Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Amanda Koire, Leena Mittal, Carmina Erdei, Cindy H. Liu
Summary: This study found that depressive symptoms in pregnant women were negatively associated with quality of maternal-fetal bonding, while higher levels of anxiety were positively associated with bonding. Past history of depression or generalized anxiety did not seem to be as relevant as current symptomatology. Maternal resilience, rather than distress tolerance, appeared to be a protective factor for bonding. Higher levels of worry regarding the impact of COVID-19 on health were significantly associated with improved bonding, while worries about the impact on pregnancy or resources were not significantly associated with bonding.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
G. F. Giesbrecht, L. Rojas, S. Patel, V Kuret, A. L. MacKinnon, L. Tomfohr-Madsen, C. Lebel
Summary: The study found that fear of COVID-19 during pregnancy is associated with food insecurity, ethnicity, geographic location, history of anxiety prior to pregnancy, chronic health condition, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, and stage of pregnancy at enrollment. Higher fear of COVID-19 is linked to increased risk of depression and anxiety, as well as reduced infant birthweight and gestational age.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Fangyan Lv, Meng Yu, Jie Li, Jingbin Tan, Zhanhang Ye, Mengqi Xiao, Yalin Zhu, Siyuan Guo, Yanping Liu, Dingguo Gao
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between loneliness and depression among young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the mediating role of cognitive reappraisal and the moderating role of resilience. The results show that loneliness is positively associated with depression, and both loneliness and depression are negatively associated with cognitive reappraisal and resilience. The study also finds that cognitive reappraisal partially mediates the relationship between loneliness and depression, and resilience moderates the association between loneliness and depression as well as the impact of cognitive reappraisal on depression. These findings have practical implications for understanding and combating depression in young adults during the pandemic.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Sunah Hyun, Ga Tin Finneas Wong, Nomi C. Levy-Carrick, Linda Charmaraman, Yvette Cozier, Tiffany Yip, Hyeouk Chris Hahm, Cindy H. Liu
Summary: This study examined the association between posttraumatic growth (PTG) among young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and their psychosocial characteristics. Findings showed that PTSD symptoms and COVID-19-related worry predicted higher levels of PTG while depression symptoms predicted lower levels. Resilience and family connectedness were positive predictors of higher PTG levels.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Chenxinzi Lin, Bin Chen, Youjing Yang, Qianmin Li, Qiuguo Wang, Minmin Wang, Shiying Guo, Shasha Tao
Summary: This study conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the association between postpartum depression (PPD) and the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed a significantly higher prevalence and odds of PPD in those who suffered from the pandemic. The study also found that China had a lower prevalence of postpartum depression compared to other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Nursing
Eun-Young Doo, Miyoung Kim, Soyoung Lee, Su Young Lee, Ka Young Lee
Summary: This study compared anxiety, resilience, and depression between nurses working in COVID-19 units and non-COVID-19 units, finding that nurses handling suspected COVID-19 patients had higher levels of anxiety and depression. Anxiety was identified as the major factor predicting depression among nurses.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Jose A. Puertas-Gonzalez, Carolina Marino-Narvaez, Maria Isabel Peralta-Ramirez, Borja Romero-Gonzalez
Summary: The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic has psychological effects on pregnant women, particularly in terms of depression, phobic anxiety, and perceived stress. Insomnia and recent loss of a loved one are important factors affecting depression, while fear of COVID-19 infection leads to an increase in phobic anxiety.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Elisabeth Akeman, Mallory J. Cannon, Namik Kirlic, Kelly T. Cosgrove, Danielle C. DeVille, Timothy J. McDermott, Evan J. White, Zsofia P. Cohen, K. L. Forthman, Martin P. Paulus, Robin L. Aupperle
Summary: This study aims to further understand the trajectories of mental health symptoms experienced by college students during the pandemic by analyzing risk and resilience factors. The results show that students' mental health symptoms worsened throughout the pandemic, but some individuals exhibited relative resilience, using more active coping strategies and experiencing less impact on their college progress.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sylvia E. Badon, Lisa A. Croen, Assiamira Ferrara, Jennifer L. Ames, Monique M. Hedderson, Kelly C. Young-Wolff, Yeyi Zhu, Lyndsay A. Avalos
Summary: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of coping strategies for COVID-19 pandemic-related stress and their associations with depression and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. The findings suggest that physical activity and connecting with others are coping strategies that may be associated with better mental health in pregnant individuals.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yvonne J. Kuipers, Roxanne Bleijenbergh, Laura Van den Branden, Yannic van Gils, Sophie Rimaux, Charlotte Brosens, Astrid Claerbout, Eveline Mestdagh
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has an impact on the psychological health of pregnant and postpartum women, with a positive effect observed on postpartum women, particularly those with perinatal psychological problems and those who received emotional support.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Arwa Ben Salah, Briana N. DeAngelis, Mustafa Al'Absi
Summary: This study examined the relationship between perceived uncertainty and depression/anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, and explored the moderating roles of resilience and perceived social support. The results showed that higher perceived uncertainty was associated with more symptoms of depression and anxiety. Higher levels of resilience and perceived social support were associated with fewer depression and anxiety symptoms. The findings suggest that resilience and social support could be important factors in mitigating the negative effects of uncertainty on mental health.
CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Ashley Humphrey, Evita March, Andrew P. Lavender, Kyle J. Miller, Marlies Alvarenga, Christopher Mesagno
Summary: Social connections and resilience play an important mediating role between fear of COVID-19 and psychological wellbeing.
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Shaul Kimhi, Yohanan Eshel, Hadas Marciano, Bruria Adini
Summary: This study demonstrated that factors such as individual, community, and national resilience, well-being, religiosity, and political attitudes significantly influenced hope and morale during the COVID-19 pandemic. Younger age was associated with higher levels of hope, while economic difficulties were linked to lower levels of hope and morale.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Fadwa Naji Alhalaiqa, Anas H. Khalifeh, Omar Al Omari, Dalal Bashier Yehia, Malek Mohammad Hassan Khalil
Summary: The study found that frontline healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, which are related to their resilience and personal experience. The use of personal protective equipment can reduce anxiety and depression, and increase resilience.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Emma R. Stanislawski, Alexandra Saali, Elizabeth B. Magill, Richa Deshpande, Vedika Kumar, Chi Chan, Alicia Hurtado, Dennis S. Charney, Jonathan Ripp, Craig L. Katz
Summary: This study examined the psychological well-being of third year medical students during clinical rotations at Mount Sinai hospitals in New York City throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys were conducted quarterly, anonymously, and online, covering psychological symptoms, risk and protective factors, coping strategies, demographics, COVID-19 concerns, and stressful events during clerkships. The findings revealed that a significant number of students experienced depression, anxiety, or PTSD during the year, with the highest prevalence in June 2020. COVID-19 worries decreased over time but did not have an impact on psychological symptoms at the end of the year. Factors such as baseline psychological distress, childhood emotional abuse, and resilience were found to predict depression, anxiety, and/or PTSD at the end of the year. This study emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing psychological distress among medical students.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Heidi Preis, Donglei Yin, Jie Yang, Susmita Pati
Summary: Attrition from clinical interventions targeting underserved populations is a major challenge to optimal health outcomes. A nationally recognised enriched medical home intervention (EMHI) utilised community health workers to engage families and remove barriers to care-seeking for children. The study identified predictors of program completion, with factors like program content and community characteristics independently predicting success. Cultural competency and community involvement were emphasized in program design and dissemination, with implications for supporting underserved families in following recommended clinical care.
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Heidi Preis, Petar M. Djuric, Marzieh Ajirak, Vibha Mane, David J. Garry, Diana Garretto, Kimberly Herrera, Cassandra Heiselman, Lobel Marci
Summary: Psychosocial vulnerabilities and substance use increase the risks for adverse perinatal outcomes and maternal mental health morbidities. However, there is a lack of validated, simple, and usable comprehensive instruments for screening these vulnerabilities. This study presents findings from a newly implemented self-report tool for screening in outpatient antenatal clinics.
JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE AND INFANT PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Karen Yirmiya, Shai Motsan, Orna Zagoory-Sharon, Anat Schonblum, Lee Koren, Ruth Feldman
Summary: The research findings demonstrate the complex interplay of biosocial factors as mediators and moderators of risk chronicity across the adolescent transition following early life stress. The study is the first to utilize maternal and child's hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) as biomarkers of chronic stress v. resilience during adolescence.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Heidi Preis, Petar M. Djuric, Marzieh Ajirak, Tong Chen, Vibha Mane, David J. Garry, Cassandra Heiselman, Joseph Chappelle, Marci Lobel
Summary: This study utilized machine learning methods to quantify the risk for prenatal depression and identify contributing factors. The PROMOTE tool accurately predicted high-risk patients and identified important factors influencing depression risk.
