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Puertas-Gonzalez JA, Mariño-Narvaez C, Romero-Gonzalez B, Casado-Soto A, Peralta-Ramirez MI. The role of resilience in the potential benefits of cognitive-behavioural stress management therapy during pregnancy. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2024; 42:789-801. [PMID: 37082784 DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2023.2203720] [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] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Stress during pregnancy has many negative repercussions on maternal and foetal health. It is therefore important to understand which therapies are effective in reducing stress levels and which variables influence the outcomes of these therapies. In this line, psychological resilience could play a key role. Thus, the aim of the study was to check whether pregnant women with different levels of resilience have different benefits in reducing cortisol levels, perceived stress, pregnancy worries, stress vulnerability, anxiety or depression through Cognitive Behavioural Stress Management Therapy. METHOD The total sample consisted of 56 pregnant women: one group of pregnant women with high levels of resilience (n = 35); and another group with low levels of resilience (n = 21). Participants' cortisol concentration levels, perceived stress, pregnancy concerns, stress vulnerability, anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed before and after therapy. Linear mixed models were performed to compare the two groups, which showed a group x time interaction for perceived stress. RESULTS The low resilience group showed a reduction in their perceived stress levels with a medium effect after the intervention compared to the high resilience group, but no reduction was found in this group. No differences were found between the two groups on the other variables. CONCLUSION Knowing which variables have a differential effect on the results of psychological therapy would allow delimiting the groups that obtain greater benefits from the therapy. This may lead to more efficient implementation of effective intervention programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A Puertas-Gonzalez
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain
- Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Borja Romero-Gonzalez
- Psychology Department, Faculty of Education, University of Valladolid, Campus Duques de Soria, Soria, Spain
| | - Ana Casado-Soto
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain
| | - Maria Isabel Peralta-Ramirez
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain
- Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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2
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Surkan PJ, Park S, Sheng Z, Zaidi A, Atif N, Osborne LM, Rahman A, Malik A. Effects of a prenatal anxiety randomized controlled trial intervention on infant development in Pakistan. Acad Pediatr 2024:S1876-2859(24)00286-9. [PMID: 39097000 DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2024.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Given that infant development is influenced by caregiver mental health, we tested whether an intervention to reduce antenatal anxiety could affect infant development. A secondary aim was to test depressive symptoms, maternal responsiveness, and maternal infant bonding as mediators of this relationship. METHODS Between 2020 and 2022, pregnant women participated in a randomized controlled trial of the Happy Mother-Healthy Baby (HMHB) program based on cognitive behavioral therapy. We collected data on child development from 202 intervention and 198 control participants in a public hospital in Pakistan. Child development was measured using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires-Version 3 at six weeks postpartum. Using intent-to-treat analyses, we examined whether the intervention was associated with performance on the five ASQ-3 domains. Causal mediation analysis was used to assess depressive symptoms, bonding, and maternal-infant responsiveness as mediators. RESULTS Socio-demographic characteristics were evenly distributed between study arms. Intervention arm infants showed a 2.1-point increase (95% CI: 0.12, 4.17) in communication scores compared to controls. Though not achieving statistical significance, intervention infants also showed a 2.0-point increase (95% CI:-0.06, 4.09) in gross motor development performance. Bonding, depression, and responsiveness were mediators between the intervention and infant communication (Bindirect=1.94 (95%CI: 0.86, 3.25) depression; Bindirect=0.57 (95% CI: 0.09, 1.16) bonding; Bindirect=0.53 (95% CI: 0.01, 1.21) responsiveness; and Bindirect=1.94 (95%CI: 0.86, 3.25). Bonding, responsiveness, and depression mediated 25%, 23%, and 87% of the total association, respectively. CONCLUSIONS HMHB positively affected infant communication at six-week follow-up. Larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm and extend these findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03880032; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03880032.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela J Surkan
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
| | - Soim Park
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
| | - Ziyue Sheng
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
| | - Ahmed Zaidi
- Human Development Research Foundation, Gujar Khan, Pakistan.
