When navigating, women typically focus on landmarks within the environment, whereas men tend to focus on the Euclidean properties of the environment. However, it is unclear whether these observed differences in navigational skill result from disparate strategies or disparate ability. To remove this confound, the present study required participants to follow either landmark-or Euclidean-based instructions during a navigation task (either in the real-world or on paper). Men performed best when using Euclidean information, whereas women performed best when using landmark information, suggesting a dimorphic capacity to use these 2 types of spatial information. Further, a significant correlation was observed between the mental rotation task and the ability to use Euclidean information, but not the ability to use landmark information.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for menopausal symptoms (CBT-Meno) compared with a waitlist condition (no active intervention). A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 71 perimenopausal or postmenopausal women who were seeking treatment for menopausal symptoms. Methods: Blind assessments were conducted at baseline, 12 weeks postbaseline, and 3 months post-treatment. An intention-to-treat analysis was conducted. CBT-Meno sessions included psychoeducation, and cognitive and behavioral strategies for vasomotor and depressive symptoms, anxiety, sleep difficulties, and sexual concerns. Primary outcomes were scores on the Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDIS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Secondary outcomes were scores assessing vasomotor and sexual concerns on the Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS-vm, GCS-sex), the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Results: There were significantly greater improvements in CBT-Meno compared with waitlist in vasomotor symptom interference (HFRDIS; P < 0.001, η2 P  = 0.21) and “bothersomeness” (GCS-vm; P = 0.04, η2 P  = 0.06), depressive symptoms (BDI-II; P = 0.001, η2 P  = 0.15), sleep difficulties (PSQI; P = 0.001, η2 P  = 0.17), and sexual concerns (GCS-sex; P = 0.03, η2 P  = 0.07). These results were found even when controlling for menopausal staging and medication use. Gains were maintained at 3 months post-treatment. Conclusions: CBT-Meno was particularly effective in improving self-reported vasomotor symptoms, depressive symptoms, sleep difficulties, and sexual concerns. Although future studies will be needed to confirm the impact of CBT-Meno on anxiety symptoms, these results suggest that this protocol is effective in targeting commonly reported menopausal symptoms. Video Summary: Supplemental Digiatl Content 1, http://links.lww.com/MENO/A416

Although some treatment benefits were identified (e.g. change in pain-related beliefs), future research should test the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioural treatment program tailored for seniors with participants who are experiencing higher pain intensities than those reported by our sample (i.e. those who experience a higher level of pain at baseline may represent a more suitable sample for assessing the effectiveness of our intervention in reducing pain intensity).

Along with physical and biological changes, a tremendous amount of upheaval and adjustment accompany the pregnancy and postpartum period of a woman's life that together can often result in what is commonly known as postpartum depression. However, anxiety disorders have been found to be more frequent than depression during pregnancy and at least as common, if not more so, during the postpartum period, e.g., Brockington et al., (Archieves Women's Ment Health 9:253-263, 2006; Wenzel et al. (J Anxiety Disord, 19:295-311, 2005). Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a well-established psychological treatment of choice for anxiety; however, few studies have specifically examined a cognitive-behavioral intervention targeting perinatal anxiety. This pilot study examined the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral group treatment (CBGT) program specifically tailored to address perinatal anxiety in 10 women who were either pregnant or within 12 months postpartum. Participants were recruited from a women's clinic at an academic hospital setting, with anxiety identified as their principal focus of distress. Following a diagnostic interview confirming a primary anxiety disorder and completion of assessment measures, participants completed a 6-week CBGT program. There was a statistically significant reduction in anxiety and depressive symptoms following the CBGT program (all p < 0.05). Participants also reported high acceptability and satisfaction with this treatment for addressing their perinatal anxiety. These findings suggest that CBGT for perinatal anxiety is a promising treatment for both anxiety and depressive symptoms experienced during the perinatal period. Further studies are needed to evaluate the treatment efficacy through larger controlled trials.

Prevalence of perinatal anxiety disorders continues to grow, with estimates greater than those of postpartum depression. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most commonly reported perinatal anxiety disorder, yet very little is known about the worry content experienced during the perinatal period in those with GAD. This study investigated worry content and frequency in a sample of perinatal women (n = 20) and age‐matched nonperinatal women (n = 20) diagnosed with GAD. Participants completed the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) to assess worry severity, in addition to providing their current top worries. Mean scores on the PSWQ in both samples exceeded a clinical cut‐off score of 65, and thematic analyses revealed that perinatal women experienced significantly greater parental‐themed worries compared with the nonperinatal GAD sample (p < .05). Capturing the unique content of worry for perinatal woman will assist clinicians in identifying treatment targets and may enhance treatment outcome.

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Background: Up to one in five women meet diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder during the perinatal period (i.e. pregnancy and up to 1 year postpartum). While psychotropic medications are effective, they are associated with risks for mothers and babies. There is a growing demand for evidence-based non-pharmacological treatments for perinatal anxiety. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral group therapy protocol for perinatal anxiety. Methods: In total, 96 women were randomized to cognitive behavioral group therapy or waitlist at a clinic specializing in women’s mental health. Participants were 22–41 years of age, pregnant or up to 6 months postpartum and had an anxiety disorder with or without comorbid depression. Results: Compared to waitlist, participants in cognitive behavioral group therapy reported significantly greater reductions in the primary outcome of anxiety (State-Trait Inventory of Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety, η2p = .19; Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, η2p = .16), as well as in secondary outcomes including worry (Penn State Worry Questionnaire, η2p = .29), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale, η2p = .33) and depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, η2p = .27; Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, η2p = .11). Maternal status (pregnant, postpartum) and medication use were unrelated to treatment outcomes. All gains were maintained, or continued to improve, at 3-month follow-up. Conclusion: Cognitive behavioral group therapy was effective in improving anxiety and related symptoms among women with anxiety disorders in the perinatal period.

The menopausal transition is frequently accompanied by adverse physical and emotional changes that can significantly impact a woman's quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy has been the most commonly used menopause-related treatment to date, particularly for the alleviation of vasomotor symptoms; recent studies, however, have questioned its long-term safety for some women. We aimed to develop a cognitive-behavioral group treatment (CBGT) program as an alternative or complementary treatment option for reducing the frequency and intensity of debilitating menopausal symptoms in midlife women. Eight subjects participated in two, 10-week pilot groups (n = 4 participants per group) with participants being drawn from referrals through the Women's Health Concerns Clinic and community advertising efforts. This pilot study confirmed a reduction in the frequency and interference associated with vasomotor symptoms, less depression and general anxiety, and an overall improvement in quality of life. Participants also reported high levels of satisfaction with this type of treatment for menopausal symptoms. Furthermore, there was a trend towards a reduction in sleep difficulties and sexual concerns over the course of treatment. This pilot CBGT program appears to be a promising alternative or complementary treatment for both the physical and emotional symptoms experienced during menopause. Further studies are needed on its efficacy through larger, controlled trials.