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One hundred twelve pregnant women who were diagnosed depressed were randomly assigned to a group who received group Interpersonal Psychotherapy or to a group who received both group Interpersonal Psychotherapy and massage therapy. The group Interpersonal Psychotherapy (one hour sessions) and massage therapy (30 minute sessions) were held once per week for six weeks. The data suggested that the group who received psychotherapy plus massage attended more sessions on average, and a greater percentage of that group completed the six-week program. The group who received both therapies also showed a greater decrease in depression, depressed affect and somatic-vegetative symptom scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), a greater decrease in anxiety scale (STAI) scores and a greater decrease in cortisol levels. The group therapy process appeared to be effective for both groups as suggested by the increased expression of both positive and negative affect and relatedness during the group therapy sessions. Thus, the data highlight the effectiveness of group Interpersonal Psychotherapy and particularly when combined with massage therapy for reducing prenatal depression.

The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] response to daily supplementation with 20 microg cholecalciferol (D3) during winter in predominantly white premenopausal women living in Maine was measured and the effects of body composition and hormonal contraceptive use on baseline serum 25(OH)D concentrations and the response to supplementation were examined. A total of 112 women (22.2 +/- 3.7 y old) received placebo from March 2005 until September 2005 when they were randomized to receive either placebo or 20 microg/d D3 through February 2006. Eighty-six women completed the study. Actual mean D3 content of the supplements was 22 microg per capsule. In February 2005 the serum 25(OH)D concentration was 62.0 +/- 23.4 nmol/L (mean +/- SD). Serum 25(OH)D concentrations increased by 35.3 +/- 23.2 nmol/L from February 2005 to February 2006 in the treatment group, significantly more than the 10.9 +/- 16.9 nmol/L increase in the placebo group. Treatment group, magnitude of summer increase in 25(OH)D, estrogen dose, and baseline serum 25(OH)D concentrations, but not body fat, were significant predictors of the 1-y change in 25(OH)D concentrations used to assess the magnitude of the response to supplementation. Daily supplementation with 20 microg D3 during winter achieved optimal 25(OH)D concentrations (> or = 75 nmol/L) in 80% of participants, indicating that this dose is adequate to optimize vitamin D status in most young women in Maine.

As principals assume their roles in an urban bureaucracy, what are some of the personal and organizational factors that support or restrict their efforts to bring about school change? Based on interviews with newly appointed principals, this study concludes that external and internal factors interact to influence leadership behavior. External factors, particularly role models, district expectations, and personal and organizational support, influence principals’ sense of self-efficacy. This internal factor, in turn, appeared to play an important mediating role influencing principals’ interpretation of the organizational context and their problem-solving processes.

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