Effect of integrated yoga on stress and heart rate variability in pregnant women

Objective

To study the effect of integrated yoga practice and guided yogic relaxation on both perceived stress and measured autonomic response in healthy pregnant women.

Method

The 122 healthy women recruited between the 18th and 20th week of pregnancy at prenatal clinics in Bangalore, India, were randomized to practicing yoga and deep relaxation or standard prenatal exercises 1-hour daily. The results for the 45 participants per group who completed the study were evaluated by repeated measures analysis of variance.

Results

Perceived stress decreased by 31.57% in the yoga group and increased by 6.60% in the control group (P = 0.001). During a guided relaxation period in the yoga group, compared with values obtained before a practice session, the high-frequency band of the heart rate variability spectrum (parasympathetic) increased by 64% in the 20th week and by 150% in the 36th week, and both the low-frequency band (sympathetic), and the low-frequency to high-frequency ratio were concomitantly reduced (P < 0.001 between the 2 groups). Moreover, the low-frequency band remained decreased after deep relaxation in the 36th week in the yoga group.

Conclusion

Yoga reduces perceived stress and improves adaptive autonomic response to stress in healthy pregnant women.     

Effect of Fordyce Happiness Model on depression,stress, anxiety,and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis

PurposeThis study was conducted to investigate the effect of Fordyce Happiness Model (FHM) on depression, stress, anxiety, and fatigue in MS patients.MethodsIn this clinical trial, 140 MS patients assigned to experimental and control groups. Depression, anxiety, stress, and fatigue were measured by Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 and Piper Standard Scale before and immediately and three months after the implementation of FHM. The data were analyzed by SPSS 18.ResultsIndependent t-test indicated that total scores of stress, depression, and fatigue of the two groups were not significantly different before the intervention but were significantly different after the intervention (P˂0.05). Moreover, anxiety scores of the two were not significantly different after the intervention (P˃0.05).ConclusionFHM can assist MS patients to manage their disease and associated problems in life. Besides that, since FHM is efficient and costless, it can be incorporated into the health interventions for MS patients.     

Effects of depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and health behaviour on neonatal outcomes in a population-based Hungarian sample

Objective

To investigate possible associations of maternal antenatal depression, anxiety and self-esteem with negative neonatal outcomes controlling for the effects of demographic covariates and health behaviour in a Hungarian sample.

Study design

A population-based monitoring system was established in 10 districts of health visitors in Szombathely, Hungary, covering every woman registered as pregnant between February 1, 2008 and February 1 2009. Three hundred and seven expectant women in the early stage of their pregnancy were surveyed using the Short Form of Beck Depression Inventory for the measurement of depression and the Spielberger Trait-Anxiety Inventory for the measurement of anxiety. Self-esteem was evaluated by the Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale. At the end of the follow-up period, data on 261 mothers and their singleton neonates were available. The relationship between the explanatory and outcome variables (birth weight, length, chest circumference, gestational age, and 1- and 5-min Apgar score) was tested in girls and boys separately by multiple linear regression analysis (Forward method). Categorical variables were used as “dummy variables”.

Results

Maternal depression, anxiety and health behaviour did not show any association with neonatal outcomes. Higher level of maternal self-esteem was associated with higher birth weight and birth length in boys and higher birth length in girls. Maternal education positively correlated with birth length, gestational age and chest circumference in boys, and with birth length in girls. In girls, maternal socioeconomic status showed a positive association with birth weight and gestational age, while common law marriage had a negative effect on birth weight and chest circumference.

Conclusions

Lower level of maternal self-esteem possibly leads to a higher level of maternal stress which may reduce fetal growth via physiologic changes. Gender differences in associations between demographic factors and neonatal outcome measures indicate differences in fetal development between boys and girls.     

Associations of life events during pregnancy with longitudinal change in symptoms of antenatal anxiety and depression

Objective

to investigate the association of life events during pregnancy with change in antenatal anxiety and depression symptoms. We distinguished pregnancy related and non-pregnancy related events and assessed specificity of these associations for depressive or anxious symptoms. In addition, we investigated whether the associations were affected by personality or childhood adversities.

