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Chen J, Zou Y, Jia YC, Ding FY, Luo J, Cheng G. Characteristics of the time processing of adults' strongest sustained attentional bias toward neutral infant faces. J Exp Child Psychol 2024; 243:105928. [PMID: 38643735 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2024.105928] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that adults exhibit the strongest attentional bias toward neutral infant faces when viewing faces with different expressions at different attentional processing stages due to different stimulus presentation times. However, it is not clear how the characteristics of the temporal processing associated with the strongest effect change over time. Thus, we combined a free-viewing task with eye-tracking technology to measure adults' attentional bias toward infant and adult faces with happy, neutral, and sad expressions of the same face. The results of the analysis of the total time course indicated that the strongest effect occurred during the strategic processing stage. However, the results of the analysis of the split time course revealed that sad infant faces first elicited adults' attentional bias at 0 to 500 ms, whereas the strongest effect of attentional bias toward neutral infant faces was observed at 1000 to 3000 ms, peaking at 1500 to 2000 ms. In addition, women and men had no differences in their responses to different expressions. In summary, this study provides further evidence that adults' attentional bias toward infant faces across stages of attention processing is modulated by expressions. Specifically, during automatic processing adults' attentional bias was directed toward sad infant faces, followed by a shift to the processing of neutral infant faces during strategic processing, which ultimately resulted in the strongest effect. These findings highlight that this strongest effect is dynamic and associated with a specific time window in the strategic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Chen
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China; Center for Rural Children and Adolescents Mental Health Education, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Yan Zou
- Department of Women and Children, The Second People's Hospital of Guizhou Province, Guiyang 550000, China
| | - Yun Cheng Jia
- School of National Culture and Cognitive Science, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang 550029, China
| | - Fang Yuan Ding
- School of National Culture and Cognitive Science, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang 550029, China
| | - Jie Luo
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Gang Cheng
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China; Center for Rural Children and Adolescents Mental Health Education, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China.
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Gemignani M, Giannotti M, Rigo P, Venuti P, de Falco S. Neither Parents' Sex Nor the Type of Family Modulates Attentional Bias Toward Infant Faces: A Preliminary Study in Different-Sex and Same-Sex Parents. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2024; 53:2053-2061. [PMID: 38811490 PMCID: PMC11176217 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-024-02875-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
An attentional bias toward infant versus adult faces has been detected in parents and positively associated with sensitive caregiving behaviors. In previous research, the attentional bias has been measured as the difference in attention, in terms of reaction times, captured by infant versus adult faces; the larger the difference, the greater the cognitive engagement that adults deployed to infant faces. However, research so far has been mostly confined to samples of mothers, who have been more represented than fathers. Moreover, new family forms, especially same-sex families of men, have been left out of research. To clarify potential sex differences and extend previous findings to diverse family forms, we implemented a modified Go/no-Go attentional task measuring attentional bias to infant faces in parents with children aged from 2 to 36 months. The sample (N = 86) was matched and included 22 fathers and 22 mothers from different-sex families and 20 fathers and 22 mothers from same-sex families. Overall, the results confirmed that infant faces induced a greater attentional bias compared to adult faces. Moreover, we found that neither the type of family nor parents' sex modulated the attentional bias toward infant faces. The findings are discussed in relation to the importance of understanding the correlates of parental response to infant cues going beyond a heteronormative perspective on parenting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micol Gemignani
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Corso Bettini 84, 38068, Rovereto, TN, Italy.
| | - Michele Giannotti
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Corso Bettini 84, 38068, Rovereto, TN, Italy
| | - Paola Rigo
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padua, Padua, PD, Italy
| | - Paola Venuti
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Corso Bettini 84, 38068, Rovereto, TN, Italy
| | - Simona de Falco
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Corso Bettini 84, 38068, Rovereto, TN, Italy
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Waizman Y, Herschel E, Cárdenas SI, Vaccaro AG, Aviv EC, Sellery PE, Goldenberg D, Kaplan J, Saxbe DE. Neural correlates of inhibitory control in the context of infant cry and paternal postpartum mental health. Behav Brain Res 2024; 465:114947. [PMID: 38460795 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114947] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inhibitory control, a form of self-regulation, may support sensitive parenting, but has been understudied in new fathers despite their pronounced risk for stress and mental health challenges. METHODS This study probed the neural correlates of inhibitory control and its associations to first-time fathers' postpartum mental health, focusing on depressive symptoms, state anxiety, and perceived stress. Six months after their child's birth, 38 fathers self-reported on their mood, anxiety, and stress, and performed a Go/No-Go fMRI task while listening to three sets of sounds (infant cry, pink noise, and silence). RESULTS Fathers' behavioral inhibition accuracy was consistent across the sound conditions, but their patterns of neural activation varied. Compared to the pink noise condition, fathers showed heightened engagement in prefrontal regulatory regions when self-regulating during the infant cry and silent conditions. When examining correct trials only, results in visual motor area and primary somatosensory cortex emerged only for infant cry and not for pink noise and silence. Moreover, fathers reporting higher levels of postpartum depression, state anxiety, and perceived stress showed greater activation in prefrontal regions when inhibiting during infant cry or silence. CONCLUSION This study is the first to underscore the complex interplay between the neural mechanisms related to inhibitory control and postpartum mental health and stress across varied auditory context, laying the groundwork for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Waizman
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, United States.
| | - Ellen Herschel
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Sofia I Cárdenas
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Anthony G Vaccaro
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Elizabeth C Aviv
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Pia E Sellery
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Diane Goldenberg
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Jonas Kaplan
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Darby E Saxbe
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, United States
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Duque A, Picado G, Salgado G, Salgado A, Palacios B, Chaves C. Validation of the Edited Tromsø Infant Faces Database (E-TIF): A study on differences in the processing of children's emotional expressions. Behav Res Methods 2024; 56:2507-2518. [PMID: 37369938 PMCID: PMC10991014 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-023-02163-9] [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] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Images of emotional facial expressions are often used in emotion research, which has promoted the development of different databases. However, most of these standardized sets of images do not include images from infants under 2 years of age, which is relevant for psychology research, especially for perinatal psychology. The present study aims to validate the edited version of the Tromsø Infant Faces Database (E-TIF) in a large sample of participants. The original set of 119 pictures was edited. The pictures were cropped to remove nonrelevant information, fitted in an oval window, and converted to grayscale. Four hundred and eighty participants (72.9% women) took part in the study, rating the images on five dimensions: depicted emotion, clarity, intensity, valence, and genuineness. Valence scores were useful for discriminating between positive, negative, and neutral facial expressions. Results revealed that women were more accurate at recognizing emotions in children. Regarding parental status, parents, in comparison with nonparents, rated neutral expressions as more intense and genuine. They also rated sad, angry, disgusted, and fearful faces as less negative, and happy expressions as less positive. The editing and validation of the E-TIF database offers a useful tool for basic and experimental research in psychology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Almudena Duque
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, C/ Compañía 5, 37002, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Picado
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, C/ Compañía 5, 37002, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Gloria Salgado
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas s/n, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
| | - Alfonso Salgado
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, C/ Compañía 5, 37002, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Beatriz Palacios
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, C/ Compañía 5, 37002, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Covadonga Chaves
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas s/n, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain.
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Gemignani M, Giannotti M, Rigo P, de Falco S. Attentional bias to infant faces might be associated with previous care experiences and involvement in childcare in same-sex mothers. Int J Clin Health Psychol 2024; 24:100419. [PMID: 37885912 PMCID: PMC10598538 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2023.100419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Attentional bias toward infant faces is associated with parental sensitivity and supports the infant-caregiver attachment relationship, ultimately fostering child health outcomes. However, experience-related determinants of parents' attentional bias to infant faces have been poorly investigated. We examined attentional bias to infant versus adult faces in a sample of same-sex mothers (N = 76), and whether it varied depending on maternal involvement in childcare and the perceived quality of past experiences of care. Method A Go/no-Go attentional task was used to compare the effects of infant and adult faces in retaining attention. Maternal involvement in childcare was measured using items addressing nurturing behaviors. Memories of past experiences of care were collected using the short-form version of the Parental Acceptance-Rejection scale. Results Results confirmed that infant faces induced greater attentional bias compared to adult faces. More involved mothers were more biased, in terms of attention, to infant versus adult faces. Attentional bias to infant versus adult faces increased as mothers felt more rejected by their own fathers during childhood. Discussion Our findings suggested that attentional bias to infant faces might be associated with past experiences of care and direct commitment in childcare in same-sex mothers. Robust and accurate empirical findings on same-sex parent families are essential to inform social policies supporting these families' well being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micol Gemignani
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto 38068, TN, Italy
| | - Michele Giannotti
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto 38068, TN, Italy
| | - Paola Rigo
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, Padova 35131, PD, Italy
| | - Simona de Falco
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto 38068, TN, Italy
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Xu Y, Zheng P, Feng W, Chen L, Sun S, Liu J, Tang W, Bao C, Xu L, Xu D, Zhao K. Patterns of attentional bias in antenatal depression: an eye-tracking study. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1288616. [PMID: 38192488 PMCID: PMC10773570 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1288616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction One of the most common mental disorders in the perinatal period is depression, which is associated with impaired emotional functioning due to alterations in different cognitive aspects including thought and facial emotion recognition. These functional impairment may affect emerging maternal sensitivity and have lasting consequences for the dyadic relationship. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of depressive symptoms on the attention bias of infant stimuli during pregnancy. Methods Eighty-six pregnant women completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and an eye-tracking task comprising infant-related emotion images. All participants showed biased attention to infant-related images. Results First, compared to healthy pregnant women, pregnant women with depression symptoms initially directed their attention to infant-related stimuli more quickly (F (1, 84) = 6.175, p = 0.015, η2 = 0.068). Second, the two groups of pregnant women paid attention to the positive infant stimuli faster than the neutral infant stimuli, and the first fixation latency bias score was significantly smaller than that of the infant-related negative stimulus (p = 0.007). Third, compared with the neutral stimulus, the non-depression group showed a longer first gaze duration to the negative stimulus of infants (p = 0.019), while the depressive symptoms group did not show this difference. Conclusion We speculate that structural and functional changes in affective motivation and cognitive-attention brain areas may induce these attentional bias patterns. These results provide suggestions for the implementation of clinical intervention programs to correct the attention bias of antenatal depressed women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Xu
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Peiwen Zheng
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wenqian Feng
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Lipeng Chen
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Shiyu Sun
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jie Liu
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Weina Tang
- Shaoxing 7th People’s Hospital, Shaoxing, China
| | - Ciqing Bao
- Wenzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ling Xu
- Wenzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Dongwu Xu
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ke Zhao
- Lishui Second People’s Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui, China
- The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorder, Wenzhou, China
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7
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Cárdenas EF, Hill KE, Estes E, Jackson M, Venanzi L, Humphreys KL, Kujawa A. Neural reactivity to infant emotion cues during pregnancy: Associations with peripartum anxiety and depressive symptoms. Biol Psychol 2023; 183:108673. [PMID: 37690586 PMCID: PMC10591923 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy is marked by physiological and psychosocial changes for women, and event-related potentials (ERP) are comfortable and safe for examining brain function across pregnancy. The late positive potential (LPP) ERP, a measure of allocated attention to emotional stimuli, may provide insight into associations between internalizing symptoms and neural processing of infant emotion cues, which may be particularly salient in this life stage. METHODS We developed a task to examine neural and behavioral responses to infant faces in pregnant women (N = 120, Mage=31.09, SD=4.81), the impact of auditory infant cries on the LPP to faces, and associations between the LPP and anxiety and depressive symptoms. Participants matched distressed, happy, and neutral infant faces and shapes as a comparison condition with interspersed auditory conditions (infant cry sounds vs. white noise) while electroencephalogram data were collected. Participants also completed self-report measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms. RESULTS Reaction time (RT) was faster for the infant cry vs. white noise condition and when matching shapes vs. infant faces. Depressive symptoms were associated with slower RTs to neutral infant faces. The LPP was enhanced overall to faces vs. shapes, but there was no main effect of auditory condition. Anxiety symptoms were associated with an enhanced LPP to infant distressed faces in the infant cry condition. CONCLUSIONS Results support these methods for measuring neural and behavioral responses to infant emotional cues in pregnancy and provide evidence that combinations of auditory and visual stimuli may be particularly useful for capturing emotional processes relevant to anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia F Cárdenas
- Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203, USA.
