Churchill et al. conducted a systematic review using validated, objective measures of autonomic functioning to gain better understanding of the physiological benefits of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for a clinical health population. Autonomic dysregulation is common in many medical conditions and can have widespread, negative impact on multiple bodily systems, leading to poorer health outcomes. Ten articles met their inclusion criteria for reports on MBI in oncology, cardiac, and chronic pain conditions. Of these, only oncology met criteria for "possibly effective." There was, however, some evidence of significant benefit for all three health conditions in individual study findings.

Pages 2–10; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001260

Stress plays a central role in the development of obesity, but research on treatment options to tackle elevated stress levels in youth with obesity is scarce. Van Royen et al. examined the impact of the Multidisciplinary Obesity Treatment (MOT; a lifestyle intervention including physical exercise, healthy meals, and cognitive behavioral techniques) on physiological stress parameters in young people with obesity (n = 92). MOT may effectively reduce physiological stress responses, and preliminary evidence suggests a potential additional effect of emotion regulation training.

Pages 11–19; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001262

Stress is a process involving exposure, appraisal, coping, and adaptation. People may differentially appraise and adapt to stressors including racial discrimination. Reeves et al. studied African-American women (n = 208). Women reported fewer racial discrimination events versus general stressful events but appraised racial discrimination as more stressful. Racial discrimination stressfulness had a U-shaped relationship with systolic blood pressure that was stronger than that for other stressful events and general stress appraisals. These findings highlight the importance of assessing appraisals and document racial discrimination as a unique and salient stressor.

Pages 20–29; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001255

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common, debilitating, and associated with an increased risk of health problems, including cardiovascular disease. PTSD has been related to poor autonomic function indicated by reduced heart rate variability (HRV). Slavish et al. tested World Trade Center responders (n = 169), oversampled for PTSD, for how PTSD symptoms in daily life were associated with HRV. PTSD symptoms were not static, and their short-term fluctuations affected cardiovascular functioning. There is possible benefit in interventions that can be deployed in the moment to either halt momentary increases in PTSD symptoms or to mitigate their impact on cardiovascular health.

Pages 30–36; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001265

Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Daniels et al. examined cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) and depressive symptoms in adults who smoke and have low levels of physical activity (n = 84). Higher levels of cf-mtDNA were associated with depression (categorical), lower positive affect, and decreased behavioral activation, consistent with a possible role for mitochondrial function in depressive symptomatology.

Pages 37–43; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001254

The systems model of pain suggests that pain and perceived stress are bidirectionally associated at the within-person level, and the associations are heightened among those with depressive disorder. Saba et al. tested the systems model in military veterans (n = 902) who had been injured in combat. In line with the systems model, participants’ pain and perceived stress were bidirectionally associated only among combat-injured veterans with depressive disorder. Clinicians addressing pain and perceived stress in injured veterans should be prepared to identify and address depressive disorder.

Pages 44–51; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001253

Diabetes is frequently linked with depression, and both are common complications during pregnancy. However, any relationship between diabetes mellitus in pregnancy (DMP) and perinatal depression has been inconsistent. Björvang et al. sought to examine the association between DMP and perinatal depression while considering possible confounders and addressing antepartum depression and postpartum depression separately (n = 4459). Women with DMP had two-fold higher odds for postpartum depression compared to women without DMP. Although no association was observed between DMP and antepartum depression, women with DMP had more antepartum depressive symptoms compared to those without DMP.

Pages 52–58; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001261