Archives Of Women's Mental Health[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Integrated care for multi-domain vulnerability during pregnancy: a retrospective cohort study.
Munshi SC, Hoex ECI, Weggelaar-Jansen AM … +4 more , Knijff EM, van der Wilk EC, Steegers EAP, Bijma HH
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39825035 · Full text
PURPOSE: Psychosocial risk factors are frequently present in pregnant women and are associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Professional guidelines recommend early detection of vulnerability and provision...
PURPOSE: Psychosocial risk factors are frequently present in pregnant women and are associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Professional guidelines recommend early detection of vulnerability and provision of multidisciplinary care, including an integrated care plan for pregnant women with social factors, such as residing in deprived areas, teenage pregnancy, and psychiatric illness. However, to date, such approach is impeded by lack of data on co-occurrence of vulnerability. Therefore, we aim to describe co-occurrence of psychiatric illness, social factors or substance use during pregnancy. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 1002 pregnant women referred for evaluation by a multidisciplinary team because of psychiatric illness, social factors or substance use in a university hospital in a large city in the Netherlands. Data from medical charts between January 2017 and May 2022 were extracted and analyzed by univariate and bivariate analysis. RESULTS: Multi-domain vulnerability was present in 83% of women and most frequently involved the following patterns: psychiatric illness with social factors and chronic physical illness (24%), psychiatric illness with social factors (14%), social factors with chronic physical illness (13%) and psychiatric illness with chronic physical illness (12%). Single-domain vulnerability was present in 17% of women, involving most frequently social factors (9%) and psychiatric illness (8%). CONCLUSION: The majority of women with psychiatric illness, social factors or substance use have multi-domain vulnerability. There is a need for a novel approach to care to address vulnerability in pregnant women.
Editorial 1/25.
Riecher-Rössler A
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39821657 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Gestational diabetes and mental health: longitudinal analysis of data from the GEMS randomized trial.
Ohene-Agyei P, Gamble GD, Tran T … +2 more , Harding JE, Crowther CA
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39812697 · Full text
PURPOSE: There is limited high-quality evidence about perinatal mental health among women with gestational diabetes. We aimed to assess the risks and longitudinal changes in anxiety, depression, and health-related qualit...
PURPOSE: There is limited high-quality evidence about perinatal mental health among women with gestational diabetes. We aimed to assess the risks and longitudinal changes in anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life comparing women with gestational diabetes and those without among a contemporary cohort of pregnant women. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of participants in the GEMS Trial. Women with a singleton pregnancy were eligible if they had a 75-g diagnostic oral glucose-tolerance test between 24 and 32 weeks' gestation, provided written informed consent, and completed questionnaires about anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life at the study time points. RESULTS: There were no differences in risk for anxiety (RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.86, 1.49; p = 0.39) or depression (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.78, 1.50; p = 0.64) between the two groups at 36 weeks' gestation or 6 months postpartum [anxiety: (RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.90, 1.63; p = 0.21); depression: (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.55, 1.28; p = 0.43]. However, at 36 weeks' gestation participants with gestational diabetes reported better physical functioning, and at 6 months postpartum, better mental functioning (mean difference (MD) in scores 1.28, 95% CI 0.25, 2.30; p = 0.01) although worse physical functioning (MD -2.99, 95% CI -3.90, -2.07; p = < 0.001) compared to participants without. CONCLUSION: The risk for poor mental health during the perinatal period does not differ importantly among women diagnosed and treated for gestational diabetes compared to the general pregnant population.
Mental health during and after pregnancy in medically assisted reproduction: a danish cohort study.
Grønlund MM, Jølving LR, Möller S … +2 more , Wesselhoeft R, Bliddal M
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39792335 · Full text
PURPOSE: Infertility is common and an increasing number of women go through medically assisted reproduction (fertility treatment) to achieve pregnancy. This may affect mental health. We examined if fertility treatment an...
