Women with (n = 27) a history of late pregnancy loss (> or = 20 weeks) due to congenital a... more Women with (n = 27) a history of late pregnancy loss (> or = 20 weeks) due to congenital anomalies who had completed the subsequent pregnancy with a live-birth were compared with a group of mothers with newborns without such a history (n = 29) at 4 and 16 weeks post-partum. The following aspects were assessed; depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and mother-infant adaptation. The women with a previous pregnancy loss showed significantly more negative emotions than the women without such a history. In addition, they considered that their healthy baby experienced more problems with sleeping, crying, eating, and acquiring a regular pattern of this behaviour than the average baby. They also perceived their baby as being less ideal than the women without a previous pregnancy loss. These problems were particularly present 4 weeks post-partum and were significantly positively related to trait anxiety. The implications of this study are that in women with a history of late pregnancy loss, family physicians and welfare officers should be made aware of possible problems in the mother and in mother-infant adaptation shortly after a normal live-birth, particularly in those with high trait anxiety. They will then be able to arrange psychological support at an early stage.
The characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) such as hyperandrogenism and anovulation ... more The characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) such as hyperandrogenism and anovulation can be highly stressful and might negatively affect psychological well-being and sexuality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between PCOS characteristics and psychological well-being as well as sexarche. Patients (n = 1148) underwent standardized clinical evaluation. Psychological well-being was investigated in 480 patients with the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES), the body cathexis scale (BCS) and the fear of negative appearance evaluation scale (FNAES). Sexarche was also assessed. Amenorrhoea was associated with lower self-esteem (P = 0.03), greater fear of negative appearance evaluation (P = 0.01) and earlier sexarche (P= 0.004). Hyperandrogenism and acne were associated with poorer body satisfaction (P = 0.03, 0.02, respectively). Hirsutism and BMI were negatively associated with all psychological variables (RSES, P = 0.01; BCS, P = 0.05; FNAES, P = 0.02 and RSES, P = 0.03; BCS, P = 0.001; FNAES, P = 0.03, respectively). Our results suggest that menstrual irregularities might be related to sexarche. Moreover, this study stresses that the treatment of women with PCOS should notably focus on physical but also on psychological and sexual characteristics.
Preconception carrier screening for hemoglobinopathies (HbPs) is debated in the Netherlands. Inte... more Preconception carrier screening for hemoglobinopathies (HbPs) is debated in the Netherlands. Intentions to participate in preconception carrier screening for HbPs as well as informed reproductive options were assessed in 109 Turkish female immigrants. Participants completed a structured questionnaire. 83.5% of 109 Turkish female immigrants intended to participate in preconception carrier screening. Intention to participate was related to the desire to reduce uncertainty about having offspring affected by HbPs, but not with socio-demographic variables, risk-estimation and worrying. If the tests concerning carrier status for HbPs were confirmative for both partners, 36.3% (n = 33) of the women with the intention of preconception carrier screening would refrain from getting children of their own, including 14.3% (n = 13) opting for adoption, 37.4% (n = 34) would decide to become pregnant and to opt for prenatal testing on HbPs. Finally, among 37.4% of the women opting for prenatal testing, 30.3% (n = 10) would terminate an affected pregnancy, 18.2% (n = 6) not and 51.5% (n = 17) could not decide (1 missing value). A large majority of Turkish female immigrants would participate in preconception carrier screening for HbPs.
Plasma levels of the beta-carboline norharman, concentration of platelet 5-HT, trait measures of ... more Plasma levels of the beta-carboline norharman, concentration of platelet 5-HT, trait measures of anxiety, and measures of coping and defense mechanisms were compared for 15 patients with panic disorder and 24 healthy volunteers. Patients indicated that they made less use of the defense mechanism of principalization than control subjects. No other differences between patients and controls were significant. Platelet 5-HT concentration was positively correlated with the subjectively reported anxiety. Plasma norharman concentration was negatively correlated with the defense mechanisms of principalization and repression and positively correlated with coping strategies involving palliation. The positive correlations of norharman levels with projection and self-comforting fell short of significance and existed in the patient group only. No correlation was apparent between levels of plasma norharman and scores on anxiety. It was concluded that norharman is not a marker for panic disorder or trait anxiety, but that it might reflect intrapsychic and coping processes.