| | - Kaylin E Hill
- Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
| | - Elizabeth Estes
- University of Michigan, 1080 University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Maya Jackson
- Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
| | - Lisa Venanzi
- Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
| | | | - Autumn Kujawa
- Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
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Hiraoka D, Makita K, Sakakibara N, Morioka S, Orisaka M, Yoshida Y, Tomoda A. Longitudinal changes in attention bias to infant crying in primiparous mothers. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1192275. [PMID: 37809040 PMCID: PMC10556249 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1192275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Infant stimuli attract caregiver attention and motivate parenting behavior. Studies have confirmed the existence of attentional bias toward infant face stimuli; however, relatively little is known about whether attentional bias exists for infant cry stimuli, which are as important as faces in child-rearing situations. Furthermore, scarce longitudinal evidence exists on how attentional bias toward infant crying changes through the postpartum period. Methods In the present study, we conducted an experiment to assess bias toward infant crying at two postpartum time points: at Time 1 (Mean = 75.24 days), 45 first-time mothers participated and at Time 2 (Mean = 274.33 days), 30 mothers participated. At both time points, the mothers participated in a Stroop task with infant crying and white noise as the stimuli. They were instructed to answer the color out loud as quickly and accurately as possible, while ignoring the sound. Four types of audio stimuli were used in this task (the cry of the mother's own infant, the cry of an unfamiliar infant, white noise matched to the cry of the mother's own infant, and white noise matched to the cry of an unfamiliar infant), one of which was presented randomly before each trial. Response time and the correct response rate for each condition were the dependent variables. Results For response time, the main effect of familiarity was significant, with longer response times when the participant's infant's cry was presented. In addition, response times were lower at Time 2 than at Time 1 in some conditions in which crying was presented. Discussion The results suggest that mothers may be less disturbed by infant crying as they gain more experience. Elucidating the characteristics of postpartum mothers' changes in cognitive performance related to infants' cries would be useful in fundamental and applied research to understand the process of parents' adaptation to parenting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Hiraoka
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
- The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kai Makita
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Nobuko Sakakibara
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Shigemi Morioka
- Department of Pediatrics, Fukui Aiiku Hospital, Fukui, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daini Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Makoto Orisaka
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Yoshio Yoshida
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Akemi Tomoda
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychological Medicine, University of Fukui Hospital, Matsuoka-Shimoaizuki, Fukui, Japan
- Division of Developmental Higher Brain Functions, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Osaka, Japan
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Jester JM, Riggs JL, Menke RA, Alfafara E, Issa M, Muzik M, Rosenblum KL. Randomized pilot trial of the "Mom Power" trauma- and attachment-informed multi-family group intervention in treating and preventing postpartum symptoms of depression among a health disparity sample. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1048511. [PMID: 37732075 PMCID: PMC10507705 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1048511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Perinatal depression, a common complication related to childbearing, impacts mothers, children, and families. Efficacious interventions reduce perinatal depression symptoms; effort is needed to prevent the onset of perinatal depression. To determine feasibility and preliminary efficacy in reducing perinatal depression, we conducted a community-based, randomized parallel open pilot trial of Mom Power, a group-based intervention to improve mental health and parenting in mothers with young children. Methods Mom Power consists of 10 group sessions, focused on parenting, child development and self-care and three individual sessions, to build rapport and provide personalized referrals. Control group participants received psychoeducational mailings. Computer-based urn randomization assigned mothers with experiences of interpersonal violence, depression, or other traumatic experiences to Mom Power (68) or control (54). Results At 3-months post-treatment, the 31 retained women assigned to Mom Power were half as likely to meet criteria for probable depression (26%) as the 22 women retained in the control group (55%), with treatment predicting lower incidence of probable depression (OR = 0.13, p = 0.015). Moreover, among the 23 women who did not meet criteria for depression diagnosis at baseline, no women in the treatment group developed depression (n = 0, 0%) compared to control group women (n = 3, 30%). Logistic regression controlling for selective attrition confirmed the treatment effect on preventing new onset of depression (OR = 0.029, p = 0.012). Conclusion These findings support the use of Mom Power for both treatment and prevention of perinatal depression. Clinical trial registration https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01554215, NCT01554215.
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Hulsbosch LP, Potharst ES, Schwabe I, Boekhorst MGBM, Pop VJM, Nyklíček I. Online mindfulness-based intervention for women with pregnancy distress: A randomized controlled trial. J Affect Disord 2023; 332:262-272. [PMID: 37054897 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.009] [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: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy distress among childbearing women is common and can negatively affect both mother and infant. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may have a positive effect on pregnancy distress but randomized controlled trials with sufficient power are lacking. The current study examined the effectiveness of an online self-guided MBI in pregnant women with pregnancy distress. METHODS Pregnant women with elevated pregnancy distress levels at 12 weeks of pregnancy, measured with the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS) and Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale negative affect (TPDS-NA), were randomized into an intervention group (online MBI, N = 109) or control group (care as usual, N = 110). The primary outcome was the change in pregnancy distress post-intervention and at eight-weeks-follow-up. Secondary outcomes were mindfulness skills (Three Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form), rumination (Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire), and self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form) at post-intervention and follow-up in the intervention group. RESULTS Significant improvements were found in pregnancy distress scores, but no significant differences between intervention and control group appeared. The MBI group showed improvements in mindfulness skills, rumination, and self-compassion. LIMITATIONS Low adherence to the intervention and assessment of secondary outcome measures in the intervention group only. CONCLUSIONS An intervention trial with one of the largest samples (N = 219) provided no evidence of a significant effect of an online self-guided MBI in distressed pregnant women. An online MBI may be associated with an improvement in mindfulness skills, rumination, and self-compassion. Future research should address the effectiveness of MBI's with different formats (online and group-based combined) and examine a possible delayed effect. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03917745, registered on 4 March 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianne P Hulsbosch
- Center of Research in Psychological and Somatic disorders (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
| | - Eva S Potharst
- UvA minds, academic outpatient (child and adolescent) treatment center of the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Inga Schwabe
- Department of Methodology and Statistics, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Myrthe G B M Boekhorst
- Center of Research in Psychological and Somatic disorders (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Victor J M Pop
- Center of Research in Psychological and Somatic disorders (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Ivan Nyklíček
- Center of Research in Psychological and Somatic disorders (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, Tilburg, the Netherlands
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11
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Gemignani M, Giannotti M, Schmalz X, Rigo P, De Falco S. Attentional Prioritization of Infant Faces in Parents: The Influence of Parents' Experiences of Care. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:527. [PMID: 36612848 PMCID: PMC9819530 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Infant faces are prioritized by the attentional system in parents, resulting in a greater cognitive engagement in terms of response time. However, many biological, contextual and environmental factors relating to this cognitive mechanism have been left unexplored. To fill this gap, this study aims to (i) confirm that infant faces engage more attention compared to adult faces; (ii) investigate whether the attention to infant faces is affected early care experiences of parents; (iii) explore the effect of parents' sex by taking the amount of involvement with early childcare into consideration. 51 mothers and 46 fathers completed a modified Go/no-Go task, a brief sociodemographic questionnaire, the short version of the Adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection scale, and an ad-hoc question relating to the amount of parental involvement with early childcare. Parents' response times were slowed in the presence of infant versus adult faces. Parents whose mother was perceived as more sensitively accepting were more engaged by infant cues. By considering the amount of early parental involvement, the sex of parents did not significantly interact with the type of face. These findings provide new insights on the attention process in response to infant cues in parents and suggest that the investigation of experience-based factors may shed further light on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micol Gemignani
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Corso Bettini 84, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Michele Giannotti
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Corso Bettini 84, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Xenia Schmalz
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Paola Rigo
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Simona De Falco
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Corso Bettini 84, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
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12
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Porreca A, Simonelli A, De Carli P, Barone L, Filippi B, Rigo P, van IJzendoorn MH, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ. A randomized wait-list controlled trial to investigate the role of cognitive mechanisms in parenting interventions on mothers with substance use disorder. Trials 2022; 23:588. [PMID: 35870942 PMCID: PMC9308363 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06420-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Maternal substance use disorder (SUD) represents a risk condition for quality of parenting and child development. The current literature highlights the need to identify interventions that effectively enhance the quality of parenting and to better understand which mechanisms are involved in the process of change. The present study protocol describes a randomized wait-list controlled trial that aims to examine (1) the efficacy of the Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD) in improving the quality of parenting (i.e., sensitive parenting and sensitive discipline) in mothers with SUD, (2) whether the intervention affects parental cognitive mechanisms (i.e., attentional disengagement to infant negative emotions, inhibitory control confronted with children’s affective expression, and parental reflective functioning), and (3) whether changes in these processes act as mechanisms of change, mediating the effect of the VIPP-SD program on quality of parenting. Moreover, the study aims (4) to explore whether the VIPP-SD has an effect on parenting stress and (5) to compare mothers with SUD to low-risk mothers on the outcome measures. Methods The study will involve 40 mothers with SUD and 20 low-risk mothers of children aged between 14 months and 6 years old. Mothers in the SUD group will be randomly divided into two groups, one receiving the intervention (SUD experimental group) and one undergoing treatment as usual (SUD control group). All the mothers will be assessed pre-test and post-test. Quality of parenting will be assessed through observed parenting behaviors, whereas parental cognitive mechanisms will be assessed through neuropsychological tasks and self-report measures. Discussion The results of the study will reveal whether an intervention that has been proven effective in other at-risk samples is also effective in improving parenting behaviors in the context of SUD. The results will also provide insight into potential cognitive mechanisms involved in the process of change. Trial registration ISRCTN registry ISRCTN63070968. Registered on 25 June 2021. Retrospectively registered Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06420-8.
