Allostatic Perspectives in Women Veterans With a History of Childhood Sexual Assault

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 454-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen Wimberly Groër ◽  
Elizabeth A. Kostas-Polston ◽  
Christina Dillahunt-Aspillaga ◽  
Theresa M. Beckie ◽  
Versie Johnson-Mallard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Allostatic Load ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Women Veterans ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
History Of

Background:Women veterans have increased reports of sexual victimization compared to women in general, including childhood sexual assault (CSA) before military service, increasing the risk of military sexual trauma. Findings from recent studies reveal negative health effects following a history of CSA. There is a strong relationship between CSA and revictimization in civilian and military life, which may contribute to allostatic load.Objectives:(1) To determine the relationship between women veterans’ CSA history and later sexual assault history and (2) to determine the relationships between women veterans’ CSA and primary mediators and secondary and tertiary outcomes of allostasis.Research design:Cross-sectional.Subjects:Women ( N = 81), 18–70 years old, veterans of the U.S. Armed Services.Measures:Participants completed questionnaires and blood and hair samples were collected. Several scales were utilized: Posttraumatic Checklist–Military, Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression Scale, Pain Outcomes Questionnaire–Short Form, Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Profile of Mood States, and an investigator-developed sexual harassment/assault instrument.Results:Thirty-three percent of participants reported CSA; of these, 38.5% reported military sexual assault and 70.3% sexual assault during civilian life. Those with CSA had higher cholesterol, triglycerides, perceived stress scores, and greater pain and fatigue than those without CSA. Hair cortisol was marginally lower in women with CSA when PSS was controlled, suggesting a dampened hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis.Conclusions:These data suggest that some women veterans with a history of CSA may have increased allostatic load and be at increased risk for a variety of later life illnesses.

Depressive Symptoms and Diurnal Salivary Cortisol Patterns Among Female Caregivers of Stroke Survivors

2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 396-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen L. Saban ◽  
Herbert L. Mathews ◽  
Fred B. Bryant ◽  
Timothy E. O’Brien ◽  
Linda Witek Janusek
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Allostatic Load ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Stroke Survivors ◽  
Increased Risk

Informal caregivers of stroke survivors experience elevated chronic stress and are at risk of developing depressive symptoms. The cumulative effects of chronic stress can increase allostatic load and dysregulate biological processes, thus increasing risk of stress-related disease. Stress-induced alterations in the pattern of cortisol secretion vary with respect to stressor onset, intensity, and chronicity. Little is known about the psychoendocrine response to stress in female caregivers of stroke survivors. The purpose of this study was to examine perceived stress, caregiver burden, and the association between caregiver depressive symptoms and diurnal cortisol in 45 females caring for a significant other who experienced a stroke within the past year. Women completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and collected saliva for cortisol upon awakening, 30 min postawakening, noon, and bedtime for 2 consecutive days. Results revealed that women had high levels of perceived stress and caregiver burden. In women with CES-D scores ≥ 16, salivary cortisol levels were significantly lower across the day relative to women with CES-D scores < 16. This difference persisted after adjusting for age, number of caregiving hours per week, perceived social support, and quality of sleep. Younger age was associated with more depressive symptoms as well as lower levels of cortisol at awakening and 30 min postawakening. Results demonstrate that the burden of caregiving increases risk of depressive symptoms and hypocortisolism across the day. Hypocortisolism may contribute to increased risk of depressive symptoms as a result of the loss of glucocorticoid attenuation of stress-induced inflammation.

Sexual Assault While in the Military: Violence as a Predictor of Cardiac Risk?

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan M. Frayne ◽  
Katherine M. Skinner ◽  
Lisa M. Sullivan ◽  
Karen M. Freund
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Women Veterans ◽  
Cardiac Risk ◽  
Veterans Administration ◽  
Cardiac Risk Factors ◽  
Military Violence ◽  
Problem Alcohol Use ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Military

The purpose of this article is to determine whether known cardiac risk factors are more prevalent among women veterans who report having sustained sexual assault while in the military. We surveyed a random sample of 3,632 women veterans using Veterans Administration (VA) ambulatory care nationally. Obesity, smoking, problem alcohol use, sedentary lifestyle, and hysterectomy before age 40 were found to be more common in women reporting a history of sexual assault while in the military than in women without such history. An association between myocardial infarction and prior sexual assault history may be mediated in part by known cardiac risk factors.

