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Maylott SE, Reese SE, Zhou AM, Kaliush PR, Terrell S, Saenz C, Brown L, Crowell SE, Lester B, Smid MC, Shakib JH, Garland EL, Conradt E. Maternal psychophysiology profiles: associations with prenatal opioid use, maternal emotion dysregulation, and newborn neurobehavior. Pediatr Res 2024:10.1038/s41390-024-03399-7. [PMID: 39097654 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03399-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid use among pregnant women has more than quadrupled over the past 20 years; however, comorbid risk factors such as emotion dysregulation confound the developmental consequences of prenatal opioid use. Maternal respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) may help to disentangle the comorbid risk factors of prenatal emotion dysregulation and substance use and isolate their consequences on newborn neurobehavior. METHODS We examined maternal RSA in response to a mild, infant-related stress task in pregnant people (N = 192; 30 on medications for opioid use disorder) recruited from hospitals and a specialty prenatal clinic for substance use disorder. RESULTS Three latent profiles emerged based on maternal RSA reactivity. Mothers with RSA increasing (Profile 3; more nervous system dysregulation) had higher levels of emotion dysregulation than mothers with RSA decreasing (Profile 1; well-regulated nervous system responses) but were not more likely to use opioids. Additionally, RSA profiles were associated with newborn neurobehavior, including attention, regulation, handling, and arousal. CONCLUSIONS Given the variability in opioid use across RSA profiles and profile associations with newborn neurodevelopment, future studies should examine protective factors in pregnant individuals using opioids who show more flexible RSA responses. IMPACT Our study examined maternal psychophysiology and newborn outcomes in a unique population with high levels of emotion dysregulation and opioid use. Three profiles of maternal respiratory sinus arrythmia (RSA) reactivity were identified during pregnancy: decreasing, blunted, and increasing. The RSA increasing and blunted profiles were associated with higher emotion dysregulation than the decreasing profile. Most pregnant people on medications for opioid use disorder (65%) were grouped into the blunted profile, suggesting they might be more at risk for dysregulated RSA reactivity. Differences in RSA profiles were associated with newborn outcomes, with increasing and blunted RSA predicting more newborn neurobehavioral dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Maylott
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Sarah E Reese
- University of Montana, School of Social Work, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Anna M Zhou
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Parisa R Kaliush
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sarah Terrell
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Celine Saenz
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Lydia Brown
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Barry Lester
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Marcela C Smid
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Julie H Shakib
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Eric L Garland
- University of Utah, College of Social Work, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Elisabeth Conradt
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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Conradt E, Tronick E, Lester BM. Evidence for neurobehavioral risk phenotypes at birth. Pediatr Res 2024:10.1038/s41390-024-03353-7. [PMID: 38907044 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03353-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Observations of newborn behavior provide clinicians and researchers with a first description of the neurobehavioral organization of the newborn that is largely independent of the postnatal environment. The Neonatal Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) was developed in 2004 to evaluate how prenatal exposure to substances such as cocaine is related to neurobehavioral outcomes. There are now 156 empirical articles published using the NNNS, which we review and summarize. Z-scores from published studies using the NNNS were compiled and aggregated supporting the replicability of three newborn neurobehavioral phenotypes: one typical and two that are predictive of later cognitive and behavioral delay; hyper- and hypo-dysregulated newborns. These phenotypes emerged from independent samples and research groups and were identified in a variety of populations, including infants with prenatal substance exposure, preterm infants, and healthy term infants. Our findings show that newborn neurobehavior can be measured in a reliable and valid manner and that certain behavioral phenotypes, identifiable at birth, can predict neurodevelopmental challenges. These findings have important clinical utility. Intervening early with infants exhibiting these risk phenotypes may prevent later neurodevelopmental delay. IMPACT: We reviewed all empirical studies published using the Neonatal Network Neurobehavioral Scale and found evidence for two replicable stress phenotypes that predict later behavioral outcomes. This study highlights the utility of the Neonatal Network Neurobehavioral Scale for early identification of newborn neurodevelopmental risk phenotypes. Early identification of neurodevelopmental risk, when neuroplasticity is high, may ultimately reduce the burden of subsequent neurobehavioral problems through early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Conradt
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Edward Tronick
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Barry M Lester
- Brown University Alpert Medical School; Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Providence, RI, USA
- Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Center for Children and Families, Department of Pediatrics, Providence, RI, USA
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Khoury JE, Giles L, Kaur H, Johnson D, Gonzalez A, Atkinson L. Associations between psychological distress and hair cortisol during pregnancy and the early postpartum: A meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 147:105969. [PMID: 36335755 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy and the early postpartum signify a period of high stress. Perinatal stress can include psychological distress (PD), such as anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as neuroendocrine stress, indexed by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the production of the hormone cortisol. Elevated PD and cortisol levels during the perinatal period can have long-term implications for the mother and child. Methodological advances have enabled the sampling of cortisol from hair, to provide a retrospective marker of HPA axis activity over several months. Despite knowing that maternal PD and HPA activity during the perinatal period independently impact health and development, research to date is unclear as to the association between maternal PD and hair cortisol. The present meta-analysis included 29 studies to assess the strength of the relation between maternal PD and hair cortisol levels during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. Several sample and methodological factors were assessed as moderators of this effect. Analyses were conducted using multilevel meta-analysis. Results of the multilevel meta-analysis indicated that the overall effect size between PD and HCC was small but not significant z = 0.039, 95% CI [- 0.001, 0.079]. Moderator analyses indicated that the strength of the association between PD and hair cortisol was moderated by pregnancy status (i.e., effects were stronger in pregnant compared to postpartum samples), timing of HCC and PD measurements (i.e., effects were larger when PD was measured before HCC) and geographic location (i.e., effects were larger in North American studies). The findings advance our understanding of the link between PD and HPA activity during the perinatal period, a time of critical impact to child development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Khoury
- Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS Canada.
