Open Access
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2018; 78(12): 1283-1291
DOI: 10.1055/a-0677-2630
GebFra Science
Original Article/Originalarbeit
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction in Pregnancy: an App-Based Programme to Improve the Health of Mothers and Children (MINDFUL/PMI Study)

Article in several languages: English | deutsch
Bernd Lenz*
1   Psychiatrische und Psychotherapeutische Klinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
,
Anna Eichler*
2   Kinder- und Jugendabteilung für Psychische Gesundheit, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
,
Eva Schwenke*
3   Frauenklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
,
Verena N. Buchholz
1   Psychiatrische und Psychotherapeutische Klinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
,
Charlotte Hartwig
3   Frauenklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
,
Gunther H. Moll
2   Kinder- und Jugendabteilung für Psychische Gesundheit, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
,
Karin Reich
1   Psychiatrische und Psychotherapeutische Klinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
,
Christiane Mühle
1   Psychiatrische und Psychotherapeutische Klinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
,
Bernhard Volz
3   Frauenklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
4   Biostatistics and Data Management Unit, Frauenklinik des Universitätsklinikums Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
,
Adriana Titzmann
3   Frauenklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
,
Matthias W. Beckmann
3   Frauenklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
,
Hartmut Heinrich*
2   Kinder- und Jugendabteilung für Psychische Gesundheit, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
5   kbo-Heckscher-Klinikum, München, Germany
,
Johannes Kornhuber*
1   Psychiatrische und Psychotherapeutische Klinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
,
Peter A. Fasching*
3   Frauenklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 26 June 2018
revised 10 August 2018

accepted 10 August 2018

Publication Date:
14 December 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Unfavourable intrauterine environmental factors increase the risk of delivery complications as well as postpartum developmental and behavioural problems in children and adolescents with ongoing effects into older age. Biomarker studies show that maternal stress and the use of alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy are associated with a higher intrauterine testosterone exposure of the child. The antenatal testosterone load, in turn, is a risk factor for lasting adverse health effects which extend into adulthood. A 15-week, mindfulness-oriented, app-based programme for the reduction of stress as well as for the reduction of alcohol and tobacco use in pregnant women is established. In the monocentre, prospective, controlled, and investigator-blinded MINDFUL/PMI (Maternal Health and Infant Development in the Follow-up after Pregnancy and a Mindfulness Intervention) study, pregnant women carry out the programme. Its effect on antenatal testosterone exposure of the child is examined by assessing the index/ring finger length ratio and other biomarkers in the 1-year-old children. In addition, the programmeʼs effects on self-regulation, the developmental status and the mental health of the children at the age of one year will be investigated. Additional aspects of the course of the pregnancy and delivery represent exploratory study objectives. This longitudinal study project is intended to improve the understanding of the impact of intrauterine environmental factors on early childhood development and health. Maternal stress as well as alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy are modifiable factors and represent potential preventive targets.

* The authors contributed equally.