Articles Analysis Essay on Depression

Gonzalez, G., Moraes, M., Sosa, C., Umpierrez, E., Duarte, M., Cal, J., & Ghione, A. (2017). Maternal Postnatal Depression and its Impact on Child Neurodevelopment: A Cohort Study. Revista chilena de pediatria, 88(3), 360-366.

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Introduction

This article is about postpartum depression which is a common maternal psychiatric disorder which has adverse effects on the bond between the mother and the child as well as the child development. This article highlights the postpartum depression prevalence rate among mothers and gives the estimated impact in future. It also offers the effects of maternal depression on the infant's skills and language which impacts the child's future (Gonzalez et al., 2017). This study is done in a homogenous population with low education and socioeconomic status. Lastly, the article gives the means of correcting maternal depression.

An Overview of the Composition/Characteristics of the Participants.

The study composed of 127 postpartum women and their freshly born babies monitored until 18 months to find out the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms at six months and the presence of any neurodevelopment disorders at 18 months. Some infants were excluded from the study because of the presence of congenital malformations, meningitis, or congenital infections. Also, HIV positive mothers, those with multiple pregnancies and psychiatric conditions, or never signed the consent had their babies excluded.

The Methodology of the Study

After obtaining informed consent, the puerperal women were given a structured interview for collecting data. This was done during hospitalization and included the occupation of the women, family characteristics and income, educational level, and marital status. A meconium sample of the newborns was used to identify cocaine and alcohol use during pregnancy. Furthermore, the children were monitored at six months with a questionnaire which evaluated the maternal anxiety, depression levels, and the persistence of exclusive breastfeeding. Any case of maternal anxiety or depression were referred to mental health care facilities for assistance. Lastly, the participants were developmentally evaluated using a revised Brunet-Lezine test as the evaluation instrument.

Strengths and Limitations of the Study

Authors have used recent references which are relevant to the current study. Despite this, some old materials that date back more than 27 years have been used. Tables and illustrations back the findings and conclusions that presents the results of the study. Furthermore, the objectives of the study are achieved as postpartum depression in mothers vulnerable in the socioeconomic context gives a clear impact of the development of children at 18 months. Lastly, the results obtained correlate with those reported by other authors in the same context thus persistent postpartum depression influences early childhood development in language and social areas (Gonzalez et al., 2017). This study applies to social work because any reported cases of anxiety and depression were referred to social workers for crisis intervention and social rehabilitation.

Summary of The Key Relevant Points

This critique has focused on the impact of maternal postpartum depression on the neurodevelopment of children between 6-18 months. Women and children formed the sample of the study which found out that 20 per cent of the women showed moderate to severe postpartum depression at six months while 14 per cent had symptoms of anxiety (Gonzalez et al., 2017). The methods used in the study are structured interviews, meconium sample, questionnaire, and Brunet-Lezine test.

Stirling, K., Toumbourou, J. W., & Rowland, B. (2015). Community Factors Influencing Child and Adolescent Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 49(10), 869-886.

Introduction

This study aims at a methodological review for the identification of communities at risk for depression and the factors for protection among school children between 4-18 years. This is because depression has been identified as a concern among adolescents and children, but little is known on the impact of community-level risk and protective factors.

An Overview of the Composition/Characteristics of the Participants.

Participants were school-age children between 4 and 18 years in Australia, Canada, Israel, Nepal, Netherlands, Uganda, United Kingdom, and the United States. They were representative of the general population and included children from Hispanic and African American backgrounds, low-socio-economic backgrounds, abused children of African-Americans, child soldiers of war, children of mothers exposed to partner violence, children of Latin American origin, and children from politically violent areas (Stirling, Toumbourou, and Rowland, 2015). The inclusion criteria were majorly on the age of the participants, community-level factors, and valid measure of childhood depressive symptoms.

The Methodology of the Study

A clinical interview was used to assess adolescent and child depression among the participants for identification and inclusion in the study. Also, studies were searched in various databases such as Social Work Abstracts, PsycINFO, PsycEXTRA, and Education Research Complete (Stirling, Toumbourou, and Rowland, 2015). The identified articles on adolescent and child depression were meta-analyze and reviewed by a minimum of two authors. Furthermore, lists of references included in the study were examined for identification of potential studies to limit potential bias and ensure quality. Lastly, a primary search was carried over a 3-month period from July to October 2012 using a systematic strategy.

