The toxic stress and its impact on development in the Shonkoff’s Ecobiodevelopmental Theorical approach

Depressive and anxiety disorders and antidepressant prescriptions among insured children and young adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia in the United States

Background

Dysfunction in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis has been associated with depressive and anxiety disorders. Little is known about the risk for these disorders among individuals with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a form of primary adrenal insufficiency.

Objective

We investigated the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders and antidepressant prescriptions in two large healthcare databases of insured children, adolescents, and young adults with CAH in the United States.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative data from October 2015 through December 2019 for individuals aged 4-25 years enrolled in employer-sponsored or Medicaid health plans.

Results

Adjusting for age, the prevalence of depressive disorders [adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) = 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4-2.0, p<0.001], anxiety disorders [aPR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.4-1.9, p<0.001], and filled antidepressant prescriptions [aPR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.4-2.0, p<0.001] was higher among privately insured youth with CAH as compared to their non-CAH peers. Prevalence estimates were also higher among publicly insured youth with CAH for depressive disorders [aPR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.9-2.9, p<0.001], anxiety disorders [aPR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.6-2.5, p<0.001], and filled antidepressant prescriptions [aPR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.9-3.1, p<0.001] as compared to their non-CAH peers.

Conclusions

The elevated prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders and antidepressant prescriptions among youth with CAH suggests that screening for symptoms of depression and anxiety among this population might be warranted.

Play into the domestic routine to promote child development: cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between the incorporation of play into the domestic routine of caregivers, and the child development of children under their care.

METHOD

Cross-sectional study conducted with 129 caregiver-child dyads aged 12-23 months, living in the southern region of São Paulo. Child development was assessed using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire-3, and the incorporation of play into the domestic through a questionnaire and filming of the dyads in activities related to the domestic routine.

RESULTS

Almost all the caregivers were the mother (98%), who, when answering the questionnaire, reported incorporating play into their domestic routine (93%), however in the video, only one third played with the child (34%). There was a positive association between playing in moments of domestic routine and domains of child development in children aged 18 months or less.

CONCLUSIONS

A positive association was found between the incorporation of play into the domestic routine and child development.

Maternal History of Childhood Adversities and Later Negative Parenting: A Systematic Review

Adverse childhood experiences negatively impact future violence, victimization, perpetration, health, and lifelong development. The aim of the present study was to systematically review the scientific evidence of empirical studies on the association between maternal childhood adversity in a familial context, including maltreatment, household challenges, and later maternal negative parenting. A search was performed in the PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, SciELO, and LILACS databases, using the combination of the following keywords: (neglect OR abuse OR maltreatment OR harsh parenting OR punishment OR discipline OR negative parenting practices) AND (adverse childhood experiences OR early adversity OR cycle of violence OR cycle of maltreatment OR history of maltreatment) AND (mother OR maternal). The results of 29 studies showed predominantly significant direct associations between maternal childhood adversities and negative parenting with their children (83%). Parental stress was also significantly associated with a maternal history of childhood adversities. Focusing on the type of maltreatment practices, there were similar intergenerational transmission types: homotypic and heterotypic. Few studies have examined the protective factors that could buffer the negative impact of a maternal childhood history of adversities on later negative parenting.

Avaliação da Relação entre Eventos Traumáticos Infantis e Comportamentos Autolesivos em Adolescentes

Resumo Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo verificar a relação entre eventos traumáticos (ET) na infância e a ocorrência de comportamentos autolesivos em adolescentes. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Questionário sobre Traumas na Infância (QUESI) e o Inventário de Autolesão Deliberada - reduzido (IAD-r). Participaram 494 estudantes do ensino médio de ambos os sexos e idade entre 15 e 18 anos (M = 16,4). Destes, 58,5% afirmaram ter sofrido abuso emocional de forma recorrente e 19,0% e 59,5% assumiram já ter sofrido abuso sexual e físico, respectivamente. Quanto à prática de autolesão, 65,0% revelaram já ter se engajado em comportamentos autolesivos. De acordo com a análise de Regressão Logística Binomial, todos os tipos de ET exibiram associação significativa com a prática de comportamentos autolesivos. A análise de moderação a respeito da interação entre a ocorrência de ET infantis e a prática de autolesão revelou ausência de moderação pelo sexo e pela idade. Porém, quanto ao abuso físico, o efeito de moderação da idade apresentou significância estatística limítrofe e indicou que os adolescentes mais novos, de 15 e 16 anos, que sofreram este tipo de abuso na infância, foram mais susceptíveis à prática autolesiva. Portanto, as altas taxas de ET e de autolesão encontradas nesta pesquisa revelam a gravidade do problema. Espera-se que esta investigação possa contribuir para a elaboração de intervenções para prevenção e controle dos fatores de risco que acometem a população infanto-juvenil.

