Early Abusive Relationships-Influence of Different Maltreatment Types on Postpartum Psychopathology and Mother-Infant Bonding in a Clinical Sample.

Postpartum psychopathology is a well-documented risk factor for impaired mother-infant bonding and thus child development. Increasingly, the focus of research in this area lies on maternal adverse childhood experiences that mothers bring into the relationship with their own baby, especially regarding the possible intergenerational transmission of traumatic experiences. Several studies showed that there is no direct link between child maltreatment and mother-infant bonding as one part of mother-child relationship, but that this link is mediated by postpartum psychopathology.

Subjective Birth Experience Predicts Mother-Infant Bonding Difficulties in Women With Mental Disorders.

Background: The subjective experience of giving birth to a child varies considerably depending on psychological, medical, situational, relational, and other individual characteristics. In turn, it may have an impact on postpartum maternal mental health and family relationships, such as mother-infant bonding. The objective of the study was to evaluate the relevance of the subjective birth experience (SBE) for mother-infant bonding difficulties (BD) in women with mental disorders.

Planned Place of Birth-Impact of Psychopathological Risk Factors on the Choice of Birthplace and Its Postpartum Effect on Psychological Adaption: An Exploratory Study.

The choice of birthplace may have an important impact on a woman's health. In this longitudinal study, we investigated the psychopathological risk factors that drive women's choice of birthplace, since their influence is currently not well understood. The research was conducted in 2011/12 and we analyzed data of 177 women (obstetric unit, = 121; free standing midwifery unit, = 42; homebirth, = 14).

[Improvement of Mental Health and Bonding in Women with Mental Disorders in the Postpartum Period - Evaluation of an Interaction-Centered Treatment of a Mother-Baby Day Clinic].

Objective: Women with postpartum mental disorders often have a delayed bonding to their child with negative consequences for the child's development. In several countries it has been demonstrated that a specific mother-child treatment has positive effects on maternal psychopathology and mother-child bonding. Data for German-speaking countries are rare, partly due to the lack of adequately financed mother-baby units.

The role of stress and self-efficacy in somatic and psychological symptoms during the climacteric period - Is there a specific association?

Objectives: To investigate the influence and specificity of sociodemographic and psychological factors on the perception of symptoms associated with menopause.

Study Design: Data are based on a nationwide cross-sectional survey study in Germany. A representative sample of 1350 females aged 14-95 years was examined.

Maladaptive personality styles in a clinical sample of women with postpartum depression.

Background: Personality traits are associated with the onset and course of postpartum depression. The impact of maladaptive personality traits on mother-child bonding and parenting is less studied. Therefore, the aims of this study are to investigate: a) the frequency of maladaptive personality styles in women with postpartum depression; b) the association between personality styles and the course of maternal psychopathology; and c) the association between personality styles and mother-child bonding and parenting competence.

Course of mental health and mother-infant bonding in hospitalized women with threatened preterm birth.

Purpose: Pregnancy complications (PC) with signs of threatened preterm birth are often associated with lengthy hospital stays, which have been shown to be accompanied by anxiety, depressive symptoms, and increased stress level. It remains unclear, whether the perinatal course of mental health of these women differs from women without PC and whether there may be differences in the postpartum mother-infant bonding.

Methods: In a naturalistic longitudinal study with two measurements (24-36th weeks of gestation and 6 weeks postpartum), we investigated depression (EPDS), anxiety (STAI-T), stress (PSS), and postpartum mother-infant bonding (PBQ) in women with threatened preterm birth (N = 75) and women without PC (N = 70).

Menopausal syndrome limited to hot flushes and sweating a representative survey study.

Objective: The menopausal syndrome is described as a series of various physical and nonphysical symptoms attributed to perimenopausal changes in hormone levels. However, evidence is biased by focusing research on the target group of middle aged women only. To overcome this bias, we examined the occurrence of menopausal symptoms during the entire life span in both women and men.

Further evidence for genetic variation at the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4 contributing toward anxiety.

Objectives: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a common and heritable psychiatric disorder. However, genetic studies in SAD are rare and only a few candidate genes have been implicated so far. In the present study, we investigated whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with other psychiatric disorders also contribute toward the development of SAD and followed up variants associated with SAD on the phenotypic level.

Early intervention in pregnant women with elevated anxiety and depressive symptoms: efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral group program.

To examine whether a cognitive-behavioral group program among pregnant women with elevated levels of anxiety or depression may reduce anxious and depressive symptoms and has a positive impact on risk factors for anxiety disorders and depression. A total of 753 participants were recruited. After completion of the clinical standardized interview, 160 participants were randomized to an intervention group or a control condition.

[Protective factors for postpartum depression].

