Life stress and post-partum psychosis: a preliminary report

Article Abstract:

The preliminary findings are presented from a longitudinal study evaluating the influence of psychosocial stressors (life-events or life-stress) on postpartum psychosis among women at high risk for psychiatric disorder after childbirth. Forty-three pregnant women with a history of psychosis or depression were compared with 45 pregnant women (controls) with no psychiatric history. All the women were interviewed for life events at 36 weeks of pregnancy, which occurred during the year preceding the expected delivery date. The women were re-interviewed regarding life events six months after giving birth. All the women were drug-free the last two months of pregnancy, and none were experiencing psychological problems at this time. Women who became severely depressed or psychotic were significantly more likely to have had a severe life event in the year preceding their illness onset. Of the 26 women with a previous psychotic illness, nine did not relapse, five developed neurotic disturbances and 12 suffered a postpartum psychotic illness. Seventeen women had a history of major depressive disorder; five of these women developed a postpartum depression, but none became psychotic. Nonpsychotic illnesses were associated with a greater likelihood of having experienced at least one severe life event. Sixty-two percent of the women with nonpsychotic postpartum illness had a preceding severe life event, compared with 22 percent of the women who did not become ill. Results support the view that women with a history of psychiatric problems, in particular manic-depressive disorder, are a high-risk group for postpartum psychiatric disturbances. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Causes of, Postpartum depression, Motherhood, Mothers, Postpartum psychiatric disorders

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Life-events, life difficulties and confiding relationships in the depressed elderly

Article Abstract:

A study was carried out among 101 depressed geriatric patients and 85 community residents (matched for gender and age) to assess relationships between severe life events, life difficulties, and depression. The depressed group came from various Australian general and mental hospitals and psychogeriatric assessment centers. The community group was randomly selected from the voting registration rolls of two western Australian districts. The depressed group had been diagnosed with major depression for at least one month. All study participants were tested to assess social and psychological data, personality, life events (e.g., death of a loved one, illness, change of residence), severity of life events, life difficulties, and the existence and quality of confiding relationships. Life difficulties were defined as ongoing problems which had existed for at least six months. For instance, a stroke would constitute a severe life event, while subsequent health, speech, or movement difficulties would constitute a life difficulty. Data analysis revealed that age, gender, and life difficulties were not significantly related to depression. Numbers of nonsevere life events were not significantly different among depressed and community groups. However, the depressed group had suffered more severe life events during the three months prior to the onset of depression. Lack of a good confidant was significantly related to depression in men, but not in women. Age, gender, and life difficulties were not found to be significantly related to depression. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Australia, Depression in old age, Geriatric depression, Geriatric psychiatry

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Social influences on the course of anxious and depressive disorders in school-age children

Article Abstract:

To investigate the outcome of depression and anxiety in school-age children and adolescents, 26 girls and 23 boys aged seven to 16 years, diagnosed with major depression (28) or anxiety (21) and living with mothers or mother surrogates were followed-up for 30 months after illness onset. They were interviewed by a psychiatrist and given tests to assess recent undesirable life events, friendship problems, social achievements, maternal distress and maternal confiding relationships. A second psychiatrist then reinterviewed all the children at the end of the follow-up period to assess relapse of depression or anxiety. At the same time, mothers took tests to measure perceptions of their child's mental state (recovered, partially recovered, or unrecovered), life events, social achievements and maternal confiding relations. Between interviews, children tended to experience fewer undesirable life events than they had prior to illness onset. They also showed significant improvements in confiding relations with mothers. However, neither improvement was found to be related to recovery. The best predictor of poor recovery was a rating of poor friendships after illness onset. This was particularly so for depressed children (more than 50 percent were found to have either chronic or relapsing symptoms). In this study, children and adults did not have a high rate of agreement in their perceptions of childhood well-being. Children were often overly optimistic and tended to provide socially sanctioned answers to questions. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Social aspects, Development and progression, Anxiety, Parent and child, Parent-child relations, Depression in adolescence, Adolescent depression, Depression in children, Childhood depression, Adolescent psychology

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