| | - Najia Atif
- Human Development Research Foundation, Gujar Khan, Pakistan.
| | - Lauren M Osborne
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Atif Rahman
- Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
| | - Abid Malik
- Department of Public Mental Health, Health Services Academy, Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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Hwang DJ, Cho JY, Hyun AH. Contactless exercise intervention in prenatal and postnatal period during COVID-19 lowers the risk of postpartum depression. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9780. [PMID: 38684812 PMCID: PMC11058814 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60658-7] [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: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial adverse impact on the physical and mental health of pregnant and postpartum women, thereby increasing the risk of postpartum depression (PPD). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a continuous contactless exercise intervention in reducing the risk of depression during the prenatal and postnatal periods. The study utilized an interactive contactless exercise program consisting of Pilates movement over a 16-week period, with 8 weeks during pregnancy and 8 weeks after childbirth. Metabolic and psychological factors related to postpartum depression, including pain, stress, and stress-response markers, were analyzed. The results showed that the exercise intervention significantly alleviated postpartum depression by improving pain (Oswestry Disability Index: Non-exercise, 11.4 ± 14.8 versus Exercise, - 63.1 ± 18.4, p < .001) and stress factors (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: Non-exercise, 8.8 ± 8.72 versus Exercise, - 37.6 ± 9.13, p < .001; Perceived Stress Scale: Non-exercise, 9.21 ± 9.35 versus Exercise, - 20.7 ± 14.4, p < .001) caused by physical/structural imbalances in postpartum women. Additionally, the intervention improved the metabolic imbalances commonly observed after childbirth, including reductions in triglyceride (Interaction effect, p = .017), insulin (Interaction effect, p = .032), and cortisol levels (Interaction effect, p < .001), which are recognized risk factors for postpartum depression. Taken together, these findings suggest that contactless online exercise interventions can mitigate postpartum depression by addressing metabolic dysregulation that frequently occurs after delivery, especially in situations of social isolation caused by the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Joo Hwang
- Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory, Korea National Sport University, Seoul, Korea
- Sport Science Institute, Korea National Sport University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Joon-Yong Cho
- Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory, Korea National Sport University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ah-Hyun Hyun
- Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory, Korea National Sport University, Seoul, Korea.
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Xiang L, Zeng X, Luo Y, Tan S, Wang F, Mao X. The association between psychological resilience and hair cortisol concentration in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Psychiatry Med 2024; 59:182-198. [PMID: 37222570 DOI: 10.1177/00912174231178108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Resilience measures are typically based on subjective self-assessment, which is prone to bias. Objective biological/physiological measures of resilience are therefore needed. Hair cortisol concentration is a particularly promising candidate as a biomarker for resilience. METHODS We conducted a meta-analytic review from inception to April 2023 in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Psych Info databases. All data were analyzed using a random-effects model. RESULTS Eight studies were identified that included a total of 1,064 adults. The random effects model demonstrated that resilience and hair cortisol concentration were inversely correlated (r = -0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.27 to -0.09) with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 54.2%, p = 0.03). The inverse association was stronger in those who were age 40 years or younger compared to those who were over 40 years. The correlation coefficients between psychological resilience and hair cortisol concentration among adults assessed by different resilience measures were r = -0.29 (95% CI = -0.49 to -0.08) for the CD-RISC-10; r = -0.21 (95% CI = -0.31 to -0.11) for the CDRISC- 25, and r = -0.08 (95% CI = -0.22 to 0.06) for the BRS. Six of eight studies examined the connection between resilience and perceived stress, where the weighted mean correlation coefficient was r = -0.45 (95% CI = -0.56 to -0.33), with considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 76.2%, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS There is a negative association between psychological resilience and hair cortisol concentration based on these eight studies. Additional research, particularly prospective studies, is needed to determine whether hair cortisol concentration can be used as a biomarker for psychological resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- LiWen Xiang
