Depressive Symptoms In Women Research Articles

Endometriosis and Its Relationship with Depression

INTRODUCTION: There is evidence that the physical and psychic pain resulting from endometriosis is responsible for depression, and that one disease would complicate the other. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to detect depressive symptoms in women diagnosed with endometriosis, comparing them with those without the disease, and to evaluate if there is a relationship between the presence of current depressive symptoms and in childhood/adolescence. METHODS: Were done Beck’s Depression Inventory for adults and an adaptation of the infant, both self-applied. RESULTS: Of the women with endometriosis, 66% had symptoms of depression in the Beck’s Inventory, while in the control group, 58% had some degree of depression, but Fisher’s exact test showed that it was not possible to identify the relationship between endometriosis and depression (p = 0.423). CONCLUSION: The entity endometriosis has no relation to present or past depressive symptoms. When depressed, women with endometriosis tend to have mild symptoms for reasons not yet known, requiring further research on the subject.

Comparative Effectiveness of Antidepressant Medication versus Psychological Intervention on Depression Symptoms in Women with Infertility and Sexual Dysfunction.

BackgroundFertility loss is considered as a challenging experience. This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of antidepressant medication and psychological intervention on depression symptoms in women with infertility and sexual dysfunctions (SD).Materials and MethodsThis randomized, controlled clinical trial study was completed from December 2014 to June 2015 in Babol, Iran. Of the 485 participants, 93 were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to psychosexual therapy (PST), bupropion extended-release (BUP ER) at a dose of 150 mg/d, and control (no intervention) groups. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was completed at the beginning and end of the study. Duration of study was eight weeks. Statistical analyses were performed by using paired-test and analysis of covariance.ResultsThe mean depression score on the BDI was 22.35 ± 8.70 in all participants. Mean BDI score decreased significantly in both treatment groups (PST: P<0.0001, BUP: P<0.002) from baseline to end of the study, whereas intra-individual changes in BDI score were not significant in the control group. The decrease in mean BDI score was greater with PST compared to BUP treatment (P<0.005) and the control group (P<0.0001). The PST group showed greater improvement in depression levels (severe to moderate, moderate to mild) in comparison with the two other groups (P<0.001). Drug treatment was well tolerated by the participants in the BUP group.ConclusionPST can be a reliable alternative to BUP ER for relieving depression symptoms in an Iranian population of women with infertility and SD (Registration number: IRCT2015042721955N2).

Physical activity and depressive symptoms after breast cancer: Cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships.

The objective of this study was to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and depressive symptoms in women after treatment for breast cancer. Accelerometer data on MVPA and self-report data on frequency of depressive symptoms were collected five times at ∼ 3-month intervals from women (Mage at Time 1 = 55.01 ± 10.96 years) who had completed treatment for breast cancer 3 months prior to study inception. Data were analyzed using latent growth modeling with structured residuals. Levels of MVPA decreased, on average, by .52 min every 3 months (p < .001), whereas the frequency of depressive symptoms was stable. MVPA was inversely and significantly related cross-sectionally with depressive symptoms, but not longitudinally. Also, there was no evidence of a bidirectional predictive relationship between MVPA and depressive symptoms. Although higher levels of MVPA were associated with less frequent depressive symptoms cross-sectionally in women after treatment for breast cancer, MVPA did not predict frequency of depressive symptoms or vice versa. Common etiologic or shared risk factors underpinning the cross-sectional relationships between depressive symptoms and MVPA should be studied across the transition from treatment to survivorship. (PsycINFO Database Record

Prediction of risk of depressive symptoms in menopausal women based on hot flash and sweating symptoms: a multicentre study.

