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Clinical theories posit interpersonal stress as an important factor in the emergence and exacerbation of depression and anxiety, while neuroendocrine research confirms the association of these syndromes with dysregulation in a major stress response system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. However, the proposal that depression and anxiety symptoms and diagnoses are associated with problematic HPA responses to close relationship stress has not been directly tested. We examined 196 heterosexual dating couples' depression and anxiety symptoms and diagnoses, assessed with questionnaires and diagnostic interviews, in relation to cortisol responses to discussion of an unresolved relationship conflict. Participants provided seven salivary samples in anticipation of and directly following the discussion, and throughout an hour-long recovery period, which were assayed for cortisol. Multilevel models of the HPA response predicted by symptoms or diagnoses showed that women's depressive symptoms predicted attenuated cortisol levels, with a flatter response curve. In contrast, men's depression symptoms and women's anxiety symptoms and diagnoses predicted higher cortisol levels. These findings highlight the importance of examining sex differences in responses to interpersonal stressors for understanding HPA dysregulation in internalizing psychopathology., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Animal research demonstrates that pelvic sensory signalling at parturition initiates behavioural and emotional changes that are protective for mother and offspring. In contrast, research with humans has found no effect of caesarean delivery (i.e. procedure that blocks pelvic signalling) on mother's mental health. The lack of effect may reflect little consideration for the use of epidurals, another intervention that blocks pelvic signalling. The following study examines whether blocking pelvic signalling during delivery predicts postpartum depression symptomatology. Method: Longitudinal mental health data were collected prospectively from 142 primiparous women who had a caesarean delivery and/or received epidural anaesthesia (Intervention) or delivered vaginally without anaesthesia (No-Intervention). Measurements began in late pregnancy and continued through the first postpartum year. Results: Intervention mothers reported more depressive symptoms at the end of the first postpartum year compared to those in the No-Intervention group. This effect was independent of socio-cultural factors known to predict levels of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: These results suggest that pelvic sensory signalling may help to prepare women for the postpartum period. Considering there are many factors influencing the mental health of mothers, the present finding suggest that populations vulnerable to postpartum depression should consider a delivery without intervention, when medically permissible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]