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Highlights • Brief CBT in pregnancy was effective in preventing PPD. • CBT improved interpersonal relationships and understanding of social status (OQ-45). • Education, among the risk factors for PPD, was decisive in the effectiveness of CBT., Background Postpartum depression (PPD) affects a high number of women, often the first manifestation of a mood disorder that will occur later in life, bringing serious consequences for the patient and her offspring. Depression today is the leading cause of disability worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a preventive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for PPD. Methods Pre-post therapy study, as part of a population-based cohort study. Pregnant women without a diagnosis of depression participated, who were divided into two groups: risk of depression (CBT) and a control group (without therapy). The preventive therapy consisted of six sessions of CBT, administered weekly. The Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45) was used in all sessions. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and Beck Depression Inventory-II were used on three occasions. The final statistical analyses were performed by Poisson regression. Results The prevalence of PPD in the risk group was 5.5% and in the control group 2.2%, with no difference between the groups (PR 1.66 95% CI 0.44-6.18). The OQ-45 averages gradually reduced during the therapy sessions, indicating therapeutic progress. Schooling was an associated factor, both with the manifestation of PPD and with the greater effectiveness of the therapy. Limitations Rate of 40.5% refusal to preventive treatment and absence of a group with similar characteristics in another therapy model. Conclusions Brief cognitive behavioral therapy applied by mental health professionals with basic training was effective in preventing the manifestation of PPD.

This study aimed to investigate the association between child maltreatment and depressive symptomatology during gestation in adolescents. This was a cross-sectional study with pregnant adolescents aged 12 to 19 years. Data were collected with the Beck Depression Inventory, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Compared to adolescents who did not experience each type of neglect or abuse, experiencing them was associated with a higher proportion of depressive symptoms: emotional neglect PR = 1.4 (95% CI 1.1; 1.8); physical neglect PR = 1.7 (95% CI 1.3; 1.7); emotional abuse PR = 1.8 (95% CI 1.4; 2.2); and physical abuse PR = 1.3 (95% CI 1.1; 1.7). This study demonstrates the association between childhood experiences and mental health in adolescence, especially in vulnerable samples, such as pregnant adolescents. This finding reveals the importance of studying early trauma in life and enabling preventive help, especially in adolescents. High-quality evidence of perinatal mental health problems should be generated to make pregnancy safer for women in low- and middle-income countries.

Subjects with bipolar disorder suffering of a depressive episode are frequently misdiagnosed as unipolar depression, being important studies assessing the differential diagnosis between bipolar and unipolar depression.To assess the sociodemographic and clinical features of drug-free young adults in a depressive episode of bipolar or unipolar disorder in order to identify factors that may differentiate these psychiatric conditions.This is a cross-sectional study with 241 young adults aged between 18 and 29 years who were evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). The sample comprised patients with BD (n = 89) and major depressive disorder (n = 152), experiencing a depressive episode and not using psychoactive drugs or illicit psychoactive substances.The characteristics associated with bipolar depression were being male (p 0.001), with a family history of BD (p = 0.013), a higher frequency of childhood traumatic experiences (p = 0.001), younger age of onset of mood disorder (p = 0.004), many previous depressive episodes (p = 0.027), greater severity of depressive symptoms (p 0.001) and day/night reversal (p = 0.013). Those with unipolar depression showed a higher frequency of biological rhythm disturbances (p 0.001), and diurnal preference (p = 0.028).The sample has not included subjects with severe suicide risk, a possible important marker in differentiate unipolar from bipolar depression.Some clinical aspects may contribute to an early differential diagnosis of both bipolar and unipolar depression even in the initial stages of the disease.