PURPOSE: Infertility is common and an increasing number of women go through medically assisted reproduction (fertility treatment) to achieve pregnancy. This may affect mental health. We examined if fertility treatment and the specific fertility treatment method used (in vivo or in vitro) were associated with impaired mental health during or after pregnancy. METHODS: Using self-reported data from the Odense Child Cohort, we assessed prenatal stress by the 10-item Cohen Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) during pregnancy at median gestational week 27 and postnatal depressive symptoms by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at median postpartum week 15. We compared fertility-treated women overall and by fertility treatment method to women who conceived spontaneously. We conducted linear regression analyses to evaluate the PSS-10 score dimensionally and logistic regression to evaluate EPDS scores above cut-off (≥ 11). RESULTS: A total of 108 of 820 women (13%) gave birth after fertility treatment. Their prenatal mean stress (PSS-10) score was 11.38 compared to 11.78 for women who conceived spontaneously, leading to an adjusted mean difference of -0.09 points (95% confidence interval (CI): -1.88 to 1.69). In the fertility-treated group, 9.7% had EPDS scores ≥ 11 compared to 10.7% in the spontaneous conception group (adjusted odds ratio of 0.71 (95% CI: 0.26 to 1.91)). The MAR method (in vivo/vitro) did not influence these results. CONCLUSION: Women who gave birth after fertility treatment did not report higher levels of prenatal stress or postpartum depressive symptoms than women who conceived spontaneously.
Research on the self-efficacy and resilience of female graduate students in the era of artificial intelligence: analysis of the mechanism of mobile phone dependence, anxiety and mentoring relationship.
Peng X, Nie R, Tong S
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39762461 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the employment situation on the anxiety levels and research self-efficacy of graduate students, with a particular focus on female graduate students. The...
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the employment situation on the anxiety levels and research self-efficacy of graduate students, with a particular focus on female graduate students. The study aims to understand how the use of AIGC tools, which has become more frequent among those with lower research self-efficacy, affects anxiety and research resilience. Additionally, the research explores the role of the mentoring relationship in influencing the psychological and academic experiences of female graduate students. METHOD: The research involved 1164 female master's and doctoral students and employed a moderated chain mediation model. This model was constructed based on social cognitive theory and Habermas interaction theory to analyze the relationships between research self-efficacy, mobile phone dependence, anxiety, and research resilience. Data was collected and empirically analyzed using SPSS 26.0, a statistical software, to examine the proposed relationships and the moderating effect of the mentoring relationship. RESULT: The findings revealed that scientific research self-efficacy positively influences research resilience among female graduate students. Additionally, mobile phone dependence and anxiety were found to play a chain mediating role between self-efficacy and research resilience. The study also discovered that the mentoring relationship negatively moderated the effects of mobile phone dependence and anxiety on these students. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, the study concludes that mentors and academic administrators should consider the research capabilities and interests of students when assigning research tasks. It is recommended to establish a flight instructor mentorship system that maximizes the strengths of each mentor to support students, especially those with suboptimal mentor-mentee relationships. This approach could help in providing positive guidance and improving the research resilience of female graduate students who are more susceptible to anxiety and mobile phone dependence.
Links among maternal antenatal attachment, postnatal depressive symptoms and infant crying: a prospective cohort study.
Støve LL, Ertmann RK, Siersma VD … +2 more , de Voss SS, Smith-Nielsen J
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39760848 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: This study investigated whether maternal antenatal attachment (MAA) in the third trimester was associated with self-reported problematic infant crying at eight weeks postnatally and explored links with postnatal...