| | - Lauren Giles
- Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS Canada
| | - Hargun Kaur
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
| | - Dylan Johnson
- Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Andrea Gonzalez
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada; Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
| | - Leslie Atkinson
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON Canada
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Carter SE, Gibbons FX, Beach SRH. Measuring the Biological Embedding of Racial Trauma Among Black Americans Utilizing the RDoC Approach. Dev Psychopathol 2021; 33:1849-1863. [PMID: 35586028 PMCID: PMC9109960 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421001073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative aims to understand the mechanisms influencing psychopathology through a dimensional approach. Limited research thus far has considered potential racial/ethnic differences in RDoC constructs that are influenced by developmental and contextual processes. A growing body of research has demonstrated that racial trauma is a pervasive chronic stressor that impacts the health of Black Americans across the life course. In this review article, we examine the ways that an RDOC framework could allow us to better understand the biological embedding of racial trauma among Black Americans. We also specifically examine the Negative Valence System domain of RDoC to explore how racial trauma is informed by and can help expand our understanding of this domain. We end the review by providing some additional research considerations and future research directives in the area of racial trauma that build on the RDoC initiative.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Steven R H Beach
- Department of Psychology and Center for Family Research, University of Georgia
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Demers CH, Bagonis MM, Al-Ali K, Garcia SE, Styner MA, Gilmore JH, Hoffman MC, Hankin BL, Davis EP. Exposure to prenatal maternal distress and infant white matter neurodevelopment. Dev Psychopathol 2021; 33:1526-1538. [PMID: 35586027 PMCID: PMC9109943 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421000742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The prenatal period represents a critical time for brain growth and development. These rapid neurological advances render the fetus susceptible to various influences with life-long implications for mental health. Maternal distress signals are a dominant early life influence, contributing to birth outcomes and risk for offspring psychopathology. This prospective longitudinal study evaluated the association between prenatal maternal distress and infant white matter microstructure. Participants included a racially and socioeconomically diverse sample of 85 mother-infant dyads. Prenatal distress was assessed at 17 and 29 weeks' gestational age (GA). Infant structural data were collected via diffusion tensor imaging at 42-45 weeks' postconceptional age. Findings demonstrated that higher prenatal maternal distress at 29 weeks' GA was associated with increased fractional anisotropy (b = .283, t(64) = 2.319, p = .024) and with increased axial diffusivity (b = .254, t(64) = 2.067, p = .043) within the right anterior cingulate white matter tract. No other significant associations were found with prenatal distress exposure and tract fractional anisotropy or axial diffusivity at 29 weeks' GA, nor earlier in gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine H. Demers
- Department of Psychology University of Denver, Denver CO,
USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz
Medical Campus, Aurora CO, USA
| | - Maria M. Bagonis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
| | - Khalid Al-Ali
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
| | - Sarah E. Garcia
- Department of Psychology University of Denver, Denver CO,
USA
| | - Martin A. Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
| | - John H. Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
| | - M. Camille Hoffman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz
Medical Campus, Aurora CO, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of
Maternal and Fetal Medicine, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine,
Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Benjamin L. Hankin
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Champaign IL, USA
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology University of Denver, Denver CO,
USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of
California, Irvine, CA, USA
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