Adult attachment style and cortisol responses in women in late pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Recent research has documented the association between attachment and cortisol rhythms. During pregnancy, when attachment patterns are likely to be activated, elevated levels of cortisol are associated with negative effects for the mother and the foetus. The aim of the present study was to examine the association of adult attachment style and cortisol rhythms in pregnant women. METHODS: Eighty women in the third trimester of pregnancy participated in the study. Adult attachment was assessed using the Adult Attachment Scale - Revised (AAS-R). Participants collected 4 samples of salivary cortisol at two different days; 3 samples were collected in the morning immediately after wakeup and one sample was collected by bedtime. RESULTS: Results found group significant differences in the cortisol diurnal oscillation (F (1,71) =26.46, p < .001,), with secure women reporting a steep decrease in cortisol from awakening to bedtime, while women with fearful avoidant attachment reported no changes. No group differences were found regarding the cortisol awakening response. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the importance of considering attachment patterns during pregnancy, suggesting fearful avoidant attachment style as a possible risk factor for emotional difficulties and dysregulation of the neuroendocrine rhythms.

Effects of local anesthetic on the time between analgesic boluses and the duration of labor in patient-controlled epidural analgesia: prospective study of two ultra-low dose regimens of ropivacaine and sufentanil.

BACKGROUND: Patient-controlled epidural analgesia with low concentrations of anesthetics is effective in reducing labor pain. The aim of this study was to assess and compare two ultra-low dose regimens of ropivacaine and sufentanil (0.1% ropivacaine plus 0.5 µg.ml-1 sufentanil vs. 0.06% ropivacaine plus 0.5 µg.ml-1 sufentanil) on the intervals between boluses and the duration of labor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this non-randomized prospective study, conducted between January and July 2010, two groups of parturients received patient-controlled epidural analgesia: Group I (n = 58; 1 mg.ml-1 ropivacaine + 0.5 µg.ml-1 sufentanil) and Group II (n = 57; 0.6 mg.ml-1 ropivacaine + 0.5 µg.ml-1 sufentanil). Rescue doses of ropivacaine at the concentration of the assigned group without sufentanil were administered as necessary. Pain, local anesthetic requirements, neuraxial blockade characteristics, labor and neonatal outcomes, and maternal satisfaction were recorded. RESULTS: The ropivacaine dose was greater in Group I (9.5 [7.7-12.7] mg.h-1 vs. 6.1 [5.1-9.8 mg.h-1], p < 0.001). A time increase between each bolus was observed in Group I (beta = 32.61 min, 95% CI [25.39; 39.82], p < 0.001), whereas a time decrease was observed in Group II (beta = -1.40 min, 95% CI [-2.44; -0.36], p = 0.009). The duration of the second stage of labor in Group I was significantly longer than that in Group II (78 min vs. 65 min, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Parturients receiving 0.06% ropivacaine exhibited less evidence of cumulative effects and exhibited faster second stage progression than those who received 0.1% ropivacaine.

Introdução: A patient-controlled epidural analgesia com baixas concentrações de anestésicos é eficaz na redução da dor de parto. O objectivo deste estudo foi comparar dois regimes de doses ultrabaixas de ropivacaína e sufentanil (0,1% ropivacaína associada a 0,5 µg.ml-1 sufentanil vs. 0,06% ropivacaína associada a 0,5 µg.ml-1 sufentanil) nos intervalos entre bólus e na duração do trabalho de parto. Material e Métodos: Neste estudo prospectivo não-randomizado, realizado entre Janeiro e Julho de 2010, dois grupos de parturientes receberam patient-controlled epidural analgesia: o Grupo I (n = 58; 1 mg.ml-1 ropivacaína + 0,5 µg.ml-1 sufentanil) e o Grupo II (n = 57; 0,6 mg.ml-1 ropivacaína + 0,5 µg.ml-1 sufentanil). Quando necessário administraram-se doses de resgate de ropivacaína na concentração definida para cada grupo e sem sufentanil. Registaram-se a dor, os consumos de analgésicos, as características do bloqueio neuroaxial, do trabalho de parto, do recém-nascido, e a satisfação materna. Resultados: A dose de ropivacaína foi maior no Grupo I (9,5 [7,7-12,7] mg.h-1 vs. 6,1 [5,1-9,8 mg.h-1], p < 0,001). No Grupo I observouse um aumento do intervalo de tempo entre bólus (beta = 32,61 min, 95% CI [25,39; 39,82], p < 0,001), enquanto no Grupo II se observou uma diminuição dos intervalos (beta = -1,40 min, 95% CI [-2,44; -0,36], p = 0,009). A duração do segundo estadio do trabalho de parto foi significativamente maior no Grupo I do que no Grupo II (78 min vs. 65 min, p < 0,001). Conclusões: As parturientes que receberam ropivacaína a 0,06% exibiram uma menor evidência de efeitos cumulativos e um segundo estadio do trabalho de parto mais rápido do que as que receberam ropivacaína a 0,1%.

