Differences in Psychological Symptoms in Pregnancy and Postpartum before and during COVID-19: A Cross-sectional Study / Las diferencias en los síntomas psicológicos durante el embarazo y el postparto antes y después del COVID-19: un estudio transversal

Rationale: Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to mental health problems, including stress, anxiety, and depression. This risk has been increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and differences in psychological symptoms in pregnancy and postpartum before and during COVID-19 exists. Mental health problems can have adverse effects on both the woman, and the neonate, including miscarriages, premature births, low birth weight, and higher rates of cesarean sections and instrument-assisted deliveries. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of psychological symptoms of pregnant women before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the psychological profile in a sample of pregnant women selected before the pandemic and a sample of women studied during the first wave of the pandemic. A total of 122 women were selected prior to the pandemic and 181 women during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90-R) was used to assess depression and anxiety during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Results: The prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety during pregnancy were higher in the sample of women studied during the pandemic (SCL-90-R: M = 54.6 vs. 42.6 and M = 62.6 vs. 51.7 respectively). In the postpartum the difference between both samples of women was even higher for depression and anxiety (SCL-90-R: M = 50.4 vs. 35.0 and M = 51.3 vs. 36.0 respectively). Being a pregnant woman at the COVID-19 outbreak was directly associated with a higher score of depression symptoms (aOR = 8.67, 95% CI [3.26, 23.02], p < .001). Anxiety during childbirth was more frequently reported by women before the pandemic (aOR = 5.13, 95% CI [2.53, 10.44], p < .001). The variable stage (before /during pandemic) was also associated with having a clinical SCL-90-R score above 70 (aOR = 7.61, 95% CI [2.7, 21.47], p < .001). (AU)

Justificación: Las mujeres embarazadas son especialmente vulnerables a los problemas de salud mental, como el estrés, la ansiedad y la depresión. Este riesgo se ha incrementado durante la pandemia de COVID-19, habiendo diferencias en los síntomas psicológicos en el embarazo y el puerperio antes y después de la pandemia. Los problemas de salud mental pueden tener efectos perjudiciales tanto en la mujer como en el recién nacido, como abortos espontáneos, partos prematuros, bajo peso al nacer y tasas más altas de cesáreas y partos asistidos. Objetivo: Evaluar la prevalencia de síntomas psicológicos de gestantes antes y durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Método: Se realizó un estudio transversal para evaluar el perfil psicológico en una muestra de mujeres embarazadas seleccionadas antes de la pandemia y una muestra de mujeres estudiadas durante la primera ola de la pandemia. Se seleccionó un total de 122 mujeres antes de la pandemia y 181 mujeres durante el brote de COVID-19. Se utilizó la Inventario de Verificación de Síntomas-90 Revisada (SCL-90-R) para evaluar la depresión y la ansiedad durante el embarazo y el puerperio. Resultados: La prevalencia de síntomas de depresión y ansiedad durante el embarazo fue mayor en la muestra de mujeres estudiadas durante la pandemia (SCL-90-R: M = 54.6 vs. 42.6 y M = 62.6 vs. 51.7 respectivamente). En el postparto la diferencia entre ambas muestras de mujeres fue aún mayor para depresión y ansiedad (SCL-90-R: M = 50.4 vs. 35.0 y M = 51.3 vs. 36.0 respectivamente). Ser mujer embarazada en el brote de COVID-19 se asoció directamente con una mayor puntuación de síntomas de depresión (aOR = 8.67, IC 95% [3.26, 23.02, p < .001). Las mujeres manifestaron ansiedad durante el parto con mayor frecuencia antes de la pandemia (aOR = 5.13, IC 95% 2.53, 10.44], p < .001). La variable estadio (antes/durante la pandemia) también se asoció con tener una puntuación clínica SCL-90-R superior a 70 (aOR = 7.61, IC 95% [2.7, 21.47], p < .001). (AU)

Modificación de la personalidad mediante una terapia cognitivo-conductual de afrontamiento al estrés / Personality modification by a cognitive-behavioral therapy of stress coping

