Higher State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Scores Research Articles

Maternal serum amino acids and hydroxylated sphingomyelins at pregnancy are associated with anxiety symptoms during pregnancy and throughout the first year after delivery

BackgroundStudies suggest an interplay between maternal metabolome and mental health. ObjectiveWe investigated the association of maternal serum metabolome at pregnancy with anxiety scores during pregnancy and throughout the first year postpartum. MethodsA prospective cohort of Brazilian women collected 119 serum metabolome at pregnancy (28–38 weeks) and anxiety scores measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) at pregnancy (n = 118), 1 (n = 83), 6 (n = 68), and 12 (n = 57) months postpartum. Targeted metabolomics quantified metabolites belonging to amino acids (AA), biogenic amines/amino acid-related compounds, acylcarnitines, lysophosphatidylcholines, diacyl phosphatidylcholines, alkyl:acyl phosphatidylcholines, non-hydroxylated and hydroxylated sphingomyelins [SM(OH)], and hexoses classes. Linear mixed-effect models were used to evaluate the association of metabolites and STAI scores. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analyses were employed to identify clusters and metabolites, which drove their main differences. Multiple comparison-adjusted p-values (q-value) ≤ 0.05 were considered significant. ResultsAA (β = −1.44) and SM(OH) (β = −1.49) classes showed an association with STAI scores trajectory (q-value = 0.047). Two clusters were identified based on these classes. Women in cluster 2 had decreased AA and SM(OH) concentrations and higher STAI scores (worse symptoms) trajectory (β = 2.28; p-value = 0.041). Isoleucine, leucine, valine, SM(OH) 22:1, 22:2, and 24:1 drove the main differences between the clusters. LimitationsThe target semiquantitative metabolome analysis and small sample size limited our conclusions. ConclusionsOur results suggest that AA and SM(OH) during pregnancy play a role in anxiety symptoms throughout the first year postpartum.

Association of Socioeconomic Status with Empowerment, Depression, and Anxiety in Pregnancies Complicated by Fetal Surgical Anomalies

BackgroundWomen with pregnancies complicated by fetal surgical anomalies experience significant psychosocial burden. There remains a need to determine the impact that socioeconomic status has on maternal empowerment, anxiety, and depression. MethodsA survey study was conducted from 5/2021–5/2022 to quantify empowerment, anxiety, and depression in women with fetal surgical anomalies. Surveys administered included Pregnancy Related Empowerment Scale (PRES), Patient Empowerment Scale (PES), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). Two-sample t-test was used to compare survey scores across socioeconomic groups. ResultsSeventy-four patients were recruited. Mothers more commonly preferred English as primary language (n = 61, 82%) and were non-Hispanic (n = 43, 58%). Lower empowerment scores were observed in Hispanic mothers (PRES, p = 0.03; PES, p = 0.04) and mothers who preferred Spanish (PRES, p = 0.04; PES, p = 0.06) as primary language. Both non-Hispanic (p = 0.88) and English speaking (p = 0.75) women had higher STAI scores, but neither was significantly different. DASS was not significantly higher for Hispanic (p = 0.79) or Spanish speaking mothers (p = 0.47). ConclusionHispanic and Spanish speaking women with pregnancies complicated by fetal surgical anomalies have significantly decreased empowerment scores. These findings suggest a need for development of culturally competent, targeted interventions to improve maternal empowerment in this high-risk population. Level of EvidenceLevel II. Type of StudyCross-Sectional Survey Study.

Sezaryen operasyonlarında sakinleştirici konuşmanın kaygı düzeyine etkisi

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the level of anxiety of patients undergoing elective Caesarean section under spinal anesthesia to ascertain the factors related to anxiety and the effect of calming conversation on the anxiety level.Materials and Methods: The study included a total of 156 patients as Group 1 (96) and Group 2 (60). The patients in Group 1 were distracted with calming conversationting during the surgery and in Group 2, the patient’s questions were answered but the surgical team did not calming conversation. All patients completed the the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: The preoperative STAI scores were similar in both groups. Although midazolam administration was higher in Group 2, the postoperative STAI scores were significantly lower in Group 1. In both groups, the anxiety scores decreased significantly in the postoperative period. Smoking was found to be related with higher STAI scores. Nausea was related with higher preoperative and postoperative STAI scores. Patients who were employed related lower STAI scores. Conclusion: Calming conversationting with patients, which is easy, has no cost and does not harm the infant or mother, decreased the STAI scores better than midazolam

Investigation of anxiety levels of patients with chest pain admitted to emergency department

IntroductionWe aimed to investigate the demographical features, anxiety levels and clinical findings of the patients admitted to our Emergency department (ED) due to chest pain. MethodsPatients with chest pain older than 18 years were included into the study. Demographical features such as age, sex and education level, initial diagnosis in the ED, whether they were hospitalized or coronary intervention performed, were recorded. To determine the anxiety levels of the patients, State-trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was performed. ResultsTwo-hundred and eight adult patients with chest pain were included into the study. We could not determine a relationship between STAI levels of patients according to demographical findings, however, STAI scores tended to decrease by age. Considering the education levels of the patients, it was determined that STAI scores of university graduates were higher than others. The STAI scores of patients discharged from the ED were higher than those hospitalized. When patients were compared according to whether coronary intervention (CI) was performed or not, it was determined that patients who did not require CI had higher STAI scores. When coronary lesion localization of the patients hospitalized was investigated, any relationship could not be determined. ConclusionIn this study, we determined that anxiety levels of the patients with chest pain do not correlate with the severity of the disease. Higher anxiety levels of patients discharged from ED when compared to those with ACS is a challenging problem for both ED physicians and cardiologists.

Do Cancer Follow-Up Consultations Create Anxiety?

Introduction: Recent literature has suggested that follow-up visits provide psychological support for patients with cancer, but largely without objective evidence.Aims: To examine the psychological impact of follow-up consultations on cancer patients and identify factors that influence patient anxiety.Methods: Patients attending a routine follow-up at Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre were surveyed. Using the State & Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), anxiety scores were obtained before and after consultation.Results: Two hundred and thirty-one patients participated, 199 patients were treated with curative intent, 62% were male. The mean anxiety score was higher in females and in palliative cases. Lower levels of social support, poor perception of own health and receiving bad news during consultation were associated with higher STAI scores. Satisfaction with cancer treatment was associated with lower STAI scores. There was a small but statistically significant reduction of anxiety scores after consultation (p = 0.02).Conclusions: When measured objectively, specialist consultation appears to have a small, but statistically significant, positive impact on the level of patient anxiety. Patient satisfaction correlated well with the patient anxiety levels.