Journal of affective disorders
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Post-partum depression (PPD) in many low-income countries, including Tanzania, is not well recognized, and the underlying predictors and causes of PPD remain unclear. Results from previous studies suggest that PPD is associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced during the perinatal period. In the present study, we assessed the relationship between IPV and PPD among women attending antenatal services in Tanzania. ⋯ One out of every three pregnant women in the study population was exposed to IPV during pregnancy and these events were strongly associated with development of postpartum depression. Younger women and women with no prior history of depression were specifically prone to develop PPD when being exposed to IPV. These findings should help to inform targeted screening for PPD in the postnatal setting in Tanzania and other low-income countries in order to minimize complications suffered by mothers and their babies.
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Poor perinatal maternal mental health has been linked with negative outcomes on early child development; however, the importance of maternal personality has been neglected thus far. We aimed to examine the effects of antenatal and postnatal maternal mental health, including assessment of maternal personality characteristics, on child neuropsychological and behavioral development at preschool years in a population based mother-child cohort (Rhea Study) in Crete, Greece. ⋯ These findings suggest that poor perinatal maternal mental health and an adverse personality profile may be associated with impaired child neuropsychological and behavioral development at preschool years.
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Review Meta Analysis
Placebo and nocebo reactions in randomized trials of pharmacological treatments for persistent depressive disorder. A meta-regression analysis.
We aimed to investigate placebo and nocebo reactions in randomized controlled trials (RCT) of pharmacological treatments for persistent depressive disorder (PDD). ⋯ Limitations result from the methodology applied, the fact that we conducted only univariate analyses, and the number and quality of included trials.
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Diminished physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a common consequence of road traffic crash (RTC) injury. This study aimed to (a) determine the probable recovery trajectories in physical and mental HRQoL; (b) examine the impact of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on HRQoL scores within these trajectory groups; and (c) examine the influence of predictor covariates on trajectory group membership. ⋯ This study identified a concerning subgroup of individuals who have chronic and/or declining physical and mental HRQoL that can be impacted by a diagnosis of PTSD. The development of interventions with a special focus on associated psychological injury is needed to improve the HRQoL of at-risk individuals following RTC injury.
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Observational Study
Improving discrimination in antepartum depression screening using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
Universal screening of pregnant women for postpartum depression has recently been recommended; however, optimal application of depression screening tools in stratifying risk has not been defined. The current study examines new approaches to improve the ability of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to stratify risk for postpartum depression, including alternate cut points, use of a continuous measure, and incorporation of other putative risk factors. ⋯ Though an antepartum EPDS cut-off score <5 yielded the greatest discrimination identifying women at low risk for postpartum depression, the negative predictive value was insufficient to substitute for postpartum screening.