Strengths and Limitations of the Study

The study suggests an area for future research which should utilize valid measures in assessing community-level variables. For instance, Stirling, Toumbourou, and Rowland (2015) indicate that further observational studies are needed to address the limitations of the current study which are attributed to the poor outcomes, high cost, and increasing prevalence associated with childhood depression.

The study faced time and resource constraints and difficulties in the randomization of communities and individuals to interventions. Secondly, a limited number of community factors that impact adolescent and child depression were considered in the study. Thirdly, the study did not examine the effects of community opportunities for improved nutrition or physical activity. The research applies to social work practice since it involves working in the community to find out the factors that lead to depression among adolescents and children in the community. Also, community intervention is critical in improving social interaction with children and adolescents with high levels of depressive symptoms.

Summary of The Key Relevant Points

The study reveals a systematic review of the relationship between protective factors and community level risk and mental health of children and adolescents. This, therefore, means that early intervention and health promotion are essential in minimizing the effect of depressive symptoms because of the associated cost and increased prevalence of mental health problems.

Dougherty, L. R., Tolep, M. R., Smith, V. C., & Rose, S. (2013). Early Exposure to Parental Depression and Parenting: Associations with Young Offspring's Stress Physiology and Oppositional Behavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 41(8), 1299-1310.

Introduction

The study centers on how exposure of infants to parental hostility and depression in early childhood has an impact on the onset of early emergence of behavior problems and stress physiology among children. It was realized that an offspring whose parent displays hostile parenting behaviors show increased cortisol levels to the stressor. Also, there was a positive correlation between oppositional behavior and parental hostility in children exposed to maternal depression in life (Dougherty, Tolep, Smith, and Rose, 2013).

An Overview of the Composition/Characteristics of the Participants.

The sample comprised of 175 children and parents enlisted from Washington, DC. The identification of participants was made using the advertisements sent to health care providers, daycares, and schools in the locality. Parents with a depression history were targeted to obtain a high-risk sample of children with depressed parents. A total of 165 preschool-age children were exposed to tasks that induced stress and salivary cortisol samples were collected. Ten families were left out because they either did not have a history of bipolar disorder, did not speak English, or had no parental diagnostic data. Included in the study were families with children aged between three and five years as they lived with parents who speak English, had no developmental disabilities, or no history of bipolar disorder.

The Methodology of the Study

Parents were taken through a structured clinical interview by telephone which produced results similar to face-to-face interviews. These interviews took place after the first visit to the laboratory and before the second visit, which occurred roughly two weeks apart. During the laboratory visits, the interaction between the child and the parent was observed in standardized tasks such as puzzle task or book reading meant to occasion varied child and parenting behaviors.

Strengths and Limitations of the Study

There are some strengths in the study. For instance, parental psychopathology was assessed with the use of clinical interviews, and crucial information regarding the timing of exposure and parental depression course were obtained. Also, stress reactivity in early childhood was examined which is a significant developmental period in the investigation of the stress system. This is attributed to the processes of development that intensify the neurobiological plasticity in reaction to environmental influences.

The limitations of the study include the failure to test the causal effects because the investigation was cross-sectional and difficulty in inferring the results regarding cortisol reactivity posed by the laboratory paradigm which failed to evoke upsurge in cortisol in all children. The use of dental cotton rolls in collecting saliva retained saliva and reduced the collected amount. Moreover, the study relied on one parent in assessing the current behavior as data from fathers was limited.

Summary of The Key Relevant Points

The findings of the study insist on the significance of shielding children from the exposure to parental depression experiences in the environment that may impact behavior. Therefore, the context of parenting is crucial in curbing the behavioral and physiological outcomes associated with parental depression exposure. The results of the study have essential clinical implications and thus highlights the significance of parenting interventions for parents with depressive disorders especially mothers with recurrent or chronic depressive disorders during early childhood.

References

Dougherty, L. R., Tolep, M. R., Smith, V. C., & Rose, S. (2013). Early Exposure to Parental Depression and Parenting: Associations with Young Offspring's Stress Physiology and Oppositional Behavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 41(8), 1299-1310.

Gonzalez, G., Moraes, M., Sosa, C., Umpierrez, E., Duarte, M., Cal, J., & Ghione, A. (2017). Maternal Postnatal Depression and its Impact on Child Neurodevelopment: A Cohort Study. Revista Chilena De Pediatria, 88(3), 360-366.

Stirling, K., Toumbourou, J. W., & Rowland, B. (2015). Community Factors Influencing Child and Adolescent Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Ps...