CENA LOREDANA

Research: Early screening and prompt intervention to identify and treat maternal perinatal mental health---- Research in agreement of scientific collaboration with the Istituto Superiore Sanità of Rome---- ---Introduction: The most common mental disorders in women during the perinatal (antenatal and postnatal) period are depressive syndromes and anxiety syndromes. The global prevalence of maternal perinatal depression ranges from 10% to 20%, while the prevalence of perinatal anxiety ranges from 10% to 24%. The comorbidity of mood and anxiety disorders in perinatal women is common, reaching 40%. In Italy, a few studies have been undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of perinatal depression and anxiety, and there is still a scarcity of research and intervention programmes regarding primary prevention. Three of the main aims of this study are (1) to evaluate the prevalence of maternal perinatal depression and anxiety in a large sample of women attending healthcare centres in Italy; (2) to investigate the psychosocial risks and protective factors associated with maternal perinatal depression and anxiety; (3) to evaluate the influence of maternal depression and anxiety on the baby (4) to evaluate the effectiveness of manualized psychological interventions to treat perinatal depression and anxiety in a large sample of mothers in Italy. Methods and analysis: This is a prospective cohort study, which merges an observational design and a pre-post intervention design. The study included a one-year recruitment period and a one-year follow-up period. The methodological strategy includes (1) self-report questionnaires on maternal depression, anxiety, health status, quality of life, and psychosocial risks; (2) a self-report questionnaire to measure the infant’s temperament; (3) a clinical interview; (4) a structured diagnostic interview; (5) a psychological intervention. Ethics and dissemination: The study protocol was approved by the Ethical Committee of Bologna Hospital. Results will be published in international peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international scientific conferences. This study will develop research relevant to (1) antenatal and postnatal depression and anxiety screening procedures; (2) early psychological intervention in the perinatal health services.

Research: Investigating adolescents video gaming and gambling activities, and their relationships with behavioral, emotional and social difficulties--------- Introduction Growing empirical evidences suggest that adolescents have a relatively greater propensity to develop problematic video gaming and/or gambling habits. The main aim of this study are to estimate the prevalence of potential pathological gambling and pathological video game use among adolescent students and to evaluate their risk and protective factors. Methods and analysis This study is a cross-sectional multi-informant online survey. It will include a large sample of adolescents from first and second grade secondary schools located in northern Italy, their schoolteachers and parents. The survey includes extensive data on adolescents’ (a) demographic, social, economic and environmental characteristics; (b) behavioral, emotional, and social problems and adaptive functioning; (c) emotional and social loneliness; (d) perception of the reasons to use social networks; (e) video game habits and pathological use of video-gaming; (f) gambling behaviors. Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the the Institutional Ethics Board the Spedali Civili of Brescia on 2020. Results aim to be presented in relevant national and international conferences, and published in peer-reviewed journals. This research project will help develop a model for the identification of adolescents’ pathological gambling and pathological video game use. Key words: Adolescents; pathological video-gaming; pathological gambling;

Research: Perspectives on the psychological effects of stillbirth on mothers and fathers----------------------------------------------------------------Introduction Despite the fact that stillbirth has a wider economic impact on health systems and society and despite the fact that the importance of appropriate psychological and social support for parents has been highlighted, there is still a lack of research exploring the intrapsychic and interpersonal dynamics and issues triggered by the experience of stillbirth. Healthcare professionals attempting to provide effective psychological support to bereaved perinatal parents continue to struggle to achieve better and deeper understanding of their psychological states and processes. In this scenario, psychoanalysis could play a key role, but the studies available are confined to psychoanalytic journals and there is a lack of synthesis, leaving this knowledge beyond the reach of scientists from other theoretical approaches or disciplines. This protocol proposes the systematic review and qualitative synthesis of psychoanalytic journal articles on the psychological effects of stillbirth on mothers and fathers. Methods and analysis This systematic review will follow, as far as possible, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The Psychoanalytic Electronic Publishing Archive (1999–2019) and the Single Case Archive (1999–2019) will be used to identify relevant articles. Articles reporting clinical material and/or theoretical considerations concerning parents’ psychological states and processes triggered by the experience of stillbirth will be included in this review. A meta-synthesis will be performed. Ethics and dissemination Formal ethical approval is not required for this study, as no primary data will be collected. The findings will be published in an international peer-reviewed journal.