MMPI-2: cluster analysis of personality profiles in perinatal depression­preliminary evidence.

BACKGROUND: To assess personality characteristics of women who develop perinatal depression. METHODS: The study started with a screening of a sample of 453 women in their third trimester of pregnancy, to which was administered a survey data form, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2). A clinical group of subjects with perinatal depression (PND, 55 subjects) was selected; clinical and validity scales of MMPI-2 were used as predictors in hierarchical cluster analysis carried out. RESULTS: The analysis identified three clusters of personality profile: two "clinical" clusters (1 and 3) and an "apparently common" one (cluster 2). The first cluster (39.5%) collects structures of personality with prevalent obsessive or dependent functioning tending to develop a "psychasthenic" depression; the third cluster (13.95%) includes women with prevalent borderline functioning tending to develop "dysphoric" depression; the second cluster (46.5%) shows a normal profile with a "defensive" attitude, probably due to the presence of defense mechanisms or to the fear of stigma. CONCLUSION: Characteristics of personality have a key role in clinical manifestations of perinatal depression; it is important to detect them to identify mothers at risk and to plan targeted therapeutic interventions.

[Parental care and post partum depression: a case report]. / Cure parentali e depressione post partum: un caso clinico.

The post partum depression (PPD) is a severe risk factor for the emotional and cognitive development of offspring. The Authors describe the relationship between mother with PPD and her two-year old child. The mother repeats patterns of parental care experienced during her own childhood.

[Maternal attachment patterns and personality in post partum depression]. / Modelli di attaccamento e personalità nella depressione post partum.

AIMS: This study investigates the prevalence of post partum depression (PPD) in a sample of Roman women, and the role of socio-demographic variables, personality structure and maternal attachment patterns, in order to identify primary and secondary prevention strategies. METHODS: Data were collected in two phases. During the third trimester of pregnancy, a sample of 453 women completed a socio-demographic data sheet and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Among the patients scoring 12 or more at EPDS, 15 entered the second phase of the study and completed SCID-II and Adult Attachment Interview. PPD diagnosis was confirmed by the SCID-I. The study group was compared with a control group. RESULTS: Among the 453 women who were evaluated, 92 (20.3%) scored ≥12 at EPDS, 39 has been enrolled and 15 entered the study. Presence of depressive symptoms was associated with: complications in pregnancy, previous psychiatric disorders, family and marital conflicts. 66.6% of depressed mothers showed more than one diagnosis on Axis II (particularly avoidant/dependent + borderline or histrionic + dependent). The AAI showed a prevalence of insecure (33.3%) and unresolved/disorganized (46.6%) attachment pattern in the clinical group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that psychological factors such as personality structure and attachment patterns are not only involved in post natal affective disorders, but have a key role in the onset and development of PPD.

[Immigration, trauma, living difficulties and psychopathology: a preliminary study in a primary care setting]. / Immigrazione, traumi, difficoltà vitali e psicopatologia: uno studio preliminare in un setting di medicina generale.

AIM: Investigate the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression and somatizations in a sample of immigrants visited in a transcultural primary care service. The relationship among psychopathological symptoms, pre-migratory events and post-migration living difficulties is also considered. METHODS: We studied 101 outpatients, attending the "Caritas" Primary Care Unit for immigrants in Rome. All participants fulfilled a socio-demographic questionnaire, a checklist of traumatic events (Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, HTQ), a checklist of post-migration living difficulties (Post-Migration Living Difficulties, PMLD) and the following questionnaires: the HTQ for the assessment of post-traumatic symptoms, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-25) for anxiety and depression, the Bredford Somatic Inventory (BSI) for somatization. RESULTS: 40 patients (39.60%) had an anxiety disorder, 47 (46.13%) a depressive disorder, 16 (15.84%) a PTSD and 39 (38,6%) a somatization syndrome. All these syndromes were significantly correlated. The number of traumatic events and of post-migration difficulties significantly increased the scores on the psychopathological scales. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of psychopathological syndromes in our primary care transcultural unit was high. This not only in refugees, but also in immigrants for other reasons. Moreover, the levels of psychopathological distress were significantly influenced by the number of pre-migratory traumas and of living difficulties in the host country.

