N. Goutaudier

Premature birth: subjective and psychological experiences in the first weeks following childbirth, a mixed-methods study

Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the experience of premature infants’ mothers, the way they are taken care of, how they cope with this traumatic experience as well as the psychopathological and psychosocial consequences post delivery. Method: A qualitative and quantitative study was carried out on 27 women from the south of France area who delivered preterm infants still hospitalised in a neonatal intensive care unit. Two questionnaires were completed, the IES-R and the EPDS, assessing posttraumatic stress and postpartum depressive symptoms. A semi-structured interview was also conducted. Results: Trauma of premature birth and caesarean, feelings of guilt, anxiety, ambivalence towards the infant, the medical staff and the infant’s hospital discharge, were all part of their perception. Furthermore, difficulties for mothers to define themselves as such and the importance of sharing with women who have been through the same experience were evidenced. Postpartum depression and posttraumatic stress disorder were also highlighted. Conclusion: Our findings highlight that premature birth can be traumatic and lead to the development of psychopathological symptoms. Moreover, this study suggests the need to develop a specific support focusing on the sharing of experience and prevention in order to prevent disorders from developing.

Negative emotions, childbirth pain, perinatal dissociation and self-efficacy as predictors of postpartum posttraumatic stress symptoms

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the contribution of negative emotions, childbirth pain, perinatal dissociation, and feelings of self-efficacy to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following childbirth. Patients and methods: A prospective longitudinal study was carried out on 98 women from the south of France area. Four questionnaires were completed at 2–3 days postpartum: the Peritraumatic Emotions List (PEL), the French version of the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experience Questionnaire (PDEQ) and the Childbirth Self-efficacy Inventory (CBSEI). The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) assessing posttraumatic stress symptoms was also completed 6 weeks after delivery. Results: Pain and negative emotions were significant predictors of the intensity of posttraumatic stress symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum. Although higher levels of pain contribute to increased PSTD symptoms, and higher negative emotion also contributes to PTSD symptoms, the effect of pain on PSTD is stronger when there are high levels of negative emotion. Discussion and conclusion: Our findings highlight that pain, negative emotions and their interaction were significant predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms and confirm the importance of developing more specific treatments focusing on support and prevention.

The impact of paternity leave and paternal involvement in child care on maternal postpartum depression

Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the impact of paternity leave and paternal involvement and notably paternal participation in infant care on the development of symptoms of maternal postpartum depression. Method: At 2–5 days postpartum, a sample of 119 couples completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), assessing postpartum depression. Mothers also completed the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). At 2 months postpartum, 4 questionnaires were completed: the EPDS, the MSPSS, the Maternal Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ), measuring cognitions relating to role change and expectations of motherhood, as well as a questionnaire assessing paternal involvement in infant care. Fathers also completed the EPDS and a questionnaire assessing paternal involvement in infant care. Results: Paternity leave was not highlighted as a significant protective factor against postpartum depression. However, the lack of paternal involvement in infant care was significantly associated with maternal depression intensity. Discussion: Our findings highlight the importance of encouraging and taking into account paternal involvement in infant care as early as possible.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and psychological distress following medical and surgical abortion

Objective: Abortion can be a difficult event to cope with and can lead to the development of psychological disturbance. The aim of this prospective and longitudinal study was to assess and to predict Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms following abortion. Moreover, this study aimed to assess whether the type of abortion had an impact on women’s experience. Method: Eighty-six women were approached a few hours after the abortion and then 6 weeks later. Several questionnaires were completed: the Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R), the Multidimensional Scale of Social Support (MSPSS), the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experience Questionnaire (PDEQ), the Peritraumatic Emotions List (PEL), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS) and the Texas Grief Inventory (TGI). Results: Six weeks after the abortion, 38% of women reported a potential PTSD and a significant decrease of the anxious symptomatology was also highlighted. Peritraumatic dissociation and peritraumatic emotions were the main predictors of the intensity of post-abortum PTSD symptoms. Compared to surgical abortion, medical abortion was associated with increasing the risk of developing a possible PTSD. Conclusion: By providing evidence on some of the main risk factors, this study highlights the need for psychological support for women and strategies of prevention to be developed.