- School of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xia Zeng
- Emergence Intensive Care Unit, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - YinXia Luo
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- School of Medicine, Guang'an Vocational and Technical College
| | - SuFang Tan
- School of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Emergence Intensive Care Unit, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - XiaoRong Mao
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- General Surgery Area, Department of Nursing, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
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5
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Botschek T, Hußlein V, Peters EMJ, Brosig B. Hair cortisol as outcome parameter for psychological and neuropsychiatric interventions-a literature review. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1227153. [PMID: 37881597 PMCID: PMC10595010 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1227153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Studies measuring hair cortisol concentration (HCC) have been increasingly conducted to document stress-related, endocrine changes aggregated over time. Previous studies have shown that HCC reflects abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA axis) in the context of somatic diseases, such as Cushing's syndrome. HCC variations also reveal a corresponding alteration in HPA-axis-function in mental disorders, highlighting its potential role as a biomarker for interventions targeting mental health problems. Aims The aim of this study was to investigate the role of HCC in various psychological and neuropsychiatric interventions and to explore the extent to which HCC can serve as a predictive or outcome parameter in such interventions by conducting a PRISMA-compliant review of the literature. Methods From May to July 2022, the databases Web of Science, Google Scholar, PsychINFO, and ResearchGate were systematically searched using different combinations of relevant keywords. Studies of different types that examined HCC in the context of a wide range of psychological and neuropsychiatric interventions were included. Studies in languages other than English or German and animal studies were excluded. The MMAT tool was used, to assesses the Risk of bias. Results The initial search identified 334 studies. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 publications with a total number of 1,916 participants were identified. An association between HCC and PTSD, depressive disorders, and ongoing social and family stress can be documented. The effect of relaxation techniques, mental training, CBT, or PTSD therapy on HCC has been studied with equivocal results. Some studies found decreased HCC after treatment, while others did not show a clear effect. Baseline HCC appears to be of particular importance. In some studies, higher baseline HCC was associated with increased treatment response, providing a predictive value for HCC. Discussion HCC is increasingly being used as a biomarker for the mapping of psychological and neuropsychiatric interventions. However, due to the wide range of study populations and interventions, results are still heterogeneous. Nevertheless, HCC seems to be an encouraging biological parameter to describe the trajectory of different interventions aimed at improving mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Botschek
- Family Psychosomatics, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Vincent Hußlein
- Family Psychosomatics, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Eva M. J. Peters
- Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Gießen, Germany
- Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Charité Center 12 Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Burkhard Brosig
- Family Psychosomatics, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Gießen, Germany
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Puertas-Gonzalez JA, Romero-Gonzalez B, Mariño-Narvaez C, Gonzalez-Perez R, Sosa-Sanchez IO, Peralta-Ramirez MI. Can we influence the neurological development and hair cortisol concentration of offspring by reducing the stress of the mother during pregnancy? A randomized controlled trial. Stress Health 2023; 39:753-765. [PMID: 36638545 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The objective was to evaluate the effects of a stress management cognitive behavioural therapy followed during pregnancy on subsequent childhood on hair cortisol at birth and on neurodevelopment and Hair Cortisol Concentrations (HCC) at 6 months of age. The study sample included 48 pregnant women, divided into two groups: 24 women in the Therapy Group (TG) and 24 women who received standard pregnancy care (control group (CG); CG). To test the therapy efficacy, an evaluation of the HCC and psychological stress, psychopathological symptomatology and resilience was conducted before and after the treatment. The level of cortisol in their hair was obtained during pregnancy and that of their babies at birth. Six months after birth, a cortisol sample was taken from the hair and the babies' neurodevelopment was evaluated based on a Bayley-III test. The TG presented reductions in psychological stress and psychopathological symptomatology after treatment. On the other hand, the CG increased their cortisol concentrations between the pre and post intervention, remaining stable in the TG. Moreover, results showed that TG babies had lower cortisol concentrations at birth and obtained significantly higher cognitive and motor development scores at 6 months. These findings support that providing psychological care to pregnant women may not only have a benefit on these women's mental state, but may also benefit the neurodevelopment of their offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A Puertas-Gonzalez