Depression prevalence based on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale compared to Structured Clinical Interview for DSM DIsorders classification: Systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Estimates of depression prevalence in pregnancy and postpartum are based on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) more than on any other method. We aimed to determine if any EPDS cutoff can accurately and consistently estimate depression prevalence in individual studies. METHODS: We analyzed datasets that compared EPDS scores to Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID) major depression status. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to compare prevalence with EPDS cutoffs versus the SCID. RESULTS: Seven thousand three hundred and fifteen participants (1017 SCID major depression) from 29 primary studies were included. For EPDS cutoffs used to estimate prevalence in recent studies (≥9 to ≥14), pooled prevalence estimates ranged from 27.8% (95% CI: 22.0%-34.5%) for EPDS ≥ 9 to 9.0% (95% CI: 6.8%-11.9%) for EPDS ≥ 14; pooled SCID major depression prevalence was 9.0% (95% CI: 6.5%-12.3%). EPDS ≥14 provided pooled prevalence closest to SCID-based prevalence but differed from SCID prevalence in individual studies by a mean absolute difference of 5.1% (95% prediction interval: -13.7%, 12.3%). CONCLUSION: EPDS ≥14 approximated SCID-based prevalence overall, but considerable heterogeneity in individual studies is a barrier to using it for prevalence estimation.

[Mental retardation and somatoform disorder with globus pharyngeus: a case study of comorbidity]. / Ritardo mentale e disturbo somatoforme con bolo psicogeno: un caso clinico di comorbilità.

AIM: The case study of a young woman affected by moderate mental retardation and somatoform disorder not otherwise specified, with globus pharyngeus, is reported. The purpose is to show how an articulated diagnosis and treatment of individuals with mental retardation and comorbid psychopathology may produce syndromal and functional recovery. METHODS: Psychometric testing of the patient was performed, in order to monitor the prescribed, duloxetine-based, treatment. RESULTS: After six weeks of treatment the patient underwent full remission. DISCUSSION: The correct identification of psychiatric comorbidity is the prerequisite for an appropriate complementary pharmacological intervention, aimed at improving the quality of life.

Differences in MMPI-2 personality profiles among filicide and homicide women.

INTRODUCTION: Filicide is an act of terrible violence that generates dismay and astonishment and invites everybody to ask: why? AIM: As the transition to motherhood is a critical period for any woman, requiring the activation of deep personality resources, the aim of this study was to deepen our knowledge of the personality profiles of new mothers by comparing a sample of 16 women who had killed their own child ("filicide mothers") with women who had murdered someone outside of their family ("non-family homicide women"). METHOD: All of the women had a similar psychiatric diagnosis, as assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I). All were assessed by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2) 2 to 4 years after the court's judgment. A Kruskal-Wallis test and two-step cluster analysis were performed to determine whether a specific personality profile could distinguish filicide mothers from non-family homicide women. RESULTS: Years after the act, few filicide mothers showed symptoms of psychopathology; rather, they appeared functional and untroubled. In contrast, non-family homicide women showed a pathological mean profile. CONCLUSIONS: The results may indicate conscious attempts made by filicide mothers to avoid negative evaluations, minimize symptoms, and deny psychological suffering. These may indicate personality risk factors that could help clinicians recognize and intervene in cases where a woman presents a severe mental illness before, during, and following the birth of her child.

Personality traits in a sample of Italian filicide mothers.

Several studies focused on mothers' psychopathological and environmental risk factors linked to filicide, to understand the genesis of this violent act. Considering the transition to motherhood a critical period for any woman, requiring the activation of deep personality resources, the aim of this study was to detect, in a sample of 16 filicide women hospitalized in Italian Forensic Psychiatric Hospitals, the recurrent characteristics with a specific focus on personality traits. Women were assessed using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), Big Five Inventory (BFI) and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). The BFI and TCI profiles seem to overlap showing a personality profile characterized by a rigid control of aggressive impulses, the avoiding of unconscious fears and the masking of feelings of negativity. Examining the mother's mental state with respect to personality traits, could help clinicians to detect specific temperament patterns that may carry out impulsive violent behaviors, if correlated with other psychopathological and environmental factors.

Perinatal Depression and Patterns of Attachment: A Critical Risk Factor?

Background. This study aims to verify if the presence and severity of perinatal depression are related to any particular pattern of attachment. Methods. The study started with a screening of a sample of 453 women in their third trimester of pregnancy, who were administered a survey data form, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Experience in Close Relationship (ECR). A clinical group of subjects with perinatal depression (PND, 89 subjects) was selected and compared with a control group (C), regarding psychopathological variables and attachment patterns. Results. The ECR showed a prevalence of "Fearful-Avoidant" attachment style in PND group (29.2% versus 1.1%, p < 0.001); additionally, the EPDS average score increases with the increasing of ECR dimensions (Avoidance and Anxiety). Conclusion. The severity of depression increases proportionally to attachment disorganization; therefore, we consider attachment as both an important risk factor as well as a focus for early psychotherapeutic intervention.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies of Postpartum Depression: An Overview.