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13
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Relationship between Antenatal Mental Health and Facial Emotion Recognition Bias for Children’s Faces among Pregnant Women. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12091391. [PMID: 36143176 PMCID: PMC9500667 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12091391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of identification of facial emotion recognition (FER) bias for a child’s face has been reinforced from the perspective of risk screening for future peripartum mental health problems. We attempted to clarify the relationship of FER bias for children’s faces with antenatal depression and bonding failure among pregnant women, taking into consideration their broad social cognitive abilities and experience in child raising. This study had a cross-sectional design, and participants were women in their second trimester of pregnancy. Seventy-two participants were assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Questionnaire (MIBQ), and a series of social cognitive tests. FER bias for a child’s face was assessed by Baby Cue Cards (BCC), and a larger number of disengagement responses suggest greater sensitivity to a child’s disengagement facial expressions. In a regression analysis conducted using EPDS as the dependent variable, a larger number of disengagement responses to the BCC (β = 0.365, p = 0.001) and the primipara status (β = −0.263, p = 0.016) were found to significantly contribute to antenatal depressive symptoms. Also, more disengagement responses to the BCC also significantly contributed to bonding failure as measured by the MIBQ (β = 0.234, p = 0.048). Maternal sensitivity to the child’s disengagement cues was associated with antenatal depressive symptoms and bonding failure more than the other social cognitive variables. The effects of FER bias on postpartum mental health and abusive behavior needs to be clarified by further longitudinal studies.
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Study protocol of guided mobile-based perinatal mindfulness intervention (GMBPMI) - a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0270683. [PMID: 35802637 PMCID: PMC9269359 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Psychological distress is a common occurrence among women during the perinatal period. Maternal psychological distress (MPS) can also have a negative influence on neonatal outcomes such as infant health, child development or mother-child interaction. Hence, interventions to improve mental wellbeing during this period are vital. Mindfulness based intervention (MBI) has been found to be effective in reducing psychological distress. Delivery of MBI via the internet, making it accessible and inexpensive, is showing a promising positive effect in reducing psychological distress. A randomized control trial with sufficient power is required to confirm its positive effect among pregnant women. The positive effects of MBI have been found to be associated with heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback; however, the efficacy of MBI on HRV has been rarely studied among pregnant women. Also, the potential association of HRV with MBI and psychological wellbeing needs further examination. This research aims to test the effectiveness of guided mobile-based perinatal mindfulness intervention (GMBPMI) among pregnant women experiencing psychological distress during the pre- and post-natal period, as well as examining the efficacy of GMBPMI on HRV. Method This study is a randomized controlled trial that follows a parallel design. Consenting pregnant women in their second trimester (between 12th and 20th week gestation) will be randomly assigned to an intervention group (GMBPMI) or a control group (psychoeducation). The intended sample size is 198, with 99 participants in each group. Three levels of outcomes will be measured at baseline, post intervention in both the intervention and control groups, and at 36-week gestation and five-week postpartum. The primary outcomes include maternal psychological stress, mindfulness and positive appraisal HRV. Secondary outcomes are psychological and physical wellbeing. Tertiary outcomes include obstetric and neonatal outcomes, and social support. Analyses will follow an intention-to-treat method and repeated measures MANOVA will be conducted to compare changes in primary and secondary outcomes. A series of mixed-effects models will be fitted to assess the mediation effects. Discussion This trial expects to increase understanding of GMBPMI on HRV and psychological wellbeing for pregnant women, with extended support in both pre-and post-natal periods. The study could also potentially provide evidence for delivery of cost-effective and accessible services to pregnant women. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04876014, registered on 30 March 2021. Protocol Version 1.0., 10 May 2021.
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15
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Bernard NK, Bogat GA, Kashy DA, Lonstein JS, Levendosky AA. Prenatal and postnatal intimate partner violence, depression, and infant-mother touch. Infant Behav Dev 2022; 67:101703. [DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2022.101703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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16
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Bohne A, Høifødt RS, Nordahl D, Landsem IP, Moe V, Wang CEA, Pfuhl G. The role of early adversity and cognitive vulnerability in postnatal stress and depression. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02651-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe purpose of the present study was to examine vulnerability factors in expecting parents that might lead to mental illness in the perinatal period. Specifically, we studied how parental early adversity, attentional bias to infant faces, repetitive negative thinking, and demographic factors, were associated with pre- and postnatal depressive symptoms and parenting stress. Participants were expecting parents taking part in the Northern Babies Longitudinal Study, where assessments were made both pre- and postnatally. Assessments included both questionnaires and cognitive tasks. About half of the participants received the Newborn Behavior Observation (NBO)-intervention after birth, between pre- and postnatal assessments. Results show that repetitive negative thinking was a significant predictor of both depressive symptoms and parenting stress, while education, social support, and parity came out as protective factors, especially in mothers. Parental early adversity had an indirect effect on postnatal depressive symptoms and parenting stress, mediated by prenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms, respectively. The NBO intervention did not affect the results, signifying the importance of early childhood adverse events and negative thinking on parents' postnatal adjustment and mood, even when an intervention is provided. In conclusion, repetitive negative thinking is a significant vulnerability factor independent of the presence of depressive symptoms, and health professionals must be aware of parents’ thinking style both during pregnancy and after birth.
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17
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Donadon MF, Martin-Santos R, L Osório F. Oxytocin effects on the cognition of women with postpartum depression: A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 111:110098. [PMID: 32937192 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the most common mental disorders in the perinatal period is postpartum depression (PPD), which is associated with impaired emotional functioning due to alterations in different cognitive aspects including thought and facial emotion recognition (FER). Emotional impairments may affect the interaction and care offered to infants and their later development and therefore interventions with potential to minimize impairments associated with PPD are opportune. Oxytocin (OXT) was shown to have therapeutic properties associated with the promotion of affiliative and pro-social behaviors in different mental disorders. Few studies have assessed its therapeutic potential in PPD. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of the acute administration of intranasal OXT (24 IU) on FER of baby faces and negative thoughts after delivery in mothers with and without PPD. METHODS We conducted a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a crossover design involving mothers with PPD (N = 20) and without PPD (N = 35) in the puerperium. Participants completed a static task of FER of baby faces and a questionnaire of post-natal negative thoughts. RESULTS Mothers with PPD had increased scores of negative thoughts about motherhood/infants, but no impairments in FER, when compared to healthy mothers. OXT had no effects on the rates of correct judgments or response times in the FER task, but was associated with response biases to facial happiness and the reduction of negative thoughts in mothers with PPD. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION OXT may have positive effects on maternal affiliative behavior, maternal care, and mother-infant interactions as suggested by changes found in different cognitive aspects, thus minimizing the deleterious effects of PPD on child development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rocio Martin-Santos
- Servicio de Psiquiatria y Psicología, Hospital Clinic, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Flávia L Osório
- Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo University, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; National Institute for Science and Technology (INCT-TM, CNPq), Brasília, Brazil.
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18
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Predicting Maternal Attachment: The Role of Emotion Regulation and Resilience during Pregnancy. JOURNAL OF BASIC AND CLINICAL HEALTH SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.30621/jbachs.994182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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19
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Effect of Parenting Interventions on Perinatal Depression and Implications for Infant Developmental Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2021; 25:316-338. [PMID: 34580804 DOI: 10.1007/s10567-021-00371-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Considering the significant impact of perinatal depression on both maternal wellbeing and infant development, it is important to examine the effectiveness of interventions designed to prevent or reduce these risks. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesised evidence on parenting intervention in relation to how such programs affect symptoms of perinatal depression and infant outcomes within 12 months of postpartum. We followed the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines on conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. A total of five electronic databases were searched for controlled trials that met pre-determined eligibility criteria. Outcomes of interest were maternal depressive symptoms and infants' language, motor and socioemotional development. Seventeen studies involving 1665 participants were included in the systematic review. Estimates from a random effects model of 15 studies in the final meta-analysis revealed statistically significant reductions in maternal depressive symptoms at post-intervention for mothers allocated to receive parenting interventions (SMD = - 0.34, 95%CI - 0.44, - 0.24; z = 5.97, p < 0.001; I2 = 0%). Data on infant development outcomes from the included studies were scarce, and therefore, infant outcomes were not analysed in this review. For individual study outcomes, the majority of studies reported a general trend for reductions in maternal depressive symptoms from pre- to post-intervention. Although parenting interventions are frequently considered preventive strategies that are designed to offer support to parents and impart skills that promote their physical and psychological wellbeing, our findings suggest that these interventions have a positive effect on perinatal depressive symptoms. Implications and recommendations for future research are addressed. The systematic review protocol was registered with PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020184491.
