Acute Onset or Worsening of Psychiatric Symptoms Following Breastfeeding Cessation: An Illustrative Case and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding shares a complex, occasionally contradictory relationship with maternal mental health. Both positive and negative mood impacts have been noted in relation to breastfeeding initiation as well as cessation. Though popular magazines and online forums discuss the onset of psychiatric symptoms following weaning, there is limited medical literature detailing this relationship. METHODS: We describe the case of a patient who developed psychiatric symptoms shortly after weaning, including acute-onset insomnia and worsening anxiety. A literature review of psychiatric symptom development following breastfeeding cessation was conducted using the search engines PubMed, PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), and Embase. Search terms included controlled vocabulary, keywords (within title and abstract fields), synonyms, and related concepts for: postpartum period, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, breastfeeding cessation, breastfeeding weaning, lactation, dysphoric milk ejection reflex, and insomnia. Relevant case reports were reviewed and compared to this case. Information including the patient's age, psychiatric symptoms, past psychiatric history, medical work-up, treatment, and outcome was extracted from each article. RESULTS: Nine patients who developed psychiatric symptoms following breastfeeding cessation were identified in six case reports. Three patients experienced recurrent symptoms in multiple pregnancies. This led to documentation of 13 discrete post-weaning syndromes. All cases involved either first-time parents, those new to breastfeeding, or those experiencing symptoms during multiple weaning periods. Table 1 synthesizes data from article review. As with our case, 11 clinical cases describe sleep changes (primarily insomnia) and 4 discuss anxiety symptoms. Treatment varied based upon symptoms experienced, with no consistently effective treatments identified across cases. CONCLUSIONS: This case of unspecified insomnia and anxiety disorders following abrupt weaning adds to the limited literature in the field and suggests that physiologic and psychologic factors associated with breastfeeding cessation may play a role in the development or worsening of postpartum mood disorders. Intensive psychiatric treatment resulted in resolution of the patient's symptoms. The relationship between weaning and psychiatric disorders is evident in the lay press but is underrepresented in medical literature. Additional research is needed to better understand this relationship so that physicians can counsel, diagnose, and treat patients more effectively.

Viewing an ultra-brief chest compression only video improves some measures of bystander CPR performance and responsiveness at a mass gathering event.

BACKGROUND: CPR training at mass gathering events is an important part of health initiatives to improve cardiac arrest survival. However, it is unclear whether training lay bystanders using an ultra-brief video at a mass gathering event improves CPR quality and responsiveness. OBJECTIVE: To determine if showing a chest-compression only (CCO) Ultra-Brief Video (UBV) at a mass gathering event is effective in teaching lay bystanders CCO-CPR. METHODS: Prospective control trial in adults (age >18) who attended either a women's University of Arizona or a men's Phoenix Suns basketball game. Participants were evaluated using a standardized cardiac arrest scenario with Laerdal Skillreporter™ mannequins. CPR responsiveness (calling 911, time to calling 911, starting compressions within two minutes) and quality (compression rate, depth, hands-off time) were assessed for participants and data collected at Baseline and Post-intervention. Different participants were tested before and after the exposure of the UBV. Data were analyzed via the intention to treat principle using logistic regression for binary outcomes and median regression for continuous outcomes, controlling for clustering by venue. RESULTS: A total of 96 people were consented (Baseline=45; Post intervention=51). CPR responsiveness post intervention improved with faster time to calling 911 (s) and time to starting compressions (sec). Likewise, CPR quality improved with deeper compressions and improved hands-off time. CONCLUSIONS: Showing a UBV at a mass gathering sporting event is associated with improved CPR responsiveness and performance for lay bystanders. This data provides further support for the use of mass media interventions.

Viewing a brief chest-compression-only CPR video improves bystander CPR performance and responsiveness in high school students: A cluster randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: CPR training in schools is a public health initiative to improve out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival. It is unclear whether brief video training in students improves CPR quality and responsiveness and skills retention. OBJECTIVES: Determine if a brief video is as effective as classroom instruction for chest compression-only (CCO) CPR training in high school students. METHODS: This was a prospective cluster-randomized controlled trial with three study arms: control (sham video), brief video (BV), and CCO-CPR class. Students were randomized and clustered based on their classrooms and evaluated using a standardized OHCA scenario measuring CPR quality (compression rate, depth, hands-off time) and responsiveness (calling 911, time to calling 911, starting compressions within 2min). Data was collected at baseline, post-intervention and 2 months. Generalized linear mixed models were used to analyze outcome data, accounting for repeated measures for each individual and clustering by class. RESULTS: 179 students (14-18 years) were consented in 7 classrooms (clusters). At post-intervention and 2 months, BV and CCO class students called 911 more frequently and sooner, started chest compressions earlier, and had improved chest compression rates and hands-off time compared to baseline. Chest compression depth improved significantly from baseline in the CCO class, but not in the BV group post-intervention and at 2 months. CONCLUSIONS: Brief CPR video training resulted in improved CPR quality and responsiveness in high school students. Compression depth only improved with traditional class training. This suggests brief educational interventions are beneficial to improve CPR responsiveness but psychomotor training is important for CPR quality.