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain
- Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Borja Romero-Gonzalez
- Psychology Department, Faculty of Education, Campus Duques de Soria, University of Valladolid, Soria, Spain
| | | | - Raquel Gonzalez-Perez
- Department of Pharmacology, CIBERehd, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Maria Isabel Peralta-Ramirez
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain
- Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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Kim J, Shin C, Han KM, Lee MS, Jeong HG, Pae CU, Patkar AA, Masand PM, Han C. Investigating the effectiveness of a smart mental health intervention (inMind) for stress reduction during pharmacological treatment for mild to moderate major depressive disorders: Study protocol for a randomized control trial. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1034246. [PMID: 36998625 PMCID: PMC10043187 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1034246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although psychological interventions for stress relief, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), have been developed, they have not been widely used in treating depression. The use of mobile devices can increase the possibility of actual use by integrating interventions and reducing the difficulty and cost burden of treatment application. This study aims to determine whether "inMind," an integrated mobile application for stress reduction, developed for the general population, decreases stress for patients with mild to moderate major depressive disorder during the pharmacological treatment period. Methods This study is a single-blind, multicenter, randomized, controlled crossover trial. The App, developed in Republic of Korea, provides integrated interventions for stress reduction for the general population through three modules based on mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive behavior therapy, and relaxation sounds that are known to be effective in stress reduction ("meditation," "cognitive approach," and "relaxation sounds," respectively). Participants (n = 215) recruited via medical practitioner referral will be randomized to an App first group (fAPP) or a wait list crossover group (dAPP). The study will be conducted over 8 weeks; the fAPP group will use the App for the first 4 weeks and the dAPP group for the next 4 weeks. During all study periods, participants will receive their usual pharmacological treatment. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 is the primary outcome measure. The analysis will employ repeated measurements using a mixed-model approach. Discussion The App can potentially be an important addition to depression treatment because of its applicability and the comprehensive nature of the interventions that covers diverse stress-relieving models. Clinical trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05312203, identifier 2021GR0585.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhyung Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheolmin Shin
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyu-Man Han
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Moon-Soo Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Ghang Jeong
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chi-Un Pae
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Cell Death Disease Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ashwin A Patkar
- Department of Advance Psychiatry, Rush University Medical Center, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | | | - Changsu Han
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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MAYNE GB, DeWITT PE, RINGHAM B, WARRENER AG, CHRISTIANS U, DABELEA D, HURT KJ. A Nested Case-Control Study of Allopregnanolone and Preterm Birth in the Healthy Start Cohort. J Endocr Soc 2022; 7:bvac179. [PMID: 36632210 PMCID: PMC9825133 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvac179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Context Chronic stress is a risk factor for preterm birth; however, objective measures of stress in pregnancy are limited. Maternal stress biomarkers may fill this gap. Steroid hormones and neurosteroids such as allopregnanolone (ALLO) play important roles in stress physiology and pregnancy maintenance and therefore may be promising for preterm birth prediction. Objective We evaluated maternal serum ALLO, progesterone, cortisol, cortisone, pregnanolone, and epipregnanolone twice in gestation to evaluate associations with preterm birth. Methods We performed