MMPI-2: cluster analysis of personality profiles in perinatal depression—preliminary evidence

Exploring the Relationship between Neuroticism and Perinatal Depressive Symptoms: Findings from a 2-Year, Multicenter Study in Italy

Neuroticism is a personality trait associated with the risk of affective disorders and perinatal depression. We investigated the relationship between different levels of neuroticism, psychological characteristics, and depressive symptoms in a sample of pregnant women (N = 2631) who accessed the gynecology departments in the Puglia Region (Italy) from July 2020 to November 2022. Women were assessed for depressive symptoms and associated risk factors in their third trimester of pregnancy (T0) and after childbirth (T1), and followed-up at 6 months and 1 year after delivery if presenting signs of depression (T2-T3). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to screen depressive symptoms, and neuroticism was assessed through the subscales of the NEO Five Factor Inventory. Standardized measures of resilience, coping strategies, partner attachment, and quality of life were also employed. Higher levels of neuroticism were significantly associated with: (a) higher scores on the EPDS; (b) higher anxiety in the experience of close relationships; (c) lower psychological wellbeing; (d) lower levels of resilience; (e) lower levels of active coping; and (f) higher levels of self-blame. Our findings may suggest that neuroticism is a specific associated factor of perinatal depression and should be routinely assessed in the clinical screening of pregnant women in order to promote an early referral to psychological or psychiatric support services.

The relationship between personality traits and individual factors with perinatal depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy is a crucial transition moment exposing women to potential mental health problems, especially depressive disturbances. Sociodemographic, pregnancy-related, and psychological factors have been related to depressive symptoms in the perinatal period. This study aims at (1) exploring personality and individual factors related with perinatal depressive symptoms, and (2) testing the mediating role of personality in the relation between characteristics of the woman's family of origin and depressive symptoms.

METHODS

Women in the perinatal period admitted to the gynecology unit for motherhood-related routine assessments (n = 241) were included in the study. A survey on individual sociodemographic, clinical, and pregnancy-related factors was administered, also including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the BIG-5 personality test.

RESULTS

Couple conflict and neuroticism were independent and directly correlated with EPDS total score (respectively: B = 2.337; p = .017; B = 0.303; p < .001). Neuroticism was a significant mediator of the relation between the presence of a psychiatric disorder diagnosis in participant's parents and the EPDS total score (indirect b = 0.969; BCCI95%=0.366-1.607).

CONCLUSIONS

Couple relation and neuroticism traits are individual factors related to depressive symptoms in the perinatal period. The family of origin also plays an indirect role on perinatal depressive symptoms. Screening of these factors could lead to early recognition and more tailored treatments, ultimately leading to better outcome for the entire family.

Filicide by mentally ill maternal perpetrators: a longitudinal, retrospective study over 30 years in a single Northern Italy psychiatric-forensic facility

Characterization of mentally ill maternal perpetrators of filicide assigned to a single psychiatric-forensic facility, including previous access to mental health services. A cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of medical records and legal documentation of maternal filicide patients at a single psychiatric-forensic facility (1990-2021) was performed. Socio-demographic, relationship, psychopathological, and criminological characteristics were collected. Data were compared according to previous perpetrators' access to mental health services or not and access within 1 year prior to filicide or not. All 55 detainees (mean age 34.8 ± 6.2 years) were included. There were 64 victims; 15 (23%) were ≤ 1 year old and most (77%) were single victims. Some mothers had history of violence/abuse (29%), an aggressive parent (45%), and violent relationships with their intimate partner (46%) and were socially isolated (49%). Most crimes were motivated by altruism (53%). Women had attempted suicide in 39% of filicide cases. Previous psychiatric diagnoses were available for 56%; 71% had accessed services for ≤ 1 year. Patients unknown to mental health services were less likely Italian, with children below preschool age and with no history of physical abuse/violence, aggressive parent, or suicide attempts. Patients lost to mental health services (> 1 year) were less likely Italian or assuming psychopharmacological therapy, were in shorter relationships, and were mostly diagnosed with personality disorders. Female perpetrators of filicide are often unknown/lost to mental health services prior to the crime. Multifactorial historical and current characteristics aid in identifying mothers at risk. Communication of the availability of mental health services must be multi-lingual.

