Prevalence of psychological distress in elderly hypertension patients in primary care

Background Recent guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention advocate the importance of psychological risk factors, as they contribute to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. However, most previous research on psychological distress and cardiovascular factors has focused on selected populations with cardiovascular disease. Aim The primary aim was to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and Type D personality in elderly primary care patients with hypertension. Secondary aim was to examine the relation between elevated systolic blood pressure and depression, anxiety, and Type D personality. Design and Setting A cross-sectional study in primary care practices located in the south of the Netherlands. Method Primary care hypertension patients (N =605), between 60 and 85 years (45 % men, mean age=70±6.6), were recruited for this study. All patients underwent a structured interview including validated self-report questionnaires to assess depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and Type D personality (DS14) as well as blood pressure assessment. Results and Conclusion Depression was prevalent in 5 %, anxiety in 5 %, and Type D personality in 8 %. None of the distress measures were associated with elevated systolic blood pressure of >160 mmHg (all p-values >0.05). This study showed no relation between psychological distress and elevated systolic blood pressure in elderly primary care patients with hypertension

Symptoms associated with an abnormal echocardiogram in elderly primary care hypertension patients

Background The prevalence and diagnostic value of heart failure symptoms in elderly primary care patients with hypertension is unknown. Aim To assess the prevalence, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of symptoms in association with an abnormal echocardiogram. Design and setting Cross-sectional screening study in five general practices in the south-east of the Netherlands. Method Between June 2010 and January 2013, 591 primary care hypertension patients aged between 60 and 85 years were included, without known heart failure and not treated by a cardiologist. All patients underwent an echocardiogram and a structured interview including assessment of heart failure symptoms: shortness of breath, fatigue, oedema, cold extremities, and restless sleep. Results and conclusion Restless sleep was reported by 25 %, cold extremities by 23%, fatigue by 19 %, shortness of breath by 17 %, and oedema by 13 %. Oedema was the only symptom significantly associated with an abnormal echocardiogram (positive predictive value was 45 %, sensitivity 20 %, and specificity 90 %, OR 2.12; 95 % CI=1.23-3.64), apart from higher age (OR 1.06; 95 % CI=1.03-1.09), previous myocardial infarction (OR 3.00; 95 % CI=1.28-7.03), and a systolic blood pressure of >160 mmHg (OR 1.62; 95 % CI= 1.08-2.41). Screening with echocardiography might be considered in patients with oedema

Mindfulness During Pregnancy and Parental Stress in Mothers Raising Toddlers

Objectives: Parental stress has been associated with adverse child outcomes and maternal functioning. Yet, maternal factors during pregnancy that can potentially protect against later parental stress, such as mindfulness, have not been studied. Therefore, we aimed to address the possible associations between prenatal mindfulness and levels of parental stress in mothers raising toddlers. Methods: Women in the current study (n = 165) were prospectively followed from pregnancy until 3 years after childbirth, as part of a longitudinal population based cohort (HAPPY study). At 22 weeks of pregnancy, women completed the Three Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire–Short Form (TFMQ-SF) to assess facets of mindfulness (acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reacting). Women completed the Parenting Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) 3 years after childbirth, reporting on three components of parental stress: (1) parent-child relationship problems, (2) parenting problems, and (3) role restriction. Results: Results of multiple linear regression analyses showed that the acting with awareness facet of mindfulness during pregnancy was a significant predictor of fewer parent-child relationship problems and parenting problems, even when adjusted for prenatal and maternal distress and child behavior problems. Higher levels of non-reacting during pregnancy were also significantly associated with fewer parenting problems in mothers raising toddlers. Conclusions: The current study emphasizes that mindfulness during pregnancy may be a protective factor for later parental stress. More research is needed to confirm these findings and to evaluate the possible benefit of a mindfulness intervention training during pregnancy on parenting and child outcomes

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder symptoms as a risk factor for postpartum depressive symptoms

For women with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) trait symptoms, coping with childbearing and parenting could be associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. Therefore, the possible relationship between OCPD trait symptoms and trajectories of postpartum depressive symptoms was examined. A cohort of 1427 women was followed from late pregnancy until 12 months’ postpartum. Trajectories of postpartum depressive symptoms were determined using growth mixture modeling with five repeated assessments. Next, the relationship between OCPD trait symptoms and these trajectories was examined through multinomial regression. Three postpartum depressive symptom trajectories were identified: (1) low symptoms (92%), (2) increasing-decreasing symptoms (inverted u-shape) (5%), and (3) increasing symptoms (3%). OCPD trait symptoms were associated with a higher likelihood of the trajectories increasing-decreasing symptoms (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.14–1.39) and increasing symptoms (OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.02–1.32), compared to reference trajectory (low symptoms), adjusted for age, educational level, unplanned pregnancy, previous depressive episode (s), and parity

Psychometric aspects of the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale: data from the HAPPY study

We previously developed the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS). The aim of the current study was to further assess its testretest reliability, internal consistency, and construct and concurrent validity in 1739 pregnant women. TPDS scores during pregnancy were highly inter-correlated (r ≥ .70), with similar findings for its Negative Affect and Partner Involvement subscales. Pregnancy and delivery worries varied in different subgroups of women regarding their obstetric history. Nullipara reported more pregnancy- and delivery-related worries at all trimesters of pregnancy. Women with previous pregnancy-related complications reported more pregnancy-related worries, and those with previous delivery-related problems reported more delivery-related worries than women without these problems in the past. The TPDS seems to be a valid and reliable instrument to assess pregnancy-specific distress