a nested case-control study using biobanked fasting serum samples from the Healthy Start prebirth cohort. We included healthy women with a singleton pregnancy and matched preterm cases with term controls (1:1; N = 27 per group). We used a new HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry assay to quantify ALLO and five related steroids. We used ANOVA, Fisher exact, χ2, t test, and linear and logistic regression as statistical tests. Results Maternal serum ALLO did not associate with preterm birth nor differ between groups. Mean cortisol levels were significantly higher in the preterm group early in pregnancy (13w0d-18w0d; P < 0.05) and higher early pregnancy cortisol associated with increased odds of preterm birth (at 13w0d; odds ratio, 1.007; 95% CI, 1.0002-1.014). Progesterone, cortisone, pregnanolone, and epipregnanolone did not associate with preterm birth. Conclusion The findings from our pilot study suggest potential utility of cortisol as a maternal serum biomarker for preterm birth risk assessment in early pregnancy. Further evaluation using larger cohorts and additional gestational timepoints for ALLO and the other analytes may be informative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella B MAYNE
- Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO 80204, USA
| | - Peter E DeWITT
- Department of Pediatrics Informatics and Data Science, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Brandy RINGHAM
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes Center, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Anna G WARRENER
- Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO 80204, USA
| | - Uwe CHRISTIANS
- iC42 Clinical Research & Development, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Dana DABELEA
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes Center, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - K Joseph HURT
- Correspondence: K. Joseph Hurt, MD, PhD, 12700 East 19th Ave, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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Puertas-Gonzalez JA, Mariño-Narvaez C, Romero-Gonzalez B, Sanchez-Perez GM, Peralta-Ramirez MI. Online cognitive behavioural therapy as a psychological vaccine against stress during the COVID-19 pandemic in pregnant women: A randomised controlled trial. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 152:397-405. [PMID: 35830754 PMCID: PMC9259661 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the population's levels of stress and anxiety due to its contagious nature and the uncertainties generated by its novelty. One population that is especially vulnerable to these psychological consequences are pregnant women. This is why the objective of this study was to test the efficacy of an online stress management programme of a cognitive behavioural nature on pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Spain. The trial was controlled and randomised, with a total of 207 pregnant women divided into three groups: the Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy group (o-CBT) (N = 70); the Online Psychological Support group (o-PS) (N = 69); and the Usual Care group (UC) (N = 68). To test the therapy's efficacy, the women's resilience, perceived stress, pregnancy-specific stress and psychopathological symptoms were assessed before and after the intervention. The o-CBT and o-PS consisted of a programme of 8 group sessions (one per week). The results showed that pregnant women who participated in the o-CBT group presented lower rates of pregnancy-specific stress and perceived stress, as well as greater resilience and lower anxiety, depression and obsessions-compulsions symptoms. These data show the efficacy of the treatment programme and thus confirm the importance of implementing these types of interventions during a woman's pregnancy, especially over periods of major stress, such as during a pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A. Puertas-Gonzalez
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain,Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Borja Romero-Gonzalez
- Psychology Department, Faculty of Education, University of Valladolid, Campus Duques de Soria, Soria, Spain.
| | | | - Maria Isabel Peralta-Ramirez
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain,Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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10
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Puertas-Gonzalez JA, Mariño-Narvaez C, Romero-Gonzalez B, Vilar-López R, Peralta-Ramirez MI. Resilience, stress and anxiety in pregnancy before and throughout the pandemic: a structural equation modelling approach. