Low-dose imipramine for treatment of panic disorder during pregnancy: a retrospective chart review.

Although imipramine is one of the antidepressants that could be effective in the treatment of panic disorder, data on its usage for this diagnosis in the pregnancy period are limited. This report presents the results of 16 pregnant women with panic disorder without comorbid diagnosis who underwent low-dose imipramine (10-40 mg/d) treatment. According to the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale, 12 (75%) of 16 women responded to the treatment. The results suggest that low-dose imipramine may be useful for the treatment of panic disorder during pregnancy.

Birth weight and preterm birth in babies of pregnant women with major depression in relation to treatment with antidepressants.

OBJECTIVE: It is unclear whether antidepressant treatment has a preventive effect on negative neonatal outcomes due to major depression in pregnant women. The objective of the present study was to compare women with major depression treated with antidepressants, untreated women with major depression, and healthy women during pregnancy with respect to birth weight and preterm birth. METHODS: The study sample included a total of 23 women taking antidepressant medication, 36 women who were not taking antidepressant medication for major depression during pregnancy, and 30 healthy women. Major depression was diagnosed via the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. RESULTS: The study groups were similar with respect to sociodemographic characteristics. Compared with infants of healthy control subjects, infants of untreated major depressed women had significantly lower birth weight and shorter gestational age at delivery. There is no significant difference between infants of major depressed women treated with antidepressants and infants of healthy subjects for these variables. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that antidepressants may have beneficial effects on the risk of low birth weight and preterm birth in the infants of depressed women.

Neuroinflammation in the fetus exposed to maternal obsessive-compulsive disorder during pregnancy: a comparative study on cord blood tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between maternal psychiatric disorders and fetal neurodevelopment is unclear. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is relatively frequent during pregnancy. The study aimed to investigate whether maternal OCD during pregnancy affects fetal circulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels, an important pro-inflammatory cytokine, by comparing cord blood TNF-α levels in newborn infants of women with and without OCD. METHODS: The study sample included 7 women with OCD and 30 healthy women. OCD and other psychiatric diagnoses were screened by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. The blood sample for the determination of TNF-α level was obtained from the umbilical cord during delivery. RESULTS: Cord blood TNF-α levels in newborn infants exposed to maternal OCD were significantly higher compared to non-exposed infants. Maternal anxiety symptom level was found to positively correlate with cord blood TNF-α levels in newborn infants of women with OCD. CONCLUSION: The study results imply that maternal OCD during pregnancy may lead to neuroinflammation in the developing fetal brain through higher levels of circulating TNF-α.

Does a non-destructive earthquake cause posttraumatic stress disorder? A cross-sectional study.

This study evaluated the prevalence and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among adolescents who experienced non-destructive, moderate magnitude earthquake. Four hundred and fifty students (214 girls and 236 boys between the ages of 12-14) were selected from secondary schools located within Konya province in Turkey, 6 months after the earthquake. They were chosen to participate in this cross-sectional study by simple random sampling. The students were evaluated by the child posttraumatic stress reaction index. Of all the students, we found that 3.5% had very severe, 20.8% had severe, 28.4% had moderate and 20% had mild symptoms of PTSD and that 24.3% had probable PTSD diagnoses. The most common PTSD symptoms were trauma-related fears, social avoidance, emotional detachment and the concentration difficulty. Limitations and implications for research studies are included in the discussion.

Is depression associated with glucose tolerance abnormality in pregnant women? A cross-sectonal study.

This study aims to examine the association between glucose tolerance abnormality and depression and anxiety in pregnant women. One hundred and sixty-seven women with gestational ages ranging from 24 to 28 weeks were screened with the 50 g oral glucose challenge test. All participants were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The rate of depression was higher in women with abnormal glucose results (44.3%) than in women with normal glucose results (21.7%). Similarly, depressed women had higher glucose levels than non-depressed women. Findings suggest that depression and anxiety may be associated with glucose tolerance abnormality in pregnant women.

Associations Between Maternal Depression, Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy, and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the associations of depressive symptoms and antidepressant use during pregnancy with the risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA), and low Apgar scores. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and PsycINFO up to June 2016. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Data were sought from studies examining associations of depression, depressive symptoms, or use of antidepressants during pregnancy with gestational age, birth weight, SGA, or Apgar scores. Authors shared the raw data of their studies for incorporation into this individual participant data meta-analysis. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: We performed one-stage random-effects meta-analyses to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs. The 215 eligible articles resulted in 402,375 women derived from 27 study databases. Increased risks were observed for preterm birth among women with a clinical diagnosis of depression during pregnancy irrespective of antidepressant use (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1) and among women with depression who did not use antidepressants (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.7-3.0), as well as for low Apgar scores in the former (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.7), but not the latter group. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use was associated with preterm birth among women who used antidepressants with or without restriction to women with depressive symptoms or a diagnosis of depression (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.5 and OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-2.8, respectively), as well as with low Apgar scores among women in the latter group (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.8). CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms or a clinical diagnosis of depression during pregnancy are associated with preterm birth and low Apgar scores, even without exposure to antidepressants. However, SSRIs may be independently associated with preterm birth and low Apgar scores. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO, CRD42016035711.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in postmenopausal women: prevalence, clinical features, and comorbidity.

