Romantic partner support during pregnancy: The discrepancy between self-reported and coder-rated support as a risk factor for prenatal psychopathology and stress

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-46
Author(s):  
Laura M. River ◽  
Angela J. Narayan ◽  
Victoria M. Atzl ◽  
Luisa M. Rivera ◽  
Alicia F. Lieberman
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Expressed Emotion ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Partner Support ◽  
Romantic Partner ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Highly Correlated

Romantic partner support from the father-to-be is associated with women’s mental health during pregnancy. However, most studies of partner support rely upon women’s responses to self-report questionnaires, which may be biased and should be corroborated by efficient, coder-rated measures of partner support. This study tested whether the Five-Minute Speech Sample (FMSS), adapted to assess expressed emotion about romantic partners, can provide information about partner support during pregnancy that is less prone to bias than self-report. Participants were 101 low-income, ethnically diverse pregnant women who completed self-report questions on partner support quality and the FMSS. Self-reported and coder-rated (FMSS) partner support were highly correlated and were each significantly associated with self-reported depressive and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, perceived stress, and partner victimization during pregnancy. Self-reported and coder-rated support corresponded in approximately 75% of cases; however, nearly 25% of women self-reported high support but received low FMSS support ratings. These women reported elevated PTSD symptoms, perceived stress, and victimization during pregnancy. While self-reported partner support may be valid for many respondents, the FMSS is less susceptible to reporting biases and may better identify women facing heightened psychopathology and stress during pregnancy, who would benefit from supportive intervention.

scholarly journals Inducing moral elevation in veterans with PTSD: An experimental investigation using a mixed methods approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 204380872098241
Author(s):  
Adam P. McGuire ◽  
Joseph Mignogna
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
State Level ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Trauma Narrative ◽  
Study Task ◽  
Level Elevation ◽  
Moral Elevation ◽  
Psychosocial Benefits

Moral elevation is a positive emotion described as feeling inspired by others’ virtuous actions. Elevation has several psychosocial benefits, some of which may be relevant to trauma-related distress; however, past studies have primarily examined elevation in nonclinical, civilian populations or in naturalistic studies. This experimental study used mixed methods to assess if veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experience elevation when exposed to elevation stimuli in a controlled setting. Participants included 47 veterans with significant PTSD symptoms. Following baseline measures and a written trauma narrative, veterans were randomized to an elevation or amusement condition where they viewed two videos intended to elicit the condition emotion. Veterans also provided a written journal response describing their reaction to the videos. Self-report measures were administered after each study task to assess state-level elevation and amusement. Veterans randomized to the elevation condition reported significantly higher levels of elevation after videos compared to veterans in the amusement condition. Qualitative results offered further support for differences between groups and identified unique themes related to the experience of elevation. Overall, findings indicate it is possible to induce elevation in veterans with significant PTSD symptoms. Additionally, qualitative results highlight specific benefits of elevation and potential targets for treatment integration and future exploration.

scholarly journals A network meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. e005029
Author(s):  
Giulia Turrini ◽  
Federico Tedeschi ◽  
Pim Cuijpers ◽  
Cinzia Del Giovane ◽  
Ahlke Kip ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Treatment As Usual ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

IntroductionRefugees and asylum seekers are vulnerable to common mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Using a network meta-analysis (NMA) approach, the present systematic review compared and ranked psychosocial interventions for the treatment of PTSD in adult refugees and asylum seekers.MethodsRandomised studies of psychosocial interventions for adult refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD were systematically identified. PTSD symptoms at postintervention was the primary outcome. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) and ORs were pooled using pairwise and NMA. Study quality was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) tool, and certainty of evidence was assessed through the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis application.ResultsA total of 23 studies with 2308 participants were included. Sixteen studies were conducted in high-income countries, and seven in low-income or middle-income countries. Most studies were at low risk of bias according to the Cochrane RoB tool. NMA on PTSD symptoms showed that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) (SMD=−1.41; 95% CI −2.43 to −0.38) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) (SMD=−1.30; 95% CI −2.40 to −0.20) were significantly more effective than waitlist (WL). CBT was also associated with a higher decrease in PTSD symptoms than treatment as usual (TAU) (SMD −1.51; 95% CI −2.67 to −0.36). For all other interventions, the difference with WL and TAU was not significant. CBT and EMDR ranked best according to the mean surface under the cumulative ranking. Regarding acceptability, no intervention had less dropouts than inactive interventions.ConclusionCBT and EMDR appeared to have the greatest effects in reducing PTSD symptoms in asylum seekers and refugees. This evidence should be considered in guidelines and implementation packages to facilitate dissemination and uptake in refugee settings.