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20
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Jia YC, Ding FY, Cheng G, Liu Y, Yu W, Zou Y, Zhang DJ. Infants' neutral facial expressions elicit the strongest initial attentional bias in adults: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence. Psychophysiology 2021; 59:e13944. [PMID: 34553377 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13944] [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: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies that used adult faces as the baseline have revealed that attentional bias toward infant faces is the strongest for neutral expressions than for happy and sad expressions. However, the time course of the strongest attentional bias toward infant neutral expressions is unclear. To clarify this time course, we combined a behavioral dot-probe task with electrophysiological event-related potentials (ERPs) to measure adults' responses to infant and adult faces with happy, neutral, and sad expressions derived from the same face. The results indicated that compared with the corresponding expressions in adult faces, attentional bias toward infant faces with various expressions resulted in different patterns during rapid and prolonged attention stages. In particular, first, neutral expressions in infant faces elicited greater behavioral attentional bias and P1 responses than happy and sad ones did. Second, sad expressions in infant faces elicited greater N170 responses than neutral and happy ones did; notably, sad expressions elicited greater N170 responses in the left hemisphere in women than in men. Third, late positive potential (LPP) responses were greater for infant faces than for adult faces under each expression condition. Thus, we propose a three-stage model of attentional allocation patterns that reveals the time course of attentional bias toward infant faces with various expressions. This model highlights the prominent role of neutral facial expressions in the attentional bias toward infant faces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Cheng Jia
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China.,Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Center for Rural Children and Adolescents Mental Health Education, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Fang Yuan Ding
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China.,Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Center for Rural Children and Adolescents Mental Health Education, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Gang Cheng
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China.,Center for Rural Children and Adolescents Mental Health Education, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Yu
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China.,Center for Rural Children and Adolescents Mental Health Education, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yan Zou
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China.,Center for Rural Children and Adolescents Mental Health Education, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Da Jun Zhang
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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21
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Bohne A, Nordahl D, Lindahl ÅAW, Ulvenes P, Wang CEA, Pfuhl G. Emotional Infant Face Processing in Women With Major Depression and Expecting Parents With Depressive Symptoms. Front Psychol 2021; 12:657269. [PMID: 34276481 PMCID: PMC8283203 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.657269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Processing of emotional facial expressions is of great importance in interpersonal relationships. Aberrant engagement with facial expressions, particularly an engagement with sad faces, loss of engagement with happy faces, and enhanced memory of sadness has been found in depression. Since most studies used adult faces, we here examined if such biases also occur in processing of infant faces in those with depression or depressive symptoms. In study 1, we recruited 25 inpatient women with major depression and 25 matched controls. In study 2, we extracted a sample of expecting parents from the NorBaby study, where 29 reported elevated levels of depressive symptoms, and 29 were matched controls. In both studies, we assessed attentional bias with a dot-probe task using happy, sad and neutral infant faces, and facial memory bias with a recognition task using happy, sad, angry, afraid, surprised, disgusted and neutral infant and adult faces. Participants also completed the Ruminative Responses Scale and Becks Depression Inventory-II. In study 1, we found no group difference in either attention to or memory accuracy for emotional infant faces. Neither attention nor recognition was associated with rumination. In study 2, we found that the group with depressive symptoms disengaged more slowly than healthy controls from sad infant faces, and this was related to rumination. The results place emphasis on the importance of emotional self-relevant material when examining cognitive processing in depression. Together, these studies demonstrate that a mood-congruent attentional bias to infant faces is present in expecting parents with depressive symptoms, but not in inpatients with Major Depression Disorder who do not have younger children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes Bohne
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Dag Nordahl
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Åsne A W Lindahl
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Pål Ulvenes
- Modum Bad Research Institute, Vikersund, Norway
| | - Catharina E A Wang
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Gerit Pfuhl
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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22
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Scorza P, Merz EC, Spann M, Steinberg E, Feng T, Lee S, Werner E, Peterson BS, Monk C. Pregnancy-specific stress and sensitive caregiving during the transition to motherhood in adolescents. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:458. [PMID: 34187393 PMCID: PMC8243904 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-03903-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal prenatal stress is associated with worse socio-emotional outcomes in offspring throughout childhood. However, the association between prenatal stress and later caregiving sensitivity is not well understood, despite the significant role that caregiving quality plays in child socio-emotional development. The goal of this study was to examine whether dimensions of pregnancy-specific stress are correlated with observer-based postnatal maternal caregiving sensitivity in pregnant adolescents. METHODS Healthy, nulliparous pregnant adolescents (n = 244; 90 % LatinX) reported on their pregnancy-specific stress using the Revised Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (NuPDQ). Of these 244, 71 participated in a follow-up visit at 14 months postpartum. Videotaped observations of mother-child free play interactions at 14 months postpartum were coded for maternal warmth and contingent responsiveness. Confirmatory factor analysis of the NuPDQ supported a three-factor model of pregnancy-specific stress, with factors including stress about the social and economic context, baby's health, and physical symptoms of pregnancy. RESULTS Greater pregnancy-specific stress about social and economic context and physical symptoms of pregnancy was associated with reduced maternal warmth but not contingent responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS Heightened maternal stress about the social and economic context of the perinatal period and physical symptoms of pregnancy may already signal future difficulties in caregiving and provide an optimal opening for early parenting interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Scorza
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. .,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Emily C Merz
- Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, 0000- 0003-1950-2345, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Marisa Spann
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emily Steinberg
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tianshu Feng
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seonjoo Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth Werner
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bradley S Peterson
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Institute for the Developing Mind, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Catherine Monk
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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23
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Bind RH, Biaggi A, Bairead A, Du Preez A, Hazelgrove K, Waites F, Conroy S, Dazzan P, Osborne S, Pawlby S, Sethna V, Pariante CM. Mother-infant interaction in women with depression in pregnancy and in women with a history of depression: the Psychiatry Research and Motherhood - Depression (PRAM-D) study. BJPsych Open 2021; 7:e100. [PMID: 34030765 PMCID: PMC8167851 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2021.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the effects of depression before birth on the quality of the mother-infant interaction. AIMS To understand whether depression, either in pregnancy or in lifetime before pregnancy, disrupts postnatal mother-infant interactions. METHOD We recruited 131 pregnant women (51 healthy, 52 with major depressive disorder (MDD) in pregnancy, 28 with a history of MDD but healthy pregnancy), at 25 weeks' gestation. MDD was confirmed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders. Neonatal behaviour was assessed at 6 days with the Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale, and mother-infant interaction was assessed at 8 weeks and 12 months with the Crittenden CARE-Index. RESULTS At 8 weeks and 12 months, dyads in the depression and history-only groups displayed a reduced quality of interaction compared with healthy dyads. Specifically, at 8 weeks, 62% in the depression group and 56% in the history-only group scored in the lowest category of dyadic synchrony (suggesting therapeutic interventions are needed), compared with 37% in the healthy group (P = 0.041); 48% and 32%, respectively, scored the same at 12 months, compared with 14% in the healthy group (P = 0.003). At 6 days, neonates in the depression and history-only groups exhibited decreased social-interactive behaviour, which, together with maternal socioeconomic difficulties, was also predictive of interaction quality, whereas postnatal depression was not. CONCLUSIONS Both antenatal depression and a lifetime history of depression are associated with a decreased quality of mother-infant interaction, irrespective of postnatal depression. Clinicians should be aware of this, as pregnancy provides an opportunity for identification and intervention to support the developing relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca H Bind
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Alessandra Biaggi
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | | | - Andrea Du Preez
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Katie Hazelgrove
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Freddie Waites
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Susan Conroy
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Paola Dazzan
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Sarah Osborne
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Susan Pawlby
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Vaheshta Sethna
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic & Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Carmine M Pariante
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
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Nakić Radoš S. Parental Sensitivity and Responsiveness as Mediators Between Postpartum Mental Health and Bonding in Mothers and Fathers. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:723418. [PMID: 34539469 PMCID: PMC8440918 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.723418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [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: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: There is a lack of studies that examine the complex relationship between parental mental health, parental sensitivity and responsiveness, and parent-infant bonding. This study aimed to test whether parental sensitivity and responsiveness were mediators between postpartum mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress) and parent-infant bonding in mothers and fathers. Method: Mothers (n = 427) and fathers (n = 170) of infants aged up to 1-year-old participated in an online study. The parents completed questionnaires on depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS), anxiety and stress (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, DASS-21). Parent-infant bonding was measured by Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) that has three components: Impaired bonding (PBQ1), Anxiety about care and parental distress (PBQ2), and Lack of enjoyment and affection with infant (PB3Q). Parental sensitivity was measured as the number of correct recognitions of infant facial expressions (City Infant Faces Database, CIFD). Responsiveness was measured as a self-report with two subscales of responsiveness and non-responsiveness (Maternal Infant Responsiveness Instrument, MIRI). Results: The path analysis showed that the model had a good fit to the data. Parental sex was a significant moderator, indicating different paths in mothers and fathers. In mothers, responsiveness and non-responsiveness were significant mediators between depression symptoms and three dimensions of bonding. In fathers, only non-responsiveness was a significant mediator between anxiety and PBQ3. Although recognizing infant facial expressions directly affected PBQ3 in mothers (but not in fathers), it was not a significant mediator between mental health and bonding. Conclusion: Higher levels of parental mental health problems (depression and anxiety) were associated with lower levels of parental responsiveness, which is, in turn, related to poor parent-infant bonding. Prevention and intervention programs should be offered for both mothers and fathers, focusing on postpartum mental health promotion and enhancing responsiveness in infant care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Nakić Radoš
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
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Bjertrup AJ, Jensen MB, Schjødt MS, Parsons CE, Kjærbye-Thygesen A, Mikkelsen RL, Moszkowicz M, Frøkjær VG, Vinberg M, Kessing LV, Væver MS, Miskowiak KW. Cognitive processing of infant stimuli in pregnant women with and without affective disorders and the association to postpartum depression. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 42:97-109. [PMID: 33158668 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy and childbirth are among the strongest risk factors for depression but the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying this enhanced risk are unknown. This study investigated emotional and non-emotional cognition in 57 pregnant women with or without an affective disorder during their third trimester, and the association between cognitive biases and subsequent postpartum depression (PPD). Of the pregnant women, 22 had a diagnosis of unipolar disorder (UD) and seven of bipolar disorder (BD) in full or partial remission, while 28 had no history of affective disorder. We included a control group of 29 healthy non-pregnant women. First, participants were interviewed, completed non-emotional and emotional cognitive tests and lastly filled out questionnaires. The participants were assessed two times after birth: at a home visit shortly after birth, and with a telephone interview to assess PPD in the first six months after birth. Healthy pregnant women rated infant cries less negatively than non-pregnant women, possibly reflecting preparation for motherhood. Pregnant women with UD exhibited a negative bias in ratings of infant cries, whereas pregnant women with BD showed a positive bias in ratings of infant happy faces and recognition of adult facial expressions. Across all pregnant women, more negative ratings of infant cries were associated with enhanced risk of PPD. Negatively biased perception of infant cries during pregnancy may thus signal vulnerability toward PPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Bjertrup
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Copenhagen Affective Disorders research Center (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Edel Sauntes Allé 10, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M B Jensen
- Copenhagen Affective Disorders research Center (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Edel Sauntes Allé 10, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M S Schjødt
- Copenhagen Affective Disorders research Center (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Edel Sauntes Allé 10, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - C E Parsons
- Interacting Minds Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - A Kjærbye-Thygesen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - R L Mikkelsen
- Copenhagen Affective Disorders research Center (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Edel Sauntes Allé 10, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M Moszkowicz
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Center, Infant Psychiatric Unit, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Denmark
| | - V G Frøkjær
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Denmark
| | - M Vinberg
- Copenhagen Affective Disorders research Center (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Edel Sauntes Allé 10, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatric Centre North Zealand, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Hillerød, Denmark
| | - L V Kessing
- Copenhagen Affective Disorders research Center (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Edel Sauntes Allé 10, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M S Væver
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - K W Miskowiak
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Copenhagen Affective Disorders research Center (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Edel Sauntes Allé 10, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Yrttiaho S, Bruwer B, Zar HJ, Donald KA, Malcolm-Smith S, Ginton L, Hoffman N, Vuong E, Niehaus D, Leppänen JM, Stein DJ. Pupillary and Attentional Responses to Infant Facial Expressions in Mothers Across Socioeconomic Variations. Child Dev 2020; 92:e236-e251. [PMID: 33369736 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Maternal responses to infant facial expressions were examined in two socioeconomically diverse samples of South African mothers (Study I, N = 111; and Study II, N = 214; age: 17-44 years) using pupil and gaze tracking. Study I showed increased pupil response to infant distress expressions in groups recruited from private as compared to public maternity clinics, possibly reflecting underlying differences in socioeconomic status (SES) across the groups. Study II, sampling uniformly low-SES neighborhoods, found increased pupil dilation and faster orientation to expressions of infant distress, but only in the highest income group. These results are consistent with maternal physiological and attentional sensitivity to infant distress cues but challenge the universality of this sensitivity across socioeconomic diversity.
