Contribution of the evaluation strategy and the use of hearing protection for the uncertainty associated with occupational exposure to noise

Doctoral Thesis for PhD degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering

Prenatal dopamine and neonatal behavior and biochemistry

Depressed pregnant women (N=126) were divided into high and low prenatal maternal dopamine (HVA) groups based on a tertile split on their dopamine levels at 20 weeks gestation. The high versus the low dopamine group had lower Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) scores, higher norepinephrine levels at the 20-week gestational age visit and higher dopamine and serotonin levels at both the 20- and the 32-week gestational age visits. The neonates of the mothers with high versus low prenatal dopamine levels also had higher dopamine and serotonin levels as well as lower cortisol levels. Finally, the neonates in the high dopamine group had better autonomic stability and excitability scores on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale. Thus, prenatal maternal dopamine levels appear to be negatively related to prenatal depression scores and positively related to neonatal dopamine and behavioral regulation, although these effects are confounded by elevated serotonin levels.

Versão portuguesa das “Escalas de Táticas de Conflito Revisadas”: estudo de validação

As escalas de Táticas de Conflito Revisadas (CTS2) destinam-se a avaliar o modo como os casais resolvem os seus conflitos, através de estratégias de negociação ou de abuso: (a) abuso físico sem sequelas; (b) agressão psicológica; (c) abuso físico com sequelas; (d) coerção sexual. A versão portuguesa foi administrada a uma amostra de 551 estudantes universitários (332 do sexo feminino), 45 dos quais têm uma relação íntima entre si. Considera os cinco factores propostos pelos autores das escalas originais e apresenta valores de consistência interna compreendidos entre .78 e .50. As correlações entre os diferentes tipos de abuso e a desejabilidade social, história de socialização violenta, crime violento, domínio na relação, e ainda a concordância nos heterorrelatos de ambos elementos da díade, testemunham a validade das escalas. Investigadores e técnicos da psicologia e áreas afins têm agora à sua disposição a versão portuguesa das CTS2, que tem demonstrado elevada aplicabilidade na determinação da presença de relações abusivas no seio da família, na avaliação da eficácia de programas de intervenção no contexto forense e em estudos de cariz epidemiológico.

Partner relationships during pregnancy in anxious and depressed women and men

To assess anxiety, depression and relationship satisfaction in both women and men during pregnancy, the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI), The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) and The Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) were administered during the second trimester to a sample of 59 pregnant women and their partners. Anxious pregnant women rated their relationships as less positive. Depressed pregnant women also rated their relationships as less positive. The women’s anxiety scores were predictive of their positive and negative relationship scores. The women and their partners’ negative relationship scores were also predictive of each others’ negative relationship scores. These results highlight the importance of targeting anxiety as well as depression, and pregnant women as well as their partners in prenatal intervention programs.