Psychological wellbeing in parents of children with Down syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We report a review examining the psychological wellbeing of parents of children with Down syndrome (DS) relative to that of parents of typically developing (TD) children. A systematic search identified 57 relevant studies, which were synthesised meta-analytically. Relative to their counterparts with TD children, mothers and fathers of children with DS reported higher levels of parenting stress (mothers: g = 0.57, 95% CI [0.33, 0.81]; fathers: g = 0.40, [0.24, 0.56]), depressive symptoms (mothers: g = 0.42, [0.23, 0.61]; fathers: g = 0.25, [0.02, 0.48]) and psychological distress (mothers: g = 0.45, [0.30, 0.60]; fathers: g = 0.63, [0.26, 0.99]). Small effects were found for anxiety for mothers (g = 0.16, [0.03, 0.29]), with no differences for fathers (g = 0.03, [-0.25, 0.32]). No group differences were found for positive impact of parenting (mothers: g = -0.09, [-0.25, 0.07]; fathers: g = -0.04, [-0.30, 0.22]), while evidence concerning other positive wellbeing outcomes was limited. No significant moderating effects of child age range, country income level, or group differences in parental education level were identified, but limited subgroup analyses were possible. Raising a child with DS may be associated with elevated stress, depressive symptoms, and psychological distress for mothers and fathers. However, levels of parenting reward appear equivalent to those experienced by parents raising TD children.

Drug combination adds fuel to US abortion debate.

PIP: A recent study in the US showed that abortion was achieved in 171/178 women aged 18 to 47 with pregnancies of 63 days or less duration through the administration of an intramuscular injection of methotrexate (a drug used to treat cancer) followed five to seven days later with a dose of misoprostol (used to treat ulcers). The report of this study prompted the founder of the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue to threaten the report's author with being "hunted down and tried for genocide" should abortion ever be made illegal. While the National Abortion Rights Action League urged that the procedure be judged on medical not political terms, a spokesperson for the National Right to Life Committee expressed concern for the reproductive and psychological health of women undergoing medical abortions. The Population Council is currently completing clinical trials of the regimen which employs RU-486 to achieve medical abortion and expects to file a new drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996. The methotrexate/misoprostol combination would be much less expensive than RU-486 (approximately $10 compared to $250 at current prices), and a pharmaceutical company is currently attempting to raise the six million dollars necessary to fund the large-scale clinical trials which must precede FDA approval. While the availability of medical abortions would make the procedure much more accessible and private for women, proper counseling must be given to the women to avoid unwanted side effects and so that the women know what to expect.^ieng