The role of maternal attachment in the experience of labor pain: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of attachment dimensions and sociodemographic and physical predictors in the experience of labor pain. METHODS: Eighty-one pregnant women were assessed during their third trimester of pregnancy and during labor. The perceived intensity of pain in the early stages of labor (3 cm of cervical dilatation) and before the administration of patient-controlled epidural analgesia was measured using a visual analog scale. Pain was also assessed indirectly based on anesthetic doses. Attachment was assessed using the Adult Attachment Scale-Revised. RESULTS: Attachment anxiety and avoidance were positively and significantly correlated with labor pain and anesthetic consumption. In the multivariate models, attachment anxiety was a significant predictor of higher pain at 3 cm of cervical dilatation (ß = 0.36, p = .042) and before the administration of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (ß = 0.51, p = .002). Older age (ß = 0.31, p = .005), a shorter duration of labor (ß= -0.41, p = .001), and attachment avoidance (ß = 0.41, p = .004) were significant predictors of higher anesthetic use. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings suggest that perceived labor pain and anesthetic use are strongly associated with attachment, rather than demographic and physical factors. These data support the importance of understanding the experience of labor pain within an attachment theoretical framework.

The influence of women's attachment style on the chronobiology of labour pain, analgesic consumption and pharmacological effect.

Circadian variation in biological rhythms has been identified as affecting both labour pain and the pharmacological properties of analgesics. In the context of pain, there is also a growing body of evidence suggesting the importance of adult attachment. The purpose of this study was to examine whether labour pain, analgesic consumption and pharmacological effect are significantly affected by the time of day and to analyse whether this circadian variation is influenced by women's attachment style. This prospective observational study included a sample of 81 pregnant women receiving patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA). Attachment was assessed with the Adult Attachment Scale - Revised. The perceived intensity of labour pain in the early stage of labour (3 cm of cervical dilatation and before the administration of PCEA) was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Pain was also indirectly assessed by measuring the consumption of anaesthetics. The latency period and the duration of effect were recorded for a chronopharmacology characterisation. Pain, as assessed with the VAS, was significantly higher in the night-time group than in the daytime group. An insecure attachment style was significantly associated with greater labour pain at 3 cm of cervical dilatation (p < 0.001) and before the beginning of analgesia (p < 0.001) as well as with higher analgesic consumption and lower pharmacological efficacy (p < 0.05). The time of day was significantly associated with the pharmacological effect: the latency period was longer at night, and the duration of the pharmacological effect was longer during the daytime. The interaction between time of day and attachment style was not significant for any of the study variables. Our results provide evidence of the importance of circadian variation in studying labour pain and the pharmacological effect of labour analgesia involving epidural blockage with a PCEA regimen. Moreover, although there was no evidence that attachment style influenced the circadian variation, these data emphasise that insecure attachment patterns are a risk factor for greater labour pain and analgesic consumption, which should be considered in pain management approaches.

Attachment styles, pain, and the consumption of analgesics during labor: a prospective observational study.