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to develop a symptom-based (namely, hot flashes and sweating) scoring system for predicting the risk of depressive symptoms in menopausal women via a multicentre cross-sectional survey.MethodsThe data examined in the present study were obtained from 1,004 women aged 40–60 years who underwent physical examination at A Hospital. The basic information was obtained using a questionnaire-based survey. A self-rating depression scale was used to obtain the depressive symptom scores, while the Kupperman Menopausal Index was used to obtain the scores for the frequency of hot flashes and sweating. A logistic regression model was also established. The resulting β coefficient was employed to calculate and predict the risk of depressive symptoms in these women and a risk scoring system was established. The scoring system was validated using samples from 2 other centers (validation sample 1: B Hospital, 440 women; validation sample 2: C Hospital, 247 women).ResultsThe scoring system developed to predict the risk of depressive symptoms in menopausal women was based on hot flash and sweating symptoms and associated with menopausal status, hot flash scores, education level (high school education and below) and being diabetic. The scoring system yielded a total score of 0–54 points. For women in the study sample, the area under the curve (AUC) of depressive symptom risk score was 0.750 (95% CI, 0.708–0.793). Validation sample 1 had an AUC of 0.731 (95% CI, 0.667–0.794), while validation sample 2 had an AUC of 0.744 (95% CI, 0.669–0.820). The optimal cut-off score to assess depressive symptoms in women participating in the present study was 31 points. The sensitivity and specificity for predicting depressive symptoms in the study sample were 0.667 and 0.701, respectively. In contrast, the sensitivity was 0.840 in validation sample 1 and 0.879 in validation sample 2.ConclusionThe hot flash and sweating symptom-based scoring system developed to predict the risk of depressive symptoms in menopausal women relies on non-laboratory survey data. The system is simple, practical, and convenient to use. For Chinese huge population of menopausal women, the scoring system should be considered a reliable screening tool for depressive symptoms.

The effect of bromocriptine treatment on sexual functioning and depressive symptoms in women with mild hyperprolactinemia.

Elevated prolactin levels are associated with sexual dysfunction in women. No previous study has investigated the effect of dopamine agonists on sexual functioning in women. The study enrolled 30 young women with mild hyperprolactinemia (serum prolactin levels in the range between 25 and 50ng/mL), 15 of whom were later treated with bromocriptine (5-10mg daily), as well as 14 age- and weight-matched healthy women. All women completed a questionnaire evaluating female sexual function (Female Sexual Function Index - FSFI) and a questionnaire evaluating the presence and severity of depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition - BDI-II). Women with mild hyperprolactinemia had a lower total FSFI score, lower scores in all domains of sexual functioning (desire, arousal, lubrication, and dyspareunia), as well as a lower total BDI-II score than control women. Bromocriptine increased the FSFI score and tended to reduce BDI-II score. Moreover, the drug normalized desire, arousal, lubrication and dyspareunia, as well as improved orgasm and sexual satisfaction and this action correlated with changes in prolactin levels and an improvement in insulin sensitivity. No changes in sexual functioning and depressive symptoms were observed in untreated women with mild hyperprolactinemia and healthy controls. Bromocriptine treatment improves female sexual functioning and slightly affects depressive symptoms in women with elevated prolactin levels and this effect is related to its prolactin-lowering and metabolic effects.

Gender, Spousal Caregiving, and Depression: Does Paid Work Matter?

Studies have shown that spousal caregiving leads to psychological distress, but few have analyzed the moderating effect of paid work. Using the 2000 to 2012 Health and Retirement Study and two‐stage least squares regression models, this study found that caregiving increased women's and men's depressive symptoms. Ordinary least squares models showed that caregiving had more adverse effects on women's mental health than on men's, but these differences were eliminated in two‐stage least squares models that accounted for the bidirectional effects of depression and caregiving. The current study also found that for women, part‐time work attenuated the depressive effect of spousal caregiving, whereas for men, part‐time work exacerbated it. These gender differences persisted even for intensive spousal caregivers. The authors suggest that caregiving women who work part‐time may benefit from work‐related resources. Caregiving men who work part‐time, however, may feel distressed, as their work–family experiences conflict with traditional gender norms.

Benefits of belly dance on quality of life, fatigue, and depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer – A pilot study of a non-randomised clinical trial

ObjectiveTo analyse the influence of belly dance on the quality of life, fatigue, and depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer. MethodsPilot study, with a design of non-randomised clinical trial study, analysing 19 women, with 8 allocated in the experimental group and 11 in the control group. The experimental group underwent 12 weeks of belly dance classes, with a frequency of twice a week and duration of 60 min for each lesson. Data collection was made through the use of questionnaires containing general information, quality of life (EORTC QLQ-BR23), fatigue (Piper Fatigue Scale) and depressive symptoms (BECK's Depression Inventory) applied on baseline and after intervention. ResultsThe experimental group presented significant improvements after the intervention, with an increase in scores of the functional scale (p = 0.002): body image (p = 0.037) and sexual function (p = 0.027); and a decrease in scores of the symptomatic scale (p = 0.001): systemic therapy side effects (p = 0.005) and arm symptoms (p = 0.001) of quality of life, as well the decrease of fatigue (p = 0.036) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.002). No significant differences were observed in clinical and demographic information at baseline between the experimental and control groups. Also, there was no significant difference on quality of life, fatigue, and depressive symptoms between the two groups. ConclusionBelly dance can be a viable form of physical activity for women with breast cancer. It was associated with benefits for quality of life, fatigue, and depressive symptoms. Even though there were significant pre–post treatment differences, there was no significance difference between the experimental and control group; and therefore, treatment could have been due to natural history.