Design

observational prospective cohort study

Setting

primary and secondary obstetric care centres in the Netherlands

Participants

1603 women during their first trimester of pregnancy between May 2010 and May 2012

Measurements and findings

we performed linear regression analyses to test the associations of pregnancy related, non-pregnancy related life events, childhood adversities and the personality traits neuroticism and extraversion with the change in symptoms of anxiety (State Trait Anxiety Inventory) and depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) from week 12 to week 36.Life events during pregnancy were associated with increasing antenatal symptoms of anxiety and depression. Effect sizes associated with the highest numbers of events observed ranged from 0.59 to 1.31. Pregnancy related events were specifically associated with increasing symptoms of anxiety (p=0.009), whereas non-pregnancy related events were merely associated with an increase in symptoms of depression (p<0.001). Neither personality traits nor childhood trauma influenced the associations under study.

Key conclusions

the most important finding is that pregnancy related life events during pregnancy increase levels of antenatal anxiety, whereas depression levels increase when women experience life events that are unrelated to pregnancy. Furthermore, non-pregnancy related events show stronger associations with increases in symptoms of anxiety or depression compared to pregnancy related events.

Implications for practice

our findings may help midwives to tailor psychosocial care to the specific risks of the pregnant woman which may eventually have a positive impact on the health of mother and child.     

Pregnancy outcomes after recurrent pregnancy loss: a longitudinal cohort study on stress and depression

Published reports have indicated that rates of preimplantation embryo aneuploidy in a control donor population may vary between IVF centres. This suggests that location-specific conditions, in the clinic, IVF or genetics laboratory, may be influencing the chromosome dynamics or diagnosis. More recent reports suggest that rates of embryo mosaicism, representing mitotic errors, may vary between IVF centres. This would suggest perhaps a laboratory-controlled variable is influencing mitotic cell division during preimplantation embryo development. Various IVF laboratory-controlled factors may be impacting chromosome separation and segregation. Variables including type of culture media, pH, temperature, osmolality and oxygen concentration could all be possible factors influencing embryo aneuploidy. Furthermore, laboratory techniques, method of insemination, laser use or handling of biopsied cells may also influence genetic results. These IVF laboratory variables will be reviewed and literature suggesting a possible link to mitotic aneuploidy/mosaicism discussed.     

The effect of lifestyle-based education to women and their husbands on the anxiety and depression during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of lifestyle-based education to women and their husbands on anxiety and depression during pregnancy.

Method: This controlled trial was conducted on 189 pregnant women. Participants were allocated into three groups through block randomization. In the first intervention group, both women and their husbands, and in the second one, only women received the lifestyle-based education. In the control group, women received only the routine care. Edinburgh depression and Spielberger anxiety questionnaires were completed at baseline and 8 weeks after it.

Results: Compared to the control group, significant reductions were observed in the scores of depression (adjusted difference: ?4.7; 95% CI: ?5.9 to ?3.4), state anxiety (?8.1; ?11.3 to ?4.9) and trait anxiety (?8.3; ?11.9 to ?5.0) in the first intervention group, and in the scores of depression (?2.9; ?4.1 to ?1.6), state anxiety (?4.3; ?7.5 to ?1.1) and trait anxiety (?5.5; 95% CI: ?8.7 to ?2.3) in the second intervention group. Comparing the two intervention groups, mean scores of depression and state anxiety were significantly lower in the first group.

Conclusion: Results suggested the positive effect of lifestyle education to women and their husbands on depression and anxiety during pregnancy.     

产后抑郁症、焦虑症的相关因素分析

目的　探讨产后抑郁症、焦虑症发病原因和防治对策。方法　用抑郁自评量表 (SDS)和焦虑自评量表 (SAS)对 1 5 0 0例围产期产妇评定 ,并与我国常模对照。结果　产妇中 1 2 1 % (1 81 1 5 0 0 )有抑郁情绪 ,1 0 6 % (1 5 9 1 5 0 0 )有焦虑情绪 ,抑郁、焦虑评分显著高于我国常模水平 ,差异有极显著性 (P <0 0 1 ) ;多因素分析显示产后抑郁症、焦虑症与家庭类型、经济收入、年龄、受教育程度、性格、分娩方式及医务人员态度有相关性。结论　产后抑郁症、焦虑症的发生主要与社会因素 (家庭类型、经济收入、年龄、受教育程度 )、心理因素 (性格、分娩方式及医务人员态度 )有关。提示在产后焦虑症、抑郁症的治疗上 ,应从药物、心理和社会因素多方面综合性治疗。     

Association between subjective feelings of distress,plasma cortisol,anxiety, and depression in pregnant women

Objective

Psychosocial stressors are consistently associated with antenatal anxiety and depression, while the impact of cortisol has proved inconsistent. Most studies have focused either on psychological or physiological stress indices. We investigated both subjective and endocrinologic indices of distress in the same subjects.