Parental Pre and Postnatal Depression: The Longitudinal Associations with Child Negative Affectivity and Dysfunctional Mother–Child Feeding Interactions

Background: Many studies have shown the influence of maternal perinatal depression on a child’s emotional and behavioral regulation ability; yet there is scarce research on the impact of the father’s perinatal depression on the caregiver–infant relationship and the child’s development. Methods: Through a longitudinal study, we investigated maternal and paternal depression and its association with infants’ emotionality and mother–infant feeding interactions The sample was constituted of 136 first-time parents (68 couples, and their full-term babies at 3 and 6 months old). At T1 (28th week of pregnancy), T2 (three months old), and T3 (at six months age) parents responded to the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. At Times 2 and 3, mothers and fathers completed the Infant Behavior Questionnaire, and recorded mother–infant interactions were coded by means of the Feeding Scale. Results: Statistical analyses indicated stability of maternal and paternal depression over time. Correlations emerged between mother’s higher depression scores, negative affective state during interactions at three months age, infant food refusal and mother–infant interactional conflict at six months age. Paternal higher depressive scores were associated with the mother–child interactional conflict. To finish, higher parental depression scores were related with infant negative emotionality. Conclusion: The current study confirms the relevance of embracing a cumulative risk model to support the child’s development with early caregiver-child interventions.

A Link between Parental Psychopathology and Preschool Depression: Take Care of Parents to Take Care of Children

There is a lot of evidence in the literature showing that early-onset depression determines an emotional and cognitive vulnerability for psychiatric disorders in subsequent years.

AIMS

The first aim of this outcome research was to analyze the impact of parental support treatment in a sample of depressed preschool children divided into two groups of comparison (under-reactive and over-reactive) through evolution in the Clinical Global Impression (CGI). The second aim was to analyze the correlation between the presence of parental psychopathology and the severity of children's disorders.

METHODS

Our clinical sample consisted of 32 preschool-age children with a final diagnosis of MDD. The children's assessment included a psychiatric assessment to establish a diagnosis of MDD, confirmed by means of a semi-structured interview, which was administered again one month after the end of parental treatment. All the parents began a six-month parent training treatment conducted by experienced child psychiatrists, whereas children were not treated. During this period, the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) was filled out monthly in order to observe the evolution of the children's disorders.

RESULTS

Post-hoc tests showed a significant difference from before the treatment to after the treatment only in the over-reactive group (p = 0.00). Regarding parental psychiatric disorders, in the over-reactive group, only 3 children had no parents with psychopathology. In the under-reactive group, no child lacked a parent with psychopathology.

CONCLUSION

Parent training treatment seems to be a valid intervention to improve preschool depression, especially in over-reactive groups, and to prevent dysfunctional parental styles connected to parental psychopathology.

Feasibility of Screening Programs for Domestic Violence in Pediatric and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: A Literature Review

Each year, 275 million children worldwide are exposed to domestic violence (DV) and suffer negative mental and physical health consequences; however, only a small proportion receive assistance. Pediatricians and child psychiatrists can play a central role in identifying threatened children. We reviewed experiences of DV screening in pediatric and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to understand its feasibility and provide clues for its implementation. We performed bibliographic research using the Sapienza Library System, PubMed, and the following databases: MEDLINE, American Psychological Association PsycArticles, American Psychological Association PsycInfo, ScienceDirect, and Scopus. We considered a 20-year interval when selecting the articles and we included studies published in English between January 2000 and March 2021. A total of 23 out of 2335 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. We found that the prevalence of disclosed DV ranged from 4.2% to 48%, with most prevalence estimates between 10% and 20%. Disclosure increases with a detection plan, which is mostly welcomed by mothers (70–80% acceptance rates). Written tools were used in 55% of studies, oral interviews in 40%, and computer instruments in 20%. Mixed forms were used in three studies (15%). The most used and effective tool appeared to be the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) (30% of studies). For young children, parental reports are advisable and written instruments are the first preference; interviews can be conducted with older children. Our research pointed out that the current literature does not provide practical clinical clues on facilitating the disclosure in pediatric clinics and CAMHS. Further studies are needed on the inpatient population and in the field of children psychiatry.