scholarly journals Impacts of the Goldmining and Chronic Methylmercury Exposure on the Good-Living and Mental Health of Munduruku Native Communities in the Amazon Basin

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 8994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafaela Waddington Achatz ◽  
Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos ◽  
Lucia Pereira ◽  
Paulo Victor de Sousa Viana ◽  
Paulo Cesar Basta
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Exposure Level ◽  
Mehg Exposure ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Methylmercury Exposure ◽  
Exposure Levels ◽  
Good Living

This paper is an exploratory study that examines the illegal goldmining impacts on Munduruku communities’ “Good-Living” (Xipan Jewewekukap) and explores the possible relationship between chronic methylmercury (MeHg) exposure and the worsening mental health conditions in three villages in the Middle-Tapajós River, Brazilian Amazon. The region has been experiencing a long-lasting threat of goldminers’ invasions. A total of 109 people were interviewed and evaluated. Total mercury (THg) exposure levels were evaluated through hair samples analysis, from which MeHg exposure levels were calculated. The Geriatric Depression Scale—Short Form (GDS-SF) was used as a screening tool in order to assess mental health indicators. Brief non-structured interviews were carried out to investigate how goldmining is impacting the communities Good-Living. A Poisson regression model was used to estimate the possible association between mental health indicators (assessed through the GDS-SF) and the following independent variables: (i) mercury exposure level (<10.0 μg/g vs. ≥10.0 μg/g), (ii) self-reported nervousness, (iii) self-reported irritability, (iv) age group, and (v) monthly income. The analysis revealed high levels of mercury in hair samples (median: 7.4 µg/g, range 2.0–22.8; 70% and 28% of the participants had THg levels ≥6.0 and ≥10.0 µg/g, respectively) and pointed to a tendency in which higher levels of methylmercury exposure (Hg ≥ 10.0 µg/g) could be linked to worse mental health indicators. Although the GDS-SF has presented limitations due to the Munduruku sociocultural context, our findings suggest a tendency of worse mental health indicators in participants presenting high levels of MeHg exposure. Despite this limitation, the qualitative approach indicates an evident association between the impacts of goldmining and the Munduruku people’s decreasing autonomy to maintain a Good-Living on their own terms, pointing to the importance of carrying out new investigations, especially considering longitudinal studies with qualitative methodologies and ethnographic approaches.

scholarly journals Association of Food Insecurity and Lack of Social Support in a Cohort of Inner-city Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Patients (P04-065-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Leventer ◽  
Clara Wilson ◽  
Jonathan Leong ◽  
Matthew Moy ◽  
Jessamine Fazli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Inner City ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Adequate Food ◽  
History Of

Abstract Objectives We examined the association between social determinants including food insecurity and social support in a minority, ethnic population with CKD. Methods A face-to-face survey was conducted in patients from an inner-city CKD (37), dialysis (23) and transplant clinic (31), including questionnaires to assess social support (MOS survey, scored 1–5, with 1 being poor support), perceived stress (PSS), and food security using the short form food security scale, with a score of 1–4 (very low to adequate). Patients were divided into adequate food security (score of 4) and inadequate food security (score of <4). Nutrition Literacy was assessed via the Newest Vital Signs toolkit (6 questions relating to a standardized food label). There were no differences in response among the clinics so they were analyzed together. Results There were 39 (43%) men and 52 (57%) women with 75 black, 3 white, 3 Hispanic and 11 other. Mean age was 62.6 ± 14.0). 59 (54%) patients were foreign-born(mean time in the US 35.4 ± 16.2 yrs). 45% (36) had history of diabetes, and 84% (74) history of hypertension. Mean BMI was 29.5 ± 6.7. 30 pts (17.6%) scored <4 on the food security scale (FINS). There was no difference between food secure (FS) and FINS as regards age, place of birth, sex, marital status, prevalence of diabetes or hypertension, number of people in the household or SNAP participation. FINS were more likely to report income <$40 K/year (100% vs 62%, P < 0.001), with 83% reporting income <$20 K. They also had lower nutritional literacy (1.35 ± 1.7 vs 2.3 ± 1.8, P = 0.037), greater perceived stress (PSS 12.1 ± 5.7 vs 7.93 ± 7.2, P = 0.01), less social support, both tangible (people to help drive to appointments, prepare meals or do chores) score 3.43 ± 1.41 vs. 4.33 ± 1.0, P = 0.003, and emotional (someone to talk to, to give advice, that you trust, who understands your problems) score 3.55 ± 1.19 vs 4.23 ± 0.96, P = 0.02. Conclusions In our population: 1. Patients with inadequate food security were more likely to report extreme poverty and had lower nutritional literacy. 2. Patients with inadequate food security were more likely to report inadequate social support, both emotionally and tangibly, and greater perceived stress. 3. In this population with a high disease burden, the combination of food insecurity, perceived stress and poor social support may affect long-term outcome and should be investigated further. Funding Sources none.

