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Qualitative researchers often engage in work addressing challenging, difficult, or sensitive topics and are consequently exposed to the participants’ narratives which may be emotionally charged, distressing, or compromising. These narratives occasionally rest heavy on a researcher’s conscience or may linger in the mind. Much literature has assessed how best to keep participants safe, but less attention has been given to how we keep researchers safe. We therefore document the following: (1) Our experiences of the issues presented by undertaking qualitative research involving challenging, difficult, or sensitive topics; and (2) Practical principles devised to overcome these issues, ensuring safety and wellbeing amongst researchers engaging in these types of qualitative research. We provide guidance for qualitative researchers of all levels of experience and expertise on how best to protect and support themselves, their colleagues, and other collaborating research staff, when undertaking qualitative research which might otherwise feel uncomfortable or overwhelming to tackle.

Background Global crises inevitably increase levels of anxiety in postpartum populations. Effective and efficient measurement is therefore essential. This study aimed to create a 12-item research short form of the 51-item Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale [PSAS] and validate it for use in rapid response research at a time of global crises [PSAS-RSF-C]. We also present the same 12-items, in five other languages (Italian, French, Chinese, Spanish, Dutch) to increase global accessibility of a psychometric tool to assess maternal mental health. Methods Twelve items from the PSAS were selected on the basis of a review of their factor loadings. An on-line sample of UK mothers ( N  = 710) of infants up to 12 weeks old completed the PSAS-RSF-C during COVID-19 ‘lockdown’. Results Principal component analyses on a randomly split sample ( n  = 344) revealed four factors, identical in nature to the original PSAS, which in combination explained 75% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analyses ( n  = 366) demonstrated the four-factor model fit the data well. Reliability of the overall scale and of the underlying factors in both samples proved excellent. Conclusions Findings suggest the PSAS-RSF-C may prove useful as a clinical screening tool and is the first postpartum-specific psychometric scale to be validated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This offers psychometrically sound assessment of postpartum anxiety. By increasing the accessibility of the PSAS, we aim to enable researchers the opportunity to measure maternal anxiety, rapidly, at times of global crisis.

[...]the COVID-19 pandemic represents a particularly challenging circumstance for PPW with potential adverse outcomes on maternal mental health. [...]meta-analysis evidence makes it clear that the “objective and subjective social isolation” influences physical and mental health similar to that of well-known biomedical risk factors (e.g., tobacco consumption, lack of physical activity) (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2015). [...]the unpredictable situation of being unemployer with a reduced household income can be considered a very stressful event that can lead to psychologicaistress (Sareen et al., 2011). [...]a study carrieut in north-eastern Italy found higher levels of depressive symptomatology in the immediate postpartum period among women who gave birth during an active periof COVID-19 quarantine than in women whose delivery occurred in the same perione year earlier (Zanardo et al., 2020). [...]this issue constitutes another critical gap te addressed, specifically on how preventive measures involving confinement and sociaistancing may affect PPW and their newborns in terms of their mental well-being and their access to the adequate prenatal and postnatal care they need aneserve.

Objectives To describe the process for the translation and validation of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale—Preterm Birth [PSAS‐PTB] and the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale—Neonatal Intensive Care Unit [PSAS‐NICU]. Methods We outline a four‐stage process for translation and validation of the 10‐item PSAS‐PTB and the 16‐item PSAS‐NICU. Results The protocol outlines a multi‐stage translation and validation process, including (1) independent forward translation, (2) independent back translation, (3) final approval following review, and (4) validity and reliability study. Conclusions Culturally and contextually relevant assessment of postpartum anxiety is vital, particularly in vulnerable populations. Following standardised procedures will support broader applicability across diverse populations, providing a reliable self‐report tool for both research and clinical use.

This study aims to explore the clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of 30 women who committed filicide and compare them to those of 60 postpartum women who did not commit filicide, including 30 with severe postpartum mental illness and 30 without a known history of psychiatric disorders. Clinical assessment included a face-to-face interview with the Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-IV Axis I and Axis II Disorders. Information on socio-economic, medical, and personal factors was collected using the Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and organized in a clinical vignette and OPCRIT ratings. Consensus best-estimate diagnoses were made according to DSM-V criteria. Inference was conducted using Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and Mann–Whitney U rank test for continuous variables. Family history of violent death, psychotic symptoms (OR 8.3; CI 95% 2.26–36.13), severe insomnia (9.8; 2.28–61.75), and a schizophrenia spectrum or bipolar diathesis (4.8; 1.22–23.86) were associated with history of filicide. Rates of history of sexual abuse in childhood were higher in both the filicide and the severe postpartum mental illness groups compared to healthy controls (6.7; 1.25–70.46 and 7.8; 1.47; 80.47 respectively). Conversely, we did not observe any difference in the rates of history of sexual abuse in adulthood across groups. The lack of adequate postpartum psychiatric care was an important precipitating factor in many cases of infanticide and even late filicide. This study underscores the need for increasing awareness by health care professionals and the wider society of the complex dynamics and psychiatric risks associated with motherhood.