Study design

We performed a cross-sectional study in late pregnancy in 79 women to investigate associations between the factors involved in anxiety and depression. Outcome measures were the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Perceived Stress Scale, a Likert-like scale for fear of delivery, a structured interview to assess health and socioeconomic status, and fasting plasma cortisol levels measured in the morning.

Results

High BDI and STAI scores were associated with high levels of perceived stress and fear of delivery, but not with levels of plasma cortisol typical of the gestation phase. A multiple regression analysis revealed that subjective feelings of distress explained over 50% of the variation in BDI and STAI scores. Plasma cortisol was not a significant predictor of psychometric scores and did not show significant correlation with them in correlation analyses, and subjects with low and high cortisol levels showed similar psychometric scores.

Conclusion

Antenatal depression and anxiety were significantly associated with subjective feelings of distress but not with increased cortisol. This finding may be explained by the blunted cortisol stress responses characteristic of pregnancy. The mechanisms mediating the effects of subjective distress remain obscure: likely candidates include monoamine neurotransmission, and/or stress-induced changes in glucocorticoid receptor expression or distribution.     

体外受精-胚胎移植过程中妇女的焦虑和抑郁

目的:了解接受体外受精-胚胎移植和卵胞浆内单精子注射治疗者的焦虑、抑郁心理症状,以冀为干预研究提供依据。方法:对212例接受IVF-ET/ICSI治疗的不孕症患者,用焦虑自评量表(SAS)、用抑郁量表(CES-D)进行无记名问卷调查。结果:(1)4个治疗时期的焦虑症状检出率为15.1%～25.9%,抑郁症状检出率为27.4%～47.2%,焦虑抑郁症状共存率为9.4%～25.0%,Ⅳ期的焦虑、抑郁症状检出率和焦虑抑郁症状共存率均高于Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ期;(2)4个治疗时期的焦虑和抑郁症状均呈正相关,Ⅳ期的焦虑和抑郁症状呈高度正相关;(3)不孕症妇女焦虑症状Ⅰ期在人均年收入≤1.8万元,Ⅳ期居住农村者明显;抑郁症状Ⅰ期检出率分别与受教育程度为初中、人均年收入≤1.8万元、婚龄≥10年和居住农村有统计学关联,Ⅱ期与居住农村相关联。结论:不孕症妇女在IVF-ET/ICSI治疗4个时期均普遍存在焦虑和抑郁症状,以Ⅳ期最为多见,焦虑与抑郁症状存在较高的共存率。应针对其危险因素开展干预研究,降低IVF-ET/ICSI治疗妇女心理健康问题的发生。     

Burnout, depression and anxiety levels in mothers of infants with brachial plexus injury and the effects of recovery on mothers' mental health

Objective

To evaluate depression, anxiety and burnout in mothers of infants with brachial plexus injury and assess the effects of the severity of injury on the mothers’ mental health, as the literature provides no information on this topic.

Study design

The study was based on eighteen mothers without psychiatric antecedents who had infants with perinatal brachial plexus paralysis (PBPP). The severity of the brachial plexus injury was classified according to the Narakas classification system. The recovery rate following conservative treatment was classified according to the Modified Mallet Classification System. The Maslach burnout inventory, Beck depression inventory, and Beck anxiety inventory were administered to the mothers.

Results

The mothers whose infants were in the third Narakas group were mildly depressed and the depression scores of the mothers in Narakas groups II and III were regularly increased. Mothers in the first and second groups reported a minimal level of anxiety scores. There was no statistically significant difference between the depression, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment scores of the mothers in relation to the severity of the injury in the child (p = 0.218, p = 0.078, p = 0.149, p = 0.138, and p = 0.246). In addition, the depression and anxiety levels of the mothers whose infants recovered fully or partially showed a statistically significant decrease when compared to the mothers of infants with no recovery (p = 0.003, p = 0.015). There was, however, no statistically significant difference between the emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment scores of the mothers of infants with full recovery, partial recovery and no recovery (p = 0.591, p = 0591, p = 0.062).