PURPOSE: This study investigated whether maternal antenatal attachment (MAA) in the third trimester was associated with self-reported problematic infant crying at eight weeks postnatally and explored links with postnatal depressive symptoms. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted with 1287 pregnant participants in Danish general practice. MAA was measured using the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS) in the third trimester. Both postnatal depressive symptoms and infant crying problems were assessed eight weeks postnatally, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and maternal reports, respectively. RESULTS: Low MAAS quality scores in the third trimester were initially associated with a 51% increased risk of reporting problematic infant crying at eight weeks, but this effect disappeared after adjusting for physical and mental health variables (e.g., chronic disease, anxiety, and depression symptoms) during pregnancy. No significant effects were found for MAAS intensity or total score. Low MAAS quality and overall MAAS scores were associated with an increased risk of scoring above cutoff on the EPDS. High levels of postnatal depressive symptoms at eight weeks significantly increased the likelihood of reporting problematic infant crying. Low MAAS scores combined with high levels of postnatal depressive symptoms did not increase the risk of problematic infant crying compared to low levels of depressive symptoms with low MAAS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of considering maternal mental health when parents report infant crying problems postnatally. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that poor MAA in pregnancy is not necessarily linked with parental report of problematic infant crying after birth.
Psychometric evaluation of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale in pregnant women.
Rast CE, Musci R, Abramowitz JS … +8 more , Nestadt G, Nestadt P, Kimmel MC, Dibbs T, Osborne LM, Samuels J, Krasnow J, Storch EA
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39745521 · Full text
PURPOSE: Although many women experience obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the perinatal period, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) has not yet been psychometrically evaluated in this population. This st...
PURPOSE: Although many women experience obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the perinatal period, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) has not yet been psychometrically evaluated in this population. This study examined the internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity, and factor structure of the YBOCS among pregnant women. METHODS: 256 Women who were 20 to 24 weeks pregnant completed the clinician-administered YBOCS and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) along with a series of self-report questionnaires including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) and Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R). RESULTS: Internal consistency of the YBOCS was excellent, and there were strong inter-scale correlations between the YBOCS Total Score, YBOCS Obsessions and Compulsions Severity Scales. The YBOCS demonstrated good known-groups validity differentiating women with and without OCD. Convergent validity with the OCI-R was demonstrated while relations with divergent validity were more mixed. CONCLUSION: The YBOCS possesses strong psychometric properties in pregnant women.
Risk of congenital anomalies associated with psychotropic medications: a review of neonatal reports in the FDA adverse event reporting System (FAERS).
Zheng J, Zhang Z, Liang Y … +5 more , Wu Q, Din C, Wang Y, Ma L, Su L
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39710735 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: This study investigates the potential association between commonly prescribed psychotropic medications, such as Atypical Antipsychotics (AAs), Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), and Serotonin Norep...
PURPOSE: This study investigates the potential association between commonly prescribed psychotropic medications, such as Atypical Antipsychotics (AAs), Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), and Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), and congenital anomalies in newborns. The analysis uses data from the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). METHODS: Spontaneously reported cases of congenital anomalies in newborns (under 28 days old) were extracted from the FAERS database, covering January 2004 to June 2023. Four signal detection methods-Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN), and Multi-item Gamma Poisson Shrinker (MGPS)-were employed to identify signals associated with neonatal deformities caused by specific drugs, ensuring signal stability and reliability. RESULTS: The FAERS database contains 21,605 reports involving neonates, with 6,208 cases reporting congenital anomalies. Of these, 6,164 cases (99.29%) attributed the adverse events to drugs. The top ten psychotropic drugs associated with neonatal congenital anomalies were venlafaxine, quetiapine, olanzapine, sertraline, citalopram, mirtazapine, duloxetine, paroxetine, aripiprazole, and fluoxetine. Different drug classes showed varying risks of congenital anomalies, with higher signal frequencies observed for cardiac, nervous system, respiratory-thoracic-mediastinal, and musculoskeletal-connective tissue disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that commonly used psychotropic drugs may increase the risk of congenital abnormalities in newborns, necessitating caution for pregnant women. Compared to other psychotropic drugs, the teratogenic effects of aripiprazole and fluoxetine are relatively minor. ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS: Overcoming the Limitations of Clinical Trials in Special Populations: Due to ethical considerations involving pregnant women and newborns, conducting clinical trials is often challenging. Real-world studies are currently one of the most important sources of evidence for evaluating the safety of medication use during pregnancy. Addressing Challenges in International Signal Detection: There is no established gold standard for signal detection, and different countries use varying methods. To minimize the impact of false-positive signals on the results, this study employs a combination of four different methods for signal mining. Advancing Beyond Small Retrospective Cohort Studies and Case Reports: Most current research on the safety of medication use during pregnancy relies on small retrospective cohort studies or case reports. Studies based on large pharmacovigilance databases overcome these limitations. This approach not only captures information on all drugs that may lead to congenital anomalies in newborns but also monitors rare yet significant safety information, providing more comprehensive data support for assessing the safety of medication use during pregnancy.
