Hormonal and psychosocial correlates of psychological well-being and negative affectivity in young gynecological-endocrinological patients.

To study the relationship between hormones, psychosocial factors and psychological well-being or negative affectivity (NA), 102 women (aged 15-31) responded to the 12-item well-being questionnaire (W-BQ12), with subscales for positive well-being (PWB), negative well-being (NWB) and energy (ENE); the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), consisting of depression (HADS-D) and anxiety (HADS-A) subscales; the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). The univariate analysis revealed significant negative correlations between luteinizing hormone (LH) and HADS-T, HADS-D and HADS-A, and between follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and HADS-A. Positive correlations were shown for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), HADS-T, and HADS-A. Cortisol and prolactin levels strongly correlated with BDI and HAMD scores, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, TSH significantly predicted the mood impairment in HADS-T (ß = 0.68) and HADS-A (ß = 0.68), while economic status predicted the general well-being (ß = 0.75), NWB (ß = -0.83), ENE (ß = 0.89), and HADS-A (ß = -0.63). We could not detect any significant differences in NA or well-being in patients with versus without PCOS or with versus without hirsutism, but almost all psychometric parameters differed significantly according to the economic status. In conclusion, TSH was the only hormonal predictor of overall NA and anxiety, and low-economic status overtrumped the impact of hormones on the psychological well-being.

Is one question enough to detect female sexual dysfunctions? A diagnostic accuracy study in 6,194 women.

INTRODUCTION: Literature shows that recognition of sexual dysfunctions in women is insufficient and existing instruments to aid detection are mostly too extensive to be used in routine practice. AIM: To develop a brief and accurate screening instrument to detect female sexual dysfunctions in routine care. METHODS: The initial item pool for the index test consisted of 15 items. In a 4-year period, a total of 12,957 persons filled out the test on a specifically designed web-site. Six thousand one hundred ninety-four complete data sets could be used for statistical analysis. The validated German version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-d) served as reference standard to estimate the accuracy of the screening test. In order to test several possible ways of combining items a multi-step procedure employing univariate analyses, multiple logistic regression, and classification and regression tree analysis was applied to a learning sample and cross-validated in a test sample. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, accuracy, diagnostic odds ratio as well as adjusted odds ratio) of the items and resulting models to discriminate women with sexual dysfunction from those without were calculated. RESULTS: One dichotomous question for overall satisfaction proved to show high accuracy as a stand-alone instrument and played also a central role in multivariate models. It may be recommended as a one-question screening test (76.4% sensitivity and 76.5% specificity in the test sample). A hierarchical two-question test yielded higher sensitivity (93.5%) and lower specificity (60.1%). A slightly more extensive version consists of five questions (83.1% sensitivity and 81.2% specificity). CONCLUSIONS: Despite some methodological limitations of our study all developed tests showed acceptable to good diagnostic performance, all are very short and could therefore be easily implemented into routine care. Further tests of psychometric properties in other settings are needed.

[A subsequent pregnancy after a termination of pregnancy because of fetal anomaly--all forgotten and a new beginning?]. / Erleben einer erneuten Schwangerschaft nach vorhergehendem Schwangerschaftsabbruch bei pathologischem PND-Befund--Alles vergessen und ein neuer Anfang?

There is a lack of profound research on the experiences of a new pregnancy following a subsequent late termination of pregnancy (TOP). Results from late pregnancy losses indicate that women do grieve even during a new pregnancy and therefore the process of bonding can be affected. 56 women were investigated within the project "psychosocial counselling in the context of prenatal diagnosis," which recruited 512 patients. Results on the experience of a new pregnancy after late TOP will be presented. In general women experienced a normal level of bereavement 2 years after TOP (PGS), but 11-21% showed significant symptoms of distress (BSI). 50% were aware of the terminated pregnancy furthermore and they felt an emotional distance to their unborn child. This is remarkable because most subsequent pregnancies were planned and desired. Many patients showed feelings of fear, worries and uncertainties. Time since TOP and new conception was not predictive of feelings during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman had a TOP because of fetal anomaly in the preceding pregnancy this should be taken into account during medical care. If symptoms of distress are persisting there is an indication for additional care. The intention is to release the patient and to support a sound relationship between mother and child.

[Importance of hormonal and psychosocial factors of depression in women]. / Hormone und Lebensumstände sind wichtige Einflussfaktoren. Doppelt so viele Frauen wie Männer leiden an Depressionen.

Women suffer from depression twice as often as men. For female patients, certain life events and hormonal transition phases additionally influence the disease against the background of a multifactorial genesis. These include pregnancy, the postpartum period, loss of a child, menopause, the menstrual cycle or hormone therapies. For the symptoms and treatment of depressions that develop in these contexts, there are some sex-specific characteristics that must be considered. Thus when treating women, the interaction of hormonal and psychosocial aspects must be especially borne in mind.

Characteristics and attitudes of women in relation to chosen fertility preservation techniques: a prospective, multicenter questionnaire-based study with 144 participants.