Suicide associated with severe psychiatric illnesses is considered the leading cause of maternal deaths. We aimed to assess the suicide risk in women who experienced depressive or mixed episodes of mood change during the postpartum period and to determine which disorder is more related to suicide risk in the same period. We conducted a longitudinal study with 706 women whose children were born from April 2007 to May 2008 in a southern city in Brazil, and received prenatal care by the Brazilian National System of Public Health. The first assessment occurred during the prenatal period and the second within 30 to 60 days postpartum. The incidence of suicide risk was 10.9%. The odds of postpartum suicide risk were 6.50 (95% CI: 2.73; 15.48) higher in mothers with postpartum depression and 41.50 (95% CI: 12.11; 142.16) higher in those with mixed episodes than those who did not suffer from any mood disorder. Women with chronic episodes (who had depressive or mixed episodes during pregnancy and postpartum) were at increased odds of 4.94 (95% CI: 1.46; 16.69) of a postpartum suicide risk. The postpartum seems to be a critical period in the women’s mental health. The impact of mental disorders in this period, especially mixed episodes, can increase the odds of a suicide risk onset. A good psychiatric evaluation and support during the prenatal and postpartum care may prevent the subsequent risk of suicide.

Objective To verify the association between mood and anxiety disorders, and suicide risk during pregnancy and their relationship with premature birth in a population of pregnant adolescents attending prenatal care in the public health system of Pelotas, a southern city in Brazil. Methods This was a cohort study with all pregnant adolescents attending antenatal public services in the urban area of Pelotas between October 2009 and May 2011. The first assessment occurred between the 20th and 22 nd week of pregnancy and the second occurred one month after delivery. We used the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to assess mood and anxiety disorders and suicide risk. Results A total of 645 pregnant women aged between 12 and 19 years old were interviewed. An anxiety disorder was present in 9.1% of the pregnant adolescent, and 28.5% had a mood disorder. The prevalence of suicide risk was 12.6%, and 15.3% of the babies were born premature. A multivariate analysis adjusted for maternal education, number of previous pregnancies and previous preterm birth indicated that adolescents who had suicide risk during pregnancy were approximately twice as likely to give birth prematurely when compared to those who were not diagnosed with suicide risk (PR 1.79; CI 1.06–3.03). Conclusion Our findings suggest that pregnant adolescents who were at risk of suicide during pregnancy were more likely to have premature babies. It is important to pay attention to the mental health of this specific population to prevent obstetric complications and consequently improve the health of the children.

Background:The parental bonding is influenced by two dimensions: care and control or protection over the child of both parents. The lack of care during childhood may make the individual more susceptible to the onset of psychiatric disorders when adult. These psychiatric disorders when present during pregnancy may have a negative impact on the health of pregnant women and children. The aim of this study was to assess the association between generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in pregnant adolescents and the perception of parental bonding.Methods:This is a cross-sectional study with 871 pregnant women under the age of 19, receiving prenatal care in 47 Basic Health Units in the one city, Brazil. The generalized anxiety disorder was measured using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and the perception of parental bonding in childhood using the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI).Results:The prevalence of GAD was 8.5%. Among all the parental bonding dimensions, only a perceived lack of maternal care under 16 years was associated with GAD.Conclusions:The results showed that only the perception of maternal bonding was associated with later GAD. It suggests that an adequate maternal bond is an essential component of psychological health.

Suicide is an important problem in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The importance of mental disorders and social vulnerability on suicidal behaviors is described in the literature; however, the impact of childhood traumatic events in this scenario is not clear. The aim of this study was to verify the mediation effect of mental disorder comorbidities and social vulnerability in association with childhood trauma intensity and suicide risk level. This cross-sectional study of HIV-positive outpatients was conducted in a specialized care service in the city of Pelotas in Southern Brazil. Sociodemographic data and HIV-related information were collected and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was applied. A total of 364 patients underwent psychiatric evaluation using MINI Plus including module C of suicide risk severity. Suicide risk was present in 39.3% of the sample. The relation between childhood traumatic events and the level of suicide risk is mediated by mental disorder comorbidities and socioeconomic vulnerability. Specific psychosocial interventions in PLWHA should consider the potential role of abusive traumatic experiences in the current mental health conditions and suicidal behaviors.

