Toxic Environment of war: Maternal prenatal heavy metal load predicts infant emotional development.

BACKGROUND: People in war zones are exposed to heavy metal contamination deriving from new-generation weapons, in addition to exposure to psychologically traumatizing war events. Pregnant women and their children-to-be are particularly vulnerable to both biological and psychological war effects. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to analyse the impact of maternal prenatal heavy metal contamination on infant emotional development and to examine the potential moderating role of maternal symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the association between heavy metal load and infant emotional development. METHODS: The participants were 502 Palestinian mothers, pregnant in their first trimester during the 2014 War on Gaza. The mothers were recruited at their delivery (T1) and followed at the infants' age of 6-7 months (T2; N = 392). The load of five weapon-related heavy metals (chromium, mercury, vanadium, strontium, and uranium) was analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS) from mothers' hair samples at childbirth (T1). Assessment of maternal PTSD symptoms was based on the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) and infant emotional development on the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ), both reported by mothers (T2). RESULTS: Two of the analysed metals, chromium and uranium, adversely predicted children's early emotional development, indicated by decreased positive affectivity, increased negative emotionality, and problems in early orientation and regulation. Mother's PTSD did not moderate the impact of heavy metal contamination on children's emotional development. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse impact of war is not limited to those who experience it directly, but is passed on to future generations through multiple mechanisms. International organizations are obliged to protect parents and infants from the modern weaponry in wars.

Maternal experience of their infants' crying in the context of war trauma: Determinants and consequences.

We examined, first, how prenatal maternal mental health and war trauma predicted mothers' experience of their infant crying, indicated by emotions, cognitions, and behavior; and second, how these experiences influenced the mother-infant interaction and infant development. Participants were 511 Palestinian mothers from the Gaza Strip, reporting their war trauma, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and perceived stress during pregnancy (Time 1). They reported experiences of infant crying at 4 months (Time 2), and the mother-infant interaction and infant sensorimotor and language development at 12 months of infants' age (Time 3). Results revealed that maternal mental health problems, but not war trauma, were important to experiences of infant crying. A high level of PTSD symptoms predicted negative emotions evoked by infant crying, and high depressive symptoms predicted low active and positive responses to crying. Unexpectedly, high prenatal perceived stress predicted high active and positive responsiveness. Concerning the consequences, mothers' sensitive interpretation of infant crying predicted optimal infant sensorimotor development, and mothers' active and positive responses predicted high emotional availability in mother-infant interaction. Crying is the first communication tool for infants, and mothers' sensitive responses to crying contribute to infant well-being. Therefore, reinforcing mother's optimal responses is important when helping war-affected dyads.

Examinamos, primero, cómo la prenatal salud mental materna y el trauma de guerra predecían la manera como las madres experimentan el llanto de sus infantes, según lo indicaban las emociones, la cognición y la conducta, y segundo, cómo esas experiencias influían en la interacción madre-infante y el desarrollo del infante. Las participantes fueron 511 madres palestinas de la franja territorial de Gaza, quienes reportaron sobre su trauma de guerra, los síntomas del trastorno de estrés postraumático (PTSD), la depresión y la percepción de estrés durante el embarazo (T1). Ellas reportaron experiencias de llanto del infante a los cuatro meses (T2), y la interacción madre-infante y el desarrollo sensorial-motor y de lenguaje del infante a los 12 meses de edad del infante (T3). Los resultados revelaron que los problemas de salud mental maternos, aunque no así el trauma de guerra, eran importantes para experimentar el llanto del infante. Un alto nivel de síntomas de PTSD predijo las negativas emociones evocadas por el llanto del infante, y altos síntomas depresivos reducen las activas y positivas respuestas al llanto. Inesperadamente, la alta precepción de estrés prenatal predijo una alta sensibilidad activa y positiva. Con respecto a las consecuencias, la sensible interpretación que las madres tenían del llanto de sus infantes predijo el desarrollo sensorial-motor del infante, y las respuestas activas y positivas de la madre predijeron la alta disponibilidad emocional en la interacción madre-infante. El llanto es la primera herramienta de comunicación para los infantes, y las respuestas sensibles de las madres al llanto contribuyen al bienestar del infante. Por tanto, es importante reforzar las respuestas óptimas de las madres cuando se trata de ayudar a díadas afectadas por la guerra.

Nous avons d'abord examiné comment la santé mentale maternelle prénatale et le traumatisme de guerre ont prédit l'expérience que les mères se faisaient de leur nourrisson pleurant, indiquée par les émotions, les cognitions et le comportement, et ensuite comment ces expériences ont influencé l'interaction mère-bébé et le développement du nourrisson. Les participantes ont consisté en 511 mères palestiniennes de la bande de Gaza, faisant état de leur traumatisme lié à la guerre, de symptômes de stress posttraumatique (TSPT), de dépression et de stress perçu durant la grossesse (T1). Ces participantes ont fait état d'expériences de leur nourrisson pleurant au cours de quatre mois (T2) et de l'interaction mère-nourrisson et du développement sensorimoteur et du développement du langage à douze mois d'âge pour le nourrisson (T3). Les résultats ont révélé que les problèmes de santé mentale de la mère, et non le trauma de la guerre, étaient importants pour l'expérience du bébé pleurant. Un niveau élevé de symptômes TSPT a prédit les émotions négatives évoquées par le bébé pleurant, et des symptômes dépressifs élevés ont prédit des réactions positives et peu actives aux pleurs. Contre toute attente, un stress perçu prénatal élevé a prédit une réaction positive et active élevée. Pour ce qui concerne les conséquences, l'interprétation sensible des mères de leur bébé pleurant a prédit le développement sensorimoteur optimal du bébé et les réactions actives et positives des mères ont prédit une disponibilité émotionnelle élevée dans l'interaction mère-nourrisson. Pleurer est le premier outil de communication pour les bébés et les réactions sensibles des mères aux pleurs contribuent au bien-être du bébé. Il est donc important de renforcer les réactions optimales des mères lorsqu'on aide les dyades affectées par la guerre.

Severe anorexia nervosa, co-occurring major depressive disorder and electroconvulsive therapy as maintenance treatment: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: It is difficult to treat patients who, in addition to having severe anorexia nervosa, also have severe symptoms of major depressive disorder and a tendency for impulsive acting out behaviour. Our case report considers the feasibility of maintenance electroconvulsive therapy in such complicated cases. CASE PRESENTATION: This is a case report of a woman with anorexia nervosa and co-morbid severe major depressive disorder who was treated with electroconvulsive therapy as a maintenance treatment. The maintenance electroconvulsive therapy was conducted without immediate complications. It had a positive effect on the patient's depressive symptoms and lability and her general wellbeing, although some cognitive deficits were observed. CONCLUSION: The maintenance electroconvulsive therapy seemed to support recovery in a case of refractory anorexia nervosa and a tendency for labile mood. The symptoms of co-occurring major depressive disorder were partly relieved and maintenance electroconvulsive therapy had some positive effect on weight gain.