Prospective Fathers: Psychosocial Adaptation and Involvement in the Last Trimester of Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Paternal involvement in pregnancy has been recognized to have an impact on new-born's outcomes and only recently got under the spot light of mental health perspective. The aim of this study was to test differences in paternal involvement in pregnancy, perceived stress and relationship quality regarding complications in pregnancy and pregnancy duration (gestational weeks) in the last trimester of pregnancy. The role of personality traits (neuroticism and extroversion), relationship quality satisfaction and perceived stress in prospective father's perception of pregnancy involvement were examined. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: One-hundred forty-three primiparus couples in the last trimester of their pregnancy participated in the study. Prospective fathers completed a booklet with questionnaires including The Quality of Marriage Index, The Perceived Stress Scale, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and Partner's Involvement in Pregnancy Scale. Prospective mothers completed only Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and questions on pregnancy complications and demographics. RESULTS: The prospective fathers showed high involvement in their partner's pregnancies, elevated levels of perceived stress and high relationship quality. There were found no differences in the above named variables regarding complications in pregnancy and pregnancy duration. Higher involvement of prospective fathers was related with older age, lower male neuroticism and higher female extroversion, better relationship quality and lower perceived stress. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate that prospective father's involvement in pregnancy is supported with psychological factors, namely personality traits, quality of relationship and perceived stress. These results should lead to target interventions that can modify and improve fathers' involvement perspective and promoting a couples mental health during pregnancy: thus clinically important for promotion of healthy prenatal behaviour and decrease in mothers' emotional distress.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with major depressive disorder--differences between newly diagnosed first episode and recurrent disease.

The objective of the present study was to assess differences in prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among depressed patients in regard to the duration of the illness (first episode versus recurrent episodes). A total of 190 patients suffering from major depressive disorder were included in the study, diagnosed according to International classification of disorders, 10th revision. The same criteria were used to divide participants into two groups: first episode major depressive disorder and major depressive disorder with recurrent episodes. The metabolic syndrome was defined according to the criteria of the American National Cholesterol Education Program-Treatment Panel III. Results showed that metabolic syndrome is significantly more prevalent in patients with recurrent major depressive disorder (45.2%) compared to patients with first episode of major depressive disorder (27.3%), mainly due to differences in plasma glucose, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol levels. These findings indicate the importance of the duration of depression and the number of recurring episodes as factors involved in etiopathogenesis of the associated metabolic syndrome.

Connection of depression and bone loss in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Depression has been implicated as a possible risk factor for low bone mineral density (BMD). However, there is still no solid evidence that could connect these two different illnesses. This research examined the association between self-reported depression and low BMD in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. This research screened 130 female patients who were 44 to 72 years old and registered at the densitometry clinic of KBC Rijeka during a three month period. Densitometry was performed in order to establish their BMD and according to the results two groups of participants were formed: normal BMD - 38 participants with normal BMD at hip and spine and reduced BMD - 75 participants with lower BMD at hip and spine. Depression was assessed using Beck depression inventory. Both groups of participants were compared regarding their depression scores. There were no significant differences between the groups with normal and reduced BMD regarding mean age, age of menopause, length of menopause and number of births (p = 0.001). Difference regarding depressiveness between the two groups was not significant (t = 0.73; p = 0.468). Also, there were no differences between the groups regarding the frequency of certain levels of depression. (chi2 = 2.27; p = 0.52). Results of this research suggest that self-reported depression is not associated with low BMD in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Correlation of levels of depressiveness and choice of elective subjects in medical students.

The aim of this research was to establish if a correlation exists between the choice of an elective subject, namely subjects "Depression" and "Diabetes", and levels of depressiveness in medical students. Three groups of third year medical students attending School of medicine, Rijeka University, were tested for the level of depression using Beck's self-evaluation scale. The groups consisted of 30 non-randomly selected students that had enrolled elective subject "Depression" and 29 non-randomly selected students that had enrolled elective subject "Diabetes", and the third group of 30 randomly selected third year medical students that had enrolled none of the previously mentioned elective subjects. Median age of participants in this research was 25.24. The results showed no statistically significant difference in overall level of depressiveness among the groups. By testing for the difference between group pairs, there was a statistically significant difference between depressiveness in students attending "Depression" and "Diabetes", the latter being significantly more depressed (M = 8.30 in "Depression" group; M = 11.41 in "Diabetes" group; p = 0.04). In total there were 33 males and 56 females that participated in this research. Gender difference was also tested, and there was no statistically significant difference between sexes among groups. The difference was found only within the group of students attending "Depression" elective subject, where females scored significantly higher on Beck's questionnaire (z = 2.26; p = 0.03). The analysis of difference between items of the Beck's questionnaire showed statistically significant difference in the item "Feeling of rejection", where students attending elective subjects other then "Depression" scored significantly higher; differences in the items "Urge for punishment" and "Suicidal tendencies" were also found between "Diabetes" and "other elective subjects" group, in favor of "Diabetes" group; in the item "Weight loss" students attending "Diabetes" elective subject scored significantly higher then their peers in both other groups. The results indicate the possibility of a protective role of psycho-educative component provided to the students attending elective subject on depression within medical school environment, that has repeatedly been shown to be stressful and demanding and is beneficial for the onset of depressive disorders.

Lithium treatments: single and multiple daily dosing.

OBJECTIVE: To review the feasibility and effectiveness of single daily dosing of lithium in patients with affective disorder and to discuss advantages and disadvantages of this schedule of administration. METHOD: A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted using a combination of electronic databases and a search of reference lists and relevant journals. English-language articles were selected for the review if they discussed the issues comparing multiple and single daily dosing schedules of lithium. RESULTS: We found 9 comparative studies. Single daily dosing of lithium causes transient higher peak lithium concentrations; however, no comparative study revealed a significant difference in side effects between multiple and single daily dosing groups. Numerous reports concluded that taking lithium in a single dose prevents, or at least limits, the increase in urine output (and the reduction of osmolality) and subsequent thirst. There is no evidence that a single lithium dosing schedule preserves glomerular function. CONCLUSION: According to the presented data, it could be reasonable to use lithium as a single evening dose in patients who can tolerate this schedule because no studies have suggested any benefit from administration of multiple daily doses. Possible advantages of single daily dosing, especially in improved compliance, could not be veiled by disadvantages of transient and mild postabsorptive side effects.