The Contextual Role of Depression within Couples Experiencing Partner Violence

ABSTRACTDespite previous research suggesting a link between intimate partner violence (IPV) and depression within romantic relationships, few studies have examined the role of depression in couples experiencing violence. Using dyadic data of 129 heterosexual couples seeking couples therapy for high conflict including physical IPV, depressive symptoms were evaluated as a moderator in the association between psychological and physical IPV. Results indicated that moderate and high reports of women's depressive symptoms provided a context, while men's psychological abuse toward them moved from low to high, for women to be more physically abusive toward their partners. Further, low reports of women's depressive symptoms provided a context, while men's psychological abuse toward them moved from low to high, for women to be less physically abusive toward their partners. Better understanding the role of depression and how it may offer a context for physical violence assists helping professionals in holistically addressing violence within romantic relationships.

Exploring the paths between dysfunctional attitudes towards motherhood and postpartum depressive symptoms: The moderating role of self‐compassion

Better understanding how cognitive processes operate to influence women's depressive symptoms during the postpartum period is crucial for informing preventive and treatment approaches. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between women's dysfunctional attitudes towards motherhood and depressive symptoms, considering the mediating role of negative automatic thoughts and the moderating role of self-compassion. A sample of 387 women in the postpartum period cross-sectionally answered a set of questionnaires to assess dysfunctional attitudes towards motherhood, negative automatic thoughts (general and postpartum-specific), depressive symptoms, and self-compassion. Women with clinically significant depressive symptoms presented more dysfunctional attitudes towards motherhood, more frequent negative thoughts, and lower self-compassion. More dysfunctional beliefs about others' judgments and about maternal responsibility were associated with higher depressive symptoms, and this effect occurred through both general and postpartum-specific thoughts related to the metacognitive appraisal of the thought content. Moreover, these relationships occurred only when women presented low or moderate levels of self-compassion. These results highlight the need to comprehensively assess women's cognitive variables during the postpartum period with appropriate measures, for the early identification of women with more dysfunctional beliefs about motherhood, who may be at higher risk of depression. Moreover, preventive/treatment approaches should aim not only to challenge women's preexisting dysfunctional beliefs but also to promote a more self-compassionate attitude towards themselves.

How Does the Mindfulness-Based Program for Infertility (MBPI) Work in Reducing Depressive Symptoms?

Mindfulness-based approaches have been applied and proved efficient in reducing symptoms related to several health problems. To our knowledge, the Mindfulness-Based Program for Infertility (MBPI) was the first mindfulness program developed specifically to target women facing infertility. This psychological intervention program was previously shown to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms in women facing infertility, but the underlying mechanisms were not clarified. The current study aimed to test whether the decrease of depressive symptoms could be explained by the increase of self-efficacy following the MBPI. The MBPI included 10 weekly sessions, in a group format, with the duration of about 2 h each and was applied to five groups (10 to 15 participants in each group). Fifty-five women completed the MBPI, and 37 women were assigned to a control group. All participants presented an infertility diagnosis and were pursuing medical treatment for this condition. Standardized measures of depression and infertility self-efficacy were collected pre and post MBPI. A significant indirect effect was found, showing that the MBPI intervention reduced the depressive symptoms of women with infertility by increasing their perceptions of self-efficacy. In summary, the promotion of infertility self-efficacy may be considered a key component of psychological interventions targeting depressive symptoms in women facing infertility.