Patients on antiretroviral therapy face new challenges, such as bodily changes. We conducted a cross-sectional study with people living with HIV/AIDS. We investigate the self-perception of body image and its associations. Most of the patients reported negative self-perception of body image (NSPBI), being mostly women, up to 40 years old and with changes in BMI. NSPBI was associated with depressive symptoms and punctual alterations in the redistribution of body fat: face, abdomen and legs, subjects still little elucidated. Assessing neglected aspects can improve the way these patients see themselves, and come to understand the disease as only a part of their lives.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop and examine the psychometric properties of the IGDS9-SF in a sample of Brazilian gamers and to find the best cut-off point for this instrument using a normative and clinically diagnosed sample of gamers. Methods: A total of 610 participants were recruited to the present study. Construct validity was assessed through Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (EFA, CFA). Criterion-related validity was established through the associations with Game Addiction Scale (GAS) and weekly gameplay. Reliability analysis was performed using the Cronbach’s alpha ( α ) as the indicator of internal consistency. A cut-off point was estimated using the Receiver Operating Characteristics Curve (ROC curve) where the results of a clinical assessment was used as the gold standard. Results: EFA and CFA findings confirmed the single-factor structure of the IGDS9-SF. Positive correlations indicated adequate criterion-related validity, and the scale was shown to be reliable ( α = 0.82 ). Finally, the optimal cut-off point for risky gaming was found to be > 16 points and for diagnosis to be > 21 points. Conclusions: This study provides validity and reliability evidence for the use of the Brazilian version of the IGDS9-SF in the assessment of Internet Gaming Disorder, further supporting its usefulness as a robust psychometric tool that can be employed in clinical and research settings in Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate the association between perceived social support and anxiety disorders in pregnant adolescents. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a sample of 871 pregnant women aged 10 to 19 years who received prenatal care in the national public health care system in the urban area of Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. We assessed perceived social support and anxiety disorders using the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. A self-report questionnaire was used to obtain sociodemographic information. Results: The prevalence of any anxiety disorder was 13.6%. Pregnant adolescents with an anxiety disorder reported less perceived social support in all domains (affectionate, emotional, tangible, informational, and positive social interaction). Older teenagers reported lower perceived support in the emotional, informational, and positive social interaction domains, whereas those with low socioeconomic status reported lower perceived social support in the material domain. Women who did not live with a partner had less perceived social support in the affectionate and positive social interaction domains. Conclusion: Perceived social support seems to be a protective factor against anxiety disorders in pregnant adolescents, with a positive effect on mental health.

A large number of children of depressed mothers have one or more mental disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of maternal depression on the mental health of 4–5-year-old children of adolescent mothers, according to the hypotheses generated from the model of accumulation. Between October 2009 and March 2011, all pregnant adolescents who received prenatal care from the public health system in Pelotas (southern Brazil) were invited to participate in the study and have been prospectively followed. Of these individuals, 413 participants were evaluated in the postpartum period and when the child was 2–3 years old and 4–5 years old (current stage). The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to assess mental health problems in children, and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)-Plus version was used to assess maternal depression. We applied a structured modeling approach to examine the relations between three different hypothesized life course models (accumulation, critical period, and mobility) and maternal depression. After selecting the most appropriate model, we used a logistic regression analysis to assess the effect of depression on mental health problems in 4–5-year-old children of adolescent mothers. We used the Chi square test to estimate the prevalence of mental health problems in 4–5-year-old children. The longer the time of exposure to maternal depression, the greater the probability that the child would present behavioral problems. Investments in strategies to prevent mental disorders beginning in the gestational period are important.