Parenting Programme Structure, Potential Barriers, and Facilitators: A Scoping Review

Becoming a parent is a challenging transition, and stress factors may arise. This scoping review aims to map, from the literature, the structure, potential barriers, and facilitators to be considered when conducting a parenting programme for parents of children up to 3 years old. It followed the JBI methodology and included studies with parents of children up to 3 years old (Participants), studies about parenting programme structure, its potential barriers, and facilitators (Concept) in the healthcare or community setting (Context). Qualitative and/or quantitative study designs and grey literature publications between 2016 and 2021 were eligible. The search was performed in three stages in CINAHL Plus with Full Text, MEDLINE with Full Text, and PubMed databases. It was also conducted in OpenGrey, ProQuest, Portuguese Open Access Scientific Repository, and Google Scholar. Fourteen articles were selected. The following aspects were identified regarding parenting programmes: benefits; structuring elements to be considered; facilitating factors and possible barriers to its development, and measurement instruments to assess the programme. Parenting programmes are important ways to contribute to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient society. It should be adapted to individuals, groups, and communities. They add value to parents, children, and society and should be carefully adapted to the group's needs.

Quality Improvement Initiative in the NICU for Improved Practice of Cuff Blood Pressure Measurements

BACKGROUND

Extreme preterm infants face lengthy hospitalizations and are often subjected to painful stimuli. These stimuli may be related to routine caregiving that may negatively impact long-term developmental outcomes. Frequently obtained cuff blood pressure (BP) measurements are an example of a potentially noxious stimulus to preterm infants that may have a cumulating impact on development.

PURPOSE

The primary aim was to explore the frequency of cuff BP measurements obtained in hemodynamically stable extreme preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Our secondary aim was to reduce the number of cuff BP measurements obtained in hemodynamically stable extreme preterm infants in the NICU.

METHODS

Quality improvement methodologies per the Institute for Healthcare Improvement were used combined with a multidisciplinary approach. Participants were infants born less than 27 weeks of gestation and discharged home. The baseline period was 2015 through Q2-2018 and the intervention period was Q3-2018 through Q1-2020. The electronic medical record was used to collect data and Minitab Statistical Software was used for data analysis.

FINDINGS/RESULTS

A baseline of 5.0% of eligible patients received the desired number of cuff BP measurements and increased to 63.2% after the intervention period.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Findings demonstrate that using quality improvement methodology can improve clinical care. Findings suggest the feasibility and safety of reducing the number of cuff BP measurements obtained on hemodynamically stable infants in the NICU.

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH

Future endeavors should aim to reduce the quantity of painful stimuli in the NICU. Long-term developmental outcomes should be correlated in these patients.

Reflexões baseadas na Psicologia sobre efeitos da pandemia COVID-19 no desenvolvimento infantil

Resumo De forma inquestionável, a pandemia da COVID-19 ameaça a saúde física e mental da população na contemporaneidade. Embora as crianças sejam menos contaminadas na forma sintomática e grave da COVID-19, essas podem ser mais afetadas no âmbito do desenvolvimento psicológico por serem uma população vulnerável. O presente artigo aborda aspectos conceituais da Teoria do Caos no desenvolvimento e do estresse tóxico, associados aos conceitos de autorregulação e enfrentamento do estresse (coping), visando subsidiar reflexões, do ponto de vista psicológico, sobre os efeitos potenciais da condição da adversidade da pandemia no desenvolvimento das crianças e na parentalidade. A fundamentação teórico-conceitual oferece suporte à compreensão dos tipos de enfrentamento adaptativo ou desadaptado frente a essa experiência adversa e potencialmente traumática da contemporaneidade.