Archives of women's mental health
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Arch Womens Ment Health · Oct 2018
Somatic symptoms in women with dysmenorrhea and noncyclic pelvic pain.
Somatic symptoms are a robust, transdiagnostic risk factor for pain conditions. However, the extent to which somatic symptoms contribute to the manifestation of the women's pain syndromes, such as dysmenorrhea and noncyclic pelvic pain (NCPP), is unclear due to high rates of co-occurrence. Therefore, the present study investigated the primary hypothesis that somatic symptoms would be elevated in NCPP and distinctly influence the relationship between dysmenorrhea and co-occurring NCPP. ⋯ Women with NCPP+dysmenorrhea have increased psychological and somatic symptoms compared to women with dysmenorrhea alone. Given that NCPP often co-occurs with dysmenorrhea, failure to account for comorbidity in previous studies has likely led to an overestimation of psychological symptoms in dysmenorrhea. Future studies should evaluate whether somatic sensitivity is a modifiable risk factor for NCPP.
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Arch Womens Ment Health · Feb 2018
ReviewBehavioral, cognitive, and emotional coping strategies of women with endometriosis: a critical narrative review.
Endometriosis is a disabling and long-term medical condition affecting quality of life and mental health. Behavioral, cognitive, and emotional coping strategies, emotional intelligence, and metacognition could in part explain the link between the disease and impaired psychological and life functioning. This critical narrative review aimed at examining the state of the art of the relationships between endometriosis and these factors. ⋯ Few studies with mixed results and some methodological flaws have focused on coping strategies in women with endometriosis. No studies focusing on metacognition or emotional intelligence were found. Methodological biases, suggestions for future research, and implications for clinical practice were discussed.
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Arch Womens Ment Health · Feb 2018
Development of a women's mental health curriculum and evolution to a Women's Mental Health Area of Concentration in a psychiatry residency program.
In 2014, the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health emphasized the importance of women's health education, particularly in the realm of behavioral health. ⋯ After successful implementation, the curriculum was formalized into a Women's Mental Health Area of Concentration within the Department of Psychiatry's residency training program. Participants found the WMHSG to be interesting, to increase knowledge and improve clinical practice, and to facilitate mentorship opportunities. The creation and evolution of a WMHSG into an Area of Concentration offers an example for enhancing training in WMH topics and principles that can be extended to other medical specialties.
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Arch Womens Ment Health · Oct 2017
ReviewAcceptance and commitment therapy for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders: development of an inpatient group intervention.
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for childbearing women. Current treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy, have demonstrated modest success in addressing perinatal psychiatric symptoms; however, additional treatment options are needed to address the limitations of current approaches, particularly for women experiencing moderate to severe perinatal mental illness during pregnancy or postpartum. ⋯ Sessions focus on core ACT processes of acceptance, cognitive defusion, present-moment awareness, value identification, and goal setting, and we describe how each of these processes is relevant to the perinatal population. Implications for future clinical applications and research investigations are discussed.
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Arch Womens Ment Health · Feb 2017
Perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation in undergraduate women with varying levels of mindfulness.
Research has demonstrated that perceived stress and depression are risk factors for suicidal ideation in young adults, particularly women attending college. Female undergraduate students (N = 928) were administered measures assessing their levels of stress, depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, and mindfulness. ⋯ Specifically, the indirect effect was stronger in college women with lower levels of mindfulness as compared to those students who reported higher mindfulness. Thus, teaching mindfulness techniques on college campuses may be an important strategy for preventing suicide, especially among young adult women experiencing stress and depressive symptoms.