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Hensel JM, Yang R, Vigod SN, Desveaux L. Videoconferencing at home for psychotherapy in the postpartum period: Identifying drivers of successful engagement and important therapeutic conditions for meaningful use. COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/capr.12372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca Yang
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care Toronto ON Canada
| | - Simone N. Vigod
- Department of Psychiatry University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada
| | - Laura Desveaux
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care Toronto ON Canada
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Thompson SF, Klein MR, Ruberry EJ, Kiff CJ, Moran L, Zalewski M, Lengua LJ. Clarifying the unique effects of pre‐ and postnatal depression on pre‐schoolers' adjustment. INFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/icd.2202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Melanie R. Klein
- Department of Psychology University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| | - Erika J. Ruberry
- Department of Psychology University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
| | - Cara J. Kiff
- Department of Psychiatry, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Lyndsey Moran
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital Belmont, MA USA
| | | | - Liliana J. Lengua
- Department of Psychology University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
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Klode K, Ringer A, Hølge-Hazelton B. Interprofessional and intersectoral collaboration in the care of vulnerable pregnant women: An interpretive study. J Interprof Care 2020:1-10. [PMID: 32436756 DOI: 10.1080/13561820.2020.1761306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
'Vulnerable' is a term often used for pregnant women in need of extended antenatal care, although the term is not well defined. This study focuses on healthcare professionals' interpretations and understanding of vulnerability in pregnancy, including their own role, to understand the practices of interprofessional and intersectoral collaboration in antenatal care for vulnerable pregnant women. Intrepretive Description informed the methodology of the study and the theoretical framework was inspired by Symbolic Interactionism. It was found that definitions of vulnerability in pregnancy are fluid, being based on the healthcare professional's individual assessment of the pregnant woman´s personal resources, personal characteristics and psychological factors, and that these definitions also depend on the healthcare professional's role in relation to the pregnant woman. The different interprofessional teams' identification of what constitutes vulnerability in a pregnant woman was complex and relied on different components. Interprofessional collaboration was influenced by the relationships between professionals and sectors involved in antenatal care for pregnant women and was thereby influenced by the settings and structures in place for interprofessional and intersectoral collaboration. Insight into the healthcare professionals' perspectives of vulnerability in pregnancy can help develop and improve the interprofessional and intersectoral collaboration in antenatal care of vulnerable pregnant women and their unborn babies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Klode
- Management of Psychiatry, Psyhciatry, Region Zealand, Slagelse, Denmark
| | - Agnes Ringer
- Research Center in Health Promotion, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Bibi Hølge-Hazelton
- Research Support Unit, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Dudek J, Haley DW. Attention bias to infant faces in pregnant women predicts maternal sensitivity. Biol Psychol 2020; 153:107890. [PMID: 32335127 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2020.107890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
While research has shown that attention bias to infant faces is linked to parenting, this work is largely cross-sectional and limited to the postpartum period. Because the transition to motherhood from pregnancy to birth constitutes a sensitive period in cortical reorganization linked to the quality of mother-infant interactions, evaluating attention processes in the maternal cortex prior to the experience of mother-infant face-to-face interactions is critical. To assess behavioural attention and neural responses to infant faces in pregnant mothers, behavioral and electrocortical indices were collected using a Go/No Go task, in which infant and adult faces served as distractors. Results showed that heightened processing of infant faces relative to adult faces (behavioral and electrocortical indices) was related to observations of greater maternal sensitivity. These findings show that prenatal maternal attention bias to and the perceived salience of infant faces serves as an individual cognitive hallmark of maternal sensitivity that acts independently of caregiving experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Dudek
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David W Haley
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Hulsbosch LP, Nyklíček I, Potharst ES, Meems M, Boekhorst MGBM, Pop VJM. Online mindfulness-based intervention for women with pregnancy distress: design of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2020; 20:159. [PMID: 32169030 PMCID: PMC7069182 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-2843-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Psychological distress during pregnancy is common: up to 20% of the childbearing women experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. Apart from the adverse effects on the woman herself, pregnancy distress can negatively affect pregnancy outcomes, infant health, postpartum mother-child interaction and child development. Therefore, the development of interventions that reduce pregnancy distress is very important. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) show promising positive effects on pregnancy distress, but there is a need for randomized controlled trials with sufficient power. Trials on online MBIs, which are readily accessible and not expensive, also show positive effects on stress reduction in non-pregnant populations. Moreover, specific working mechanisms of MBIs remain unclear. The aim of the current study is to test the effectiveness of an online MBI in pregnant women with pregnancy distress, as well as exploring potential working mechanisms. Methods The current study is a randomized controlled trial with repeated measures. Consenting women with elevated levels of pregnancy distress will be randomized into an intervention group (MBI) or control group (care as usual) around 12 weeks of pregnancy, with an intended sample size of 103 women in each group. The primary outcome, pregnancy distress, will be assessed via questionnaires at baseline, halfway through the intervention and post intervention in both intervention and control group, and after 8 weeks follow-up in the intervention group. Secondary outcomes are mindfulness skills, rumination and self-compassion, which are also seen as potential working mechanisms, and will be assessed via questionnaires before intervention, halfway through the intervention, post intervention and after 8 weeks follow-up in the intervention group. Tertiary outcome variables are obstetric data and will be collected from the obstetric records for both intervention and control group. Analyses will be based on the intention-to-treat principle. Multilevel regression models for repeated measures (mixed models) will be used to evaluate changes in primary and secondary outcome variables. Tertiary outcomes will be compared between groups using independent t-tests and Chi Square analyses. Discussion The trial is expected to increase knowledge about the effectiveness of online MBIs during pregnancy in women with pregnancy distress and to evaluate potential working mechanisms. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03917745, registered on 4 March 2019. Protocol Version 3.0., 20 February 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianne P Hulsbosch
- Center of Research in Psychological and Somatic disorders (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. BOX 90153, Warandelaan 2, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Ivan Nyklíček
- Center of Research in Psychological and Somatic disorders (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. BOX 90153, Warandelaan 2, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Eva S Potharst
- UvA minds, academic outpatient (child and adolescent) treatment center of the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Margreet Meems
- Center of Research in Psychological and Somatic disorders (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. BOX 90153, Warandelaan 2, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Myrthe G B M Boekhorst
- Center of Research in Psychological and Somatic disorders (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. BOX 90153, Warandelaan 2, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands
| | - Victor J M Pop
- Center of Research in Psychological and Somatic disorders (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. BOX 90153, Warandelaan 2, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
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St James-Roberts I, Garratt R, Powell C, Bamber D, Long J, Brown J, Morris S, Dyson S, Morris T, Bhupendra Jaicim N. A support package for parents of excessively crying infants: development and feasibility study. Health Technol Assess 2019; 23:1-144. [PMID: 31597591 DOI: 10.3310/hta23560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Around 20% of 1- to 4-month-old infants cry for long periods without an apparent reason. Traditionally, this was attributed to gastrointestinal disorder ('colic'), but evidence shows that just 5% of infants cry a lot because of organic disturbances; in most cases, the crying is attributable to normal developmental processes. This has led to a focus on the impact of the crying on parents. Parental vulnerabilities influence how parents evaluate and respond to the crying and predict adverse outcomes. By developing evidence-based services that support parents, this study was designed to take the first steps towards national health services that enhance the coping and well-being of parents whose babies excessively cry. Related aims were to improve these infants' outcomes and how NHS money is spent. OBJECTIVES To develop a novel intervention package to support parents of excessively crying infants and to examine the feasibility of delivering and evaluating it in the NHS. DESIGN Stage 1 of this study aimed to (1) complete a literature review to identify example support materials, (2) obtain parents' guidance on the support needed when a baby cries excessively, together with their evaluation of the example materials, and (3) develop a support package based on the results. Stage 2 aimed to (1) recruit 60 parents whose babies were currently excessively crying, (2) assess parents' and NHS professionals' willingness to complete a study of the support package, (3) measure the use and evaluation of the package components, (4) estimate the package component costs and (5) provide evidence on the feasibility and methods for a large-scale trial. SETTING Primary health care. PARTICIPANTS Stage 1: 20 parents of previously excessively crying infants and 55 health visitors (HVs) or specialist community public health nurses (SCPHNs). Stage 2: 57 parents of currently excessively crying infants and 124 HVs/SCPHNs. INTERVENTIONS The support package included a website, a printed booklet and a programme of cognitive-behavioural therapy-based sessions delivered to parents by a qualified practitioner. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES (1) Demographic data, (2) figures for parents' use of the package components and continuation in the study, (3) parents' and HVs'/SCPHNs' ratings of the package components and suitability for NHS use, (4) questionnaire measures of parental well-being and infant health and (5) costs. RESULTS Most parents (95%) accessed the website or printed materials and half (51%) attended the practitioner sessions. All 52 parents and 85% of HVs/SCPHNs providing data would support the inclusion of the package in the NHS. It was associated with reduced parental frustration, anxiety, depression, reported infant crying and contacts with health professionals and increased knowledge about crying. Methods for a full trial and figures for the cost of excessive infant crying for the NHS and each package element were identified. LIMITATIONS No control group was included. Most of the recruited parents were white, well educated and in stable relationships. CONCLUSIONS Parents and HVs/SCPHNs recognise the need for NHS provisions that support parents of excessively crying babies and consider the materials developed to meet that need. A full-scale randomised controlled trial is feasible and desirable. TRIAL REGISTRATION Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN84975637. FUNDING This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 23, No. 56. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian St James-Roberts
- Thomas Coram Research Unit, University College London Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rosemary Garratt
- The Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Charlotte Powell
- The Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Deborah Bamber
- The Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Jaqui Long
- The Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Jayne Brown
- The Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Stephen Morris
- Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sue Dyson
- School of Health and Education, Middlesex University, London, UK
| | - Tom Morris
- Leicester Clinical Trials Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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Bamber D, Powell C, Long J, Garratt R, Brown J, Rudge S, Morris T, Bhupendra Jaicim N, Plachcinski R, Dyson S, Boyle EM, Turney N, Chessman J, St James-Roberts I. Parental and health professional evaluations of a support service for parents of excessively crying infants. BMC Health Serv Res 2019; 19:592. [PMID: 31438940 PMCID: PMC6704568 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-4430-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The ‘Surviving Crying’ study was designed to develop and provisionally evaluate a support service for parents of excessively crying babies, including its suitability for use in the United Kingdom (UK) National Health Service (NHS). The resulting service includes three materials: a website, a printed booklet, and a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) programme delivered to parents by a qualified professional. This study aimed to measure whether parents used the materials and to obtain parents’ and NHS professionals’ evaluations of whether they are fit for purpose. Parents were asked about participating in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the materials fully in health service use. Methods Participants were 57 parents with babies they judged to be crying excessively and 96 NHS Health Visitors (HVs). Parental use and parents’ and HVs’ ratings of the Surviving Crying materials were measured. Results Thirty four parents reported using the website, 24 the printed booklet and 24 the CBT sessions. Parents mostly accessed the website on mobile phones or tablets and use was substantial. All the parents and almost all HVs who provided data judged the materials to be helpful for parents and suitable for NHS use. If offered a waiting list control group, 85% of parents said they would have been willing to take part in a full RCT evaluation of the Surviving Crying package. Discussion and conclusions The findings identify the need for materials to support parents of excessively crying babies within national health services in the UK. The Surviving Crying support package appears suitable for this purpose and a full community-level RCT of the package is feasible and likely to be worthwhile. Limitations to the study and barriers to delivery of the services were identified, indicating improvements needed in future research. Trial registration Study Registration no. ISRCTN84975637.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Bamber
- Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Charlotte Powell
- Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Jaqui Long
- Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Rosie Garratt
- Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Jayne Brown
- Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Sally Rudge
- Counseling Psychologist and CBT Practitioner, Leicester, UK
| | - Tom Morris
- Leicester Clinical Trials Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | | | - Sue Dyson
- School of Health and Education, Middlesex University, London, UK
| | - Elaine M Boyle
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | | | - Ian St James-Roberts
- Thomas Coram Research Unit, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, London, WC1H OAL, UK.