OBJECTIVE: Studies about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) during the postmenopausal period have been insufficient. The purpose of the current study was therefore to examine the prevalence rate, clinical characteristics, and comorbidity of OCD in postmenopausal women. METHODS: A total of 269 consecutive postmenopausal women admitted to a gynaecology outpatient clinic were included in the study. OCD and comorbid disorders was diagnosed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. The Yale-Brown Obsessive- Compulsive Scale was used to determine the types of obsessions and compulsions. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of OCD was 7.1% in the sample. Two women (0.7%) reported that OCD developed during the postmenopausal period. The most common obsessions were contamination and symmetry/exactness, whereas the most common compulsions were cleaning/washing and checking. OCD was unrelated to variables examined in the present study. The comorbidity rate of other psychiatric disorders was 63.2% in OCD patients. The most common comorbid disorder was generalized anxiety disorder. CONCLUSIONS: OCD was not rare in postmenopausal women admitted to a gynaecology outpatient clinic. In addition, OCD appears to be frequently comorbid with depressive or other anxiety disorders in the postmenopausal period.

Effect of Maternal Depression on Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Fetal Cord Blood.

OBJECTIVE: : We aimed to assess the association between cord blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration and maternal depression during pregnancy. METHODS: : A total of 48 pregnant women, admitted for elective caesarean section to Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Konya Research and Training Hospital and Konya Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty, were included in this study. The study group included 23 women diagnosed as having depression during pregnancy and the control group included 25 pregnant women who did not experience depression during pregnancy. RESULTS: : The groups had similar sociodemographic characteristics. Cord blood BDNF concentration was significantly lower in babies born to mothers with major depression as compared with those in the control group. We didn’t find any correlation between the umbilical cord blood BDNF levels and BDI scores. CONCLUSION: : The results suggest that the existence of major depression in pregnant women may negatively affect fetal circulating BDNF levels.

Weight gain and associated factors in patients using newer antidepressant drugs.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to examine weight gain and its association with clinical and sociodemographic characteristics in patients using newer antidepressants. METHODS: The study had a cross-sectional design. A total of 362 consecutive psychiatric patients taking antidepressant drugs for 6 to 36 months were included in the study. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of weight gain was 55.2%; 40.6% of the patients had a weight gain of 7% or more compared to the baseline. Overall, antidepressant use was significantly related to increased body weight. Specifically, citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline, paroxetine, venlafaxine, duloxetine and mirtazapine, but not fluoxetine, were associated with significant weight gain. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that lower education status, lower body mass index at the onset of antidepressant use and family history of obesity were independent predictors of weight gain ≥7% compared to the baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that patients who take newer antidepressants might have significant problems related to body weight.

Aripiprazole in depersonalization disorder comorbid with major depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder: 3 cases.

Depersonalization is a frequent symptom in depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but sometimes, it may be severe and concurrently diagnosed as a disorder. The treatment of depersonalization disorder both alone and comorbid with other psychiatric disorders is as yet unclear. This report presents the successful treatment with aripiprazole of concurrent depersonalization disorder in 3 patients with depression or OCD. The psychiatric disorders were diagnosed through structured clinical interviews. Assessments were by means of Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale, and the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Aripiprazole may be a beneficial psychotropic drug in the treatment of depersonalization disorder comorbid with OCD or depression, which is an important problem in clinical practice.

Axis I and Axis II diagnoses in women with PCOS.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the current prevalence of Axis I and Axis II psychiatric diagnoses in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHOD: The study sample included 73 patients with PCOS and 73 control subjects. Psychiatric disorders were determined by structured clinical interviews. RESULTS: The rate of any Axis I psychiatric disorder (28.8% vs. 15.1%), social phobia (13.7% vs. 2.7%), generalized anxiety disorder (11.0% vs. 1.4%), any Axis II psychiatric disorder (23.3% vs. 9.6%) and avoidant personality disorder (12.3% vs. 1.4%) was significantly more common in the patient group compared to the control group. Of women with PCOS, 21 (28.8%) had at least one Axis I and 17 (23.3%) had at least one Axis II diagnosis. The most common Axis I disorder was social phobia (13.7%) and the most common Axis II disorder was avoidant personality disorder (12.3%) in women with PCOS. Social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and avoidant personality disorder were significantly more common in the patient group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that a considerable proportion of women with PCOS also present with anxiety and personality disorders.

The effects of maternal major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder on birth weight and gestational age: a comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: The present study comparatively examined the impact of maternal major depression, generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder on gestational age and birth weight. METHODS: A total of 90 women (24 subjects with major depression, 19 subjects with panic disorder, 22 subjects with generalized anxiety disorder, and 25 healthy subjects) in the perinatal period who were admitted to three hospitals were included in the study. Psychiatric diagnoses were determined by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. The birth weight and gestational age of the subjects in each groups were compared with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: There were significant differences among the study groups for birth weight and gestational age (P<0.001 for both variables). These parameters were significantly lower in the subjects with major depression (P=0.021 and P=0.015, respectively) and panic disorder (P<0.001 for both variables) compared to healthy controls. Compared with major depression, panic disorder was associated more negatively with birth weight (P=0.036). CONCLUSION: Major depression, and especially panic disorder, may negatively affect the gestational length and birth weight.

