An evaluation of the mental health of servicewomen in the perinatal period

2017 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-188
Author(s):  
R Guest
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Information Flow ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Maternity Leave ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Low Mood ◽  
Increased Risk

AbstractBackgroundDepression and anxiety are the most common mental health disorders during the perinatal period. The aims of this study were to observe the potential scale and impact of perinatal low mood in the military population, to ascertain if patients were recognised and treated appropriately during maternity leave and to identify potential barriers to care.MethodsA 10-question survey was designed using an online platform in consultation with military community mental health professionals, and sent out via Royal Naval maternity cells and relevant social media.ResultsOf 249 respondents, 68% had concerns regarding their mood in the perinatal period; 54% were unaware they could access help from Defence mental health during maternity leave and 65% had one or more risk factors for developing perinatal mood disturbance. Using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, 54% felt that they had had a problem with perinatal low mood. Of these 71% reported having symptoms on their return to work and 80% felt that these had impacted on family relationships. Free text comments were separated into seven themes, namely: isolation, military implications, information flow between the civilian and military healthcare systems, knowledge of healthcare professionals, stigma, return to work and positive comments.ConclusionsIssues explored in this paper concern: increased risk; information flow; barriers to presentation; isolation; and medical service knowledge gaps. Suggested action points include increased input from medical services into maternity groups, phone contact from sick bays to servicewomen on maternity leave, improvements in information flow, maternity-specific return to work medical, maternity leads within military practices and areas for potential future research.

Is There an Association Between Oxytocin Levels in Plasma and Pregnant Women’s Mental Health?

2019 ◽  
pp. 107839031989040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Serati ◽  
Silvia Grassi ◽  
Marta Redaelli ◽  
Laura Pergoli ◽  
Laura Cantone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Affective Disorder ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Relationship

BACKGROUND: Mood and anxiety disorders are prevalent in women during peripartum. AIM: Purpose of the present article was to study the relationship between oxytocin (OT) plasma levels and affective symptoms in women during the third trimester of pregnancy. METHOD: Thirty-four pregnant women (13 with an affective disorder, 9 with preeclampsia, and 12 controls) were evaluated through the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the State/Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI-Y), and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI). A blood sample was collected from all participants, and OT plasma levels have been compared between diagnostic groups. The total sample has been divided into two groups, according to OT median plasma levels, and compared using (a) χ2 tests for qualitative variables and (b) a multivariate analysis of covariance for quantitative ones. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found among the diagnostic groups in terms of OT plasma levels ( F = 0.49, p = .62). Women with lower OT plasma levels, independent from the presence of preeclampsia or an affective disorder, showed worse EPDS and STAI-S total scores than individuals with higher hormone levels ( F = 5.93, p = .02 and F = 7.57, p = .01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: OT may play a role in the etiology of anxious/depressive symptoms during perinatal period independent from a medical or psychiatric diagnosis. This result has a clear effect on the quality of the relationship of patients with mental health professionals, including nurses, and higher levels of this hormone, in the light of its anxiolytic and antidepressive effect, may make easier medical and nursing procedures.

The influence of workplace stress and coping on depressive symptoms among registered nurses in Bangladesh

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reva Mondal ◽  
Yajai Sitthimongkol ◽  
Nopporn Vongsirimas ◽  
Natkamol Chansatitporn ◽  
Kathy Hegadoren
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Registered Nurses ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Workplace Stress ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Workplace Stressors ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Nurses report high levels of workplace stress, which has been linked to an increased risk for experiencing depressive symptoms.Nurses’ workplace stress is also linked to increased absenteeism and decreased job satisfaction. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine: (1) the incidence of depressive symptoms among hospital-based registered nurses in Bangladesh; (2) common sources of workplace stress and their relationships to individual characteristics and depressive symptom scores; and (3) the potential mediating roles of coping strategies in the relationship between workplace stress and depressive symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study design involved three hundred and fifty-two registered nurses. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and three standardized tools measuring sources of nurses’ workplace stress, coping strategies, and depressive symptoms. Results: More than half of the participants scored ≥ 16 on the CES-D, which was associated with a major depression episode. Total NSS scores had a small but significant influence on scores on the depression scale. Coping strategies had no mediated effect on the relationship between workplace stress and scores on the depression scale. Low-reliability coefficients for subscales of two of the standardized tools highlight the challenge for researchers in developing countries to address contextual differences that may influence the meanings attached to individual items.  Conclusion: Findings suggest that the mental health of registered nurses in Bangladesh requires immediate attention in part by attending to workplace stressors. Further research should focus on a deeper understanding of Bangladeshi registered nurses’ work experiences and the unique contribution that workplace stressors have on their physical and mental health.