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Henderson M, Wittkowski A, McIntosh E, McConnachie A, Buston K, Wilson P, Calam R, Minnis H, Thompson L, O’Dowd J, Law J, McGee E, Wight D. Trial of healthy relationship initiatives for the very early years (THRIVE), evaluating Enhanced Triple P for Baby and Mellow Bumps additional social and care needs during pregnancy and their infants who are at higher risk of maltreatment: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 2019; 20:499. [PMID: 31412902 PMCID: PMC6694522 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-019-3571-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growing evidence suggests that experiences in the early years play a major role in children's development in terms of health, wellbeing and educational attainment. The Trial of healthy relationship initiatives for the very early years (THRIVE) aims to evaluate two antenatal group interventions, Enhanced Triple P for Baby and Mellow Bumps, designed for those with additional health or social care needs in pregnancy. As both interventions aim to improve maternal mental health and parenting skills, we hypothesise that in the longer term, participation may lead to an improvement in children's life trajectories. METHODS THRIVE is a three-arm, longitudinal, randomised controlled trial aiming to recruit 500 pregnant women with additional health or social care needs. Participants will be referred by health and social care professionals, predominately midwives. Consenting participants will be block randomised to one of the three arms: Enhanced Triple P for Baby plus care as usual, Mellow Bumps plus care as usual or care as usual. Groups will commence when participants are between 20 and 34 weeks pregnant. DISCUSSION The population we aim to recruit are traditionally referred to as "hard to reach", therefore we will monitor referrals received from maternity and social care pathways and will be open to innovation to boost referral rates. We will set geographically acceptable group locations for participants, to limit challenges we foresee for group participation and retention. We anticipate the results of the trial will help inform policy and practice in supporting women with additional health and social care needs during antenatal and early postnatal periods. This is currently a high priority for the Scottish and UK Governments. TRIAL REGISTRATION International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials Number (ISRCTN) Registry, ISRCTN:21656568 . Registered on 28 February 2014 (registered retrospectively (by 3 months)).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Henderson
- Medical Research Council/Chief Scientist Office Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Top Floor 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3AX Scotland
| | - Anja Wittkowski
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, 2nd Floor Zochonis Building, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PL England
| | - Emma McIntosh
- Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ Scotland
| | - Alex McConnachie
- Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, Boyd Orr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ Scotland
| | - Katie Buston
- Medical Research Council/Chief Scientist Office Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Top Floor 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3AX Scotland
| | - Philip Wilson
- Centre for Rural Health, University of Aberdeen, The Centre for Health Science, Old Perth Road, Inverness, IV2 3JH Scotland
| | - Rachel Calam
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, 2nd Floor Zochonis Building, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PL England
| | - Helen Minnis
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Caledonia House, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, G3 8SJ Scotland
| | - Lucy Thompson
- Centre for Rural Health, University of Aberdeen, The Centre for Health Science, Old Perth Road, Inverness, IV2 3JH Scotland
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Caledonia House, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, G3 8SJ Scotland
| | - John O’Dowd
- NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Afton House, Ailsa Hospital Campus, Dalmellington Road, Ayr, KA6 6AB Scotland
| | - James Law
- Institute of Health and Society, School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU England
| | - Elizabeth McGee
- Parenting and Family Support Research Programme, Department of Psychology and Allied Health Sciences, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA Scotland
| | - Daniel Wight
- Medical Research Council/Chief Scientist Office Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Top Floor 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3AX Scotland
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O'Brien R, Buston K, Wight D, McGee E, White J, Henderson M. A realist process evaluation of Enhanced Triple P for Baby and Mellow Bumps, within a Trial of Healthy Relationship Initiatives for the Very Early years (THRIVE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2019; 20:351. [PMID: 31196169 PMCID: PMC6567913 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-019-3395-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background THRIVE is a three-arm randomised controlled trial (RCT) that aims to evaluate whether antenatal and early postnatal interventions, Enhanced Triple B for Baby (ETPB) plus care as usual (CAU) or Mellow Bumps (MB) plus CAU (versus CAU alone), can: 1) improve the mental health and well-being of pregnant women with complex health and social care needs; 2) improve mother-infant bonding and interaction; 3) reduce child maltreatment; and 4) improve child language acquisition. This paper focuses on THRIVE’s realist process evaluation, which is carefully monitoring what is happening in the RCT. Methods Realistic evaluation provides the theoretical rationale for the process evaluation. We question: 1) how faithfully are MB and ETPB implemented? 2) What are the mechanisms by which they work, if they do, and who do they work for and how? 3) What contextual factors are necessary for the programmes to function, or might prevent them functioning? The mixed-methods design includes quantitative measures, which are pre- and post-training/intervention questionnaires for facilitators and mothers-to-be, and post-session evaluation forms. Qualitative data collection methods include participant observation of facilitator training and the delivery of a series of antenatal sessions in selected intervention groups (n = 3 for ETPB and n = 3 for MB), semi-structured interviews with facilitators, pregnant women, partners, and referring facilitators, and telephone interviews examining the content of the postnatal components of ETPB and MB. Discussion The findings of this process evaluation will help researchers and decision makers interpret the outcomes of THRIVE. It will provide a greater understanding of: how the interventions work (if they do); the extent and quality of their implementation; contextual factors facilitating and constraining intervention functioning; variations in response within and between subgroups of vulnerable parents; and benefits or unintended consequences of either intervention. Few studies to date have published detailed research protocols illustrating how realist process evaluation is designed and conducted as an integral part of a randomised controlled trial. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN21656568. Registered on 8 November 2013. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-019-3395-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaleen O'Brien
- Glasgow Caledonian University, Psychology, Social Work and Allied Health Professionals, School of Health and Life Sciences, 4th Floor, George Moore Building, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA, UK
| | - Katie Buston
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3AX, UK
| | - Daniel Wight
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3AX, UK
| | - Elizabeth McGee
- Glasgow Caledonian University, Psychology, Social Work and Allied Health Professionals, School of Health and Life Sciences, 4th Floor, George Moore Building, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA, UK
| | - Jane White
- Public Health Sciences, NHS Health Scotland, Gyle Square, 1 Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh, EH12 9EB, UK
| | - Marion Henderson
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3AX, UK.