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 42:1-11. [PMID: 35698485 PMCID: PMC9178340 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03305-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The present study explored and compared the link between resilience and pregnancy-related stress, perceived stress, and anxiety, employing two structural equation models. One model focused on pregnant women before the outbreak of the pandemic, and the other on pregnancies throughout the pandemic. For this purpose, a total sample of 690 women during their pregnancy were collected: the Pre-Pandemic Group (P-PG) was composed of 341 pregnant women evaluated prior to the pandemic; and 349 pregnant women assessed at the time of the pandemic constituted the Pandemic Group (PG). The resilience, pregnancy-related stress, perceived stress, and anxiety symptomatology of the women were assessed. For both samples, resilience was found to lower levels of pregnancy-specific stress, as well as general perceived stress, and anxiety symptomatology. Furthermore, pregnancy-specific stress and perceived stress showed a covariance relationship and, that these, in turn, increased the anxiety. Moreover, the PG showed greater levels of pregnancy-specific stress, anxiety, somatisations, and obsessions-compulsions, while the P-PG presented higher perceived stress levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A. Puertas-Gonzalez
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain
- Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Borja Romero-Gonzalez
- Psychology Department, Faculty of Education, University of Valladolid, Campus Duques de Soria, Soria, Spain
| | - Raquel Vilar-López
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain
- Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Maria Isabel Peralta-Ramirez
- Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain
- Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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11
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Wang R, Wu Z, Huang C, Hashimoto K, Yang L, Yang C. Deleterious effects of nervous system in the offspring following maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:232. [PMID: 35668063 PMCID: PMC9169439 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01985-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is universally susceptible to all types of populations. In addition to the elderly and children becoming the groups of great concern, pregnant women carrying new lives need to be even more alert to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Studies have shown that pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 can lead to brain damage and post-birth psychiatric disorders in offspring. It has been widely recognized that SARS-CoV-2 can affect the development of the fetal nervous system directly or indirectly. Pregnant women are recommended to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on the fetus through vaccination, nutritional supplements, and psychological support. This review summarizes the possible mechanisms of the nervous system effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on their offspring during the pregnancy and analyzes the available prophylactic and treatment strategies to improve the prognosis of fetal-related neuropsychiatric diseases after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruting Wang
- grid.452253.70000 0004 1804 524XDepartment of Cardiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003 China
| | - Zifeng Wu
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Chaoli Huang
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Kenji Hashimoto
- grid.411500.1Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba, 260-8670 Japan
| | - Ling Yang
- Department of Cardiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, China.
| | - Chun Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China.
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12
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Understanding and Reducing Persistent Racial Disparities in Preterm Birth: a Model of Stress-Induced Developmental Plasticity. Reprod Sci 2022; 29:2051-2059. [PMID: 35298790 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-022-00903-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Preterm birth is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and is characterized by substantial racial disparities in the US. Despite efforts to reduce preterm birth, rates have risen and racial disparities persist. Maternal stress is a risk factor for preterm birth; however, often, it is treated as a secondary variable rather than a primary target for intervention. Stress is known to affect several biological processes leading to downstream sequelae. Here, we present a model of stress-induced developmental plasticity where maternal stress is a key environmental cue impacting the length of gestation and therefore a primary target for intervention. Black women experience disproportionate and unique maternal stressors related to perceived racism and discrimination. It is therefore not surprising that Black women have disproportionate rates of preterm birth. The downstream effects of racism on preterm birth pathophysiology may reflect an appropriate response to stressors through the highly conserved maternal-fetal-placental neuroendocrine stress axis. This environmentally sensitive system mediates both maternal stress and the timing of birth and is a mechanism by which developmental plasticity occurs. Fortunately, stress does not appear to be an all-or-none variable. Evidence suggests that developmental plasticity is dynamic, functioning on a continuum. Therefore, simple, stress-reducing interventions that support pregnant women may tangibly reduce rates of preterm birth and improve birth outcomes for all women, particularly Black women.