scholarly journals Perceived stress and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among intensive care unit staff caring for severely ill coronavirus disease 2019 patients during the pandemic: a national study

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nisha Kader ◽  
Bushra Elhusein ◽  
Nirvana Swamy Kudlur Chandrappa ◽  
Abdulqadir J. Nashwan ◽  
Prem Chandra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic

Abstract Background Intensive care unit (ICU) staff have faced unprecedented challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which could significantly affect their mental health and well-being. The present study aimed to investigate perceived stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms reported by ICU staff working directly with COVID-19 patients. Methods The Perceived Stress Scale was used to assess perceived stress, the PTSD Diagnostic Scale for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition) was used to determine PTSD symptoms, and a sociodemographic questionnaire was used to record different sociodemographic variables. Results Altogether, 124 participants (57.2% of whom were men) were included in the analysis. The majority of participants perceived working in the ICU with COVID-19 patients as moderately to severely stressful. Moreover, 71.4% of doctors and 74.4% of nurses experienced moderate-to-severe perceived stress. The staff with previous ICU experience were less likely to have a probable diagnosis of PTSD than those without previous ICU experience. Conclusions Assessing perceived stress levels and PTSD among ICU staff may enhance our understanding of COVID-19-induced mental health challenges. Specific strategies to enhance ICU staff’s mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic should be employed and monitored regularly. Interventions aimed at alleviating sources of anxiety in a high-stress environment may reduce the likelihood of developing PTSD.

scholarly journals GEROFIT: IMPACT ON PTSD SYMPTOMS AMONG PARTICIPATING VETERANS WITH SELF-REPORTED PTSD

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S34-S34
Author(s):  
Cathy Lee ◽  
Rebecca Melrose ◽  
Erin Blanchard ◽  
Stacy Wilkins ◽  
Steven Castle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Symptom Improvement ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Negative Feelings

Abstract Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases risk of medical comorbidities in aging. The Gerofit Program is an exercise program for older Veterans that shows efficacy for physical health. We sought to determine its impact on PTSD. Veterans in Gerofit completed a self-report questionnaire at 3 and 6 months assessing effect of Gerofit on: PTSD symptoms generally, disturbing dreams, avoidance, negative feelings, and irritability. Two hundred twenty-nine Veterans completed the questionnaire. Of these, 56 (24.5%) reported PTSD. None reported worsened PTSD following Gerofit participation. At 3 months, >50% of Veterans reported symptom improvement and this was maintained over 6 months for all items (p>0.05 paired t-test). There was an increase between 3 and 6 months in the percentage who reported “improved a lot” for overall symptoms (16.7% to 22.2%), negative feelings (5.6% to 11.1%) and irritability (0% to 11.1%). Gerofit may offer an effective intervention to improve PTSD symptoms in older Veterans.

Displacement during Hurricane Sandy: The impact on mental health

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca M. Schwartz, PhD ◽  
Rehana Rasul, MA ◽  
Samantha M. Kerath, MS ◽  
Alexis R. Watson, BS ◽  
Wil Lieberman-Cribbin, MPH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Illicit Substance ◽  
The Impact