Introduction Depression during pregnancy in adolescents is increasing significantly. However, instruments for early depression screening during prenatal care are scarce. Faced this fact, the objective of this research is to identify the best cutoff points for the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in a sample of pregnant adolescents. Method 807 pregnant adolescents, with a mean age of 17 years, met in public antenatal services were evaluated. Two screening scales for depression were analyzed, EPDS and the BDI. These scales had their accuracy measured by AUC of their ROC curve, as well as their respective sensitivity and specificity. Results In the analysis, the best cutoff for the EPDS was≥10, in which the sensitivity was 81.1% and specificity 82.7%. For the BDI, it was with recognized the cutoff ≥11, sensitivity 86.7% and specificity 73.8%. In the analysis of the ROC AUC, values of 0.89 (CI 0.87–0.92) for the EPDS and BDI for 0.87 (CI 0.84–0.89) were identified compared to the MINI. Limitations The sample was composed majority by middle and low income adolescent and the study was performed only with pregnant women in the second trimester. Conclusions The results indicate that both scales have good accuracy in screening of depression in adolescent mothers. However, the EPDS scale shows higher AUC ROC and also better sensitivity and specificity values, the latter being more precise and effective for screening for depression in this population.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) during pregnancy in teenage mothers and to assess its association with socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history and psychosocial variables. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of pregnant teenagers enrolled in the national public health system in the urban area of Pelotas, southern Brazil. MDD was assessed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, the Abuse Assessment Screen was used to identify physical abuse within the last 12 months and during pregnancy, and social support was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Survey Social Support Scale. RESULTS: Forty-three (4.94%) potential subjects refused to participate, resulting in 828 total participants. The prevalence of MDD was 17.8%, 9.2% reported they had been subjected to violence within the last 12 months, while 5.8% had suffered violence during pregnancy, and the mean (SD) overall social support score was 87.40 (11.75). After adjustment, we found the highest incidence of MDD in adolescents with less than 8 years of education, followed by those with previous episodes of MDD and those with lower overall social support. CONCLUSIONS: MDD is a relatively common condition in pregnant teenagers and appears to be more prevalent in young mothers who are both socioeconomically and psychosocially underprivileged.

Background/objective: There is an increasing number of older patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection due to the success of antiretroviral therapy, the improved prognosis and life expectancy of patients, and the higher number of new infections among older individuals. The main objective of the present study was to compare the characteristics of older human immunodeficiency virus patients with those of younger patients. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients who were treated at the Specialized Care Service (Serviço de Assistência Especializada) for human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS in the city of Pelotas, South Brazil. Sociodemographic information as well as data on human immunodeficiency virus infection and treatment were collected. All participants underwent psychiatric and neurocognitive assessments, and their adherence to antiretroviral therapy was evaluated. Results: A total of 392 patients participated in the study, with 114 patients aged 50 years and older. The characteristics showing significant differences between older and younger human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients included race/ethnicity, comorbidities, duration and adherence to antiretroviral therapy, currently undetectable viral load, and cognitive impairment. Compared to younger patients, older patients were at higher risk of exhibiting cognitive impairment [OR 2.28 (95% CI: 1.35–3.82, p = 0.002)] and of having increased adherence to antiretroviral therapy [OR 3.11 (95% CI: 1.67–5.79, p

Neurocognitive impairment (NCI) is frequently observed in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and results from the compromise of subcortical brain structures by the virus. The manifestations of NCI range from asymptomatic impairment to dementia. In addition to cognitive impairment resulting from HIV infection, other factors such as depression are associated with the loss of cognitive functions. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of NCI in HIV-positive patients in a city in southern Brazil and to establish possible associations for the prevalence of NCI with HIV-related and other risk factors. This cross-sectional study of HIV-positive outpatients was conducted in a specialized care service in the city of Pelotas in Southern Brazil. Sociodemographic data and HIV-related information were collected, and all patients underwent psychiatric and neurocognitive evaluations. The prevalence of NCI among the 392 patients was 54.1% when tracked using the IHDS (International HIV Dementia Scale) and 36.2% when the IHDS was associated with a battery of complementary tests. A bivariate analysis suggested an association of NCI with gender, age, educational level, depression, current CD4 count and lowest CD4 count. The association of NCI with depression remained in the Poisson regression (PR=1.96, 95%CI=1.12-3.42). The prevalence of cognitive impairment in HIV-positive patients estimated in this study is in accordance with international and Brazilian data. Of the factors analyzed, depression showed the greatest evidence of association with neurocognitive loss. Based on our findings, the inclusion of instruments to evaluate depression in our services for patients with HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is recommended.