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13
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Baranov V, Frost A, Hagaman A, Simmons JG, Manzoor MS, Biroli P, Bhalotra S, Rahman A, Sikander S, Maselko J. Effects of a maternal psychosocial intervention on hair derived biomarkers of HPA axis function in mothers and children in rural Pakistan. SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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14
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Basso L, Boecking B, Neff P, Brueggemann P, Mazurek B, Peters EMJ. Psychological Treatment Effects Unrelated to Hair-Cortisol and Hair-BDNF Levels in Chronic Tinnitus. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:764368. [PMID: 35250657 PMCID: PMC8895295 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.764368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, there are no objective markers to measure treatment efficacy in chronic (distressing) tinnitus. This study explores whether stress-related biomarkers cortisol and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) measured in hair samples of chronic tinnitus patients change after compact multimodal tinnitus-specific cognitive behavioral therapy. METHODS In this longitudinal study, hair-cortisol and hair-BDNF levels, self-reported tinnitus-related distress (Tinnitus Questionnaire; TQ), and perceived stress (Perceived Stress Questionnaire; PSQ-20) were assessed before and 3 months after 5 days of treatment in N = 80 chronic tinnitus patients. Linear mixed-effects models with backward elimination were used to assess treatment-induced changes, and a cross-lagged panel model (structural equation model) was used for additional exploratory analysis of the temporal associations between TQ and hair-BDNF. RESULTS At follow-up, a reduction in TQ (p < 0.001) and PSQ-20 scores (p = 0.045) was observed, which was not influenced by baseline hair-cortisol or hair-BDNF levels. No changes in biomarker levels were observed after treatment. The exploratory analysis tentatively suggests that a directional effect of baseline TQ scores on hair-BDNF levels at follow-up (trend; p = 0.070) was more likely than the opposite directional effect of baseline hair-BDNF levels on TQ scores at follow-up (n.s.). DISCUSSION While the treatment effectively reduced tinnitus-related distress and perceived stress in chronic tinnitus patients, this effect was not mirrored in biological changes. However, the lack of changes in hair-cortisol and hair-BDNF levels might have been influenced by the treatment duration, follow-up interval, or confounding medical factors, and therefore must be interpreted with caution. The relationship between tinnitus-related distress and hair-BDNF levels should be explored further to obtain a better understanding of stress-related effects in chronic tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Basso
- Tinnitus Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benjamin Boecking
- Tinnitus Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrick Neff
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.,University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Petra Brueggemann
- Tinnitus Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Birgit Mazurek
- Tinnitus Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eva M J Peters
- Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.,Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Charité Center 12 Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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15
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Stress and Psychopathology Reduction in Pregnant Women through Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy during COVID-19: A Feasibility Study. Behav Sci (Basel) 2021; 11:bs11070100. [PMID: 34356717 PMCID: PMC8301144 DOI: 10.3390/bs11070100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The global pandemic has affected the psychological health of the population, including pregnant women. Due to the difficulty of offering conventional therapies to reduce stress in this population, studies are needed to show the effect of online therapies. Therefore, the objective was to test the effect of online cognitive behavioural therapy in pregnant women during the pandemic on the main variables of stress and psychopathology. Methods: The sample consisted of 16 pregnant women who participated in a weekly cognitive behavioural intervention for 8 weeks. Prenatal concerns, general stress, stress vulnerability, resilience and psychopathology were assessed. Results: The results show a reduction in prenatal concerns, perceived stress, stress vulnerability and psychopathology, as well as an increase in resilience. Conclusions: Online cognitive behavioural intervention may be effective in pregnant women, so it is important to conduct a randomised controlled trial to certify these findings.
