Background and Objectives: One of the most significant psychiatric problems in women is depression related to the perinatal period. Our study aims to determine the frequency and course of depressive symptomatology in the perinatal period with particular reference to objective rate and outcome of postpartum depression. Materials and Methods: One hundred and eighty-eight pregnant/postnatal women were included in a prospective, longitudinal, observational study during which the depressive symptomatology was estimated at the third trimester of pregnancy, and the first, sixth, and twelfth month‚ postpartum. All participants completed a semi-structured sociodemographic questionnaire constructed for research purposes, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and The Mood Disorder Questionnaire at each time point. Postpartum depression diagnosis was confirmed by a trained and certified psychiatrist with long-standing experience. For a better understanding of the trajectory of depressive symptomatology and genuine postpartum depression, we classified depression into those with new-onset and those left over from the previous observation period. Results: In general, 48.9% of participants in the study were depressed at some point during the investigation. A total of 10.6% of women were depressed in the third trimester. The highest percentage of new-onset depression (25%) was in the first month after giving birth and was maintained for up to six months, after which the appearance was sporadic. Most of the postpartum depression resolved in the period from the first month to the sixth month after childbirth (20.7%). The episodes mainly had characteristics of unipolar depression. Conclusions: Our results imply that a new onset of depression is most intensive during the first six months, and after that, it is sporadic. Further studies are needed to explore whether all depressive symptomatology in the postnatal period is the same, or perhaps postpartum depression, classified in this way, has specific characteristics, etiology, and consequently different treatment and preventive options.

Background: Alexithymia is one's incapacity to identify, comprehend, and describe emotions. There is almost no literature data about the levels of alexithymia among patients with relapse remitting type of multiple sclerosis. Aim: The objective of the present study was to assess the levels of alexithymia in patients with relapse remitting type of multiple sclerosis in relation to their sociodemographic variables and clinical characteristics of the disease. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 106 consecutively assessed patients with relapse remitting type of multiple sclerosis. In addition to the data regarding disease duration, number of demyelinating relapses, and degree of neurological disability, assessed by the expanded disability scale score (EDSS), we used Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS), fatigue severity scale (FSS) and, Hamilton scale for the assessment of anxiety and depression and sociodemographic questionnaire. Results: Study included 74 female and 32 male patients, with a median age of 44 years, median disease duration 90 months, and median EDSS 4. About 29.55% of patients had alexithymia and borderline alexithymia was observed in 31.15% patients. Alexithymia correlated with anxiety and depression (P < 0.01) on all TAS subscales. Higher levels of neurological disability based on EDSS, severe fatigue based on FSS scores, and severe relapse remitting type of multiple sclerosis with more relapses and longer disease duration correlated with alexithymia (P < 0.01), depression (P < 0.01), and anxiety (P < 0.01). Higher rates of alexithymia were noticed in older, unemployed, single patients, and those having fewer children. Conclusions: Alexithymia was found in a relatively high percentage in patients with relapse remitting type of multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Some psychosociodemographic and characteristics of pregnancy and childbirth have been associated with the onset of postpartum depression in the literature. Aim: To examine certain psychosociodemographic and characteristics of pregnancy and childbirth as potential risk factors for the onset of postpartum depression in the early postpartum period. Material and Methods: The study involved 120 subjects, which included the use of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and a sociodemographic questionnaire constructed for the purposes of this study, in the early postpartum period. Results: Of the total 92 (76.7%) subjects were not depressed, while 28 (23.3%) had depression. The high risk of postpartum depression correlates with: postpartum weight gain, subjective experience of lack of freedom, fear that she would be abandoned (p <0.05), as well as having frequent quarrels, mentioning a divorce or divorce, and a temporary separation, poor relationship with the parents on both sides and poor general family atmosphere (p <0.001). A statistically significant risk of depression was also found in the group with complications during childbirth, unplanned pregnancy (p <0.001), as well as alcohol and cigarette consumption during pregnancy (p <0.05). Conclusion: The risk of postpartum depression can be detected by applying the EPDS scale in the early postpartum period. Early detection of potential risk factors can significantly prevent the onset of postpartum depression and significantly affect the central psychological process in the postpartum period, which is related to the development of an emotional relationship between mother and child.

