A survey on anxious and depressive complaints of Brazilian women

Sex differences on the behavior and oxidative stress after ketamine treatment in adult rats subjected to early life stress

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ketamine, on behavioral parameters, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the brain of male and female rats submitted to the animal model of maternal deprivation (MD). Wistar rats were deprived of maternal care in the first 10 days of life (three hours daily). As adults, male and female rats were divided: control + saline deprived + saline and deprived + ketamine (15 mg/kg). The behavior was evaluated through the open field and forced swimming tests. Then brain was removed for analysis of oxidative damage, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6). MD induced depressive behavior in males and ketamine reversed these changes. MD induced an increase in lipid peroxidation in males and females; ketamine reversed these effects in males. Protein carbonylation was increased in males and females, with ketamine decreasing such effects. The concentration of nitrite/nitrate increased in males and females, whereas ketamine decreased this in the PFC of males. SOD and CAT activities were decreased in male and female deprived groups and deprived groups treated with ketamine. MPO activity and IL-6 levels increased in males subjected to MD and ketamine reversed this effect. The results suggest that stressful events in early life can induce behavioral, neuroimmune changes, and oxidative stress, however, such effects depend on sex and brain area. Ketamine presents anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and could be considered an alternative for individuals who are resistant to classical treatments.

Parenting values and parenting stress among impoverished village and middle-class small city mothers in the Dominican Republic

Poverty is known to influence parenting values, parenting stress, psychological adjustment, and social support according to North American research. The purpose of this study was to determine whether poverty might work in similar ways in a collectivistic Latin culture. The participants were primary caregivers in two distinct communities in the Dominican Republic: the Campos (extremely poor villages) and the middle-class areas of San Cristobal, a small city. As predicted, Campos mothers endorsed conformity and obedience as parenting goals, whereas San Cristobal mothers valued exploration and self-direction in their children. Unlike poor mothers in the US, and contrary to our expectations, Campos mothers reported relatively good social support and less parenting stress than did San Cristobal mothers. Furthermore, Campos mothers were not more depressed than San Cristobal caregivers, although the Campos mothers did report more somatic symptoms. In our Dominican sample, being better educated and being less well adjusted are linked to the experience of greater parenting stress, whereas social support is predictive of less parenting stress. These findings suggest that not all prevailing theories with regard to maternal poverty and parenting can be adapted uncritically to cultures like that of the Dominican Republic, where poverty is the situation of the majority.