Women with (n = 27) a history of late pregnancy loss (> or = 20 weeks) due to congenital a... more Women with (n = 27) a history of late pregnancy loss (> or = 20 weeks) due to congenital anomalies who had completed the subsequent pregnancy with a live-birth were compared with a group of mothers with newborns without such a history (n = 29) at 4 and 16 weeks post-partum. The following aspects were assessed; depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and mother-infant adaptation. The women with a previous pregnancy loss showed significantly more negative emotions than the women without such a history. In addition, they considered that their healthy baby experienced more problems with sleeping, crying, eating, and acquiring a regular pattern of this behaviour than the average baby. They also perceived their baby as being less ideal than the women without a previous pregnancy loss. These problems were particularly present 4 weeks post-partum and were significantly positively related to trait anxiety. The implications of this study are that in women with a history of late pregnancy loss, family physicians and welfare officers should be made aware of possible problems in the mother and in mother-infant adaptation shortly after a normal live-birth, particularly in those with high trait anxiety. They will then be able to arrange psychological support at an early stage.
The characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) such as hyperandrogenism and anovulation ... more The characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) such as hyperandrogenism and anovulation can be highly stressful and might negatively affect psychological well-being and sexuality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between PCOS characteristics and psychological well-being as well as sexarche. Patients (n = 1148) underwent standardized clinical evaluation. Psychological well-being was investigated in 480 patients with the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES), the body cathexis scale (BCS) and the fear of negative appearance evaluation scale (FNAES). Sexarche was also assessed. Amenorrhoea was associated with lower self-esteem (P = 0.03), greater fear of negative appearance evaluation (P = 0.01) and earlier sexarche (P= 0.004). Hyperandrogenism and acne were associated with poorer body satisfaction (P = 0.03, 0.02, respectively). Hirsutism and BMI were negatively associated with all psychological variables (RSES, P = 0.01; BCS, P = 0.05; FNAES, P = 0.02 and RSES, P = 0.03; BCS, P = 0.001; FNAES, P = 0.03, respectively). Our results suggest that menstrual irregularities might be related to sexarche. Moreover, this study stresses that the treatment of women with PCOS should notably focus on physical but also on psychological and sexual characteristics.
Preconception carrier screening for hemoglobinopathies (HbPs) is debated in the Netherlands. Inte... more Preconception carrier screening for hemoglobinopathies (HbPs) is debated in the Netherlands. Intentions to participate in preconception carrier screening for HbPs as well as informed reproductive options were assessed in 109 Turkish female immigrants. Participants completed a structured questionnaire. 83.5% of 109 Turkish female immigrants intended to participate in preconception carrier screening. Intention to participate was related to the desire to reduce uncertainty about having offspring affected by HbPs, but not with socio-demographic variables, risk-estimation and worrying. If the tests concerning carrier status for HbPs were confirmative for both partners, 36.3% (n = 33) of the women with the intention of preconception carrier screening would refrain from getting children of their own, including 14.3% (n = 13) opting for adoption, 37.4% (n = 34) would decide to become pregnant and to opt for prenatal testing on HbPs. Finally, among 37.4% of the women opting for prenatal testing, 30.3% (n = 10) would terminate an affected pregnancy, 18.2% (n = 6) not and 51.5% (n = 17) could not decide (1 missing value). A large majority of Turkish female immigrants would participate in preconception carrier screening for HbPs.
Plasma levels of the beta-carboline norharman, concentration of platelet 5-HT, trait measures of ... more Plasma levels of the beta-carboline norharman, concentration of platelet 5-HT, trait measures of anxiety, and measures of coping and defense mechanisms were compared for 15 patients with panic disorder and 24 healthy volunteers. Patients indicated that they made less use of the defense mechanism of principalization than control subjects. No other differences between patients and controls were significant. Platelet 5-HT concentration was positively correlated with the subjectively reported anxiety. Plasma norharman concentration was negatively correlated with the defense mechanisms of principalization and repression and positively correlated with coping strategies involving palliation. The positive correlations of norharman levels with projection and self-comforting fell short of significance and existed in the patient group only. No correlation was apparent between levels of plasma norharman and scores on anxiety. It was concluded that norharman is not a marker for panic disorder or trait anxiety, but that it might reflect intrapsychic and coping processes.
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Papers by Jan Passchier