ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study examined associations between participation in virtual support groups for peripartum women and mental health outcomes at follow-up approximately 8 months later. METHODS: This cross-sectional online survey study assessed 383 women from the Perinatal Experiences and COVID-19 Effects (PEACE) study. Initial participants (T1) were re-contacted (T2) and self-reported mental health symptoms of depression (CES-D), anxiety (GAD-7), and COVID-related grief were assessed at both time points. Participants reported involvement in virtual support groups and their perception of the effectiveness of social media in addressing feelings of loneliness. RESULTS: The majority (62%) of respondents participated in a virtual support group, 99% of whom used informal social media-based groups (e.g. Facebook groups). At initial evaluation, virtual group participants reported higher levels of depressive symptoms (p=0.008) and COVID grief (p=0.004), but not higher levels of anxiety. Across the cohort, self-reported depressive, anxiety, and grief symptoms did not change significantly at follow-up in paired analysis, and virtual group participants did not demonstrate improvement in mental health symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in virtual support groups did not seem to improve mental health outcomes for peripartum women, and most women found social media engagement minimally effective at addressing loneliness.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Peripartum Period , Pregnancy , Female , Humans , Cross-Sectional Studies , Pandemics , Anxiety/epidemiology , Self-Help Groups , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Depression/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Research on postpartum onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has focused exclusively on females. However, the authors present four cases of males with OCD onset that coincide with a spouse's pregnancy or delivery. The rapid onset and content of obsessions and compulsions are remarkably similar to those reported in previous studies of postpartum OCD in females. Each patient also responded to cognitive-behavioral therapy using exposure procedures. The implications of these cases for etiological models of postpartum OCD and future research directions are discussed.
Subject(s)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/methods , Labor, Obstetric , Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/diagnosis , Acute Disease , Adult , Desensitization, Psychologic , Female , Humans , Male , Models, Psychological , Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/etiology , Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/therapy , Pregnancy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Although the epidemiology, neurobiology, and treatment of anxiety disorders have received considerable attention in the child and adult literature, they have not received the same consideration in the geriatric population. This disparity is remarkable given the prevalence and associated costs of these disorders that can persist into late life. Further, although a considerable amount is known about these disorders in younger age groups, it is unclear whether the phenomenology of anxiety evolves over the course of the aging process. Thus, conclusions drawn based on younger populations of anxious adults may not hold true for older cohorts. This article reviews issues of epidemiology, phenomenology, neurobiology, and medical comorbidity, as well as pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatments in older adults.
Subject(s)
Anxiety Disorders/psychology , Adult , Aged , Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Anxiety Disorders/metabolism , Anxiety Disorders/therapy , Brain/metabolism , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Tetragastrin/metabolismABSTRACT
This article briefly presents one approach to conceptualizing known and suspected risk factors for co-morbid psychiatric disorder in epilepsy. The utility of this model is then reviewed by examining selected neurobiologic, psychosocial, and iatrogenic risk factors for a common co-morbid psychiatric disorder, interictal depression. Finally, data are presented concerning the rates of current and lifetime mood disorders among a sample of 76 patients with chronic complex partial seizures, the degree to which co-morbid depression has been recognized and treated in chronic epilepsy, and the health-related quality of life status associated with current and past mood disorders. Finally, these findings are related to the larger literature concerned with the recognition and treatment of depression.
Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder/psychology , Epilepsy/psychology , Adult , Chronic Disease , Depressive Disorder/complications , Epilepsy/complications , HumansABSTRACT
Although obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often considered a heterogeneous condition, there is no generally accepted subtype typology. Cluster analysis was used to identify definitive symptom-based groupings of 106 OCD patients. A stable cluster solution was achieved and five patient subgroups were identified based on their pattern of symptoms on the Yale-Brown (Y-BOCS) symptom checklist: harming, hoarding, contamination, certainty and obsessionals. The five subgroups were characterized by dominant symptom patterns and significant secondary concerns reflecting the symptom heterorgenaity often seen in the clinical presentation of obsessional patents. Between cluster differences on multiple symptom measures were evaluated and several meaningful differences were identified. Cluster analytic procedures may prove to be a useful tool for identifying a functional taxonomy of OCD subtypes.