Postpartum psychiatric disorders are mental disorders which occur after childbirth. Untreated depression and anxiety during pregnancy as well as stress and previous episodes of depression are significant risk factors for postpartum psychiatric disorders. Postpartum blues, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, as well as postpartum anxiety disorders, are most commonly reported after delivery. The occurrence of postpartum depression increases the likelihood of psychiatric morbidity later in life. The presence of psychotic symptomatology with psychomotor agitation and unpredictable behavior is a significant risk factor for suicide or infanticide. Studies have shown that more than half of women with depression during pregnancy or postpartum have some comorbid anxiety disorder. The possibility of developing a panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder increases after delivery, while the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder is reduced during that period of time. A reliable instrument for screening the spectrum of postpartum mental disorders is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale - EPDS. Postpartum psychiatric disorders disturb the central psychological process, i.e. the development of emotional relationship between mother and child, and negatively affects on the behavior, cognitive development and physical health of the child.

Chronic low back pain is a frequent medical condition, and a major problem especially among the working population, because it influences their working ability. The research aimed to evaluate the influence of pain on quality of life (QoL), and quality of sleep (QoS) in patients suffering from chronic low back pain, during 2 years of follow-up. The study included 128 patients. Patients were tested on 4 occasions (on admission, after 6, 12, and 24 months from initial testing). Based on age, they were divided into 3 groups: I group 18 to 30 years; II group 30 to 50 years; III group 50 to 65 years. The SF36 QoL questionnaire, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and the Hamilton scales for the assessment of anxiety (HARS) and depression (HDRS) were used. We did not find any statistically significant correlation between worse QoL and QoS with patients’ epidemiological factors, but younger patients tend to have slightly worse scores. Elderly patients were more disabled ( P <.01). In young individuals, SF36 scores were significantly higher ( P <.05), and PSQI scores were lower ( P <.01) than in the elderly. Neuropathic pain was an independent predictor of the lower SF36 scores – which indicates worse QoL (adjusted R ² = 0.73, P <.01 for the overall model) and higher PSQI scores – which indicates worse QoS (adjusted R ² = 0.71, P <.01 for the overall model). Neuropathic pain is a predictor of worse QoL and QoS. During the follow-up reduction in pain is noticed in all groups, but more pronounced in patients younger than 50.

Background/Aim. Quality of life (QoL) is one of the out-come measures for patients with chronic diseases. Mental health issues often impact the QoL of cancer patients. Cancer patients with a good QoL have a longer life expectancy and are able to lead a more productive and social life. The aim of the study was to determine the association of mental health with the QoL, as well as to determine significant predictors of QoL in patients with breast cancer (BC). Methods. The study included 118 patients treated at the Specialized Breast Cancer Department of the Oncology Clinic of the University Clinical Center Nis, Serbia. The study?s inclusion criteria were the presence of early-stage nonmetastatic BC and completed surgical treatment. The following questionnaires were used: the general sociodemographic questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, Early Maladaptive Schema questionnaire - short form (SQ-SF), Flanagan?s Quality of Life Scale (QoLS), Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS), Health Locus of Control. Results. A statistically significant negative correlation was found with emotional state, i.e., anxiety score, depressiveness score, total stress score, and physical aggression score, while QoL correlated positively with all subscales of the perceived social support (PSS) questionnaire. QoL was significantly different for patients with the following early maladaptive schemas: emotional deprivation, emotional inhibition, and a sense of entitlement/narcissism. Moreover, QoL differed significantly depending on partnership status, the presence of clinically significant anxiety, the presence of hormone-sensitive cancer, the presence of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive cancer, and time since diagnosis. Multiple linear regression was per-formed, and depression and PSS had the highest share. Conclusion. In our study, the presence of depressiveness and PSS were the best predictors of QoL of BC survivors.