Psychosomatic medicine
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Psychosomatic medicine · Jul 2011
Ecological momentary assessment of maternal cortisol profiles over a multiple-day period predicts the length of human gestation.
Biobehavioral models of prenatal stress highlight the importance of the stress-related hormone cortisol. However, the association between maternal cortisol levels and the length of human gestation requires further investigation because most previous studies have relied on one-time cortisol measures assessed at varying gestational ages. This study assessed whether ecological momentary assessment (EMA) of cortisol sampling improves the ability to predict the length of human gestation. In addition, associations between EMA-based measures of psychological state (negative affect) with cortisol levels during pregnancy were assessed. ⋯ Our findings support the ecological validity of repeated ambulatory assessments of cortisol in pregnancy and their ability to improve the prediction of adverse birth outcomes.
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Psychosomatic medicine · Jul 2011
Association between generalized anxiety disorder and asthma morbidity.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is common among people with asthma, but its association with asthma morbidity remains unexplored. This study examined cross-sectional associations between GAD and asthma control, quality of life, and self-efficacy. ⋯ GAD is associated with worse asthma morbidity independent of age, sex, smoking, and asthma severity; however, comorbid major depressive disorder and low asthma self-efficacy may account for many of these associations. Only breathlessness and the frequency of bronchodilator use were uniquely associated with GAD. Future research should examine whether treatment of GAD can affect asthma outcomes.