Commentary on "Intimate partner violence among ever-married Afghan women: patterns, associations and attitudinal acceptance".
Zhong Y
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39707014 · Publisher ↗
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Good practice in lactation counseling for Ukrainian refugee mothers to ensure the health and mental benefits of breastfeeding - an observational study.
Babiszewska-Aksamit M, Bzikowska-Jura A, Kotlińska A … +14 more , Aduła A, Chrobak A, Domosud J, Drążkowska I, Gaweł P, Jakimiuk A, Kołodziej J, Królak-Olejnik B, Lisak-Gurba K, Mozdyniewicz K, Mołas A, Piątkowska A, Sinkiewicz-Darol E, Wesołowska A
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 39638975 · Full text
PURPOSE: The study presents a cross-sectional analysis of the population of Ukrainian women who received maternity care in 11 Polish hospitals. METHODS: Multidirectional lactation counseling was implemented from March to...
PURPOSE: The study presents a cross-sectional analysis of the population of Ukrainian women who received maternity care in 11 Polish hospitals. METHODS: Multidirectional lactation counseling was implemented from March to November 2023 by the Human Milk Bank Foundation in cooperation with UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland. Medical data were collected using questionnaires prepared for the study. When the mother indicated that she had mental problems or the health care personnel spotted problems, she was she referred to a psychologist for diagnostics, who used questionnaires appropriate to the patient's situation such as: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression assessment and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 for anxiety assessment. RESULTS: In total, 1203 consultations were carried out, of which 542 were lactation counseling, 305 - were physiotherapy, 227 - were psychological, and 129 - were with speech-language pathologists. Two hours of skin-to-skin contact (SSC) and latching on the breast within the 1st hour postpartum occurred in more than half of the participants. In the rest of the population, shortened or lack of SSC was associated with breastfeeding delayed by at least one day. 53% of the population required lactation counseling, of which 242 were one-time visits. Continued support was 98% effective in achieving breastfeeding goals. 167 mothers required psychological support, of which only 53 women continued treatment beyond one-time counseling. Only about 1% of women experienced mental disorders based on a psychological interview. CONCLUSION: The use of lactation counseling more often than psychological counseling by refugee mothers could be related to the beneficial effects of breastfeeding on maternal well-being through hormonal self-regulation and empowerment as a mother. However, focused research is needed on the impact of breastfeeding on the mental health of refugee women.
A narrative review on emerging issues about war-related trauma in perinatal women: good practice for assessment, prevention, and treatment.
Rodriguez-Muñoz MF, Chrzan-Dętkoś M, Uka A … +3 more , Garcia-López HS, Bina R, Le HN
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 39638974 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Wars, in addition to causing death and destruction, have a negative impact on mental health, especially on perinatal women. The literature has identified psychological trauma as one of the most prevalent ment...