Our aim was to investigate serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in postpartum women, according to the presence of postpartum affective disorder (PPAD) and suicidality. A cross-sectional study was carried out with women between 45 and 90 days after delivery. PPAD (depression, manic and mixed episode) and suicide risk were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. BDNF was assessed using a commercial ELISA kit. Linear regression was used for multivariate analyses. A hundred ninety women participated in the study, 15.3 % had PPAD, 7.4 % showed PPAD with suicide risk. BDNF levels were lower in subjects with three or more Stressful Life Events (P = 0.01). The serum BDNF levels of women with PPAD presenting suicide risk were significantly lower than those of women without suicide risk (1.50 ± 1.38 and 2.33 ± 1.28 ng/ml, P = 0.02). Clinicians should enquire postpartum women about their history of stressful life events, PPAD, and suicidality. This study shows the potential role of BDNF in the neurobiology of the association of PPAD and suicidality.

Background Suicidal behavior and its correlates remain relatively understudied in pregnant teenagers. Methods A cross-sectional study with a consecutive sample of pregnant teenagers recipient of prenatal medical assistance by the national public health system in the urban area of Pelotas, southern Brazil. Sample size was estimated in 871 participants. Suicidal behavior and psychiatric disorders were assessed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview; the Abuse Assessment Screen was used to identify physical or sexual abuse; social support was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Survey Social Support Scale; a self-report questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic, obstetric and other psychosocial data. Results Forty three (4.94%) teenagers refused to participate, resulting in 828 participants. Prevalence of suicidal behavior was 13.3%; lifetime suicide attempts were referred by 7.4%, with 1.3% reporting attempting suicide within the last month. After adjustment, we found significant associations of suicidal behavior with the 18–19 years old subgroup, low education, prior abortion, previous major depression, and physical abuse within the last 12 months. Pregnant teenagers with high social support showed prevalence ratios (PR) 67% lower (PR: 0.33; 95%CI: 0.19–0.56) than those with low social support. Furthermore, a wide range of psychiatric disorders, most notably major depressive disorder (PR: 2.75; 95%CI: 1.34–5.63) and panic disorder (PR: 6.36; 95%CI: 1.61–25.10), remained associated with suicidal behavior after adjustment. Limitations The cross-sectional design precludes causal inferences. Conclusions We found that suicidal behavior is a relatively common feature in pregnant teenagers, frequently associated with psychiatric disorders.

Objectives To assess suicide risk in men with mood disorders at the postpartum period. Methods We conduct a longitudinal study with 650 men whose child has born from April 2007 to May 2008 at maternity hospital. The first assessment was in the antenatal period and the second within 30 to 60 days postpartum. Suicide risk, anxiety disorders, hypomanic, manic and mixed episodes were assessed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Results The prevalence of suicide risk in fathers in postpartum was of 4.8%. Fathers with postpartum depression were 20.97 (CI: 5.74; 76.53) more likely to present suicide risk and those with mixed episodes showed a chance of 46.50 (CI: 10.52; 205.53) times higher than those who did not suffer from any mood disorder. Conclusion Mixed episodes are common in fathers at postpartum, posing a higher suicide risk than depressive and manic/hypomanic episodes. Therefore, in order to reduce the suicide risk, clinicians should address and treat adequately mixed affective states in this specific population.

A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted to identify the prevalence of common mental disorders and verify the association with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the self-reported number of chronic diseases. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was applied in a multi-stage random sample of 1,276 adults aged 40 and older. Socio-demographic, behavioral, and health-related variables were also obtained using a structured questionnaire. Prevalence of common mental disorders was 30.2%. Lower schooling and social class and the 46-55-year age bracket were associated with psychiatric morbidity. Each chronic illness was independently associated with common mental disorders. However, a stronger association was found between common mental disorders and the total number of self-reported chronic conditions, with a prevalence ratio of 4.67 (95%CI: 3.19-6.83) for five or more self-reported NCDs. The current study emphasizes the importance of common mental disorders in chronically ill patients, particularly in those with more total chronic conditions. Estudo transversal de base populacional foi conduzido tendo como objetivos avaliar a prevalência dos transtornos mentais comuns e verificar sua associação com determinadas enfermidades crônicas e com o número de doenças crônicas relatadas pelo indivíduo. Para a avaliação de transtornos mentais comuns, o Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) foi aplicado em 1.276 adultos com 40 anos ou mais. Variáveis sócio-demográficas, comportamentais e relacionadas à saúde foram obtidas por meio de um questionário estruturado. Os transtornos mentais comuns apresentaram uma prevalência de 30,2%, estando associados à baixa escolaridade e classe social, e à faixa etária de 46-65 anos. Todas as doenças crônicas pesquisadas mostraram-se associadas aos transtornos mentais comuns. Entretanto, o número de enfermidades apresentadas pelo indivíduo teve maior importância do que cada uma delas individualmente, com uma razão de prevalência de 4,67 e intervalo de 95% de confiança: 3,19-6,83 para cinco ou mais doenças relatadas. O presente estudo realça a importância de se atentar para os transtornos mentais em indivíduos com enfermidades crônicas, principalmente naqueles que se apresentam com um grande número de doenças.

