Contextual influences on the perception of pregnant women who use drugs: Information about women’s childhood trauma history reduces punitive attitudes

Punitive attitudes and consequences (e.g., incarceration) for prenatal illicit drug use persist in the United States despite evidence that these policies are ineffective and even harmful to women and children. For instance, the threat of these consequences can deter women from seeking healthcare, prenatal care, and drug treatment. Punitive responses may persist due to pejorative public perceptions of pregnant women who use illicit drugs. Although there is evidence that contextual information about prenatal drug use (e.g., drug type) can change such perceptions, other contextual influences are unknown. This experimental study tested whether receiving contextual information about a pregnant woman who uses drugs (specifically, her childhood trauma history) reduces punitive and increases supportive attitudes toward the woman. In a vignette-based 2(pregnancy status: pregnant/not pregnant) x 2(history of childhood trauma: interpersonal/non-interpersonal) between-subjects design, young adult university participants (N=461) were randomly assigned to read a vignette about a woman who uses methamphetamine. Punitive attitudes were significantly reduced by information that the pregnant woman had a history of childhood trauma, especially interpersonal (versus non-interpersonal) trauma (ηp2=.115). Supportive attitudes were not impacted (ηp2=.005). Information about the pregnant woman’s trauma history predicted less agreement with incarcerating her, only indirectly, through less punitive attitudes (R2=.21). Reductions in punitive attitudes were on the order of 1.5-2 points on 5-point self-report scales and controlled for participant gender and political conservatism. Results have practical implications for interdisciplinary work aimed at unlocking greater support for policies that help pregnant women make safe, informed decisions with dignity and access to healthcare.

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Contextual influences on the perception of pregnant women who use drugs: Information about women’s childhood trauma history reduces punitive attitudes

Journal of Trauma & Dissociation ◽

10.1080/15299732.2019.1675221 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 103-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brianna C. Delker ◽

Amanda Van Scoyoc ◽

Laura K. Noll

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Childhood Trauma ◽

Contextual Influences ◽

Punitive Attitudes ◽

Trauma History ◽

Women Who Use Drugs

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Drug Use during Pregnancy

Journal of Drug Issues ◽

10.1177/002204269702700303 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 463-485 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Ellen Hutchins

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Drug Use ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Psychosocial Risk Factors ◽

Self Report ◽

Psychosocial Risk ◽

History Of Childhood ◽

History Of ◽

Drug Problems ◽

Prenatal Drug Use

Prevention and intervention services for pregnant, drug-using women have often developed prior to gaining empirical data on the antecedents of prenatal drug use. These data are important to address some of the underlying factors of drug use during pregnancy. A review of the literature indentified at least six categories of psychosocial risk factors that have been investigated as relevant to drug use among women, including pregnant women. These factors include: (1) history of childhood sexual abuse, (2) family history of alcohol or drug problems, (3) male partner's alcohol or drug use, (4) current depression, (5) social support, and (6) homelessness or transiency. An examination of these psychosocial risk factors indicates that the existing literature on these factors in drug use is limited by a lack of methodological rigor, resulting in large variations in prevalence rates due to factors such as definition. This paper summarizes the existing literature and methodological iussues regarding the relation between psychosocial risk factors and drug use among women, including pregnant women. It also discusses some of the limitations and issues in assessing prenatal drug use with a particular focus on self-report and urine toxicologies.

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Childhood trauma history of female sex offenders: A systematic review

Sexologies ◽

10.1016/j.sexol.2021.10.003 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

E. Neofytou

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Sex Offenders ◽

Childhood Trauma ◽

Female Sex Offenders ◽

Trauma History ◽

Female Sex ◽

History Of

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Rethinking childhood adversity in chronic fatigue syndrome

10.7287/peerj.preprints.1571v1 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

James E Clark ◽

Sean Davidson ◽

Laura Maclachlan ◽

Megan Lynn ◽

Julia L Newton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Childhood Trauma ◽

Childhood Adversity ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Childhood Trauma Questionnaire ◽