ARCHIVES OF WOMENS MENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Heidi Preis, Brittain Mahaffey, Marci Lobel
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the vaccine intention and uptake of COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant women. The study found that social determinants of health and perceptual factors have an influence on vaccine intention, and particular attention should be given to women with lower socioeconomic status and Black/African American women. Increasing vaccination rates in perinatal populations can be achieved by reducing accessibility barriers and providing relevant information.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gilly Wolf, Sandeep Singh, Karin Blakolmer, Leonard Lerer, Tzuri Lifschytz, Uriel Heresco-Levy, Amit Lotan, Bernard Lerer
Summary: Schizophrenia is a common psychiatric disorder with significant personal and societal impact. The negative symptoms associated with cortical atrophy and cell loss are a major cause of disability in schizophrenia, which do not respond well to current antipsychotic drugs. There is evidence suggesting that psychedelic drugs may enhance neuroplasticity and potentially treat these negative symptoms. However, caution is needed to avoid inducing or exacerbating psychosis. Strategies such as using non-hallucinogenic derivatives, implementing sub-psychedelic or microdosing, harnessing entourage effects in psychedelic mushroom extracts, and blocking hallucinogenic effects through 5-HT2A receptors should be considered. Preclinical studies and carefully designed clinical studies are necessary to explore the potential impact of psychedelic drugs on the treatment of schizophrenia.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Marci Lobel, Heidi Preis, Brittain Mahaffey, Nora K. Schaal, Karen Yirmiya, Shir Atzil, Inbal Reuveni, Matteo Balestrieri, Chiara Penengo, Chiara Colli, Marco Garzitto, Lorenza Driul, Michalina Ilska, Anna Brandt-Salmeri, Anna Kolodziej-Zaleskaj, Rafael A. Caparros-Gonzalez, Rita Amiel Castro, Pearl La Marca-Ghaemmaghami, Hannah Meyerhoff
Summary: The prevalence of maternal mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic varies across countries, and stress is a common predictor of anxiety and depression among pregnant women.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Heidi Preis, Jennifer Somers, Brittain Mahaffey, Marci Lobel
Summary: This study found that the patterns of change in stress perceptions and anxiety were different in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. While stress perceptions showed a consistent decrease over time, anxiety symptoms had two distinct patterns with 25% exhibiting high and convex patterns, and 75% showing low levels with concave patterns. Screening for anxiety symptoms in early pregnancy is important as these symptoms may not decrease even when stressful conditions improve.
JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE AND INFANT PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Heid Preis, Mallory Dobias, Katherine Cohen, Elizabeth Bojsza, Clare Whitney, Susmita Pati
Summary: This article presents an implementation and effectiveness evaluation plan for a novel medical improv workshop called Alda Healthcare Experience (AHE), designed to improve interprofessional communication skills among healthcare professionals. The study will use mixed-methods to assess the impact of the AHE workshop on communication, stress, and professional fulfillment, and examine factors and barriers to effective implementation. The AHE program aims to enhance healthcare communication and reduce worker burnout, and rigorous evaluations are necessary for scalability.
BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amit Lotan, Sandra Luza, Carlos M. Opazo, Scott Ayton, Darius J. R. Lane, Serafino Mancuso, Avril Pereira, Suresh Sundram, Cynthia Shannon Weickert, Chad Bousman, Christos Pantelis, Ian P. Everall, Ashley I. Bush
Summary: Current treatments for schizophrenia do not target disruptions in late maturational reshaping of the prefrontal cortex. Analysis of cortical iron biology in schizophrenia reveals elevated tissue iron and decreased ferritin, suggesting a potential link between perturbed cortical iron biology and the disorder, and offering a new therapeutic target.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Maayan Abargil, Merav Irani, Nathalie Klein Selle, Shir Atzil
Summary: This study investigates the phenomenon of breastfeeding pain in mothers and its impact on maternal and infant behavioral regulation. It found that severe breastfeeding pain leads to less affective expressions and gaze from both mothers and infants during interactive moments, suggesting that the pain interferes with their behavioral regulation.
Article
Psychology, Social
Heidi Preis, Weihao Wang, Wei Zhu, Brittain Mahaffey, Marci Lobel
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women faced unprecedented stress, especially those from socioeconomically disadvantaged and marginalized groups. The impact of social determinants of health (SDoH) and stress on early birth is still unclear, particularly in the context of a communal health crisis like the pandemic. A longitudinal study was conducted among 2473 pregnant women during the pandemic to investigate the contributions of SDoH and prenatal stress to gestational age at birth. The results suggest that SDoH have an indirect effect on earlier birth through prenatal stress, highlighting the importance of addressing both SDoH and stress in under-resourced and marginalized communities.
SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY COMPASS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Amanda Levinson, Marci Lobel, Heidi Preis, Brittain Mahaffey
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on prenatal maternal stress, but the extent to which it affects maternal mental health varies due to different coping strategies. This study found that spiritual coping, planning/preparation, and avoidant coping were associated with increased stress and anxiety symptoms, while coping by positive appraisal was associated with lower stress and anxiety symptoms. The fit between coping strategy and stress type also influenced coping outcomes.
ARCHIVES OF WOMENS MENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rita T. T. Amiel Castro, Nora K. K. Schaal, Hannah Meyerhoff, Heidi Preis, Brittain Mahaffey, Marci Lobel, Pearl La Marca-Ghaemmaghami
Summary: This study found that high-risk pregnancy, full-time employment, cancelled prenatal care appointments, and stating that COVID-19 affected the choice of birth mode were risk factors for pandemic-related pregnancy stress. Additionally, current emotional problems, nulliparity, chronic disease, history of abuse, and income loss were linked to higher prenatal distress. Access to an outdoor space was a protective factor for pandemic-related pregnancy stress and prenatal distress.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH JOURNAL
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
Sandeep Singh, Alexander Botvinnik, Orr Shahar, Gilly Wolf, Amit Lotan, Bernard Lerer, Tzuri Lifschytz
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
