Biomedical subjects

June Andrews Horowitz

Publications and source records attributed to June Andrews Horowitz.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

The relationship of maternal attributes, resources, and perceptions of postpartum experiences to depression.

The relationships of maternal attributes, resources, and perceptions of the postpartum experience to postpartum depression (PPD) were examined. One hundred and forty-three mothers completed measures of maternal attributes, resources, and perceptions of the postpartum experience, as well as depressed mood and clinical depression symptoms. Results from canonical correlation analysis revealed two patterns. Pattern 1: Women without history of depression, more emotional support from partners, higher parenting evaluation, lower centrality of the infant in the mother's thoughts and actions, and fewer life changes had lower depressed mood and fewer clinical depression symptoms than their counterparts. Pattern 2: Mothers without history of depression who were married, with higher financial stress, and lower parenting evaluation had higher depressed mood, but not more clinical depression symptoms. Maternal age, parity, time since delivery, income, and help from partner were unrelated to either depression indicator. These patterns suggest multiple paths to PPD, and the need for routine mental health assessment and exploration of women's perceptions of their postpartum experience.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Postpartum practices and depression prevalences: technocentric and ethnokinship cultural perspectives.

Reports of non-Western prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) are highly variable. This variation may indicate that the label of PPD may be unacceptable in some groups or not used, that manifestations may vary by culture, or that cross-cultural diagnostic standards do not match Western clinical criteria. These factors complicate efforts to explore the relationship of postpartum traditional practices to PPD between Western and non-Western cultures. Although Stern and Kruckman viewed PPD as a culture-bound phenomenon of Western culture, an expanding international literature has demonstrated that PPD occurs in a variety of countries. To address these issues, the authors examined the literature to describe cultural postpartum traditions, to explore possible relationships among practices and PPD prevalence, to critique the culture-bound theory, and to discuss clinical practice implications.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMed2003

Conducting school-based focus groups: lessons learned from the CATS project.

Participation of children in focus groups has received scant attention despite the effectiveness of group interviews in eliciting children's views. Focus groups are a valuable approach for generating qualitative data from children; however, conducting school-based focus groups involves challenges specific to the school milieu and the ages and development of the participants. Lessons learned from conducting school-based focus groups during the Child-Adolescent Teasing Scale (CATS) project are applied to examination of key issues including entry to schools, informed consent and confidentiality, students' cognitive development, safety within the group, and appropriate procedures.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effective use of critique and dialogue at scholarly conferences.

In this article, the authors offer a solution to a phenomenon identified as "silencing" among nurse colleagues during national, regional, and international scholarly conferences. Through an electronic anonymous survey, data were collected regarding perceptions of the structure and process at scholarly nursing conferences. The need for critique and dialogue while sharing research ideas or findings is identified as a means to encourage direct exchange at professional conferences. Based on an examination of the process of critique and dialogue, and theories that explain why honest and direct dialogue are sometimes subdued, the authors propose a model of constructive scholarly dialogue for conference participation. The goals of implementing this model are to make scholarly exchanges normative at nursing conferences, and to revise standard conference formats so that constructive critique and dialogue are encouraged actively. The likely outcomes include improved nursing science and professional development of nurses.

Assertiveness↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Postpartum depression treatment rates for at-risk women.

BACKGROUND: Despite growing awareness of postpartum depression (PPD), screening is not yet standard care and evidence that screening produces improved health outcomes remains limited. OBJECTIVES: To examine mental health treatment rates at 3 and 4 months postpartum for women who were identified with PPD symptoms at 2 to 4 weeks after delivery. METHODS: A secondary analysis of data from a mother-infant intervention study for women with PPD symptoms was conducted. Postpartum women were screened for PPD symptoms; women with positive PPD screens were assessed at 2, 3, and 4 months postpartum. Research nurses monitored symptoms and encouraged and assisted women who experienced moderate to severe PPD symptoms to seek evaluation and mental health referral from their primary care providers. RESULTS: From the screening of a community-based population of 1,215 postpartum women, 122 women identified as having PPD enrolled in the clinical trial and 117 participated in all assessments. At 3 and 4 months postpartum, only 14 women (12%) received psychotherapy and fewer received psychopharmacologic treatment. In comparison to women with low PPD symptoms, significantly more women with high PPD symptoms were in therapy at 3 and 4 months. DISCUSSION: The inadequacy of treatment rates among a sample of at-risk women raises grave concern. Possible barriers to referral and treatment include clinician and healthcare system, third-party payment, and personal factors. Evaluating health outcomes from PPD screening and testing approaches designed to increase treatment participation are warranted.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical assessment of mothering during infancy.

Using reliable and valid measurements of mothering can enhance clinicians' and researchers' ability to identify problematic patterns that pose risks to the health of mothers and infants during the first postpartum year. A critical review of observational and self-report instruments for measuring components of mothering is presented. Positive indicators of mothering are discussed, and implications for intervention and referral for problematic aspects of mothering are suggested.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Identifying and treating postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression affects 10% to 20% of women in the United States and negatively influences maternal, infant, and family health. Assessment of risk factors and depression symptoms is needed to identify women at risk for postpartum depression for early referral and treatment. Individual and group psychotherapy have demonstrated efficacy as treatments, and some complementary/alternative therapies show promise. Treatment considerations include severity of depression, whether a mother is breastfeeding, and mother's preference. Nurses who work with childbearing women can advise depressed mothers regarding treatment options, make appropriate recommendations, provide timely and accessible referrals, and encourage engagement in treatment.

Antidepressive Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A longitudinal study of maternal postpartum depression symptoms.

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in maternal depression symptoms over time from the postpartum period to 2 years after delivery among a sample of women identified with elevated depression symptoms at 2 to 4 weeks postpartum, a longitudinal within-subjects design was used to examine changes in maternal depression symptoms. Two years after delivery, 62 women who had elevated depression scores at 2 to 4 weeks postpartum completed mailed questionnaires including a Demographic Information Sheet, the Beck Depression Inventory II, and the Parenting Stress Index. Among this sample of women, 30.6% scored in the depressed range 2 years after delivery. Although depression scores decreased over time, the significant change in mean scores occurred from 4 to 8 weeks to 10 to 14 weeks postpartum, and mean scores did not change significantly from 10 to 14 weeks, to 14 to 18 weeks, to 2 years after delivery. Depression history, lower overall social support, and higher parental distress were associated with higher depression scores among mothers at 2 years after delivery. Initial decrease in depression scores suggests that postpartum depression symptoms posed a time-limited problem for many women with peak occurrence from 4 to 8 weeks after delivery. However, for many women depression symptoms persisted at 2 years after delivery. Previous depression, limited current support, and parental distress increased depression symptom severity. Additional longitudinal research is needed to determine factors that increase and ameliorate risk for chronic maternal depression. Clinical assessment of maternal depression beyond the early postpartum weeks is warranted for at-risk women.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Community-based postpartum depression screening within the first month after delivery.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common childbirth complication. Approximately 500,000 women in the United States each year experience PPD, and about half of these women are not evaluated or treated appropriately. Although available screening measures can detect PPD symptoms, screening is not yet standard practice. This article presents outcomes from PPD screening of a community-based sample of 1,071 women at 2-4 weeks after delivery. Overall PPD symptom prevalence was 19.7%. Detection of PPD could be increased significantly by adapting research-based screening approaches to clinical care.

Adolescent↗