OBJECTIVE: What are the patients attitudes about their fertility and about the counselling process at the time when fertility preservation counselling is performed? STUDY DESIGN: A survey regarding fertility concerns and counselling performance in relation to the chosen fertility preservation procedure such as no treatment, GnRH agonists, and freezing of ovarian tissue or oocytes/zygotes was prospectively conducted in four university centres and one private centre, all belonging to the network FertiPROTEKT in Germany and Switzerland. RESULTS: All women (n=145) received a questionnaire at the first counselling appointment. The mean age of the patients was 30 years (±5.8, range 17-43 years). 91% were referred by their treating oncologists. Single patients preferred invasive strategies, such as freezing of oocytes/zygotes (44.3%) or freezing of ovarian tissue (36%), whereas only 19.7% opted for no treatment/GnRH agonists. In married couples, the proportions were 28.9%, 31.1% and 40.0% respectively. Women without children also opted more frequently for invasive strategies, such as freezing of oocytes/zygotes (84.5%) or freezing of ovarian tissue (74.1%), and less frequently for no treatment/GnRH agonists (63.3%). Physical and psychological status, current and future fertility concerns and satisfaction with the counselling process were equal in all treatment groups. CONCLUSION: As fertility concerns and attitudes about the counselling process were independent from the fertility preservation procedure chosen, the preferred treatment can hardly be predicted and therefore all women should be counselled about all possible fertility preservation techniques.

Validation of the Polish version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in three populations of gynecologic patients.

INTRODUCTION: We analyzed the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in gynecologic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 252 patients, consisting of three subgroups - endocrinologic gynecology (n = 67), high-risk pregnancy (n = 124), and outpatient gynecologic clinic (n = 61) - responded to the HADS, the 12-item Well-being Questionnaire (W-BQ12), the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). Socio-demographic data were obtained by self-report and interviews. RESULTS: The HADS presented good internal consistency with Cronbach's α at 0.84 and 0.78 for depression and anxiety subscales, respectively, and 0.88 for the whole questionnaire. The principal component analysis with Eigenvalues > 1 revealed a three-factor structure. Factors 1 ("depression"), and 2 ("anxiety"), as well as the separate Factor 3, explained 23.48%, 21.42%, and 12.07% of the variance, respectively. The items with shared loadings were A1, A3, and A6. The HADS scores correlated strongly with other depression and well-being scales, but not with STAI-X1/X2. CONCLUSIONS: The Polish HADS revealed a three-factor structure, and 3/7 HADS-A items showed ambiguous factor loadings. All other psychometric properties were satisfactory. The HADS seems to be suitable for use in gynecologic patients, preferentially as an indicator for global psychological distress.

Psychological well-being of gynecologic and obstetric patients: a validation of the 12-item Well-Being Questionnaire (W-BQ12).

BACKGROUND: Gynecology and obstetrics are areas of medicine associated with emotionally loaded concerns. Both positive and negative aspects of psychological well-being can be assessed with the 12-item Well-Being Questionnaire (W-BQ12). Our study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the W-BQ12 in gynecologic and obstetric patients. METHODS: A cohort of 228 gynecologic patients, consisting of endocrinologic (n = 102) and obstetric (n = 126) subgroups, responded to a structured interview or to a questionnaire about sociodemographic and medical data, and to a set of psychometric tests: the W-BQ12, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). Except for the current health problem, all probable confounding factors (psychiatric, oncologic, or other somatic morbidity, postmenopausal status) were excluded. RESULTS: The W-BQ12 scores correlated significantly and adequately (r = 0.35-0.80) with reference instruments (HADS, BDI, and HAMD). The internal consistency, measured by Cronbach's alpha, was very good for the whole questionnaire (0.86) as well as for the subscales (0.76-0.79). The principal component analysis indicated a clear three-factor structure with eigenvalues >1. Factors 1 ("negative well-being"), 2 ("positive well-being"), and 3 ("energy") explained 22, 21, and 19 % of the variance, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The W-BQ12 is suitable for the global assessment of psychological well-being, as well as for differentiation between negative and positive well-being aspects in gynecologic patients.

[Reproduction and psyche]. / Reproduktion und Psyche.

Mental health and mental disorders can have a close connection to reproduction, especially for women but also for men. The most frequent disorders or problems are described, i.e., mental problems during pregnancy and after delivery, during the menstrual cycle and around menopause. Possible consequences of miscarriage, stillbirth and induced abortion are presented as well as the special problem of a wish for a child in mentally ill women and their treatment during pregnancy.

Mirtazapine (Remergil) for treatment resistant hyperemesis gravidarum: rescue of a twin pregnancy.

CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 25-year-old woman with treatment resistant hyperemesis gravidarum in the 15th week with a 13 kg loss of body weight. When the patient asked for termination of the pregnancy because of the unbearable symptoms, treatment with intravenous mirtazapine (Remergil) was started. RESULTS: Nausea and vomiting disappeared within hours, pregnancy termination was no longer desired. The patient was discharged two weeks later in good health and at 36 weeks gestation a cesarean section was performed. Post partum evaluation as well as 6-month post-partum revealed no dysmorphology or laboratory abnormalities in the children.