Intergenerational transmission of postpartum depression

Objective: This study aimed to explore the hypothesis of an intergenerational transmission of postpartum depression. Mother’s postpartum depressive symptomatology was linked to former depression, postpartum depression of her mother as well as the quality of the mother–daughter relationship. Method: A sample of 65 women and their mothers completed questionnaires one month after delivery: the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), dimension A of the International Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) assessing a former depressive episode, the Mother and Adult Daughter Questionnaire (MAD) as well as the Inventory of Peer and Relative Attachment (IPPA). Their mothers completed the Bromley Postnatal Depression Scale (BPDS) in order to retrospectively diagnose a postpartum depression. Results: Women whose mother had suffered from a postnatal depression had significantly higher scores on the EPDS. Former depression symptoms and grandmother’s former postnatal depression were significant predictors of postpartum depression symptoms intensity. Conclusion: this study confirms the hypothesis of an intergenerational transmission of postpartum depression and highlights the need to provide an in‐depth examination of these issues.

Association Between Personality Disorders Traits and Problematic Cannabis Use in Adolescents

Background: There are few studies on the contribution of personality disorder traits to cannabis use disorders in adolescents. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of personality disorder traits to problematic cannabis use. Methods: Participants were 111 high school students who completed self-report questionnaires, mainly the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test, assessing problematic cannabis use, and the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire using the scales evaluating personality disorders most often linked to adolescent cannabis use. Results: A multiple regression analysis showed that personality disorder traits explained a high part of the variance in problematic cannabis use symptoms. Schizotypal and borderline personality traits were positively associated to problematic cannabis use symptoms after adjustment for anxious and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: This study suggests the importance of evaluating personality disorder traits in studies of risk factors or consequences of problematic cannabis use.

Impact of antisocial behavior on psychopathic traits in a community sample of adolescents

The objective of this study was to cross-sectionally explore the mediating role of self-serving cognitions in the relationship between antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits. A sample of 970 high school students completed self-report questionnaires assessing antisocial behavior, cognitive distortions, and psychopathic traits. Cognitive distortions partially mediated (and gender moderated) the relationship between antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits. Gender was found to moderate this relationship. Longitudinal studies would permit a fuller understanding of how these relationships interrelate-an understanding that may have important implications for clinical intervention.

Orientations d’acculturation et adaptation psychosociale des adolescents issus de l’immigration

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to explore the typology of adolescents with immigrant background based on the orientations of acculturation and to estimate the psychosocial adaptation of the various subtypes. METHOD A sample of 228 French high school students with an immigrant background completed a questionnaire assessing acculturation orientations (Immigrant Acculturation Scale; Barrette et al., 2004), antisocial behaviors, depressive symptoms and self-esteem. Cluster analysis based on acculturation orientations was performed using the k-means method. RESULTS Cluster analysis produced four distinct acculturation profiles: bicultural (31%), separated (28%), marginalized (21%), and assimilated-individualistic (20%). Adolescents in the separated and marginalized clusters, both characterized by rejection of the host culture, reported higher levels of antisocial behavior. Depressive symptoms and self-esteem did not differ between clusters. DISCUSSION Several hypotheses may explain the association between separation and delinquency. First, separation and rejection of the host culture may lead to rebellious behavior such as delinquency. Conversely, delinquent behavior may provoke rejection or discrimination by peers or school, or legal sanctions that induce a reciprocal process of rejection of the host culture and separation. The relationship between separation and antisocial behavior may be bidirectional, each one reinforcing the other, resulting in a negative spiral. This study confirms the interest of the study of the orientations of acculturation in the understanding of the antisocial behavior of adolescents with immigrant background.

Validation of the French Version of the Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ) Generates a Two-Factor Model

Abstract Background: Craving is a major issue in drug addiction, and a target for drug treatment. The Marijuana Craving Questionnaire-Short Form (MCQ-SF) is a useful tool for assessing cannabis craving in clinical and research settings. Objective: To validate the French version of the MCQ-SF (FMCQ-SF). Methods: Young adult cannabis users not seeking treatment (n = 679) completed the FMCQ-SF and questionnaires assessing their frequency of cannabis use and craving, cannabis use disorder criteria, and alcohol use. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis of the four-factor FMCQ-SF model did not fit the data well. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a two-factor solution (“pleasure”, characterized by planning and expectation of positive effects, and “release of tension”, characterized by relief from anxiety, nervousness, or tension) with good psychometric properties. This two-factor model showed good internal and convergent validity and correlated with cannabis abuse and dependence and with frequency of cannabis use and craving. Conclusion: Validation of the FMCQ-SF generated a two-factor model, different from the four-factor solution generated in English language studies. Considering that craving plays an important role in withdrawal and relapse, this questionnaire should be useful for French-language addiction professionals.