Conclusion

Infants’ disability may cause psychological distress in their mothers. When brachial plexus injury is predicted in infants, more mothers may become depressed.     

The effect of prenatal Hatha yoga on affect,cortisol and depressive symptoms

Perinatal depression impacts maternal and child health, and little is known about effective interventions. The effects of prenatal Hatha yoga on cortisol, affect and depressive symptoms were investigated in 51 women. Twice during pregnancy, yoga group participants reported on affect and provided a saliva sample before and after a 90-min prenatal Hatha yoga session. Corresponding measures were obtained from yoga and control group participants on days of usual activity. Depressive symptoms were assessed in pregnancy and post partum. Cortisol was lower (p < .01) and positive affect higher (p < .001) on yoga compared to usual activity days. Negative affect and contentment (p < .05) improved more in response to the yoga session. Yoga group participants showed fewer postpartum (p < .05) but not antepartum depressive symptoms than control group participants. Findings indicate that prenatal Hatha yoga may improve current mood and may be effective in reducing postpartum depressive symptoms.     

Effect of yoga on cognitive functions in climacteric syndrome: a randomised control study

Objective  To assess the efficacy of an integrated approach of yoga therapy (IAYT) on cognitive abilities in climacteric syndrome.
Design  A randomised control study wherein the participants were divided into experimental and control groups.
Settings  Fourteen centres of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, Bangalore, India.
Sample  One hundred and eight perimenopausal women between 40 and 55 years with follicle-stimulating hormone level equal to or greater than 15 miu/ml. One hundred and twenty perimenopausal women were randomly allotted into the yoga and the control groups.
Methods  The yoga group practised a module comprising breathing practices, sun salutation and cyclic meditation, whereas the control group practised a set of simple physical exercises, under supervision (1 hour/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks).
Main outcome measures  Assessments were made by vasomotor symptom checklist, six-letter cancellation test (SLCT) for attention and concentration and Punit Govil Intelligence Memory Scale (PGIMS) with ten subtests.
Results  The Wilcoxon test showed significant ( P < 0.001) reduction in hot flushes, night sweats and sleep disturbance in yoga group, with a trend of significant difference between groups at P = 0.06 on Mann–Whitney test in night sweats. There was no change within or between groups in the control group. The SLCT score and the PGIMS showed significant improvement in eight of ten subtests in the yoga group and six of ten subtests in the control group. The yoga group performed significantly better ( P < 0.001) with higher effect sizes in SLCT and seven tests of PGIMS compared with the control group.
Conclusions  Integrated approach of yoga therapy can improve hot flushes and night sweats. It also can improve cognitive functions such as remote memory, mental balance, attention and concentration, delayed and immediate recall, verbal retention and recognition tests.     

The effect of laughter yoga on perceived stress,burnout, and life satisfaction in nurses during the pandemic: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundA randomized controlled study was conducted on the effects of laughter yoga in reducing the perceived stress and burnout levels in nurses during the pandemic and in increasing their life satisfaction.Materials and methodsThe study was conducted with 101 (51 in the experimental group, and 50 in the control group) nurses providing care for patients with COVID-19. A total of eight sessions of laughter yoga were applied to the nurses in the experimental group for four weeks, twice a week. The Introductory Information Form, Perceived Stress Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Life Satisfaction Scale were used during data collection.ResultsThe difference between the pre- and posttest Perceived Stress Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Life Satisfaction Scale score averages of the nurses in the experimental group were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05), whereas the difference between the pre- and posttest score averages of the nurses in the control group was not significant (p > 0.05).ConclusionLaughter yoga is an effective method to reduce perceived stress and burnout while also increasing life satisfaction.Clinicaltrials.gov idNCT05317091.     