Group-based multicomponent treatment to reduce depressive symptoms in women with co-morbid psychiatric and psychosocial problems during pregnancy: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDepressive symptoms in pregnant women, which are common and debilitating, are often co-morbid with other mental disorders (e.g. anxiety and personality disorders), and related to low socioeconomic status (SES). This situation may hamper treatment outcome, which has often been neglected in previous studies on the treatment of depression during pregnancy. We developed a new group-based multicomponent treatment (GMT) comprising cognitive behavioral therapy, psycho-education and body-oriented therapy and compared the effect on depressive symptoms with individual counseling (treatment as usual, TAU) in a heterogeneous group of pregnant women with co-morbid mental disorders and/or low SES. MethodsAn outpatient sample from a university hospital of 158 pregnant women who met DSM-IV criteria for mental disorders were included and 99 participants were randomized to GMT or TAU from January 2010 until January 2013. The Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS) was used at baseline, every 5 weeks during pregnancy and as the primary outcome measure of depressive symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum. Secondary outcome measures included the clinician-reported Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), obstetric outcomes and a ‘Patient Satisfaction’ questionnaire. Results155 participants were included the intention-to-treat (ITT)-analysis. GMT was not superior above TAU according to estimated EDS (β = 0.13, CI = − 0.46–0.71, p = 0.67) and HDRS scores (β = − 0.39, CI = − 0.82–0.05, p = 0.08) at 6 weeks postpartum. There were no differences in secondary outcomes between the GMT and TAU, nor between the randomized condition and patient-preference condition. LimitationsThe ability to detect an effect of GMT may have been limited by sample size, missing data and the ceiling effect of TAU. ConclusionsGMT is an acceptable treatment for a heterogeneous group of pregnant women with depressive symptoms and co-morbid mental disorders and/or low SES, but not superior to TAU. Further research should focus on understanding and treating co-morbid disorders and psychosocial problems during pregnancy. Clinical trials registrationDutch trial registry, www.trialregister.nl under reference number: NTR3015.

Predictors of Postpartum Exercise According to Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain.

The study purposes were to examine (1)differences in postpartum exercise (EX) and related personal/psychological correlates in women according to prepregnancy weight and pregnancy gestational weight gain (GWG) status and (2)predictors of EX at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 6 months postpartum. Participants (N = 891) were recruited at maternity hospitalization and completed interviews to assess EX (Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire) and personal correlates (demographics, anxiety/depressive symptoms) before/during pregnancy. Telephone interviews were conducted to assess postpartum EX/psychological correlates. Women were categorized according to prepregnancy weight (normal and overweight) and pregnancy GWG status (above or within weight gain guidelines): normal-above, normal-within, overweight-above, and overweight-within. Low levels of EX minutes were observed in all women with significant differences for strenuous EX minutes (overweight-within women had the lowest strenuous EX; normal-weight women had more strenuous EX than overweight women regardless of GWG). Correlates explained 14%-37% of the variance in postpartum EX; prepregnancy EX and pregnancy EX were strong determinants of early postpartum EX, and early postpartum EX predicted 6-month postpartum EX. Unique predictors of EX also emerged (eg, depressive symptoms for women with GWG above guidelines). These study findings highlight the benefits of EX before/during pregnancy for promoting postpartum EX and suggest tailoring postpartum EX interventions based on personal/psychological correlates to maximize effectiveness.

Adolescent socioeconomic status and depressive symptoms in later life: Evidence from structural equation models

BackgroundThe complex association between socioeconomic status (SES) and depressive symptoms is not entirely understood and the existing literature does not address the relationship between early-life SES and later-life depression from a life-course perspective, incorporating mediating events. MethodsUsing data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, we employed structural equation modeling to examine how SES measured at age 18 affects depressive symptoms at age 54 directly and through mediating variables college graduation, marriage, and household income level at age 36. ResultsThe total effect of adolescent SES on later-life depressive symptoms is largely mediated through college graduation. Our final model was driven by the effects of women. The variables contributing most to depressive symptoms in women were the direct effect of being raised in a home with a low SES and the indirect effect of low adolescent SES mediated through non-completion of college. LimitationsCohort was exclusively comprised of white, high school graduates born in 1939 (± 2 years). In our analysis we assume that missing values are missing at random (MAR); however, attrition both from death (excluded from our population) and from non-response could be associated with depression, i.e. missing not at random (MNAR). ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the impact of completion of college, particularly among women, and supports the social mobility hypothesis to explain the relationship between adolescent socioeconomic circumstances and late-life health.

