Recent Publications in Women’s Mental Health

Tauqeer F, Ceulemans M, Gerbier E, Passier A, Oliver A, Foulon V, Panchaud A, Lupattelli A, Nordeng H. BMJ Open. 2023 Jan 11;13(1):e063391.

The prevalence of major depressive symptoms (EDS ?13) was 16.1% in the pregnancy group and 17.0% in the postpartum . Moderate to severe generalized anxiety symptoms (GAD ?10) were found among 17.3% of the pregnant and 17.7% of the postpartum women. Risk factors associated with poor mental health included having a pre-existing mental illness, a chronic somatic illness, having had COVID-19 or its symptoms, smoking, unplanned pregnancy and country of residence.

Accortt E, Mirocha J, Zhang D, Kilpatrick SJ, Libermann T, Karumanchi SA.

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Jan 14:S0002-9378(23)00016-9.

From a panel of 53 significant PMAD-associated proteins a unique 20 protein signature differentiated PMAD cases from controls on principal component analysis (P<0.05). These proteins included molecules such as NCAM1, NRCAM, NTRK3 that converge around neuronal signaling pathways regulating axonal guidance, astrocyte differentiation and maintenance of GABAergic neurons.

Shorey S, Law E; Thilagamangai; Mathews J, Lim SH, Shi L, Chua JS, Du R, Chan YH, Tan TC, Chee C, Chong YS. J Med Internet Res. 2023 Jan 16;25:e41859.

Parents in the intervention group generally fared better, especially regarding perceived social support. However, the lack of statistical significance in most outcomes showed the limited effectiveness of the parenting intervention, which may be because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Akaishi T, Tarasawa K, Fushimi K, Hamada H, Saito M, Kobayashi N, Kikuchi S, Tomita H, Ishii T, Fujimori K, Yaegashi N. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Jan 3;6(1):e2250661.

Risk factors associated with prepartum suicide attempts included younger age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-1.00) and histories of personality disorder (aOR, 10.81; 95% CI, 5.70-20.49), depression (aOR, 3.97; 95% CI, 2.35-6.70), schizophrenia (aOR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.52-5.50), and adjustment disorder (aOR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.07-6.58). Risk factors associated with postpartum suicide attempts included younger age (aOR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93-1.00), heavy tobacco use (aOR, 23.09; 95% CI, 5.46-97.62), and histories of alcohol use disorder (aOR, 163.54; 95% CI, 28.30-944.95), personality disorder (aOR, 10.28; 95% CI, 3.29-32.10), anxiety disorders (aOR, 8.13; 95% CI, 2.88-22.98), depression (aOR, 7.27; 95% CI, 2.95-17.91), schizophrenia (aOR, 5.77; 95% CI, 2.17-15.38), bipolar disorder (aOR, 3.98; 95% CI, 1.36-11.67), and insomnia (aOR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.30-7.78).

Lapinsky SC, Ray JG, Brown HK, Murphy KE, Kaster TS, Vigod SN. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2023 Jan 11.

In the first 365 days postpartum, severe mental illness occurred at rates of 10.5 and 8.7 per 1000 person-years in twin and singleton mothers, respectively, corresponding to a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.21 (95% CI 1.07-1.47). From 366 days onward, the corresponding figures were 5.9 and 6.1 per 1000 person-years (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.89-1.04).

Paternal postpartum depression, coparenting, and father-infant bonding: Testing two mediated models using structural equation modeling.

Wells MB, Jeon L. J Affect Disord. 2023 Jan 11:S0165-0327(22)01524-5.

Fathers’ depression symptoms and coparenting quality can be bi-directionally related in the association with father-infant bonding. Early detection and preventive treatments for paternal depression symptoms and coparenting are warranted.