Objectives: This article examines the associations between protective factors und the occurrence of postpartum depressive symptoms.

Methods: Using a prospective-longitudinal design 303 pregnant women were examined at 3 points in time (T1: 1st trimester, T2: 3rd trimester, T3: 3-5 months postpartum). The analyses are based on T1 and T3.

Effects of an early intervention on perceived stress and diurnal cortisol in pregnant women with elevated stress, anxiety, and depressive symptomatology.

The goal of the present investigation was to examine effects of a cognitive-behavioral group intervention for pregnant women with subclinically elevated stress, anxiety and/or depression on perceived stress and salivary cortisol levels. Expectant mothers were recruited in gynaecologist practices. They participated in a screening, a standardized diagnostic interview (Munich-Composite Diagnostic Interview, M-CIDI), and were randomly assigned to an intervention (N = 21) and treatment as usual control group (N = 40).

[Menopausal complaints across the lifespan? Findings of a German representative survey].

Aim of the present investigation was the assessment of magnitude and distribution of subjective menopausal complaints in the German population. Study participants included 1 350 women aged 14-92 years, completing the menopause rating scale (MRS II). A total of 22% of the women exhibited considerable/severe menopausal complaints.

A psychosomatic intervention in pregnant in-patient women with prenatal somatic risks.

Purpose: This study examined whether a short-term psychosomatic intervention during pregnancy had effects on characteristics of labour and delivery as well as on the long-term course of anxiety, depression and physical complaints in pregnant in-patient women.

Methods: All gynaecological and obstetric inpatients of a university hospital, who had either exhibited complications during their pregnancy or were considered high-risk pregnancies, were examined. Symptoms of anxiety and depression (HADS) and physical symptoms (GBB) were assessed by standardised questionnaires.

[A German survey of subjective gynaecological complaints].

This report encompasses a representative survey of the German feminine population. The aim of this survey is to assess subjective gynaecological complaints. These were registered by the newly constructed "Giessen Subjective Complaints List - for women".

Psychometric properties of the Retrospective Self Report of Inhibition (RSRI) in a representative German sample.

The present study examined the internal consistency, factorial structure, and construct validity of the German version of the Retrospective Self Report of Inhibition (RSRI), a questionnaire measure of behavioral inhibition. The research was based on data from a German prospective-longitudinal community study of 3021 adolescents and young adults (aged 14-24 years at baseline). Diagnostic assessment was based on the DSM-IV/M-CIDI and general psychopathological distress was assessed with SCL-90-R.

What do childhood anxiety disorders predict?

Background: Few longitudinal studies of child and adolescent psychopathology have examined the links between specific childhood anxiety disorders and adolescent psychiatric disorder. In this paper we test the predictive specificity of separation anxiety disorder (SAD), overanxious disorder (OAD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and social phobia.

Methods: Data come from the Great Smoky Mountains Study (GSMS).

Incidence of social anxiety disorder and the consistent risk for secondary depression in the first three decades of life.

Context: Epidemiological findings demonstrating an increased risk for individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) to develop depression have been challenged by discrepant findings from prospective longitudinal examinations in childhood and early adolescence.

Objectives: To examine patterns of SAD incidence, the consistency of associations of SAD with subsequent depression, and distal and proximal predictors for subsequent depression.

Design: Face-to-face, 10-year prospective longitudinal and family study of up to 4 waves.

Panic attack as a risk factor for severe psychopathology.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between panic attack and the onset of specific mental disorders and severe psychopathology across the diagnostic spectrum among adolescents and young adults.

Method: Data were drawn from the Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology Study (N=3,021), a 5-year prospective longitudinal study of psychopathology among youths ages 14-24 years at baseline in the community. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between panic attacks at baseline, comorbid mental disorders in adolescence, and the risk of mental disorders across the diagnostic spectrum at follow-up.

What characteristics of primary anxiety disorders predict subsequent major depressive disorder?

Objective: The goal of this study was to examine the associations between specific anxiety disorders and the risk of major depressive disorder and to explore the role of various clinical characteristics of anxiety disorders in these relationships using a prospective, longitudinal design.

Method: The data are from a 4-year prospective, longitudinal community study, which included both baseline and follow-up survey data on 2548 adolescents and young adults aged 14 to 24 years at baseline. DSM-IV diagnoses were made using the Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview.

Depressive episodes--evidence for a causal role of primary anxiety disorders?

Anxiety and depressive disorders are common mental disorders in general population, imposing tremendous burden on both affected persons and society. Moreover, comorbidity between anxiety and depressive conditions is high, leading to substantial disability and functional impairment. Findings consistently suggest that anxiety disorders are primary to depression in the majority of comorbid cases.