsive risk-taking independently predicted 18-month changes in visceral fat. CONCLUSIONS The combination of high chronic stress and high impulsive risk-taking may increase risk for visceral fat gain over time and therefore may be an important intervention target in obesity prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley E. Mason
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California San Francisco
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco
| | - Samantha Schleicher
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California San Francisco
| | - Michael Coccia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco
- Center for Health and Community, University of California San Francisco
| | - Elissa S. Epel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco
- Center for Health and Community, University of California San Francisco
| | - Kirstin Aschbacher
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California San Francisco
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