BACKGROUND: Wars, in addition to causing death and destruction, have a negative impact on mental health, especially on perinatal women. The literature has identified psychological trauma as one of the most prevalent mental health issues associated with wars, but few studies have summarized how to assess, prevent, or treat this problem in perinatal women. To address this gap, the purpose of this study is to provide a narrative review of the current state of assessment, prevention, and treatment interventions of trauma among perinatal women living in war conditions or displaced as a result of a war. METHOD: A literature search was performed in different research databases (e.g., Medline, PsycInfo). The search terms include a combination of trauma and stressor-related disorders and focused on diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. RESULTS: Most of the results were related to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) more than acute stress disorder, although there are not many assessments, and interventions (prevention or treatment) dedicated specifically to perinatal women affected by war conditions. CONCLUSION: Research in this area is still scarce. Recommendations for evidence-based practices in assessment and prevention and treatment interventions and future directions in research and clinical practice are provided. HIGHLIGHTS: • The literature on trauma in perinatal women is sparse, and especially among perinatal women living in conditions of war. • This paper presents a narrative review of evidence-based assessment and treatment for perinatal women victims of war who experience trauma.
Cognition and motherhood: a key to understanding perinatal mental health?
Callaghan BL, Pawluski JL
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Feb · PMID 39636311 · Publisher ↗
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Understanding risk factors for perinatal distress in Syrian refugee mothers: insights from Lebanon.
Alnaji N, Louis B, Bagenda D
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Apr · PMID 39627413 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: The perinatal period is a critical phase in a woman's life, marked by unique mental health challenges. This study focuses on Syrian mothers in Lebanon, a vulnerable population often exposed to displacement and c...
PURPOSE: The perinatal period is a critical phase in a woman's life, marked by unique mental health challenges. This study focuses on Syrian mothers in Lebanon, a vulnerable population often exposed to displacement and conflict-related stressors. The aim is to identify risk factors for perinatal distress, including symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among Syrian mothers within one year of giving birth. METHODS: Data collection included quantitative assessments using the Refugee Health Screener-13 (RHS-13), and qualitative insights from in-depth interviews. The assessment period was extended to cover the year following childbirth to provide a broader perspective on perinatal distress. RESULTS: The study revealed significant risk factors, specifically a history of mental illness and chronic disease. While maternal age and number of children were considered potential risk factors, they were not statistically significant in the quantitativeanalysis but were highlighted in the qualitative interviews. CONCLUSIONS: This research offers valuable insights for healthcare providers, policymakers, and organizations working with Syrian refugee women in Lebanon. Addressing these risk factors can improve mental health outcomes for perinatal women affected by war and displacement, underscoring the need for proactive mental health screening during pregnancy and postpartum.
A new perspective on the causal pathway between maternal mental health and neonatal adversity.
Lin E, Wilson E, Kodesh A … +5 more , Levine SZ, Reichenberg A, Fox N, Zaks N, Janecka M
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39627412 · Full text
PURPOSE: Substantial evidence suggests a downstream impact of maternal mental health on birth outcomes. The roles of comorbid maternal physical health and familial confounding underlying this association remain unclear....
PURPOSE: Substantial evidence suggests a downstream impact of maternal mental health on birth outcomes. The roles of comorbid maternal physical health and familial confounding underlying this association remain unclear. METHODS: This cohort study included a random sample of children born 1997-2008 within a health maintenance organization (HMO) in Israel, their parents, and siblings. Outcomes were ICD-9 diagnoses of neonatal adversities (birth complications and congenital anomalies) and exposures were maternal diagnoses of mental health disorders. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals for the associations between maternal mental health diagnoses and measures of neonatal adversity were calculated using logistic regression, adjusting for maternal age, child's year of birth, socioeconomic status, and maternal physical morbidity burden. We examined potential familial confounding using a negative control approach based on paternal exposure. RESULTS: In our sample of 74,533 children, 6,674 (9.1%) were born after birth complications and 14,569 (19.9%) with a congenital anomaly. Maternal mental health diagnosis around pregnancy was significantly associated with these measures of neonatal adversity after adjustment for potential confounders (birth complications: OR = 1.3 (1.2-1.4), p < 0.001; congenital anomalies: OR = 1.2 (1.1-1.3), p < 0.001). These associations became attenuated and non-significant after further adjustment for maternal physical morbidity burden. In a joint model, maternal and paternal diagnosis of a mental health disorder were independently associated with neonatal adversity (birth complications: OR=1.3 (1.1-1.4), p < 0.001; OR=1.2 (1.1-1.3), p = 0.004; congenital anomalies: OR=1.2 (1.1-1.3), p < 0.001; OR=1.1 (1.0-1.2), p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Physical health and familial factors play a role in the associations between maternal mental health and neonatal adversity.