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36
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Webb R, Ayers S. Postnatal mental health and mothers’ processing of infant emotion: an eye-tracking study. ANXIETY STRESS AND COPING 2019; 32:484-497. [DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2019.1620215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Webb
- Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City, University of London, London, UK
| | - Susan Ayers
- Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City, University of London, London, UK
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37
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Yang R, Vigod SN, Hensel JM. Optional Web-Based Videoconferencing Added to Office-Based Care for Women Receiving Psychotherapy During the Postpartum Period: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e13172. [PMID: 31199291 PMCID: PMC6592391 DOI: 10.2196/13172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Depression and anxiety during the postpartum period are common, with psychotherapy often being the preferred method of treatment. However, psychological, physical, and social barriers prevent women from receiving appropriate and timely psychotherapy. The option of receiving psychotherapy through videoconferencing (VC) during the postpartum period presents an opportunity for more accessible and flexible care. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of optional VC added to usual office-based psychotherapy, with a psychotherapist during the postpartum period. Methods We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial with 1:1 randomization to office-based care (treatment as usual; TAU) or office-based care with the option of VC (treatment as usual plus videoconferencing; TAU-VC) for psychotherapy during the postpartum period. We assessed the ability to recruit and retain postpartum women into the study from an urban perinatal mental health program offering postpartum psychotherapy, and we evaluated the uptake, acceptability, and satisfaction with VC as an addition to in-person psychotherapy. We also compared therapy attendance using therapist logs and symptoms between treatment groups. Symptoms were assessed at baseline and 3 months postrandomization with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item, and Parental Stress Scale. Furthermore, 3-month scores were compared between groups with intention-to-treat linear mixed-effects models controlling for baseline score. Results We enrolled 38 participants into the study, with 19 participants in each treatment group. Attendance data were available for all participants, with follow-up symptom measures available for 25 out of 38 participants (66%). Among the 19 TAU-VC participants, 14 participants (74%) utilized VC at least once. Most participants were highly satisfied with the VC option, and they reported average savings of Can $26 and 2.5 hours in travel and childcare expenses and time per appointment. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups for psychotherapy attendance or symptoms. Conclusions The option of VC appears to be an acceptable method of receiving psychotherapy for postpartum women, with benefits described in costs and time savings. On the basis of this small pilot sample, there were no significant differences in outcomes between office-based care with or without the option of VC. This study has demonstrated the feasibility of such a program in an urban center, which suggests that a larger study would be beneficial to provide evidence that is more conclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Yang
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Simone N Vigod
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute for Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer M Hensel
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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38
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De Carli P, Costantini I, Sessa P, Visentin S, Pearson RM, Simonelli A. The expectant social mind: A systematic review of face processing during pregnancy and the effect of depression and anxiety. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 102:153-171. [PMID: 31055013 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy carries enormous changes in the psychological and neurophysiological domains. It has been suggested that pregnant women undergo a cognitive reorganization aimed at increasing the salience of social stimuli (i.e., the tendency of social cues to capture observer's attention, so that their processing results prioritized). The goal of the present work was to systematically review the empirical evidence of a change in face processing during pregnancy. Moreover, we explored whether face processing is associated with antenatal depression and anxiety and the extent to which this is part of a potential mechanism to explain detrimental effects of maternal psychopathology on infant outcomes. We identified 19 relevant studies and discussed them based on their methodological qualities. The results of the review suggest that even though it is not possible to draw firm conclusions, pregnancy is likely to be a plasticity window for face processing at the behavioral and neural levels. Evidence confirms the detrimental effect of depression and anxiety on face processing during pregnancy. Clinical implications for parenting interventions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro De Carli
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia, 8, 35131 Padova (PD), Italy.
| | - Ilaria Costantini
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia, 8, 35131 Padova (PD), Italy; Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS14 8TF, United Kingdom.
| | - Paola Sessa
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia, 8, 35131 Padova (PD), Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Via Venezia, 8, 35131 Padova (PD), Italy.
| | - Silvia Visentin
- Department of Woman and Child's Health, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 3, 35128 Padova (PD), Italy.
| | - Rebecca M Pearson
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS14 8TF, United Kingdom.
| | - Alessandra Simonelli
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia, 8, 35131 Padova (PD), Italy.
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Koch S, De Pascalis L, Vivian F, Meurer Renner A, Murray L, Arteche A. Effects of male postpartum depression on father-infant interaction: The mediating role of face processing. Infant Ment Health J 2019; 40:263-276. [PMID: 30720878 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.21769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
It is estimated that postpartum depression affects up to 25% of men. Despite such high prevalence, the majority of studies on postpartum depression are focused on mothers, and the role of paternal depression and its effects on infant development have been overlooked by researchers and clinicians. The present study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the effect of paternal postpartum depression on father-infant interactions. In addition, we examined whether differences in face recognition mediated the effects of paternal postpartum depression on father-infant interactions. A total of 61 father-infant dyads (17 postpartum depression, 44 controls) took part in the study. Results revealed that compared to controls, fathers with postpartum depression had a worse pattern of interaction with their infants on measures of responsiveness, mood, and sensitivity; they also had greater difficulty in recognizing happy adult faces, but greater facility in recognizing sad adult faces. Depressed fathers attributed greater intensities to sad adult and infant faces. The tendency to attribute greater intensity to sad adult faces was confirmed as a partial mediator of the effect of paternal postpartum depression on measures of father responsiveness and as a full mediator of the effects of paternal depression on father sensitivity. Clinical implications and suggestions for further studies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Koch
- School of Health, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Leonardo De Pascalis
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Fabielle Vivian
- School of Health, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Anelise Meurer Renner
- School of Health, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lynne Murray
- Department of Psychology, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Adriane Arteche
- School of Health, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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40
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Byrne SP, Mayo A, O’Hair C, Zankman M, Austin GM, Thompson-Booth C, McCrory EJ, Mayes LC, Rutherford HJ. Facial emotion recognition during pregnancy: Examining the effects of facial age and affect. Infant Behav Dev 2019; 54:108-113. [DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2018.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2018] [Revised: 09/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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41
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Tang W, Bao C, Xu L, Zhu J, Feng W, Zhang W, Lin C, Chen L, Cheng Q, Ding P, Zhou M, Bao Y, Yu X, Zhao K, He J. Depressive Symptoms in Late Pregnancy Disrupt Attentional Processing of Negative-Positive Emotion: An Eye-Movement Study. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:780. [PMID: 31736800 PMCID: PMC6834685 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated biases for negative-positive information in component processes of visual attention (initial shift vs. maintenance of gaze) among women in late pregnancy with or without depressive symptoms. Eye movements were recorded while participants viewed a series of picture pairs depicting negative, positive, and neutral scenes. Initial orienting (latency and percentage of first fixation) and gaze duration were computed. Compared with neutral pictures, the group with major depressive symptoms (MDS) were less able to sense the positive emotion-related pictures and were over-responsive to negative emotion-related pictures. The group with suspicious depressive symptoms (SDS) had an attention bias toward both positive and negative emotion-related pictures. The group with no depressive symptoms (NDS) had an attention bias toward positive emotion-related pictures and had an initial attention avoidance tendency for negative emotion-related pictures. The initial gaze direction bias score for negative emotion-related pictures was positively correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms. Therefore, women with a risk of perinatal depression have a significant bias toward negative stimuli. Hypervigilant emotion processing during pregnancy may increase a woman's susceptibility to depression during late pregnancy. Attention away from negative information or attention toward positive information may provide a way of buffering emotional responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weina Tang
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ciqing Bao
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ling Xu
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wenqian Feng
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wenmiao Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Cong Lin
- Department of Obstetrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Lan Chen
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Qianqian Cheng
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Penghao Ding
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Meixi Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ying Bao
- Department of Obstetrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xin Yu
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ke Zhao
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jincai He
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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Dudek J, Colasante T, Zuffianò A, Haley DW. Changes in Cortical Sensitivity to Infant Facial Cues From Pregnancy to Motherhood Predict Mother-Infant Bonding. Child Dev 2018; 91:e198-e217. [PMID: 30511459 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The transition to motherhood triggers changes in human brain structure that may facilitate mother-infant bonding. Although much research on maternal cortical responses to infant faces has focused on the postpartum period, no previous study has examined whether longitudinal functional changes in the maternal cortex during pregnancy and postpartum are associated with mother-infant bonding. Using electroencephalography, prenatal to postnatal changes in cortical sensitivity (P1, P2, late positive potential, N170 event-related potentials) to infant and adult faces were examined in relation to reported mother-infant bonding in 40 mothers (Mage = 30.5 years). Prenatal to postnatal increases in P1 and P2 responses to infant faces predicted stronger bonding. Findings suggest that cortical changes in attention allocation rather than in face-specific encoding enhance bonding.
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43
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Kataja EL, Karlsson L, Leppänen JM, Pelto J, Häikiö T, Nolvi S, Pesonen H, Parsons CE, Hyönä J, Karlsson H. Maternal Depressive Symptoms During the Pre- and Postnatal Periods and Infant Attention to Emotional Faces. Child Dev 2018; 91:e475-e480. [PMID: 30295323 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We examined how infants' attentional disengagement from happy, fearful, neutral, and phase-scrambled faces at 8 months, as assessed by eye tracking, is associated with trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms from early pregnancy to 6 months postpartum (decreasing n = 48, increasing n = 34, and consistently low symptom levels n = 280). The sample (mother-infant dyads belonging to a larger FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study) was collected between 5/2013-6/2016. The overall disengagement probability from faces to distractors was not related to maternal depressive symptoms, but fear bias was heightened in infants whose mothers reported decreasing or increasing depressive symptoms. Exacerbated attention to fearful faces in infants of mothers with depressive symptoms may be independent of the timing of the symptoms in the pre- and postnatal stages.
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44
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Prepartum and Postpartum Mothers' and Fathers' Unwanted, Intrusive Thoughts in Response to Infant Crying. Behav Cogn Psychother 2018; 47:129-147. [PMID: 30153878 DOI: 10.1017/s1352465818000474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unwanted intrusive thoughts of intentionally harming one's infant (intrusive harm thoughts) are common distressing experiences among postpartum mothers and fathers. AIM To understand infant crying as a stimulus for intrusive harm thoughts and associated emotional responses in prepartum and postpartum mothers and fathers in response to infant cry. METHOD Following completion of self-report measures of negative mood and anger, prepartum (n = 48) and postpartum (n = 44) samples of mother and father pairs completed 10 minutes of listening to audio-recorded infant crying. Post-test questionnaires assessed harm thoughts, negative emotions, urges to comfort and flee, and thoughts of shaking as a soothing or coping strategy. RESULTS One quarter of prepartum and 44% of postpartum parents reported intrusive infant-related harm thoughts following crying. Mothers and fathers did not differ in the likelihood of reporting harm thoughts, nor in the number of thoughts reported. Women reported more internalizing emotions compared with men. Hostile emotions were stronger among postpartum parents, and parents reporting harm thoughts. All parents reported strong urges to comfort the infant. Urges to flee were stronger among parents who reported harm thoughts. The likelihood of using infant shaking as a soothing or coping strategy was minimally endorsed, albeit more strongly by fathers and parents who also reported harm thoughts. CONCLUSIONS In response to crying, harm thoughts are common and are associated with hostile emotions, urges to flee, and increased thoughts of using infant shaking. Reassuringly, the number of participants considering infant shaking as a strategy for soothing or for coping with a crying infant was low.