scholarly journals Perinatal depression screening using smartphone technology: Exploring uptake, engagement and future directions for the MGH Perinatal Depression Scale (MGHPDS)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257065
Author(s):  
Rachel Vanderkruik ◽  
Edwin Raffi ◽  
Marlene P. Freeman ◽  
Rebecca Wales ◽  
Lee Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Perinatal Depression ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Depression Score ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Longitudinal Data Collection

Women may experience new-onset or worsening depressive disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum. If untreated, there may be detrimental consequences to the health and wellbeing of the woman and to her baby. There is a need for improved tools and approaches that can be easily and broadly implemented to effectively detect depression during the perinatal period. Early identification of depression during pregnancy is an important first step towards connecting women to treatment and preventing continued depression into the postpartum or beyond. This report provides preliminary findings from a pilot study of a digital screening app for perinatal depression expiring potential for app reach, engagement, and user demographics and mental health symptoms. With mainly passive recruitment efforts, we collected cross-sectional mental health data on over 700 women during the perinatal period, including women across over 30 countries. We report on mean depression scores among women during pregnancy and the postpartum as well as on constructs that are commonly comorbid with depression, including anxiety, sleep dysregulation, and perceived stress. Over half of the women during pregnancy and over 70% of women in the postpartum had a depression score indicative of clinical depression. Future research directions for this work and potential for public health impact are discussed, including longitudinal data collection and analyses of symptomology over time and embedding evidence-based digital therapeutics into the app as a means to increase access to mental health services.

scholarly journals The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Predicts Concurrent Mental Health Difficulties in a Transdiagnostic Sample of Struggling Learners

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Bryant ◽  
Jacalyn Guy ◽  
Joni Holmes ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Developmental Problems ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties

Children and adolescents with developmental problems are at increased risk of experiencing mental health problems. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is widely used as a screener for detecting mental health difficulties in these populations, but its use thus far has been restricted to groups of children with diagnosed disorders (e.g., ADHD). Transdiagnostic approaches, which focus on symptoms and soften or remove the boundaries between traditional categorical disorders, are increasingly adopted in research and practice. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of the SDQ to detect concurrent mental health problems in a transdiagnostic sample of children. The sample were referred by health and educational professionals for difficulties related to learning (N = 389). Some had one diagnosis, others had multiple, but many had no diagnoses. Parent-rated SDQ scores were significantly positively correlated with parent ratings of mental health difficulties on the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). Ratings on the SDQ Emotion subscale significantly predicted the likelihood of having concurrent clinical anxiety and depression scores. Ratings on the Hyperactivity subscale predicted concurrent anxiety levels. These findings suggest the SDQ could be a valuable screening tool for identifying existing mental health difficulties in children recognized as struggling, as it can be in typically developing children and those with specific diagnoses.

scholarly journals Do Maternal Stress and Depressive Symptoms in Perinatal Period Predict the Lactation Mastitis Occurrence? A Retrospective Longitudinal Study in Greek Women

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1524
Author(s):  
Maria Dagla ◽  
Calliope Dagla ◽  
Irina Mrvoljak-Theodoropoulou ◽  
Dimitra Sotiropoulou ◽  
Aikaterini-Taxiarchoula Kavakou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Emotional Factors ◽  
History Of ◽  
Anxiety Screening ◽  
D 12

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate whether symptoms of anxiety and depression disorders in women during the perinatal period predict the occurrence of lactation mastitis. Methods: This is a retrospective longitudinal study of 622 Greek women who were monitored from pregnancy until the first year postpartum (during the period January 2015–May 2018). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) were administered at four time points: (a) 24th–28th gestation week, (b) 34th–38th gestation week, (c) 6 weeks postpartum, and (d) 12 months postpartum. Multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Results showed that (a) increased EPDS (p < 0.02) and PASS (p < 0.05) scores during the last period before birth, (b) increased EPDS score at 6 weeks postpartum (p < 0.02), (c) PMS symptoms (p < 0.03), (d) traumatic life events during the last year (p < 0.03), and (e) the existence of a history of psychotherapy (before pregnancy) (p = 0.050) appear to be the psycho-emotional factors that can predict the possible occurrence of lactation mastitis in a breastfeeding mother. Conclusions: The association between women’s poor mental health and the occurrence of a physical health problem, such as lactation mastitis, is recognized. This study highlights the important role of early and timely detection of perinatal mental health disorders.