Impacts of disasters on women: the case of Kahramanmaras Earthquake sequence : Post-traumatic stress disorder and other problems among women after the Kahramanmaras Earthquake sequence.
Samanci Tekin C, Aydin G
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39625535 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to uncover difficulties, living conditions, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among women victims of the Kahramanmaras earthquake sequence on February 6, 2023. METHODS: The da...
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to uncover difficulties, living conditions, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among women victims of the Kahramanmaras earthquake sequence on February 6, 2023. METHODS: The data was collected from 388 participants using an online survey between November 1-30, 2023. We collected the data using a survey form with a 48-question sociodemographic information form and the 9-item Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-Short Scale.We analyzed the data using independent samples t-test, Chi-square test, and binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: While 59.5% of participants reported post-earthquake headaches, 77.8% had difficulty sleeping. Apart from the primary impacts of the disaster, 53.6% of participants reported post-earthquake financial difficulties, and 53.4% had to be employed to generate income. Besides, 22.2% of participants experienced violence, and 38.1% had PTSD symptoms. Furthermore, having to work in a paid job increased their probability of developing PTSD symptoms by 3.4 times. Our analysis showed that singles, smokers, those with a disaster-damaged home and financial difficulties, those who had to work, those receiving psychological support, and those with anxiety had significantly higher PTSD scores (p < 0.05). Despite all such difficulties, 43.3% of them participated in aid activities. CONCLUSION: It seems imperative to devise and implement efficient strategies to address women's physical and mental health challenges in the wake of the disaster. Moreover, it is of the utmost importance to integrate gender-sensitive approaches into disaster preparedness plans by fostering collaborations among all relevant bodies.
Menstrual distress in women with eating disorders: insights from the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MEDI-Q).
Rossi E, Cassioli E, Cordasco VZ … +8 more , Caiati L, Rinaldo A, Tarchi L, Dani C, Vannuccini S, Petraglia F, Ricca V, Castellini G
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39614921 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Despite the well-established association between Eating Disorders (EDs) and menstrual disorders, menstrual distress in women with EDs has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to compare menstrual d...
PURPOSE: Despite the well-established association between Eating Disorders (EDs) and menstrual disorders, menstrual distress in women with EDs has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to compare menstrual distress between patients with EDs and healthy controls (HCs), explore correlations between menstrual distress and ED psychopathology, and examine the differential impact of hormonal contraception on perceived menstruation-related distress in patients compared to HCs. METHODS: A total of 132 patients with EDs and 105 HCs were recruited. Socio-demographic, anthropometric, and menstrual cycle data were collected. Self-administered questionnaires were used to evaluate premenstrual symptoms, ED psychopathology, and general psychopathology. The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MEDI-Q) was adopted for the assessment of menstrual distress. RESULTS: Patients with EDs had higher scores in all menstrual distress subscales of MEDI-Q and higher premenstrual symptoms as compared to HCs, without differences between different ED diagnoses. Approximately 65% of distress was specific of the menstrual phase in both groups. Patients experienced particular symptoms as more distressful: muscle and osteoarticular pain, breast tenderness and widespread swelling sensation, headache, constipation, feeling of being impure, impulsiveness, anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue. Greater menstrual distress correlated with higher ED psychopathology. Hormonal contraceptive use predicted reduced menstrual distress in individuals with low ED psychopathology, but not in those with high ED psychopathology. CONCLUSION: These results highlighted the profound interplay between menstrual distress and psychopathology in women with EDs, with important clinical implications for both the therapeutic path of patients with EDs and the gynecological assessment of women experiencing menstrual distress. ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS: • Patients with eating disorders had higher MEDI-Q menstrual distress than controls. • 65% of menstrual distress was specific to the menstrual phase. • Patients found swelling, constipation and anxiety particularly distressful. • Greater menstrual distress correlated with higher eating disorder psychopathology. • Hormones did not reduce distress in presence of high eating psychopathology.