Childhood maltreatment, psychological resources, and depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer

Childhood maltreatment is associated with elevated risk for depression across the human lifespan. Identifying the pathways through which childhood maltreatment relates to depressive symptoms may elucidate intervention targets that have the potential to reduce the lifelong negative health sequelae of maltreatment exposure. In this cross-sectional study, 271 women with early-stage breast cancer were assessed after their diagnosis but before the start of adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy, radiation, endocrine therapy). Participants completed measures of childhood maltreatment exposure, psychological resources (optimism, mastery, self-esteem, mindfulness), and depressive symptoms. Using multiple mediation analyses, we examined which psychological resources uniquely mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms. Exposure to maltreatment during childhood was robustly associated with lower psychological resources and elevated depressive symptoms. Further, lower optimism and mindfulness mediated the association between childhood maltreatment and elevated depressive symptoms. These results support existing theory that childhood maltreatment is associated with lower psychological resources, which partially explains elevated depressive symptoms in a sample of women facing breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. These findings warrant replication in populations facing other major life events and highlight the need for additional studies examining childhood maltreatment as a moderator of treatment outcomes.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms in women and men from early pregnancy to 30 months postpartum

Aims: The aims of this study were to analyse the changes in anxiety and depression symptoms from early pregnancy to 30 months postpartum according to gender and parity.Method: 129 couples (N = 258) recruited from an obstetrics unit completed self-report measures of anxiety and depression at each pregnancy trimester, childbirth, 3 and 30 months postpartum. Using multilevel modelling, piecewise dyadic growth curve models were performed, assessing time, gender and parity as predictors of anxiety and depression symptoms.Results: Anxiety and depression symptoms decreased from the first trimester to 3 months postpartum and increased from 3 to 30 months postpartum, returning to the baseline levels in the overall sample. The symptoms were positively correlated within-dyad; in a given time point when a partner reported more symptoms, the other reported more symptoms as well. Changes in anxiety and depression symptoms over time were different according to gender and parity, especially from 3 to 30 months postpartum. Primiparous women revealed low stable symptoms, whereas multiparous women revealed the steepest symptoms increase (in comparison to primiparous men and women and multiparous men).Conclusions: This study corroborates the literature considering that the transition to parenthood can last until the child’s age of 2 or 3 years. Results point out that the risk for anxiety and depression symptoms increasing over the postpartum period is greater for multiparous and lesser for primiparous women. Future studies should explore the factors that contribute to the high risk of symptoms increase over the postpartum period for multiparous women. Screening and intervention should target couples and not only women.

Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluations of the Enhanced Logo-autobiography Program for Korean-American Women

ABSTRACT This study extends Bernstein et al.'s (2016) investigation of the effects of the Enhanced Logo-autobiography Program on Korean-American women's depressive symptoms, coping strategies, purpose in life, and posttraumatic growth by analyzing quantitative and qualitative data. This study's participants significantly improved on quantitative measures of depression, coping strategies, purpose in life, and post-traumatic growth at eight weeks post-intervention and follow-up. The qualitative content analysis revealed 17 themes with five essential themes. The program's activity to promote purpose in life through posttraumatic growth facilitated participants' recovery from traumatic experiences. Standardized guidelines are needed to conduct this program in Korean community centers.

Cortisol Awakening Response as a Prospective Risk Factor for Depressive Symptoms in Women After Treatment for Breast Cancer.

The aim of the study was to investigate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) functioning as a neurobiological risk factor for depressive symptoms in an ongoing longitudinal, observational study of women undergoing treatment and recovery from breast cancer. Many women with breast cancer experience depressive symptoms that interfere with their treatment, recovery, and quality of life. Psychosocial risk factors for depression among patients with cancer and survivors have been identified, yet neurobiological risk factors in this population remain largely unexamined. Women recently diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer (N = 135) were enrolled before starting neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment (radiation, chemotherapy, endocrine therapy). At baseline, participants collected saliva samples to measure diurnal HPA axis functioning for 3 days: at waking, 30 minutes after waking, 8 hours after waking, and bedtime. Participants also completed a standardized measure of depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale) at baseline and 6 months after completion of primary treatment. Multivariate regression was used to predict continuous depressive symptoms at 6-month posttreatment from continuous depressive symptoms at baseline, cortisol awakening response (CAR), and other measures of diurnal HPA axis functioning. The magnitude of CAR predicted changes in depressive symptoms over time, such that women with a higher CAR showed a greater increase from baseline to 6-month posttreatment (b = 5.67, p = .023). Diurnal slope and total cortisol output were not associated with concurrent depressive symptoms or their change over time. Elevated CAR may be a neurobiological risk factor for increases in depressive symptoms in the months after breast cancer treatment and warrants further investigation.

