Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a plausible biological mechanism for complications and poor outcomes of childbearing both via associated high-risk behaviors and via neuroendocrine pathways. Despite the high prevalence of PTSD among women, there has been almost no research evaluating the potential adverse effects of PTSD on childbearing. Preliminary epidemiological work suggests that PTSD during pregnancy is associated with ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, hyperemesis, preterm contraction episodes, and concerns about fetal weight gain. The central hypothesis for this project is that PTSD is associated with adverse outcomes from early pregnancy through the postpartum period.
The Aims are: 1. To determine the extent to which PTSD is associated with adverse outcomes of childbearing by comparing 3 cohorts: PTSD-diagnosed, trauma-exposed, and non-exposed pregnant women. 2. To determine via a chronobiological analysis whether the low cortisol levels associated with PTSD in non-pregnant women also occur in the hormonal context of pregnancy. 3. To determine the extent to which this Iow-cortisol biological correlate of PTSD also is associated with adverse outcomes. A prospective, psychobiological, multiple-cohort design will be used with 1230 pregnant women, with a subset of 114 to give salivary cortisol specimens throughout the course of the pregnancy. Prenatal and postpartum interviews will measure variables from the conceptual framework, including trauma history, PTSD diagnosis, health risk behaviors, psychiatric comorbidity, pregnancy factors, demographics, potential moderators including chronic stress, prenatal care and mental health treatment, and 2 psychological outcomes, postpartum depression and attachment disorder. Other adverse outcomes will be determined from medical record review. Findings from this study will provide a strong basis for future clinical research and an evidence base for potentially modifying maternity care practice guidelines to include care for PTSD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NR008767-02
Application #
7090815
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-NSCF (01))
Program Officer
Mann Koepke, Kathy M
Project Start
2005-07-01
Project End
2009-04-30
Budget Start
2006-05-09
Budget End
2007-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$487,538
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Sperlich, Mickey; Gabriel, Cynthia; Seng, Julia (2017) Where Do You Feel Safest? Demographic Factors and Place of Birth. J Midwifery Womens Health 62:88-92
Eagen-Torkko, Meghan; Low, Lisa Kane; Zielinski, Ruth et al. (2017) Prevalence and Predictors of Breastfeeding After Childhood Abuse. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 46:465-479
Muzik, Maria; McGinnis, Ellen W; Bocknek, Erika et al. (2016) PTSD SYMPTOMS ACROSS PREGNANCY AND EARLY POSTPARTUM AMONG WOMEN WITH LIFETIME PTSD DIAGNOSIS. Depress Anxiety 33:584-91
Choi, Kristen R; Seng, Julia S (2016) Predisposing and Precipitating Factors for Dissociation During Labor in a Cohort Study of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Childbearing Outcomes. J Midwifery Womens Health 61:68-76
Roosevelt, Lee K; Holland, Kathryn J; Hiser, Jan et al. (2015) Psychometric assessment of the Health Care Alliance Questionnaire with women in prenatal care. J Health Psychol 20:1013-24
Kruse, Julie A; Williams, Reg A; Seng, Julia S (2014) Considering a Relational Model for Depression in Women with Postpartum Depression. Int J Childbirth 4:151-168
Seng, Julia S; D'Andrea, Wendy; Ford, Julian D (2014) Complex Mental Health Sequelae of Psychological Trauma Among Women in Prenatal Care. Psychol Trauma 6:41-49
Rowe, Heather; Sperlich, Mickey; Cameron, Heather et al. (2014) A Quasi-experimental outcomes analysis of a psychoeducation intervention for pregnant women with abuse-related posttraumatic stress. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 43:282-93
McConnell, M M; Memetovic, J; Richardson, C G (2014) Coping style and substance use intention and behavior patterns in a cohort of BC adolescents. Addict Behav 39:1394-7
Lopez, William D; Seng, Julia S (2014) Posttraumatic stress disorder, smoking, and cortisol in a community sample of pregnant women. Addict Behav 39:1408-13

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