Psychometric properties of the OCI-4: a brief screening tool for perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Abramowitz JS, Myers NS, Friedman JB … +8 more , Juel EK, Nestadt G, Kimmel M, Osborne LM, Storch EA, Samuels J, Nestadt PS, Musci R
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39613898 · Full text
PURPOSE: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has an elevated prevalence among pregnant and postpartum women, with negative impacts on both mother and child. There is a need for brief, efficient screening tools for OCD in...
PURPOSE: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has an elevated prevalence among pregnant and postpartum women, with negative impacts on both mother and child. There is a need for brief, efficient screening tools for OCD in perinatal care because OCD is underrecognized. We evaluated the psychometric properties of the 4-item Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (OCI-4), and investigated it as a screening measure, in a perinatal sample. METHODS: Pregnant women were assessed at 20- and 34-weeks' gestation, 6 weeks postpartum, and 6 months postpartum. Reliability was assessed via test-retest analyses, and validity was examined through correlations with established measures. Criterion-related validity and diagnostic sensitivity were also examined. RESULTS: The OCI-4 demonstrated good test-retest reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and criterion-related validity. The measure also showed moderate to high diagnostic sensitivity. A score of 3 provided the best balance of sensitivity and specificity for screening. CONCLUSION: The OCI-4 is an effective screener that should be used for identifying OCD symptoms in perinatal settings. Despite the need for further study, its ease of use and quick administration make it a valuable tool for early detection and referral for assessment intervention.
Neuroactive steroid levels are elevated in the follicular phase and predict premenstrual depression and anxiety symptom severity in women with menstrually related mood disorder.
Kimball A, Bourassa J, Chicote ML … +3 more , Gerweck AV, Dichtel LE, Miller KK
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39601877 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Menstrually related mood disorder (MRMD) is marked by severe affective symptoms in the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. We hypothesized that women with MRMD experience relative neuroactive steroid defic...
PURPOSE: Menstrually related mood disorder (MRMD) is marked by severe affective symptoms in the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. We hypothesized that women with MRMD experience relative neuroactive steroid deficiency, specifically low allopregnanolone levels due to reduced conversion of progesterone, in association with the onset of affective symptoms in the late luteal phase. METHODS: Nine subjects with MRMD and 14 healthy controls were studied. Daily Record of Severity of Problems was used to diagnose MRMD by DSM-5 criteria for premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Depression and anxiety symptom severity (16-Item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self Report, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale) and levels of plasma neuroactive steroids by mass spectrometry were assessed at the mid-follicular, mid-luteal, and late luteal phases. RESULTS: Depression severity was greater in women with MRMD than healthy controls in the late luteal phase only, as expected. In the mid-follicular phase, the mean allopregnanolone level and allopregnanolone/progesterone ratio were higher in women with MRMD than healthy controls. There were no differences between groups in luteal phase allopregnanolone levels. Higher follicular phase allopregnanolone sulfate and allopregnanolone levels were associated with greater depression severity in the mid-luteal and late luteal phases and greater anxiety severity in the late luteal phase. CONCLUSION: Levels of allopregnanolone, which have antidepressant effects, were higher in the mid-follicular phase in women with MRMD compared to healthy controls. In MRMD, increased conversion of progesterone to allopregnanolone in the mid-follicular phase may be a compensatory response to luteal phase depression and anxiety, or increased allopregnanolone levels could paradoxically trigger depression and anxiety.
New perinatal mental health conditions diagnosed during COVID-19: a population-based, retrospective cohort study of birthing people in Ontario.