Access to occupational networks and ethnic variation of depressive symptoms in young adults in Sweden

Social capital research has recognized the relevance of occupational network contacts for individuals’ life chances and status attainment, and found distinct associations dependent on ethnic background. A still fairly unexplored area is the health implications of occupational networks. The current approach thus seeks to study the relationship between access to occupational social capital and depressive symptoms in early adulthood, and to examine whether the associations differ between persons with native Swedish parents and those with parents born in Iran and the former Yugoslavia.The two-wave panel comprised 19- and 23-year-old Swedish citizens whose parents were born in either Sweden, Iran or the former Yugoslavia. The composition of respondents’ occupational networks contacts was measured with a so-called position generator. Depressive symptoms were assessed with a two-item depression screener. A population-averaged model was used to estimate the associations between depressive symptoms and access to occupational contact networks.Similar levels of depressive symptoms in respondents with parents born in Sweden and Yugoslavia were contrasted by a notably higher prevalence of these conditions in those with an Iranian background. After socioeconomic conditions were adjusted for, regression analysis showed that the propensity for depressive symptoms in women with an Iranian background increased with a higher number of manual class contacts, and decreased for men and women with Iranian parents with a higher number of prestigious occupational connections. The respective associations in persons with native Swedish parents and parents from the former Yugoslavia are partly reversed.Access to occupational contact networks, but also perceived ethnic identity, explained a large portion of the ethnic variation in depression. Mainly the group with an Iranian background seems to benefit from prestigious occupational contacts. Among those with an Iranian background, social status concerns and expected marginalization in manual class occupations may have contributed to their propensity for depressive symptoms.

Anxiety and depression among infertile women: a cross-sectional survey from Hungary

BackgroundInfertility is often associated with a chronic state of stress which may manifest itself in anxiety-related and depressive symptoms. The aim of our study is to assess the psychological state of women with and without fertility problems, and to investigate the background factors of anxiety-related and depressive symptoms in women struggling with infertility.MethodsOur study was conducted with the participation of 225 (134 primary infertile and 91 fertile) women, recruited in a clinical setting and online. We used the following questionnaires: Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Shortened Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI). We also interviewed our subjects on the presence of other sources of stress (the quality of the relationship with their mother, financial and illness-related stress), and we described sociodemographic and fertility-specific characteristics. We tested our hypotheses using independent-samples t-tests (M ± SD) and multiple linear regression modelling (ß).ResultsInfertile women were younger (33.30 ± 4.85 vs. 35.74 ± 5.73, p = .001), but had significantly worse psychological well-being (BDI = 14.94 ± 12.90 vs. 8.95 ± 10.49, p < .0001; STAI-T = 48.76 ± 10.96 vs. 41.18 ± 11.26, p < .0001) than fertile subjects. Depressive symptoms and anxiety in infertile women were associated with age, social concern, sexual concern and maternal relationship stress. Trait anxiety was also associated with financial stress. Our model was able to account for 58% of the variance of depressive symptoms and 62% of the variance of trait anxiety.ConclusionsDepressive and anxiety-related symptoms of infertile women are more prominent than those of fertile females. The measurement of these indicators and the mitigation of underlying distress by adequate psychosocial interventions should be encouraged.

Influence of adjuvant detached mindfulness and stress management training compared to pharmacologic treatment in primiparae with postpartum depression.

Ten to 15% of mothers experience postpartum depression (PPD). If untreated, PPD may negatively affect mothers' and infants' mental health in the long term. Accordingly, effective treatments are required. In the present study, we investigated the effect of detached mindfulness (DM) and stress management training (SMT) as adjuvants, compared to pharmacologic treatment only, on symptoms of depression in women with PPD. Forty-five primiparae (mean age: M=24.5years) with diagnosed PPD and treated with an SSRI (citalopram; CIT) took part in the study. At baseline, they completed questionnaires covering socio-demographic data and symptoms of depression. Experts rated also symptoms of depression. Next, participants were randomly assigned to one of the following study conditions: adjuvant detached mindfulness (CIT+DM); adjuvant stress management training (CIT+SMT); control condition (CIT). Self- and experts' ratings were completed at the end of the study 8weeks later, and again at 8weeks follow-up. Symptoms of depression decreased significantly over time, but more so in the CIT+DM and CIT+SMT group, compared to the control condition. The pattern of results remained stable at follow-up. In primiparae with PPD and treated with a standard SSRI, adjuvant psychotherapeutic interventions led to significant and longer-lasting improvements.