scholarly journals Assessing the Mental Health of Fathers, Other Co-parents, and Partners in the Perinatal Period: Mixed Methods Evidence Synthesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoe Darwin ◽  
Jill Domoney ◽  
Jane Iles ◽  
Florence Bristow ◽  
Jasmine Siew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Service Level ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Perinatal Mental Health ◽  
Published Evidence

Introduction: Five to 10 percentage of fathers experience perinatal depression and 5–15% experience perinatal anxiety, with rates increasing when mothers are also experiencing perinatal mental health disorders. Perinatal mental illness in either parent contributes to adverse child and family outcomes. While there are increasing calls to assess the mental health of both parents, universal services (e.g., maternity) and specialist perinatal mental health services usually focus on the mother (i.e., the gestational parent). The aim of this review was to identify and synthesize evidence on the performance of mental health screening tools and the acceptability of mental health assessment, specifically in relation to fathers, other co-parents and partners in the perinatal period.Methods: A systematic search was conducted using electronic databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Maternity, and Infant Care Database and CINAHL). Articles were eligible if they included expectant or new partners, regardless of the partner's gender or relationship status. Accuracy was determined by comparison of screening tool with diagnostic interview. Acceptability was predominantly assessed through parents' and health professionals' perspectives. Narrative synthesis was applied to all elements of the review, with thematic analysis applied to the acceptability studies.Results: Seven accuracy studies and 20 acceptability studies were included. The review identified that existing evidence focuses on resident fathers and assessing depression in universal settings. All accuracy studies assessed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale but with highly varied results. Evidence on acceptability in practice is limited to postnatal settings. Amongst both fathers and health professionals, views on assessment are mixed. Identified challenges were categorized at the individual-, practitioner- and service-level. These include: gendered perspectives on mental health; the potential to compromise support offered to mothers; practitioners' knowledge, skills, and confidence; service culture and remit; time pressures; opportunity for contact; and the need for tools, training, supervision and onward referral routes.Conclusion: There is a paucity of published evidence on assessing the mental health of fathers, co-mothers, step-parents and other partners in the perinatal period. Whilst practitioners need to be responsive to mental health needs, further research is needed with stakeholders in a range of practice settings, with attention to ethical and practical considerations, to inform the implementation of evidence-based assessment.

scholarly journals “Who needs secure services for personality disorder?” Results of an expert Delphi study with professional staff

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoe Foyston ◽  
Celia Taylor ◽  
Mark Freestone
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Professional Staff ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Forensic Mental Health ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Background Personality Disorder (PD) is an enduring, multi-faceted mental disorder, associated with adverse health effects, difficulties with interpersonal relationships and in some cases increased risk to others. A limited number of dedicated forensic mental health services are available for serious offenders with severe personality disorder. The recent Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) strategy aims to ensure that most such offenders are treated in prison rather than secure psychiatric services, except in highly complex cases where this is not possible. While the strategy sets out very broad criteria relating to this, greater clarity is needed to support decisions about appropriate transfer and hence enhance public protection. This study explored which characteristics professional experts associate with appropriate transfer from prison to forensic mental health services for high-risk offenders with PD. Method A modified Delphi survey distributed through an online survey system was conducted in two-rounds with a group of professional experts recruited from forensic mental healthcare; criminal justice and specialist commissioning. Results Fifty-one (56%) respondents completed stage one of the Delphi and 34 (61%) of these completed stage two. Consensus was reached for a total of 22 items indicating complexity, including co-morbid mental illness, high level of risk, lack of progress in prison and high motivation for treatment. A preliminary checklist for these factors was developed. Panel members consistently emphasised the importance of the individual’s presenting need, the overall clinical picture and formulation in their free text responses. Conclusions Professionals face a complex picture when making decisions regarding suitability for hospital admission for high-risk male offenders with PD, with varied opinions amongst professional experts as to priorities for intervention and a focus on individual needs through formulation. It was, nevertheless, possible to condense these views into a set of consistent variables that can be used to highlight the need for transfer into hospital-based treatment services.

