Faculty Collaboration Database

Examining emotion regulation and inflammation as predictors of maternal mental health after fetal anomaly diagnosis. Brain Behav Immun 2024 Nov;122:1-8

Date

08/07/2024

Pubmed ID

39106938

DOI

10.1016/j.bbi.2024.08.001

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85200812363 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   1 Citation

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Fetal anomalies occur in approximately 3% of pregnancies and receiving the diagnosis may be a potentially traumatic experience for families. The mental health of mothers receiving diagnoses and what predicts resilience or poor mental health is understudied. Emotion regulation is an important, modifiable, transdiagnostic factor of mental health, and may be protective post-diagnosis. Evaluating biomarkers of stress, including IL-6 and Allostatic Load (AL), can also serve as early indicators of risk, indicative of early intervention. This study assessed whether reappraisal, suppression, IL-6, and AL was associated with mental health outcomes and resilience in women after receiving a fetal anomaly diagnosis.

METHODS: Pregnant women (N=108) presenting to a fetal concerns clinic for initial consultation completed measures of emotion regulation (i.e., reappraisal and suppression), depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and resilience between 2019-2022. A blood draw was used to assess IL-6 and create composite allostatic load measure including: IL-6, blood pressure, heart rate, glucose, cortisol, and body mass index.

RESULTS: Linear regressions controlling for age, gestational age, and perceived fetal diagnosis severity, demonstrated that IL-6 was negatively associated with resilience and positively associated with depression. Reappraisal was positively associated to resilience and negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, whereas state insurance status was positively associated to anxiety and PTS symptoms. Suppression and allostatic load were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS: Women experiencing fetal anomaly diagnosis represent an understudied population with unaddressed mental health needs. Reappraisal serves as not only a protective factor, but one that can be enhanced to promote maternal resilience and mental health. Furthermore, elevated IL-6 may be a critical early indicator of potential intervention needs among women who are pregnant, to mitigate negative psychological states and enhance resilience.

Author List

Timmer-Murillo SC, Mowrer A, Wang AZ, Jazinski-Chambers K, Piña I, Rundell MR, Bennett JM, Wagner AJ, deRoon-Cassini TA

Authors

Sydney Timmer-Murillo PhD Assistant Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Amy Wagner MD Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Terri A. deRoon Cassini PhD Center Director, Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Allostasis
Anxiety
Biomarkers
Congenital Abnormalities
Depression
Female
Fetus
Humans
Inflammation
Interleukin-6
Maternal Health
Mental Health
Pregnancy
Prenatal Diagnosis
Resilience, Psychological
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Stress, Psychological
Young Adult