Correia RH, Greyson D, Kirkwood D … +7 more , Darling EK, Pahwa M, Bayrampour H, Jones A, Kuyvenhoven C, Liauw J, Vanstone M
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39560777 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the incidence of mental health diagnoses and associated health and social risk factors among perinatal people in three different COVID-19 phases. METHODS: We conducted a population-based, r...
PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the incidence of mental health diagnoses and associated health and social risk factors among perinatal people in three different COVID-19 phases. METHODS: We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study using linked administrative datasets. We included persons with live, in-hospital births in Ontario, Canada from January 1 to March 31 in 2019, 2021, or 2022 (three phases relative to COVID-19 with different public health policy measures). We excluded people with prior mental health diagnoses. We used diagnostic codes to identify new onset of depression, anxiety, or adjustment disorder in the antenatal and postpartum period. We developed multivariable, modified Poisson models to examine associations between sociodemographic and clinical factors and new mental health diagnoses in each phase. RESULTS: There were 72,242 people in our cohort. Antenatal mental health diagnoses were significantly higher in 2021 (aRR = 1.32; CI = 1.20-1.46) and 2022 (aRR = 1.22; CI = 1.11-1.35) versus 2019. Postpartum diagnoses were significantly greater in 2021 (aRR = 1.16; CI = 1.08-1.25) versus 2019. Antenatal diagnoses were associated with birth year, previous stillbirth, pre-existing hypertension, multiparity, residential instability, and ethnocultural diversity. Postpartum diagnoses were associated with birth year, maternal age, multiparity, care provider profession, assisted reproductive technology, birthing mode, pre-existing hypertension, intensive care admission, hospital readmission, residential instability, and ethnocultural diversity. Family physicians increasingly made mental health diagnoses in 2021 and 2022. CONCLUSION: Increased incidence of perinatal mental health diagnoses during COVID-19 suggests complex dynamics involving pandemic and health and social risk factors. REGISTRATION: This study was registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05663762) on December 21, 2022.
Prevalence and social determinants of self-reported health status among reproductive age women in Nepal.
Rahman A, Tohan MM, Islam A … +2 more , Saha BR, Kundu S
Arch Womens Ment Health · 2025 Aug · PMID 39560776 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: The self-reported health status (SRHS) is a subjective evaluation of an individual's health and has been connected to mortality and future health outcomes in numerous studies. However, the determinants of SRHS a...
PURPOSE: The self-reported health status (SRHS) is a subjective evaluation of an individual's health and has been connected to mortality and future health outcomes in numerous studies. However, the determinants of SRHS among women in Nepal remain largely unclear. In Nepal, traditional gender norms often result in women bearing greater responsibilities in terms of household chores, child-rearing, and taking care of elderly family members, all of which may potentially contribute to lower self-perceived health. Therefore, this study aims to identify the factors influencing SRHS among women in Nepal. METHODS: The study utilized data from 7,442 women aged between 15 and 49 who participated in the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2022. Both univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were employed to ascertain the factors influencing self-rated health status (SRHS) among women in Nepal. RESULT: Women in the age groups 15-24 years (AOR: 5.14, 95% CI: 3.07-8.62) and 25-34 years (AOR: 2.71, 95% CI: 1.99-3.68) were more likely to report good health status compared to older age groups. Additionally, women who were never married (AOR: 4.89, 95% CI: 3.62-5.32) or currently married (AOR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.11-2.20) and those from wealthy families (AOR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.07-2.21), also had a higher likelihood of reporting good health status. Other factors associated with a higher probability of reporting good health included not having a history of terminated pregnancy (AOR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.11-1.97), having no history of genital discharge (AOR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.29-2.38), not visiting a health facility in the last 12 months (AOR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.43-2.88), and having no genital ulcers in the previous 12 months (AOR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.24-3.28). Conversely, women with mild to severe depression and anxiety were less likely to report good health status compared to those with no depression or anxiety. CONCLUSION: This study identified several social determinants of SRHS among Nepalese women. These socioeconomic determinants of health should be included in future research and health policy activities in Nepal and other comparable contexts.
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