Mental health considerations in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: a literature review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravi Philip Rajkumar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Emotional Disturbances ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Unhealthy Lifestyle ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Introduction: The global pandemic of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on the mental health of populations across the world. However, the scope of this impact on children and adolescents has not yet been fully assessed.Methods: A literature search of the PubMed database was conducted using the terms “COVID-19”, “nCoV-2”, “children”, “adolescents”, “anxiety”, “depression”, “attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder”, “ADHD”, “autism”, “autism spectrum disorder”, “mental health” and “psychiatry” in various permutations and combinations. A total of 23 articles of direct relevance were retrieved, including four observational studies.Results: Emotional disturbances were noted in substantial numbers of children. In younger children (aged 3-6 years), these were mainly non-specific, such as clinginess, fearfulness and irritability. In older children, symptoms of anxiety and depression were noted in 19-22%. Children with pre-existing disorders, such as ADHD, were at risk of symptom exacerbation. Other concerns flagged in the literature included an elevated risk of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, an increased risk of child abuse or neglect, and the need for special care in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The challenges of delivering mental health services in the context of social distancing measures were highlighted.Conclusion: Emotional and behavioural symptoms are a common reaction in children and adolescents, perhaps more so in children with additional risk factors. The management of these problems requires concerted cooperation between mental health professionals, families, and local authorities.

scholarly journals It's Complicated—Adolescent Grief in the Time of Covid-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Weinstock ◽  
Dunja Dunda ◽  
Hannah Harrington ◽  
Hannah Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Emotional Regulation ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Complicated Grief ◽  
Childhood Bereavement ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Adolescent Grief

Presently, there is a real possibility of a second pandemic occurring: a grief pandemic. There are estimated to be over 1 million children and young people experiencing bereavement because of Covid-19. Adolescent grief is unique due to bio-psycho-social factors such as increased risk-taking, identity-formation, and limited capacity for emotional regulation. In this article, we will argue that adolescents are at increased risk of developing complicated grief during the Covid-19 pandemic, and that it is vital that services are improved to recognize and address this need before secondary problems emerge, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Complicated grief in adolescents is widely underrecognized and often misdiagnosed as a range of mental health problems, addictions, and offending behavior. For example, 25% of &lt;20 year olds who commit suicide have experienced childhood bereavement, whilst 41% of youth offenders have experienced childhood bereavement; this is in comparison with only 4% of the general population. Many of the broader risk factors for complicated grief were already increasing prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, including increased loneliness amongst young people, and the collapse of collective structures to help people manage grief. We propose that this pandemic could be a catalyst for mental health professionals to support and nurture the caring communities emerging in this time as an essential resource to prevent the onset of a grief pandemic.

scholarly journals Barriers and opportunities for refugee mental health services: clinician recommendations from Jordan

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majd Al-Soleiti ◽  
Mahmoud Abu Adi ◽  
Ayat Nashwan ◽  
Eric Rafla-Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health System ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Background Jordan has received more than three million refugees from bordering countries during times of conflict, including over 600 000 Syrian refugees between 2011 and 2021. Amidst this humanitarian crisis, a new mental health system for Syrian refugees has developed in Jordan, with most clinical services administered through non-governmental organizations. Prior studies have identified increased risk of psychiatric disorders in refugee populations and significant barriers for Syrian refugees seeking mental health treatment, but few have reviewed the organization or ability of local systems to meet the needs of this refugee population. Methods Qualitative interviews of mental health professionals working with refugees in Jordan were conducted and thematically analyzed to assess efficacy and organizational dynamics. Results Interviewees described barriers to care inherent in many refugee settings, including financial limitations, shortages of mental health professionals, disparate geographic accessibility, stigma, and limited or absent screening protocols. Additional barriers not previously described in Jordan were identified, including clinician burnout, organizational metrics restricting services, insufficient visibility of services, and security restrictions. Advantages of the Jordanian system were also identified, including a receptive sociopolitical response fostering coordination and collaboration, open-door policies for accessing care, the presence of community and grassroots approaches, and improvements to health care infrastructure benefiting the local populace. Conclusions These findings highlight opportunities and pitfalls for program development in Jordan and other middle- and low-income countries. Leveraging clinician input can promote health system efficacy and improve mental health outcomes for refugee patients.

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