UNLABELLED: Individuals with less secure attachment styles have been shown to experience more pain than people with more secure attachment styles; however, attachment styles have not yet been examined in the context of labor pain and analgesic consumption. The purpose of this prospective observational study was to assess the influence of the mother's attachment style on the perception of labor pain, as assessed by a visual analog scale and analgesic consumption. Eighty-one pregnant women with a mean age of 32 years (standard deviation = 5.1) were assessed during the third trimester of pregnancy and during labor. The physical predictors of labor pain were recorded, and the adult attachment style was assessed with the Adult Attachment Scale-Revised. For labor analgesia, a low dose of patient-controlled epidural analgesia protocol (ropivacaine .6 mg/mL plus sufentanil .5 µg/mL) was used. Women with a secure attachment style reported significantly less labor pain (P < .001) and a significantly lower analgesic consumption during labor (P < .001) than insecurely attached women. These findings suggest that women's attachment style was associated with labor pain and analgesic consumption and support the relevance of the attachment theory as a promising conceptual framework for understanding labor pain. PERSPECTIVE: This study showed that women with an insecure attachment style were more likely to report higher pain before patient-controlled epidural analgesia and higher analgesic consumption and to request supplemental analgesia during labor. The assessment of adult attachment has the potential to identify women at high risk of poorly coping with pain during childbirth.

Women's attachment as a predictor of pain during labour and post-delivery: a prospective observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Labour is considered to be one of the most painful and significant experiences in a woman's life. The aim of this study was to examine whether women's attachment style is a predictor of the pain experienced throughout labour and post-delivery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two pregnant women were assessed during the third trimester of pregnancy and during labour. Adult attachment was assessed with the Adult Attachment Scale ' Revised. The perceived intensity of labour pain was measured using a visual analogue scale for pain in the early stage of labour, throughout labour and post-delivery. RESULTS: Women with an insecure attachment style reported more pain at 3 cm of cervical dilatation (p < 0.05), before the administration of analgesia (p < 0.01) and post-delivery (p < 0.05) than those securely attached. In multivariate models, attachment style was a significant predictor of labour pain at 3 cm of cervical dilatation and before the first administration of analgesia but not of the perceived pain post-delivery. DISCUSSION: These findings confirm that labour pain is influenced by relevant psychological factors and suggest that a woman's attachment style may be a risk factor for greater pain during labour. CONCLUSION: Future studies in the context of obstetric pain may consider the attachment style as an indicator of individual differences in the pain response during labour. This may have important implications in anaesthesiology and to promote a relevant shift in institutional practices and therapeutic procedures.

IntroduçÉo: O parto é considerado uma das experiências mais dolorosas e significativas na vida de uma mulher. O objectivo deste estudo foi avaliar se o estilo de vinculaçÉo da grávida é um preditor significativo da dor experienciada durante o parto e após o nascimento.Material e Métodos: Trinta e duas grávidas foram avaliadas durante o terceiro trimestre de gravidez e durante o parto. A vinculaçÉo no adulto foi avaliada através da Escala de AvaliaçÉo no Adulto ' Revista. A intensidade da dor de parto foi avaliada através de uma Escala Visual Analógica para a dor durante o parto e após o nascimento.Resultados: As mulheres com um estilo de vinculaçÉo inseguro reportaram maior dor aos 3 cm de dilataçÉo cervical (p < 0,05), antes da administraçÉo da analgesia (p < 0,01) e após o nascimento (p < 0,05) que as mulheres com uma vinculaçÉo segura. Nos modelos multivariados, o estilo de vinculaçÉo mostrou-se um preditor significativo da dor no parto aos 3 cm de dilataçÉo cervical e antes da administraçÉo da analgesia, mas nÉo na dor percebida após o nascimento.DiscussÉo: Estes resultados confirmam que a dor de parto é influenciada por factores psicológicos relevantes e sugerem que o estilo de vinculaçÉo da mulher pode ser um factor de risco para maior intensidade de dor no parto.ConclusÉo: Estudos futuros no contexto da dor obstétrica devem considerar o estilo de vinculaçÉo como um indicador de diferenças individuais na experiência de dor durante o parto. Isto pode ter importantes implicações para a Anestesiologia e promover importantes mudanças nas práticas institucionais e procedimentos terapêuticos.