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45
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Tuovinen S, Lahti-Pulkkinen M, Girchenko P, Lipsanen J, Lahti J, Heinonen K, Reynolds RM, Hämäläinen E, Kajantie E, Laivuori H, Pesonen AK, Villa PM, Räikkönen K. Maternal depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy and child developmental milestones. Depress Anxiety 2018; 35:732-741. [PMID: 29667739 DOI: 10.1002/da.22756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Revised: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy predict poorer child neurodevelopment. The effects of timing, symptom severity, and additive influences remain unclear. METHODS A total of 2,231 mothers of the Prediction and Prevention of Pre-eclampsia and Intrauterine Growth Restriction (PREDO) study completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale biweekly up to 14 times during pregnancy and twice up to 12 months after pregnancy. At child's age 1.9-5.7 years, the mothers completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II on their concurrent depressive symptoms and Ages and Stages Questionnaire on child developmental milestones. RESULTS Higher mean maternal depressive symptoms, each biweekly score, and consistently clinically relevant symptomatology during pregnancy predicted lower total developmental milestones, fine and gross motor, communication, problem solving, and personal/social skills scores in children. Although maternal depressive symptoms up to 12 months after pregnancy and in early childhood also predicted lower developmental milestones scores, developmental milestones scores were the lowest in children whose mothers' depressive symptoms were above the clinical cutoff either only during pregnancy, both during and up to 12 months after pregnancy, or at each three time-points. CONCLUSION Maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy, in the first year postpartum and in early childhood are associated with poorer child neurodevelopment. Our findings further suggest that antenatal and postpregnancy depression have additive effects on neurodevelopment. Children of mothers with the most chronic and severe depressive symptoms during pregnancy had the most neurodevelopmental disadvantages. Our findings emphasize the adverse effects of maternal depression during and after pregnancy and in early childhood on child neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soile Tuovinen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marius Lahti-Pulkkinen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Polina Girchenko
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Lipsanen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Lahti
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kati Heinonen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rebecca M Reynolds
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Esa Hämäläinen
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eero Kajantie
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.,Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,PEDEGO Research Unit, MRC Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Hannele Laivuori
- Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland/HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anu-Katriina Pesonen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pia M Villa
- Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katri Räikkönen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Abstract
Adults need to be able to process infants’ emotional expressions accurately to respond appropriately and care for infants. However, research on processing of the emotional expressions of infant faces is hampered by the lack of validated stimuli. Although many sets of photographs of adult faces are available to researchers, there are no corresponding sets of photographs of infant faces. We therefore developed and validated a database of infant faces, which is available via e-mail request. Parents were recruited via social media and asked to send photographs of their infant (0–12 months of age) showing positive, negative, and neutral facial expressions. A total of 195 infant faces were obtained and validated. To validate the images, student midwives and nurses (n = 53) and members of the general public (n = 18) rated each image with respect to its facial expression, intensity of expression, clarity of expression, genuineness of expression, and valence. On the basis of these ratings, a total of 154 images with rating agreements of at least 75% were included in the final database. These comprise 60 photographs of positive infant faces, 54 photographs of negative infant faces, and 40 photographs of neutral infant faces. The images have high criterion validity and good test–retest reliability. This database is therefore a useful and valid tool for researchers.
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47
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Lefkovics E, Rigó J, Kovács I, Talabér J, Szita B, Kecskeméti A, Szabó L, Somogyvári Z, Baji I. Effect of maternal depression and anxiety on mother's perception of child and the protective role of social support. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2018; 36:434-448. [PMID: 29999404 DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2018.1475726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms on maternal perception of the infant and the protective role of social support. BACKGROUND Adverse effects of perinatal depression on mother-child interaction are well documented; however, the role of maternal perception has not been examined. METHODS We used the data of 431 women enrolled in a prospective study in a single maternity unit. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the mother's perception of infant with the Mother's Object Relation Scale (MORS). We used Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) in order to measure social support. RESULTS Depressive and anxiety symptoms were positively associated to less positive emotions and a more dominant attitude of child as perceived by mothers. This association was even more significant in the case of trait anxiety. Perceived social support has been found to be a protective factor which was able to reduce this tendency. CONCLUSION The findings have potential implications for our understanding of the impact of maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms on the developing mother-infant relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eszter Lefkovics
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences , Semmelweis University , Budapest , Hungary
| | - János Rigó
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences , Semmelweis University , Budapest , Hungary.,b First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Semmelweis University , Budapest , Hungary
| | - Illés Kovács
- c Department of Ophthalmology , Semmelweis University , Budapest , Hungary
| | - Júlia Talabér
- d Department of Family Care and Methodology , Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Institute for Health Promotion and Clinical Methodology , Budapest , Hungary
| | - Bernadett Szita
- b First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Semmelweis University , Budapest , Hungary
| | - András Kecskeméti
- b First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Semmelweis University , Budapest , Hungary
| | - László Szabó
- d Department of Family Care and Methodology , Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Institute for Health Promotion and Clinical Methodology , Budapest , Hungary.,e Department of Internal Medicine , Heim Pál Children Hospital , Budapest , Hungary
| | - Zsolt Somogyvári
- d Department of Family Care and Methodology , Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Institute for Health Promotion and Clinical Methodology , Budapest , Hungary
| | - Ildikó Baji
- d Department of Family Care and Methodology , Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Institute for Health Promotion and Clinical Methodology , Budapest , Hungary
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48
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Powell C, Bamber D, Long J, Garratt R, Brown J, Rudge S, Morris T, Bhupendra Jaicim N, Plachcinski R, Dyson S, Boyle EM, St James-Roberts I. Mental health and well-being in parents of excessively crying infants: Prospective evaluation of a support package. Child Care Health Dev 2018; 44:607-615. [PMID: 29667223 DOI: 10.1111/cch.12566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the first 4 months of age, approximately 20% of infants cry a lot without an apparent reason. Most research has targeted the crying, but the impact of the crying on parents, and subsequent outcomes, need to receive equal attention. This study reports the findings from a prospective evaluation of a package of materials designed to support the well-being and mental health of parents who judge their infant to be crying excessively. The resulting "Surviving Crying" package comprised a website, printed materials, and programme of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy-based support sessions delivered to parents by a qualified practitioner. It was designed to be suitable for United Kingdom (UK) National Health Service (NHS) use. METHODS Parents were referred to the study by 12 NHS Health Visitor/Community Public Health Nurse teams in one UK East Midlands NHS Trust. Fifty-two of 57 parents of excessively crying babies received the support package and completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 anxiety questionnaire, as well as other measures, before receiving the support package and afterwards. RESULTS Significant reductions in depression and anxiety were found, with numbers of parents meeting clinical criteria for depression or anxiety halving between baseline and outcome. These improvements were not explained by reductions in infant crying. Reductions also occurred in the number of parents reporting the crying to be a large or severe problem (from 28 to 3 parents) or feeling very or extremely frustrated by the crying (from 31 to 1 parent). Other findings included increases in parents' confidence, knowledge of infant crying, and improvements in parents' sleep. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that the Surviving Crying package may be effective in supporting the well-being and mental health of parents of excessively crying babies. Further, large-scale controlled trials of the package in NHS settings are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Powell
- Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - D Bamber
- Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - J Long
- Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - R Garratt
- Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - J Brown
- Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - S Rudge
- Counseling Psychologist & CBT Practitioner, Leicester, UK
| | - T Morris
- Leicester Clinical Trials Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | | | - S Dyson
- School of Health and Education, Middlesex University, London, UK
| | - E M Boyle
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - I St James-Roberts
- Thomas Coram Research Unit, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK
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Colasante T, Mossad SI, Dudek J, Haley DW. The special status of sad infant faces: age and valence differences in adults' cortical face processing. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2018; 12:586-595. [PMID: 27998995 PMCID: PMC5390733 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsw166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the relative and joint prioritization of age- and valence-related face characteristics in adults’ cortical face processing remains elusive because these two characteristics have not been manipulated in a single study of neural face processing. We used electroencephalography to investigate adults’ P1, N170, P2 and LPP responses to infant and adult faces with happy and sad facial expressions. Viewing infant vs adult faces was associated with significantly larger P1, N170, P2 and LPP responses, with hemisphere and/or participant gender moderating this effect in select cases. Sad faces were associated with significantly larger N170 responses than happy faces. Sad infant faces were associated with significantly larger N170 responses in the right hemisphere than all other combinations of face age and face valence characteristics. We discuss the relative and joint neural prioritization of infant face characteristics and negative facial affect, and their biological value as distinct caregiving and social cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Colasante
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Sarah I Mossad
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 27 King's College Circle, Toronto ON M5S, Canada
| | - Joanna Dudek
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto ON M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - David W Haley
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto ON M1C 1A4, Canada
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Bornstein MH, Putnick DL, Rigo P, Esposito G, Swain JE, Suwalsky JTD, Su X, Du X, Zhang K, Cote LR, De Pisapia N, Venuti P. Neurobiology of culturally common maternal responses to infant cry. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E9465-E9473. [PMID: 29078366 PMCID: PMC5692572 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1712022114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
This report coordinates assessments of five types of behavioral responses in new mothers to their own infants' cries with neurobiological responses in new mothers to their own infants' cries and in experienced mothers and inexperienced nonmothers to infant cries and other emotional and control sounds. We found that 684 new primipara mothers in 11 countries (Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, France, Kenya, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and the United States) preferentially responded to their infants' vocalizing distress by picking up and holding and by talking to their infants, as opposed to displaying affection, distracting, or nurturing. Complementary functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analyses of brain responses to their own infants' cries in 43 new primipara US mothers revealed enhanced activity in concordant brain territories linked to the intention to move and to speak, to process auditory stimulation, and to caregive [supplementary motor area (SMA), inferior frontal regions, superior temporal regions, midbrain, and striatum]. Further, fMRI brain responses to infant cries in 50 Chinese and Italian mothers replicated, extended, and, through parcellation, refined the results. Brains of inexperienced nonmothers activated differently. Culturally common responses to own infant cry coupled with corresponding fMRI findings to own infant and to generic infant cries identified specific, common, and automatic caregiving reactions in mothers to infant vocal expressions of distress and point to their putative neurobiological bases. Candidate behaviors embedded in the nervous systems of human caregivers lie at the intersection of evolutionary biology and developmental cultural psychology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc H Bornstein
- Child and Family Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892;
| | - Diane L Putnick
- Child and Family Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Paola Rigo
- Child and Family Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, I-38068 Trento, Italy
- Division of Psychology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, I-38068 Trento, Italy
- Division of Psychology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798
| | - James E Swain
- Stony Brook University Hospital Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY 11794
| | - Joan T D Suwalsky
- Child and Family Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Xueyun Su
- East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xiaoxia Du
- East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Kaihua Zhang
- East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Linda R Cote
- Department of Psychology, Marymount University, Arlington, VA 22207
| | - Nicola De Pisapia
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, I-38068 Trento, Italy
| | - Paola Venuti
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, I-38068 Trento, Italy
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