Objective: To assess the effect of displacement due to Hurricane Sandy on mental health outcomes among residents of the greater New York City (NYC) area.Design: Prospective, cross sectional.Setting: NYC area residents, including Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island.Participants: In a 4.25 year period (June 2012 to September 2016), a convenience sample of 1,615 adult residents from the greater NYC area completed validated measures of hurricane exposure (including displacement), perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as well as indicators of alcohol, illicit substance, and tobacco use.Main Outcome Measures: Perceived stress, depression, anxiety and PTSD symptoms and alcohol, illicit substance, and tobacco use.Results: Multivariable analyses indicated that displaced participants were more likely to have PTSD (adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.21, 95%CI: 1.73-2.82), depression (AOR: 1.37, 95%CI: 1.05-1.79) and anxiety symptoms (AOR: 1.30, 95%CI: 1.01-1.67) and had a 1.16 unit increase in perceived stress score (SE = 0.38) compared to nondisplaced participants. Staying with friends/family vs. at a shelter was significantly associated with a 48 percent decreased odds of having PTSD symptoms (AOR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.31-0.88) and of being a current tobacco user (AOR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.30-0.92).Conclusions: Displacement is associated with negative mental health outcomes, particularly displacement to shelters. Disaster preparedness efforts should involve increasing mental health resources to those who are displaced and providing support services within the shelter setting.

scholarly journals PTSD and Suicidal Behaviors Amongst L'Aquila 2009 Earthquake Young Survivors

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Carmassi ◽  
Carlo Antonio Bertelloni ◽  
Valerio Dell'Oste ◽  
Chiara Luperini ◽  
Donatella Marazziti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Suicidal Behaviors ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Partial Group ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most frequent and severe psychiatric consequences of natural disasters, frequently associated with suicidality. The aim of this study was at examining the possible relationships between suicidal behaviors and full-blown or partial PTSD, in a sample of young earthquake survivors. The second aim was at investigating the specific role of PTSD symptoms on suicidality.Methods: A total of 475 young adults who survived the L'Aquila 2009 earthquake, one of the most severe Italian disasters of the last decades, were recruited and assessed after 21 months from the catastrophe. Participants were evaluated by two questionnaires assessing subthreshold psychopathology, the Trauma and Loss Spectrum Self-Report (TALS-SR) to investigate both full and partial PTSD, and two specific Mood Spectrum Self-Report (MOODS-SR) sub-domains exploring suicidality, namely suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.Results: The ensuing findings showed that suicidal ideation and suicide attempts were present, respectively, in 40 (8.4%) and 11 (2.3%) survivors. Rates of suicidal ideation were significantly more elevated in full-blown PTSD subjects (group 1), as compared with those suffering from partial (group 2) or no PTSD (group 3). Interestingly, group 2 subjects showed significantly more suicidal ideation than healthy individuals, and less than those of group 1, while the frequency of suicide attempts was similar across the three groups. Suicidal ideation was associated with higher scores in the following TALS-SR domains: grief-reactions, re-experiencing, avoidance and numbing, maladaptive coping, and personal characteristics/risk factor.Conclusions: The results of the present study support and extend previous findings on the role of PTSD symptoms in suicidality after a severe earthquake. However, as compared with available literature, they also highlight the significant impact of sub-threshold PTSD manifestations in increasing the suicide risk in survivors of a mass disaster.

scholarly journals Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Training for US Service Members and Veterans with Symptoms of PTSD

2019 ◽  
Vol 184 (11-12) ◽  
pp. e626-e631
Author(s):  
Alison E Willing ◽  
Sue Ann Girling ◽  
Ryan Deichert ◽  
Rebecca Wood-Deichert ◽  
Jason Gonzalez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
The United States ◽  
Active Duty ◽  
South Florida ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Service Members ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress

Abstract Introduction The United States has been actively involved in major armed conflicts over the last 15 years. As a result, a significant proportion of active duty service personnel and returning veterans have endured combat, putting them at risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a disabling disorder that may occur after exposure to a traumatic event. Current therapies often require long-term, time-intensive and costly commitment from the patient and have variable degrees of success. There remains an ongoing need for better therapies, including complementary medicine approaches that can effectively reduce PTSD symptoms. While anecdotal evidence suggests that routine practice of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) can reduce symptoms of PTSD, there have been no formal studies to address this. Materials and Methods This study was approved by the University of South Florida Institutional Review Board (#PRO00019430). Male US active duty service members and veterans from the Tampa area participated in a 5-month (40 sessions) BJJ training program. Before beginning and again midway through and upon completion of training the participants completed several validated self-report measures that addressed symptoms of PTSD and other co-morbid conditions. Effect size and 95% confidence intervals were determined using a within-person single-group pretest–posttest design. Results Study participants demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in their PTSD symptoms as well as decreased symptoms of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety and decreased alcohol use; effect sizes varied from 0.80 to 1.85. Conclusions The results from this first-of-kind pilot study suggest that including BJJ as a complementary treatment to standard therapy for PTSD may be of value. It will be necessary to validate these promising results with a larger subject cohort and a more rigorous experimental design before routinely recommending this complementary therapy.