Objective: To evaluate the association between social anxiety disorder (SAD) and perceived maternal bonding styles among young women during pregnancy and 30 months after childbirth. Methods: A cohort of young women from the city of Pelotas, Brazil was followed up from pregnancy to 30 months postpartum. The Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus was used to assess SAD and the Parental Bonding Instrument was administered to measure maternal bonding styles. Poisson regression with robust variance was used for multivariable analysis. Results: After adjusting for potential confounding factors, SAD prevalence was 6.39 times higher among young women who perceived their mothers as neglectful (prevalence ratio [PR] 6.39; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.2-32.0), and 5.57 times higher in women who perceived their mothers as affectionless controlling (PR = 5.57; 95%CI 1.5-19.7) when compared with those who received optimal care. Conclusion: Maternal bonding style may have an influence on the development of SAD. Therefore, support and early prevention strategies should be offered to the family.

Background It has been shown that maternal mental health is associated with poorer skills development in the offspring. However, the evidence evaluating the association between social anxiety disorder (SAD) and cognitive or language development, is scarce. Aim To evaluate the association between maternal SAD and performance in cognitive and language tests in 30-month old children. Study design This was a cohort study involving young women evaluated since pregnancy. Subjects We evaluated 520 mother–child dyads who received prenatal medical assistance through the National Public Health System in a southern Brazilian city, from October 2009 to March 2011. Outcome measures We used the Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus (MINI Plus) to assess SAD among young mothers. Cognitive and language performance in their offspring was analyzed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development – 3rd Edition. Results We found an association between maternal SAD and performance in cognitive and language tests. Children of mothers with SAD had in average 4.5 less points in the Bayley scale, when compared to those with mothers without SAD: in the cognitive (β=−4.53 [95% CI −7.8; −1.1] p=0.008) and language subscales (β=−4.54 [95% CI −9.0; −0.5] p=0.047). Conclusions Our findings suggest that children with mothers suffering from SAD have poorer cognitive abilities and language skills.

We conducted a cross-sectional study nested within a cohort study with 276 postpartum women to evaluate the role of a serotonin transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and the stressful life events (SLE) on the risk of postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms in a community sample. Participants were assessed between 45 and 90 days after delivery with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Data regarding socio-demographic variables, alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking and SLE occurring during pregnancy, were also collected. In the adjusted analysis, the women carrying the long (L) allele (LL) who experienced SLE showed higher prevalence ratios (PR) for PPD symptoms (EPDS ≥13) than those with two copies of the short (S) allele (SL) (PR = 9.91; 95% confidence interval: 1.70-57.87). In contrast, a trend of association was found between prior history of major depressive disorder (MDD) and the S allele carrier status (p = 0.07). No association was found between the formal diagnosis of current MDD and the 5-HTTLPR genotypes. In line with previous reports, we find in this sample that the L allele carrier status was associated with a heighten risk of depressive symptoms in postpartum when SLE were experienced during pregnancy.