El objetivo de este estudio ha sido comprobar la posibilidad de modulación de variables de personalidad (tales como algunos de los Cinco Grandes Factores, o la personalidad resistente) a través de la aplicación de un programa de afrontamiento del estrés. Para ello, han participado 26 personas del ámbito universitario con alto estrés percibido, distribuidas en dos grupos (grupo de tratamiento y grupo de control). Los instrumentos de evaluación seleccionados se clasificaron en dos grupos: variables psicológicas y emocionales y variables de personalidad. Los resultados encontrados mediantes un ANOVA de medidas repetidas mostraron que existía inter-acción momento x grupo en las variables optimismo, extraversión y responsabilidad, correspondientes al Modelo de los Cinco Grandes Factores, mostrando un incremento de las puntuaciones en estas variables en el grupo terapia y no encontrándose dicha interacción en el grupo control. Las puntuaciones en los componentes de neuroticismo, amabilidad, apertura a la experiencia y personalidad resistente no se modificaron en ninguno de los dos grupos. Este estudio apoya la idea de que modificando determinados parámetros emocionales relacionados con el estrés mediante terapia cognitivo-conductual se pueden ver modulados algunos factores de personalidad

The objective of this study was to assess the possibility of varying personality variables (such as some of the Big Five factors, or hardiness) through the application of a stress doping therapy. Twenty-six people participated from universities with high perceived stress, divided into two groups (treatment group and control group). The assessment instruments selected were classified into two groups: psychological and emotional variables and personality variables. The results showed that after the program, the experimental group showed a decline in scores of stress, psychopathology and worries. On the other hand, personality variables, interaction was found in the variables moment x group, optimism, extraversion factor and accountability, corresponding to the model of the Big Five factors showed increased scores on these variables. However, these changes were not in the control group. The hardy personality scores did not change in either group. This study tests the modulation of certain factors of personality through cognitive-behavioral therapy for stress management, after which beneficial effects are obtained

Effects of myofascial induction techniques on physiologic and psychologic parameters: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to determine the effect of myofascial techniques on the modulation of physiologic and psychologic variables. DESIGN: Forty-one (41) healthy male volunteers were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. INTERVENTIONS: The experimental group underwent 3 manual therapy modalities: suboccipital muscle technique, compression of fourth intracranial ventricle, and deep cervical fascia technique. The control group remained in a resting position for the same time period under the same environmental conditions. OUTCOME MEASURES: Temperature, heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) were measured before, during, and after the intervention. State and trait anxiety levels and depression level were evaluated before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a significant time x groups interaction [F = 4.7(1,40); p = 0.036] for state anxiety. There were no significant time x group interaction effects for depression [F = 0.33(1,40); p = 0.57] or trait anxiety [F = 3.76(1,40), p = 0.060]. Among physiologic parameters, a significant time x group interaction was found for systolic BP [F = 2.86(6,240); p = 0.033] and heart rate [F = 2.89(6,240); p = 0.036]. CONCLUSIONS: Psychologic modulation is observed after application of manual therapy techniques, with a decrease in state anxiety in the experimental group. Heart rate and systolic BP were modulated during the course of myofascial induction techniques. All of these effects were observed up to 20 minutes after the therapy.

The effects of daily stress and stressful life events on the clinical symptomatology of patients with lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to verify whether stress worsens the clinical symptomatology perceived by patients with lupus erythematosus. Toward this end, we considered two types of stressors-daily stress and high-intensity stressful life events. METHODS: In 46 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 12 patients with chronic lupus discoid, we studied the stress they experienced daily for 6 months and their disease symptoms. During this period, we also analyzed the levels of C3 and C4 complements and anti-DNAn antibodies. The systemic lupus erythematosus activity (assessed by the Systemic Lupus Activity Measures) and cumulative organ damage (assessed by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index) were also analyzed. RESULTS: We did not find that high-intensity stressful life events produced a worsening of the symptomatology of the disease. However, using a time-series analysis (Box-Jenkins), we found that a high percentage of lupus patients (74.1%) perceived a worsening in their clinical symptomatology due to the effects of daily stress. Of this 74.1%, 53.4% worsened the same day they suffered the perceived daily stress, and the remaining 20.7% experienced an increase in symptoms both the same day and the following day. Subsequent Mann-Whitney analyses showed that the patients who worsened for 2 days because of the effects of stress had greater lupus activity, as evaluated by their levels of C3, C4, and anti-DNAn. CONCLUSION: Daily stress, and not stressful life events, worsened the clinical symptomatology perceived by lupus erythematosus patients. This increase extended at times to 2 days, and was associated with greater lupic activity.