scholarly journals The Influence of Emotional Support from Parents, Peers, and Romantic Partners on Changes in Purpose in Life and Mastery in Young Adulthood

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Paweena Sukhawathanakul ◽  
Megan E. Ames ◽  
Bonnie J. Leadbeater
Keyword(s):  
Youth Development ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Purpose In Life ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Partner Support ◽  
Romantic Partner ◽  
Canadian Youth ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Levels Of Support

Purpose in life and mastery over one’s environment are important assets for positive youth development but little is known about how they change or interact during the transition to young adulthood, or how they may be moderated by support from relationships. The current study examines longitudinal associations between purpose in life and mastery in a sample of Canadian youth (N = 662) ages 18 to 29 across three biennial waves of data. Purpose in life and mastery were reciprocally associated within and across time, suggesting that these assets develop in tandem. However, emotional support from friends and romantic partners also moderated the associations. Specifically, the reciprocal association were significant for youth with high levels of friend and romantic partner support, but not for youth with low levels of support. Father and mother emotional support did not moderate the pathways. Findings highlight the importance of peer and romantic partner emotional support in cultivating youth’s sense of purpose in life and mastery during the transition to young adulthood.

scholarly journals Beyond symptom self-report: use of a computer “avatar” to assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms

Stress ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 593-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine E. Myers ◽  
Milen L. Radell ◽  
Christine Shind ◽  
Yasheca Ebanks-Williams ◽  
Kevin D. Beck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic

scholarly journals Mindfulness training reduces PTSD symptoms and other stress-related health outcomes in police officers

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel W Grupe ◽  
Chad McGehee ◽  
Chris Smith ◽  
Andrew Francis ◽  
Jeanette Mumford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Mindfulness Training ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Physical And Mental Health

BACKGROUND. Police officers are exposed daily to high levels of organizational and operational stressors that have a negative impact on health and well-being outcomes. This population has elevated rates of cardiovascular disease, sleep disorders, symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicide. Although there are few empirically supported effective stress reduction interventions in police officers, recent evidence suggests that an 8-week training program in mindfulness meditation, specifically tailored for this group, has promise in reducing perceived stress and improving stress-related physical and mental health outcomes including sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, and burnout. The primary aims of the current study were to 1) demonstrate the feasibility, acceptability, and adherence of a similar mindfulness training program in a new population of police officers; 2) replicate previously demonstrated improvements in perceived stress and stress-related health outcomes, and 3) provide novel evidence of hypothesized reductions in symptoms of PTSD.METHODS. We enrolled 30 sworn law enforcement personnel from a mid-sized, Midwestern U.S. police department in an 8-week, group-based mindfulness training program. We conducted in-person assessments immediately before and after the training program, consisting of self-report measures of perceived stress, sleep quality, physical and mental health symptoms, and burnout and the assessment of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and other physical health measures. An abbreviated remote assessment at 5-month follow-up included self-report measures only.RESULTS. All 30 officers completed the 8-week program and both in-person assessments, with high rates of class attendance, substantial out-of-class practice time, and uniformly positive evaluations of the training program and instructors. Replicating previous studies, we identified post-training reductions in perceived organizational and operational stress, global sleep disturbances, anxiety, and burnout, with significant reductions in anxiety and perceived stress observed at 5-month follow-up. We also identified novel evidence for reduced PTSD hyperarousal symptoms that persisted at 5-month follow-up, and reduced re-experiencing PTSD symptoms at 5-month follow-up only. There was no evidence for changes in self-reported physical health symptoms or hs-CRP.CONCLUSIONS. Successful adaptation, delivery, and acceptance of this mindfulness-based intervention demonstrates the generalizability of mindfulness training across law enforcement populations. The replication of improved stress-related outcomes, and novel evidence for reduced PTSD symptoms, indicate important targets to be further investigated in larger, mechanistic, randomized controlled trials of mindfulness training in police officers.

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