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Puertas-Gonzalez JA, Mariño-Narvaez C, Peralta-Ramirez MI, Romero-Gonzalez B. The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women. Psychiatry Res 2021; 301:113978. [PMID: 34062321 PMCID: PMC8086375 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The aim was to examine the psychological effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women, as well as the factors influencing these effects. The study design was cross-sectional and the participants were 200 pregnant women. The first group called the Pandemic Group (PG) included 100 women who were evaluated with psychological assessment instruments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second group titled Pre-Pandemic Group (PPG) consisted of 100 women who were evaluated prior to the pandemic. Perceived stress, prenatal concerns and psychopathological symptoms were evaluated and compared. Pandemic Group scored significantly higher than Pre-Pandemic Group in the depression dimension of the SCL-90, in the phobic anxiety dimension, and in the Perceived Stress Scale. In addition, insomnia, along with having recently suffered the loss of a loved one explained 25% of the score variance in the depression dimension of the SCL-90. Insomnia also explained 13% of the variance of the results found in the Perceived Stress Scale. The fear of contagion by COVID-19 increased the scores obtained in the phobic anxiety dimension, explaining 11% of the variance. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic could produce an increase in psychopathological symptomatology and stress, which can lead to negatively affecting pregnant women's mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A Puertas-Gonzalez
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain; Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Maria Isabel Peralta-Ramirez
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain; Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | - Borja Romero-Gonzalez
- Psychology Department, Faculty of Education, Campus Duques de Soria, University of Valladolid, Spain
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17
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Fiedorowicz JG. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 2020 year in review. J Psychosom Res 2021; 140:110332. [PMID: 33340759 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jess G Fiedorowicz
- University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada
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Romero-Gonzalez B, Caparros-Gonzalez RA, Gonzalez-Perez R, Garcia-Leon MA, Arco-Garcia L, Peralta-Ramirez MI. "I am pregnant. Am I different?": Psychopathology, psychological stress and hair cortisol levels among pregnant and non-pregnant women. J Psychiatr Res 2020; 131:235-243. [PMID: 33032186 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy is a life process that brings about a series of associated changes, both physical and psychological, in women. The psychopathological changes occurring in pregnant women due to the simple fact of this new vital stage are unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the psychopathological symptoms present during pregnancy with those present in non-pregnant women, as well as the perceived stress and hair cortisol levels. For this, a group of non-pregnant women (n = 171) were compared with pregnant women who were in the first trimester (n = 124), second trimester (n = 200) and third trimester (n = 190). Moreover, 77 women were followed up to verify their psychopathological course of pregnancy. Differences were found between pregnant and non-pregnant women relating to a wide range of psychopathological symptoms, perceived stress and hair cortisol levels. The symptoms were greater in the group of pregnant women. By studying different types of psychopathological symptoms associated with pregnancy, it is possible to assign psychological interventions to given characteristics of pregnant women. In addition, we can broaden our knowledge about the psychological aspects of pregnancy and the changes associated with it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borja Romero-Gonzalez
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Brain, Mind and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Raquel Gonzalez-Perez
- Department of Pharmacology, CIBERehd, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Maria Angeles Garcia-Leon
- FIDMAG, Germanes Hospitalaries Research Foundation. Consorcio de Investigación en Red en Salud Mental CIBERSAM. Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Arco-Garcia
- Crecer Juntos, Gabinete de Pedagogia, Psicologia y Logopedia, Maracena, Granada, Spain
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19
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Marceau K, Wang W, Robertson O, Shirtcliff EA. A systematic review of hair cortisol during pregnancy: Reference ranges and methodological considerations. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 122:104904. [PMID: 33080521 PMCID: PMC8634732 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The present study systematically reviewed 56 articles that assessed hair cortisol concentrations during pregnancy collected from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science on 8/9/19 and updated on 6/29/20. Our goals were to establish reference ranges by trimester based on published studies. The majority of any given sample (e.g., 70 %, the range of -1SD to +1SD) is expected to fall between 0 and 34.15 pg/mg in trimester 1 and 2, and between 8.59 and 44 pg/mg in trimester 3, with very wide ranges (e.g., values of >250 pg/mg) and substantially higher values (e.g., averages of 200's-300's reaching as high as 768 pg/mg) coming out of one specific lab. Delineating a reference range for hair cortisol concentrations across pregnancy is challenging because of known factors like differences in values returned by different laboratories and assay types. We observed inconsistency in descriptions of the data and data preparation steps post-assay. Key findings include that only half of the studies examining all three trimesters showed a constant increase in mean levels (most retrospectively assessed via segmenting), with considerable variability in patterns of change. None of the studies reported individual patterns of change. Examining within-person changes are an important next step for the field. We conclude that researchers should more clearly report decisions around outliers, units, and specifics of data transformations in the future in order to improve our ability to compare findings across studies, to understand differences in HCC values reported, and potentially to understand differences in reported associations of HCC with other phenotypes in the literature.
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