scholarly journals Prevalence and risk factors of postpartum depression at a tertiary care institute

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 2773
Author(s):  
Vanithamani Sivapragasam ◽  
Anitha A. Manjappa ◽  
Aruna B. Patil ◽  
Monicka Kalaimani
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Unplanned Pregnancy ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Care Institute ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Pregnancy And Postpartum ◽  
History Of

Background: Up to 85% of the women experience some type of mood disturbance in the postnatal period. Postpartum depression affects bonding with infant which may lead to malnutrition and other complications in the infant. This article focuses on the prevalence of depression among postnatal women attending a tertiary care institute in Chennai and to identify the risk factors that affect postpartum depression.Methods: This study was a cross sectional study, performed over a period of three months from January 2019 to March 2019. 200 postnatal mothers were recruited for the study, who were in postpartum period from 1 to 6 weeks after delivery. Specially designed proforma was used to record various determinants to assess the risk factors which could contribute to postpartum depression. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to detect the depressive symptoms in postnatal mother.Results: A total of 200 cases were studied. Prevalence of postpartum depression was found to be 25%. Primi gravida, history of miscarriage and unplanned pregnancy were associated with increased risk of developing depression in the postnatal period. Fear regarding gender of the child and failure of lactation were not contributing risk factors to postpartum depression. Spacious house and partner support were found to be protective factors to combat depression in postnatal women.Conclusions: Prevalence of postpartum depression was 25%. Significant association was found between primi gravida, history of miscarriage, unplanned pregnancy and postpartum depression. Early screening of the women will reduce the adverse outcomes among both mother and the child.

Maternal Distress and Infant Social Withdrawal (ADBB) Following Infant Cardiac Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 624-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Re ◽  
Suzanne Dean ◽  
Jimmy Mullaert ◽  
Antoine Guedeney ◽  
Samuel Menahem
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Surgery ◽  
Parenting Stress ◽  
Social Withdrawal ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Maternal Distress ◽  
Stress Index ◽  
Increased Risk

Background: Mothers and infants are exposed to multiple stresses when cardiac surgery is required for the infant. This study reviewed infant responsiveness using a standardized objective observational measure of social withdrawal and explored its association with measures of maternal distress. Methods: Mother–infant pairs involving infants surviving early cardiac surgery were assessed when the infant was aged two months. Infant social withdrawal was measured using the Alarm Distress Baby Scale. Maternal distress was assessed using self-report measures for maternal depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), anxiety (Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Scale), and parenting stress (Parenting Stress Index–Short Form). Potential associations between infant social withdrawal and maternal distress were evaluated. Results: High levels of maternal distress and infant social withdrawal were identified relative to community norms with a positive association. Such an association was not found between infant social withdrawal and the cardiac abnormality and surgery performed. Conclusion: The vulnerability of infants requiring cardiac surgery may be better understood when factors beyond their medical condition are considered. The findings suggested an association between maternal distress and infant social withdrawal, which may be consistent with mothers’ distress placing infants subjected to cardiac surgery at substantially increased risk of social withdrawal. However, it is unclear to what extent infant withdrawal may trigger maternal distress and what the interactive effects are. Further research is warranted. Trialing a mother–infant support program may be helpful in alleviating distress and improving the well-being and outcomes for these families.

scholarly journals Correlates of Depression in U.S. Military Service Members With a History of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

2019 ◽  
Vol 184 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 148-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan E Kennedy ◽  
Lisa H Lu ◽  
Matthew W Reid ◽  
Felix O Leal ◽  
Douglas B Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Service Members ◽  
Data Repository ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of ◽  
Combat Deployments

AbstractObjectivesPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are identified as signature injuries of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Statistics have confirmed a high incidence of PTSD among military personnel with mild TBI (mTBI) who served in these conflicts. Although receiving less attention, individuals with a history of mTBI are also at increased risk for depressive disorders. This study examines the incidence and correlates of depression in service members with a history of mTBI received an average of 4–1/2 years prior to evaluation.MethodsRetrospective analysis of 184 service members with a history of mTBI extracted from a data repository maintained at a military medical center.ResultsOne-third of the sample (34.2%) was clinically diagnosed with a depressive disorder in the month preceding evaluation. Of those with depression, 81% (51 of 63) were also diagnosed with PTSD. Proportionately more women than men had depression. Depression was more common among those who were undergoing a Military Evaluation Board and those who served in more than three combat deployments.ConclusionsResults confirm chronically elevated the rates of depressive disorders and PTSD comorbidity among service members with a history of mTBI. Depression screening and treatment within the Military Health System should remain a priority for service members reporting a remote history of mTBI. Individuals with chronic PTSD, women, service members undergoing MEB and those who served in greater than three combat deployments are at particular risk.

scholarly journals Dysmenorrhea increased the risk of postpartum depression in Chinese Han parturients

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liping Meng ◽  
Jianmei Li ◽  
Yuli Cheng ◽  
Tingting Wei ◽  
Yukai Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Chinese Women ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Chinese Han ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of ◽  
Adjusted Model ◽  
Control Study

Abstract Several studies have shown that dysmenorrhea increased the risk of depression. However, the association between dysmenorrhea and postpartum depression (PPD) is unclear. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of dysmenorrhea on the development of PPD among Chinese women. A case-control study was performed on parturients who delivered from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016, at Bao an Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Shenzhen, China. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to screen for maternal postpartum depression. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between dysmenorrhea and the risk of PPD. A total of 360 women including 120 cases and 240 controls were enrolled. Our study showed that parturients with PPD had a higher percentage of dysmenorrhea than women without PPD (64.2% vs 47.9%, P = 0.004). In univariate analysis, we observed that dysmenorrhea increased the risk for PPD (OR = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.24–3.06; P = 0.004). In the fully adjusted model, dysmenorrhea was still significantly associated with an increased risk of PPD (OR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.36–4.54; P = 0.003). Our data confirmed that dysmenorrhea may be a risk factor for PPD. Therefore, screening for postpartum depression should be considered in parturients with a history of dysmenorrhea.

scholarly journals Barriers to access to treatment for mothers with postpartum depression in primary health care centers: a predictive model

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Martínez ◽  
Paul A. Vöhringer ◽  
Graciela Rojas
Keyword(s):  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Predictive Model ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
P Value ◽  
Access To Treatment ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Depression

Objective to develop a predictive model to evaluate the factors that modify the access to treatment for Postpartum Depression (PPD). Methods prospective study with mothers who participated in the monitoring of child health in primary care centers. For the initial assessment and during 3 months, it was considered: sociodemographic data, gyneco-obstetric data, data on the services provided, depressive symptoms according to the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and quality of life according to the Short Form-36 Health Status Questionnaire (SF-36). The diagnosis of depression was made based on MINI. Mothers diagnosed with PPD in the initial evaluation, were followed-up. Results a statistical model was constructed to determine the factors that prevented access to treatment, which consisted of: item 2 of EPDS (OR 0.43, 95%CI: 0.20-0.93) and item 5 (OR 0.48, 95%CI: 0.21-1.09), and previous history of depression treatment (OR 0.26, 95%CI: 0.61-1.06). Area under the ROC curve for the model=0.79; p-value for the Hosmer-Lemershow=0.73. Conclusion it was elaborated a simple, well standardized and accurate profile, which advises that nurses should pay attention to those mothers diagnosed with PPD, presenting low/no anhedonia (item 2 of EPDS), scarce/no panic/fear (item 5 of EPDS), and no history of depression, as it is likely that these women do not initiate treatment.

Social Support at University Scale, a Brief Index

2007 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian M. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
College Students ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Internal Consistency Reliability ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
University Staff ◽  
Hospital Anxiety ◽  
The Social

A brief, 3-item index of social support among college students, the Social Support at University Scale, is introduced. Its psychometric properties are examined in a sample of 90 college students (51 women, 39 men) and compared with those of an equivalent scale distributed among 100 university staff (67 women, 33 men). The Short-Form Social Support Questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were also administered to each participant. The data suggest that the Social Support at University Scale possesses internal consistency reliability suitable for research (α= .68), external validity as indicated by comparisons between the student and staff samples, concurrent validity as indicated by correlations with measures of generic social support, and criterion validity as indicated by associations with known correlates of social support, namely, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression.

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