RESEARCH WEEKLY: March Research Roundup, Women’s History Month By Hope Parker (March 29, 2023) Research Roundup is a monthly public service of the Office of Research and Public Affairs. Each edition describes a striking new data point about severe mental illness and summarizes recently published research reports or developments. This month’s roundup is in honor of Women’s History Month and highlights the experiences of women whose lives are impacted by mental illness. DATAPOINT OF THE MONTH 83% higher risk of adverse maternal outcomes for women with severe mental illness Women with severe mental illness have a higher risk of being admitted to an intensive care unit during pregnancy or childbirth, according to research from births records in Victoria, Australia, using data from 2009-2016. Increased maternal risks for women with severe mental illness include a higher likelihood of gestational diabetes, postpartum hemorrhage, having labor induced, and having a C-section. Infants of mothers with severe mental illness are more likely to be born preterm, be admitted to a special care nursery, have a lower birthweight, and have a lower score on the five-minute post birth Apgar test, an evaluation intended to determine if a newborn needs additional medical care. Edvardsson, K. et al., (February 2022). Severe mental illness and pregnancy outcomes in Australia. A population-based study of 595 792 singleton births 2009–2016. Plos one. RESEARCH OF THE MONTH Symptoms of early psychosis can present differently between males and females Research shows that men and women have different clinical presentations of psychosis, but few studies examine whether this remains true at the onset of the disorder. Differences between males and females during the initial stages of a psychotic disorder may point to biological influences, rather than differences in service engagement or substance use. By examining 30 studies, researchers identified that women with early psychosis tend to experience more severe depressive symptoms, while men tend to experience more substance use and negative symptoms, such as apathy, poverty of speech and thought, and social withdrawal. Some studies also suggest that the presence of estrogen in females may make symptoms less severe and delay the onset of first-episode psychosis. The researchers note that it is possible that these differences may be explained not only by biological sex alone but also influenced by gender roles. Carter, B., et al. (June 2022). Sex and gender differences in symptoms of early psychosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Womens Mental Health 25, (679–691). Gender differences in quality-of-life fade over time after first-episode psychosis Women generally have a later onset of psychosis and exhibit less impaired social functioning than men, fostering the assumption that women with schizophrenia spectrum disorders fare better over the course of their treatment. A study published earlier this year in “Early Intervention in Psychiatry” found that women report better quality-of-life but have more severe depressive symptoms as compared to men at the onset of their disorder. However, after two years of treatment, the results show no significant difference in quality-of-life measures or depression symptoms after adjusting for differing baseline symptoms. This research suggests that any improved outcomes women experience as compared to men are present at baseline and are not as a result of responding better to treatment. Hong, S. I. (January 2023). Gender differences in outcomes of early intervention services for first episode psychosis. Early Intervention in Psychiatry. Hope Parker is a research assistant at Treatment Advocacy Center. View as Webpage To receive Research Weekly directly in your email inbox on a weekly basis, click here. Questions? Contact us at [email protected] Research Weekly is a summary published as a public service of Treatment Advocacy Center and does not necessarily reflect the findings or positions of the organization or its staff. Full access to research summarized may require a fee or paid subscription to the publications. Treatment Advocacy Center does not solicit or accept funds from pharmaceutical companies. Treatment Advocacy Center | 200 N Glebe Rd, Ste 801, Arlington, VA 22203 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!