Maternal generalized anxiety disorder during pregnancy and fetal brain development: a comparative study on cord blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to investigate whether maternal GAD during pregnancy affects fetal circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays important roles in neuronal development, by comparing cord blood BDNF levels in newborn infants of women with and without GAD. METHODS: Study sample included 19 women with GAD and 25 women without any psychiatric disorder. GAD and other psychiatric diagnoses were screened by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. The blood sample for the determination of BDNF level was obtained from the umbilical cord during delivery. RESULTS: Cord blood BDNF levels in newborn infants of healthy women were approximately two-fold compared to newborn infants of women with GAD, and the difference was statistically significant. The duration of GAD during pregnancy was the only variable correlating with cord blood BDNF levels. CONCLUSIONS: The study results imply that prolonged maternal GAD during pregnancy may negatively influence neurodevelopment of the fetus through lower levels of circulating BDNF.

Antidepressants and menstruation disorders in women: a cross-sectional study in three centers.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between menstruation disorders and antidepressant drugs usage in women remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the incidence rate of antidepressant-related menstruation disorders and to examine whether or not antidepressant use is associated with menstrual disorders in women. METHODS: The study sample was gathered from three centers and four hospitals. A total of 1432 women who met the criteria of inclusion were included in the study. The sample was divided into two groups: the antidepressant group (n=793) and the control group (n=639). The menstruation disorders were established with reports from the study participants on the basis of related gynecological descriptions. RESULTS: The prevalence of menstrual disorders was significantly higher in the antidepressant group (24.6%) than the control group (12.2%). The incidence of antidepressant-induced menstruation disorder was 14.5%. The antidepressants most associated with menstrual disorders were paroxetine, venlafaxine, sertraline and their combination with mirtazapine. Overall, the incidence rate was similar in women receiving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that menstruation disorders are frequently observed in women taking antidepressants and that it appears to be associated with antidepressant use at least in some women.

Prevalence and related factors of mood and anxiety disorders in a clinical sample of postmenopausal women.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence and related factors of mood and anxiety disorders in postmenopausal women attending a gynecological outpatient clinic. METHODS: The study sample included 269 postmenopausal women. The Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition was performed to determine the disorders. RESULTS: Ninety-two (34.2%) women had at least one mood or anxiety disorder. The most common specific disorder was generalized anxiety disorder (15.6%). The existence of any mood or anxiety disorder was associated with poorer economic level. CONCLUSIONS: Mood and anxiety disorders were frequently observed in postmenopausal women who were admitted to a gynecology outpatient clinic.

Quality of life in postmenopausal women: the impact of depressive and anxiety disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Psychiatric symptoms are frequently present in postmenopausal women. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of depressive and anxiety disorders on the quality of life (QoL) of postmenopausal women. METHOD: The study sample consisted of 342 postmenopausal women who presented to the Gynecology Outpatient Clinic. The Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition was used to determine depressive and anxiety disorders. The participants' QoL level was assessed by means of the World Health Organization QoL Assessment-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF). RESULTS: Subjects without a diagnosis of depressive or anxiety disorder had significantly higher points in all domains of WHOQOL-BREF. According to linear regression analysis, all evaluated disorders except social phobia and specific phobia were independently associated with lower scores for at least one dimension of the QoL scale. However, major depression, dysthymic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder predicted all domains of WHOQOL-BREF. CONCLUSION: Depressive and anxiety disorders, particularly major depression, dysthymic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, seem to be considerable factors affecting the QoL in postmenopausal women.

One year follow-up of post-partum-onset depression: the role of depressive symptom severity and personality disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Long-term follow-up and risk factors of persistent post-partum depression (PPD) are fairly unknown compared with its prevalence in the developing countries. In this study, we did a follow-up measure of PPD and examined the factors, which were associated with PPD 1-year post-partum. METHOD: Our sample comprised of 34 women. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Edinburgh post-natal depression scale (EPDS) 6 weeks post-partum, and women with scores >12 on this scale was categorised as depressed. Personality disorders were determined at the same occasion by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R personality disorders (SCID-II). One year post-partum EPDS was completed. RESULTS: The rate of PPD 1-year post-partum was 32.4%, and it was unrelated to age at assessment, primiparity, number of children, employment status, economical status and educational level. Women depressed 1-year post-partum had significantly higher basal scores of EPDS and more often also a diagnosis of any axis II disorder; and specifically dependent and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. In our sample, the predictors of 1-year post-partum PPD were having higher basal score of EPDS and the existence of a personality disorder. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that women with PPD, scoring high in the EPDS scale 6 weeks post-partum and having a personality disorder, run a higher risk for depression at 1-year follow-up.