Postpartum depression is a frequent and disabling condition whose pathophysiology is still unclear. In recent years, the study of the neural correlates of mental disorders has been increasingly approached using magnetic resonance techniques. In this review we synthesize the results from studies on postpartum depression in the context of structural, functional, and spectroscopic magnetic resonance studies of major depression as a whole. Compared to the relative wealth of data available for major depression, magnetic resonance studies of postpartum depression are limited in number and design. A systematic literature search yielded only eleven studies conducted on about one hundred mothers with postpartum depression overall. Brain magnetic resonance findings in postpartum depression appear to replicate those obtained in major depression, with minor deviations that are not sufficient to delineate a distinct neurobiological profile for this condition, due to the small samples used and the lack of direct comparisons with subjects with major depression. However, it seems reasonable to expect that studies conducted in larger populations, and using a larger variety of brain magnetic resonance techniques than has been done so far, might allow for the identification of neuroimaging signatures for postpartum depression.

[Early attachement relationships and epigenetic customization]. / La regolazione epigenetica della relazione primaria.

Recently, new findings in epigenetic science switched the focus from the observation of physiological intragenomic dynamics to the idea of an environmental co-construction of phenotypic expression. In psichodynamic field, objectual relations and attachement theoreticians emphasized the interpersonal dimension of individual development, focusing the attention on the relational matrix of self organization. The construction of stable affective-behavioral traits throughout different parenting styles has actually found a coincidence in ethological studies, which have explored the epigenetic processes underlying the relationship between caregiving and HPA stress responsiveness. An adequate parenting style seems to support affective regulation throughout psychobiological hidden moderators, which would tend to rebalance the physiological systems homeostasis; an unconfident attachment style would promote, on the other hand, the allostatic load rise. Sites of longlife epigenetic susceptibility have also been identified in humans; although associated with risk of maladaptive developing in adverse environmental conditions, they seem to confer protection under favorable conditions. This persisting possibility of reorganization of stable traits throughout lifetime, which seems to be activated by a relevant environmental input, grant to significant relationships, and to therapeutical one as well, an implicit reconditioning potential which could result into the configuration of new stable affective-behavioral styles.

[Perinatal depression and affective bonds: experience in close relationship during pregnancy]. / Depressione perinatale e relazioni affettive: l'experience in close relationship in gravidanza.

AIM: This study aims to investigate the influence of the "romantic attachment" style, stressful life events, social factors on the risk of developing a depression during pregnancy and on the severity of depressive symptoms. METHODS: The study started with a screening on a sample of 453 women, during their third trimester of pregnancy, to which has been administered a survey data form, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Experience in Close Relationship (ECR). Based on the results at EPDS, a clinical group of pre-natal depression (D=89) was selected and compared with a control group (C=89), in regards to psychopathological and social variables, exposure to stressful life events and attachment patterns. Analysis of correlation were performed to evaluate the influence of these factors on depressive symptoms severity. RESULTS: In D group, 52.8% of subjects reported previous psychiatric disorders and 49.4% a familiarity; 29.2% of these women complains of conflicts with their family of origin and 32.6% with partner. The ECR showed a prevalence of "fearful-avoidant" attachment style in clinical group (29.2% vs 1.1%, p=0.000); besides, ECR dimensions ("Avoidance", "Anxiety"), correlate with the severity of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Positive family history for psychiatric disorders and an insecure romantic attachment might influence the development and the severity of perinatal depression.

Effect of consecutive intragastric balloon (BIB®) plus diet versus single BIB® plus diet on eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) in obese patients.

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders are a group of conditions characterised by abnormal eating habits. Greater than 50 % of patients with eating disorders have an 'eating disorder not otherwise specified' (EDNOS). No specific tools exist to evaluate EDNOS, and patients are identified only with a diagnosis of exclusion from the other eating disorders. The BioEnterics® Intragastric Balloon (BIB®) is used worldwide as a short-term treatment option in obese patients. A new frequency score was used to evaluate the influence of double consecutive BIB® treatment compared with single BIB® treatment followed by diet on four categories of EDNOS (grazing, emotional eating, sweet-eating and after-dinner grazing). METHODS: A prospective study allocated 50 obese patients (age range 25-35, BMI range 40.0-44.9) into two groups: BIB® (6 months) followed by diet therapy (7 months; group A (N = 25)) and BIB® placement for 6 months followed by another BIB® for 6 months, with a 1-month interval between placement (group B (N = 25)). Baseline demographics were similar across both groups. RESULTS: At the time of removal of the first BIB® device, EDNOS scores in both groups were not significantly different, but decreased significantly from baseline. By the end of the study, all EDNOS scores were significantly lower in patients undergoing consecutive BIB®, compared with single BIB® followed by diet therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The placement of an intragastric balloon in obese patients allows for a reduction in the intensity of grazing, emotional eating, sweet-eating and after-dinner grazing. A more significant reduction in the EDNOS score was observed with two consecutive BIBs®.