Background: Unplanned pregnancy is a public health issue and understanding women’s decision making aids practitioners in assessing fertility trends, contraception use, and family planning counselling. In Italy, Catholicism reinforces ‘natural reproduction’ and ‘traditional’ contraception, making it an ‘Imperfect Contraceptive Society.’ A valid and reliable measure of pregnancy intentionality is increasingly important, and the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP) has proved effective. Objectives and Methods: This study comprised four stages: (1) English–Italian translation and back-translation to create the Italian version [LMUP-IT]; (2) online data collection from postnatal women; (3) evaluation of its psychometric properties (targeting, reliability, construct validity via CFA and measurement invariance with a UK sample, ‘known groups’ hypothesis testing); and (4) exploratory analysis of its associations with perinatal mental health. The sample comprised 450 postnatal women (Mage = 33.6 ± 4.5). Results: The LMUP-IT was shown to be reliable (ωT = 0.81, α = 0.76), with acceptable targeting. Measurement invariance testing confirmed consistency with the UK sample in factor structure, loadings, intercepts, and errors. LMUP-IT scores significantly correlated with well-known indicators of perinatal mental health. Conclusions: Overall, the LMUP-IT is a reliable measure of pregnancy intention in Italian for postpartum women. Understanding pregnancy intention will help healthcare professionals tailor interventions to better support women’s mental health during the transition to motherhood.

The role of anxiety is unknown in relation to postpartum bonding, unlike the well-known detrimental effect that postpartum depression has on the relationship between a mother and child. This study investigates how anxiety affects mother–infant bonding after childbirth, comparing the Italian version of the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale (PSAS-IT) with generalized measures of anxiety. Examining 324 non-randomly-selected participants responding to various scales, including the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), postpartum-specific anxiety scale (PSAS-IT), postpartum bonding questionnaire (PBQ), and baby care questionnaire (BCQ-2), initial results suggest a link between certain postpartum anxiety symptoms and attachment problems. Surprisingly, anxiety measured with the PSAS has no direct influence on attachment; however, it is a strong predictor of bonding, even when maternal age, general anxiety, and depression are taken into account, explaining 3% of the variance in scores (β = 0.26, p < 0.001). This emphasizes the importance of early identification and intervention of postpartum anxiety in promoting bonding between mother and child.

Purpose of Review While sleep serves important regulatory functions for mental health, sleep disturbances, in particular insomnia, may contribute to mental disorders. Since insomnia symptoms are frequent during the perinatal period, the aim of this work is to systematically review the potential association between perinatal insomnia and maternal and infant psychopathology. Recent Findings A systematic search was conducted according with PRISMA guidelines, and meta-analytic calculations were conducted. Totally, 34 studies were included and involved 835,021 perinatal women. Four meta-analysis yielded four statistically significant random-effect models. All models show that women with perinatal symptoms of insomnia possess increased odds of developing clinically relevant symptoms of depression OR = 3.69, p  = 0.001 and anxiety OR = 2.81; p  < 0.001, as well as increased suicidal risk OR = 3.28; p  < 0.001, and distress in the newborn OR = 2.80 ( P  = 0.007). Summary These findings emphasize the role of assessing and addressing insomnia during the perinatal period to mitigate its negative effect on maternal and infant mental health via sleep regulation.

PurposeSuicide attempts (SA) during perinatal period have the potential to adversely affect a woman’s health and her developing infant. To date, little is known about perinatal SA and their risk factors. This study aimed to synthetize the evidence on risk factors of SA in pregnant and postpartum women.MethodsWe systematically reviewed studies retrieved from PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, and CINAHL, following the PRISMA guidelines for reporting. A meta-analysis was conducted only for risk factors examined in at least three distinct samples.ResultsA total of ten studies were eligible for inclusion. All the studies found significant associations in regression models between perinatal SA and other variables (sociodemographic, clinical factors obstetric, neonatal, and psychosocial). The meta-analysis showed that unmarried women (pooled OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.26–2.78), with no higher education (pooled OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.31–2.74) and affected by a mood disorder (pooled OR = 11.43, 95% CI = 1.56–83.87) have a higher risk of postpartum SA; women who smoke during pregnancy (pooled OR = 3.87, 95% CI = 1.35–11.11) have a higher risk of SA in pregnancy; and women with previous suicidal behavior(pooled OR = 38.04, 95% CI = 3.36–431.17) have a higher risk of perinatal SA, whether during pregnancy or in the postpartum period. The type of sample, whether community or clinical, is a relevant moderating factor.ConclusionOur study extends prior reviews about suicidal behaviors in women by studying perinatal suicide attempts independently, as well as it synthesized data on some sociodemographic, clinical, and obstetric/neonatal risk factors. Further studies about specific risk factors for perinatal SA are needed in order to improve early detection and intervention of women at risk.

Bilirubin toxicity to the central nervous system (CNS) is responsible for severe and permanent neurologic damage, resulting in hearing loss, cognitive, and movement impairment. Timely and effective management of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia by phototherapy or exchange transfusion is crucial for avoiding permanent neurological consequences, but these therapies are not always possible, particularly in low-income countries. To explore alternative options, we investigated a pharmaceutical approach focused on protecting the CNS from pigment toxicity, independently from serum bilirubin level. To this goal, we tested the ability of curcumin, a nutraceutical already used with relevant results in animal models as well as in clinics in other diseases, in the Gunn rat, the spontaneous model of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Curcumin treatment fully abolished the landmark cerebellar hypoplasia of Gunn rat, restoring the histological features, and reverting the behavioral abnormalities present in the hyperbilirubinemic rat. The protection was mediated by a multi-target action on the main bilirubin-induced pathological mechanism ongoing CNS damage (inflammation, redox imbalance, and glutamate neurotoxicity). If confirmed by independent studies, the result suggests the potential of curcumin as an alternative/complementary approach to bilirubin-induced brain damage in the clinical scenario.