Early Neuro-Psychomotor Therapy Intervention for Theory of Mind and Emotion Recognition in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Pilot Study

The aim of the present study is to explore the effect of early neuro-psychomotor therapy to improve theory of mind skills and emotion recognition in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. A pilot study was set up, consisting of in-group training activities based on the neuro-psychomotor approach. Children were evaluated using Neuropsychological Assessment for Child (Nepsy-II), Test of Emotion Comprehension (TEC), and Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ). For data analysis, one-sample Wilcoxon signed rank test was used with a significance of p < 0.05. Two children with a developmental language disorder and four children with autism spectrum disorders participated in a 3-month training program. Our findings revealed significant improvement in emotion recognition, as measured with Nepsy-II (p = 0.04), while no statistical improvement was found for theory of mind. Despite the limited sample, early neuro-psychomotor therapy improves emotion recognition skills in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. However, considering the explorative nature of the study, findings should be interpreted with caution.

The study protocol: Neuroendocrinology and (epi-) genetics of female reproductive transition phase mood disorder - an observational, longitudinal study from pregnancy to postpartum

BACKGROUND

Postpartum depression is considered to be one of the most common health threats during pregnancy and postpartum, affecting not only the woman herself but also the offspring and the whole family system. Evidence for a conclusive etiopathological model with distinct risk and resilience factors is still broadly lacking. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate numerous health-related markers to obtain greater insight into which biopsychosocial profiles render women more vulnerable to PPD or facilitate a healthy transition from pregnancy to postpartum.

METHODS

The observational, longitudinal study aims to include a total of 288 physically healthy women, aged 20-45 years. A multitude of relevant parameters, of an (epi-) genetic, endocrinological, physiological and psychological nature, will be assessed over a period of 5 months, following the participants from the 3rd trimester until three months postpartum.

DISCUSSION

The ultimate goal of the present study is to ameliorate mental health care during pregnancy and postpartum, by gaining a better understanding of the underlying biopsychosocial mechanisms that women undergo during the transition from pregnancy to postpartum.

Personality structure and attachment models of women who kill their children. A systematic review on maternal filicide

BACKGROUND

A mother's ability to attune with her child is crucial in structuring one's attachment style and personality. Both dimensions shape mother-child interactions, and they are therefore likely to impact on the risk of filicide. Numerous risk factors for filicide have been identified, but personality and attachment look relatively understudied.

OBJECTIVE

We focused on filicide mothers' personality and states of mind regarding attachment to shed new light on this phenomenon, for the purpose of an improved and earlier identification of at-risk maternities.

METHODS

A systematic review of five electronic databases was performed. All studies on filicide, infanticide or neonaticide were included in the search, regardless of the study design or the socio-demographic characteristics of the offenders.

RESULTS

Twelve original articles were found to be eligible for the systematic review. The data were categorized in personality and attachment related, and then by study design. Only two studies performed comparisons with control groups, and only three reported data about psychodiagnostic/neuropsychiatric tests or questionnaires. Personality diagnoses were strongly heterogeneous (mostly pertaining to cluster B and C), and not supported by statistically significant evidence. Attachment was examined by only one study, which showed that the most frequent states of mind regarding attachment were unresolved/unclassifiable (U/CC).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite their pivotal importance in determining relational patterns in an individual, both personality and attachment are almost unacknowledged across the literature about maternal filicide. It is thus advisable to further focus on them, carrying out structured and validated assessments, to better define the causes of this dramatic event.

Cluster analysis of psychiatric profile, its correlates, and using mental health services among the young people aged 15-34: findings from the first phase of Iranian youth cohort in Ravansar

PURPOSES

(1) Cluster analysis of psychiatric disorders and partitioning the youth; (2) determining socio-demographic correlates and parental histories for each one of the clusters; and (3) comparing clusters based on the extent and type of using psychotherapeutic services.

METHODS

The current cross-sectional study is a part of the first phase of PERSIAN Youth Cohort. The sample of the study includes 2991 participants aged 15-34 (27 ± 5.1 years, 55.6% female) from Ravansar district in western Iran. Enrollment and data collection for this phase were performed from October, 2014 to January, 2017. The data were collected through structured interviews, including the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI; version 2.1), mental health-related Sheehan Disability Scale, and Service Use Questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using two-step cluster analysis, multinomial logistic regression, and Chi-square test.