To assess the associations of the perceived quality of parental bonding with suicidality in a sample of pregnant adolescents. A cross-sectional study with a sample size of 828 pregnant teenagers receiving prenatal medical assistance in the national public health system in the urban area of Pelotas, southern Brazil. Suicidality and psychiatric disorders were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), and the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) was employed to measure the perceived quality of parental bonding. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, obstetric and other psychosocial data. Forty-three (4.94 %) teenagers from a consecutive sample of 871 refused to participate, resulting in 828 participants. Prevalence of suicidality was 13.3 %, lifetime suicide attempts were 7.4 % with 1.3 % reporting attempting suicide within the last month. Significant associations of suicidality with the 18–19-year-old subgroup, low education, prior abortion, physical abuse within the last 12 months were present, and most psychiatric disorders were associated with a higher suicidality prevalence. Additionally, after adjustment in the multivariate analysis, the style of parental bonding was independently associated with suicidality in the pregnant adolescent, with a PR of 2.53 (95 % CI 1.14–5.59) for the maternal ‘affectionless control’ and a PR of 2.91 (95 % CI 1.10–7.70) for the paternal ‘neglectful parenting.’ We found that maternal ‘affectionless control’ and paternal ‘neglectful parenting’ were independent predictors of suicidality in this sample of pregnant teenagers.

OBJECTIVE: We describe the prevalence of depressive and bipolar spectrum episodes in fathers in antenatal and postnatal periods, as well as at 12 months after childbirth. METHOD: A longitudinal follow-up study was conducted with a representative sample of 739 fathers whose children were born between April 2007 and May 2008 in maternity wards in the city of Pelotas, southern Brazil. Paternal psychopathology was measured with the Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) across three time points: between 28 and 34 weeks of pregnancy (T1), 30 to 60 days postpartum (T2), and 12 months after childbirth (T3). RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive episodes was 5.0% at T1, 4.5% at T2, and 4.3% at T3. Mixed episodes were present in 3%, 1.7%, and 0.9% of subjects, respectively, and accounted for 61.1% of the cases of depression in the antenatal period, 37.5% in postpartum, and 21.4% at 12 months. Depressive and manic/hypomanic episodes were significantly associated during pregnancy and in postpartum, but not at 12 months after childbirth. CONCLUSION: Bipolar episodes were common in men with depressive symptoms during their partner's pregnancy in the postpartum period and, to a lesser extent, 12 months after childbirth. Therefore, this population should be carefully investigated for manic and hypomanic symptoms.

A cohort study was conducted with 397 women randomly selected from the Brazilian National System of Public Health, to describe the prevalence rates of infant sleep problems at 12-month of life, and its association with chronicity and severity of maternal depressive symptoms. Mothers were assessed, first, from the 9th to the 12th week postpartum and then at 12 months after delivery, with EPDS and a self-rating questionnaire regarding babies' sleep behavior. After controlling for possible confounders, babies whose mothers had severe chronic depressive symptoms were at higher risk for sleep disorder at 12 months of birth.

Background Early adverse experiences are associated with increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders, although little is known about the neurobiological mediators involved. The mechanisms by which early environmental influences may mediate vulnerability in the development of offspring await further investigation. The present study correlated the NGF, BDNF, IL-6 and cortisol levels of mothers with postpartum affective disorders (PPAD) with infant development. Methods A longitudinal study was performed with 152 pregnant women and their infants. Between 60 and 120 days after delivery, women were interviewed and provided biological samples for biochemical analysis, and the infants were examined for neurobiological-motor development. Results Overall, the mothers' history of affective disorders, PPAD and anxiety disorder were associated with infant motor development. Using an adjusted linear regression analysis, PPAD (p = 0.049), maternal anxiety disorder (p = 0.043), NGF level (p = 0.034) and infant cortisol level (p = 0.013) were associated with infant motor development. Using a factorial analysis of primary components, two components were retained. The psychological factor was characterized by a positive loading of a history of affective disorder, PPAD and anxiety disorder. For the biological factor, infant cortisol adhered negatively with infant motor development, but NGF was positively associated. The psychological factor had a negative association, but the biological factor had a positive association with infant motor development. Conclusions There are few studies that have focused on the relationship of biomarkers and infant neurodevelopment. Our study points that psychological and biological factors are associated with infant motor development, however the causal relationship between these factors is still to be defined.