Effect of meditation on neurophysiological changes in stress mediated depression

Meditation is a complex mental practice involving changes in sensory perception, cognition, hormonal and autonomic activity. It is widely used in psychological and medical practices for stress management as well as stress mediated mental disorders like depression. A growing body of literature has shown that meditation has profound effects on numerous physiological systems that are involved in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). Although meditation-based interventions have been associated with improvement in depressive symptoms and prevention of relapse, the physiological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of meditation are not clearly defined and even paradoxical. This paper reviews many of the physiological abnormalities found in cytokine & stress mediated depression and the reversal of these anomalies by different meditation techniques.     

Assessing depression,anxiety and couple psychological well-being in pregnancy: a preliminary study

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate symptoms of depression and anxiety and psychological well-being in men and women in their third trimester of pregnancy, and to compare them with two control groups of men and non-pregnant women, both with children and without children. Background: Perinatal research has largely focused on maternal depression, anxiety and the state of the marital relationship, but few studies exist including partners and comparisons with control groups of men and women both with and without children. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey. The total sample was 156 participants. Approximately equal numbers of participants in each group were recruited through a local community health centre in Zaragoza (Spain) and completed questionnaires in the presence of a psychologist. Anxiety, depression and the couple’s self-ratings of their well-being were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Psychological Well-being in the couple Scale, respectively. Results: The results show higher levels of depression symptoms in the ‘pregnancy group’; specifically, pregnant women reported higher levels of depression than their male partners. Also, the ‘pregnancy group’ (men and women) show lower scores on psychological well-being in the couple compared with the control groups. No significant differences in anxiety-state between the groups and sex were obtained. Conclusion: These findings are important for both researchers and clinicians in practice, in order to improve the identification of women with antenatal depressive symptoms and offer more psychological support for women and their partners during and after pregnancy.     

The prevalence of anxiety and depression among people with infertility referring to Royan Institute in Tehran,Iran: A cross-sectional questionnaire study

Background and objective

Infertility is a global public health issue and is a low control stressor often leading to increased level of anxiety and depression. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression and their related factors among Iranian infertile patients.

Factors implicated in moderating the risk for depression and anxiety in high risk pregnancy

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate depressive and anxious symptoms while examining the impact of self-esteem, social support and coping strategies on these symptoms in women who have been hospitalised for high-risk pregnancies. Method: Fifty-five women from the south of France area hospitalised or on bed rest for high-risk pregnancy completed five scales: the Edinburgh Post-Natal Depression Scale (EPDS), the High Risk Pregnancy Stress Scale (HRPSS), the Revised Prenatal Coping Inventory (NuCPI), the ‘Questionnaire du Soutien Social Perçu’ (QSSP), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Results: The results show that over half of these women manifest symptoms characteristic of pre-natal depression and the entire sample showed high levels of anxiety symptoms. Predictive factors for depression included informational support and self-esteem; for anxiety, predictive factors were patient age and EPDS scores. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of providing appropriate psychological support for women with high-risk pregnancies in order to avoid depressive disorders and any potential negative consequences on the perinatal period.     

Effects of baduanjin exercise on blood glucose,depression and anxiety among patients with type II diabetes and emotional disorders: A meta-analysis

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic disorders reflected by high blood glucose levels and lack of hormone insulin. Notably, T2DM patients are three times more likely to report depression than the general population. Conventional exercise training programs have been shown to be beneficial for T2DM, but less is known regarding the effects of Baduanjin exercise on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and psychological measures among this unique group. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of Baduanjin exercise on HbA1c, depression, and anxiety among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with emotional disorders.MethodsThe potential literature was searched from six electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Wanfang, and CNKI) from their inception to July 2022. The randomized controlled studies that investigated the effects of Baduanjin on HbA1c, depression , and anxiety in T2DM with emotional disorders were included. The effect sizes were calculated using the random-effect models with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was employed to assess the study quality.ResultsEleven studies involving 755 T2DM participants with emotional disorders were analyzed in this study. The pooled results showed that Baduanjin had significant improvements in HbA1c (SMD = 0.75, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.04, p < 0.001), depression (SMD = 0.69, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.08, p < 0.01) and anxiety (SMD = 0.98, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.53, p < 0.01) compared to the control group.ConclusionFindings suggest that Baduanjin exercise may effectively alleviate HbA1c, depression, and anxiety among T2DM patients with emotional disorders. However, more well-designed studies are required to further substantiate the promising findings.