RESULTS

Our model proposed three clusters: a clinical cluster with significant mental disability; a healthy cluster with significant disability; and a healthy cluster with mild disability. There is a direct relationship between widow/divorced marital status and psychiatric maternal history with the clinical cluster (P < 0.05). Clinical and non-clinical clusters with medium to severe disability used services for mental health more often that the healthy cluster with mild functional disability (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study show that 28.7% of the youth in the general population of western Iran are suffering from psychiatric disorders and nearly two-thirds of the total population reported a medium-severe functional disability. Considering the wide range of mental disorders and the functional disability levels created by these disorders, cluster analysis could provide invaluable information regarding the partitioning of the youth population.

Neurological, psychological, and cognitive disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease on conservative and replacement therapy

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a highly prevalent condition in the world. Neurological, psychological, and cognitive disorders, related to CKD, could contribute to the morbidity, mortality, and poor quality of life of these patients. The aim of this study was to assess the neurological, psychological, and cognitive imbalance in patients with CKD on conservative and replacement therapy.Seventy-four clinically stable patients affected by CKD on conservative therapy, replacement therapy (hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD)), or with kidney transplantation (KT) and 25 healthy controls (HC), matched for age and sex were enrolled. Clinical, laboratory, and instrumental examinations, as renal function, inflammation and mineral metabolism indexes, electroencephalogram (EEG), psychological (MMPI-2, Sat P), and cognitive tests (neuropsychological tests, NPZ5) were carried out.The results showed a significant differences in the absolute and relative power of delta band and relative power of theta band of EEG (P = 0.008, P < 0.001, P = 0.051), a positive correlation between relative power of delta band and C-reactive protein (CRP) (P < 0.001) and a negative correlation between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (P < 0.001) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) (P < 0.001), in all the samples. Qualitative analysis of EEG showed alterations of Grade 2 (according to Parsons-Smith classification) in patients on conservative therapy, and Grade 2-3 in KT patients. The scales of MMPI-2 hysteria and paranoia, are significantly correlated with creatinine, eGFR, serum nitrogen, CRP, 1,25-(OH)2D3, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), phosphorus, and cynical and hysterical personality, are correlated with higher relative power of delta (P = 0.016) and theta band (P = 0.016). Moreover, all NPZ5 scores showed a significant difference between the means of nephropathic patients and the means of the HC, and a positive correlation with eGFR, serum nitrogen, CRP, iPTH, and vitamin D.In CKD patients, simple and noninvasive instruments, as EEG, and cognitive-psychological tests, should be performed and careful and constant monitoring of renal risk factors, probably involved in neuropsychological complications (inflammation, disorders of mineral metabolism, electrolyte disorders, etc.), should be carried out. Early identification and adequate therapy of neuropsychological, and cognitive disorders, might enable a better quality of life and a major compliance with a probable reduction in the healthcare costs.

Multivariate Statistical Analysis as a Supplementary Tool for Interpretation of Variations in Salivary Cortisol Level in Women with Major Depressive Disorder

Multivariate statistical analysis is widely used in medical studies as a profitable tool facilitating diagnosis of some diseases, for instance, cancer, allergy, pneumonia, or Alzheimer's and psychiatric diseases. Taking this in consideration, the aim of this study was to use two multivariate techniques, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA), to disclose the relationship between the drugs used in the therapy of major depressive disorder and the salivary cortisol level and the period of hospitalization. The cortisol contents in saliva of depressed women were quantified by HPLC with UV detection day-to-day during the whole period of hospitalization. A data set with 16 variables (e.g., the patients' age, multiplicity and period of hospitalization, initial and final cortisol level, highest and lowest hormone level, mean contents, and medians) characterizing 97 subjects was used for HCA and PCA calculations. Multivariate statistical analysis reveals that various groups of antidepressants affect at the varying degree the salivary cortisol level. The SSRIs, SNRIs, and the polypragmasy reduce most effectively the hormone secretion. Thus, both unsupervised pattern recognition methods, HCA and PCA, can be used as complementary tools for interpretation of the results obtained by laboratory diagnostic methods.