History Of Childhood ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Co Morbidity ◽

History Of

Objectives: Previous studies have consistently shown increased rates of childhood adversity in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). However, such aetiopathogenic studies of CFS are potentially confounded by co-morbidity and misdiagnosis particularly with depression. We used a modelling approach with existing data and data generated in our examination of the rates of childhood adversity in a sample of CFS patients who had no lifetime history of depression. Methods: The childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) was completed by a sample of 52 participants and 19 controls with chronic fatigue syndrome who did not meet criteria for a psychiatric disorder (confirmed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV). Subsequently, Mediation Analysis (Baye’s Rules) was used to establish the risk childhood adversity poses for CFS with and without depression. Results: In a cohort of CFS patients with depression robustly excluded, CTQ scores were markedly lower than in all previous studies and, in contrast to these previous studies, not increased compared with healthy controls. Post-hoc analysis showed that CTQ scores correlated with the number of depressive symptoms during the lifetime worst period of low mood. The probability of developing CFS given a history of childhood trauma was shown to be 4%, a two-fold increased risk compared to the general population. However, much of this risk is mediated by the concomitant development of major depression. Discussion: The data suggests that previous studies showing a relationship between childhood adversity and CFS may be mediated by depression

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Childhood trauma and being at-risk for psychosis are associated with higher peripheral endocannabinoids

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291719001946 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (11) ◽

pp. 1862-1871 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

E. Appiah-Kusi ◽

R. Wilson ◽

M. Colizzi ◽

E. Foglia ◽

E. Klamerus ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

At Risk ◽

Childhood Trauma ◽

Childhood Maltreatment ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Endocannabinoid System ◽

History Of Childhood ◽

Increased Risk ◽

History Of

AbstractBackgroundEvidence has been accumulating regarding alterations in components of the endocannabinoid system in patients with psychosis. Of all the putative risk factors associated with psychosis, being at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR) has the strongest association with the onset of psychosis, and exposure to childhood trauma has been linked to an increased risk of development of psychotic disorder. We aimed to investigate whether being at-risk for psychosis and exposure to childhood trauma were associated with altered endocannabinoid levels.MethodWe compared 33 CHR participants with 58 healthy controls (HC) and collected information about previous exposure to childhood trauma as well as plasma samples to analyse endocannabinoid levels.ResultsIndividuals with both CHR and experience of childhood trauma had higher N-palmitoylethanolamine (p < 0.001) and anandamide (p < 0.001) levels in peripheral blood compared to HC and those with no childhood trauma. There was also a significant correlation between N-palmitoylethanolamine levels and symptoms as well as childhood trauma.ConclusionsOur results suggest an association between CHR and/or childhood maltreatment and elevated endocannabinoid levels in peripheral blood, with a greater alteration in those with both CHR status and history of childhood maltreatment compared to those with either of those risks alone. Furthermore, endocannabinoid levels increased linearly with the number of risk factors and elevated endocannabinoid levels correlated with the severity of CHR symptoms and extent of childhood maltreatment. Further studies in larger cohorts, employing longitudinal designs are needed to confirm these findings and delineate the precise role of endocannabinoid alterations in the pathophysiology of psychosis.

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Acute Hemoperitoneum after Administration of Prostaglandin E2for Induction of Labour

Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.1155/2015/659274 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

Zhenyu Zhang ◽

Jiangyan Lou

Keyword(s):

Laparoscopic Surgery ◽

Pregnant Woman ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Induction Of Labour ◽

Cervical Ripening ◽

Prostaglandin E ◽

History Of

Prostaglandin E2is widely used in obstetrics and is thought to be relatively safe for cervical ripening and induction of labour. Here we present a case in which acute hemoperitoneum was observed after administration of prostaglandin E2in a pregnant woman. The patient had a history of endometriosis, and a severe pelvic adhesion (ASRM stage IV) was found during her last laparoscopic surgery 3 years previously. In cases with endometriosis, use of prostaglandin E2for induction of labour in pregnant women must be done cautiously.

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