Due to considerable heterogeneity (Q=131,10; p<0.0001), a random effects model was applied. The overall effect size found for the association between depression and IVF-outcome was statistically significant, with a higher number of depressive symptoms being associated with reduced pregnancy chances (ESr=−0,06, failsafe N=114, p<0.05 Growing evidence shows that that elevated stress during pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm delivery and other pregnancy and birth complications. Neuroendocrine, immune, inflammatory, and cardiovascular factors have been suggested as possible mediators of the relationship between stress and birth outcomes, and recent data suggest that stress-related changes in cytokine production and inflammation may contribute to these effects. Work in our laboratory has focused on quantifying the effects of perceived stress and social support on pregnancy outcome and the degree to which neural-immune interactions may be involved in these effects. Initial work in the lab focused on establishing connections between maternal prenatal stress and low social support and alterations in cytokine balance in the circulation and cytokine production by stimulated peripheral lymphocytes. This work indicated that indeed, elevated stress and lower social support was related to increases in circulating inflammatory mediators, reduction in anti-inflammatory cytokines, and similar changes in the production of cytokines in vitro by mitogenstimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes. Additional studies began to connect these findings to the likelihood of premature delivery and other complications of pregnancy, and have started to demonstrate that indeed, increased stress and distress early in pregnancy is related not only to elevations in inflammatory mediators in the prenatal period, but is also associated with higher frequency of pregnancy and birth complications. Most recently, our work has focused on the role of maternal ethnicity and acculturation in the impact of stress on pregnancy, and on the role of catecholamines in these relationships. Elevated proinflammatory cytokines were lower levels of support and higher stress throughout pregnancy, and higher social support was associated with higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines late in pregnancy. Moreover, elevated inflammatory markers were related to higher pregnancy-specific distress early in gestation, as well as lower 1-minute APGAR scores, lower gestational age at birth, and increased occurrence of birth complications including meconium aspiration, nuchal cord, and asphyxia. Together, these studies indicate that psychosocial factors are related to increases in inflammatory mediators and subsequently, increased risk of pregnancy complications and untoward birth outcomes. , and African American (AA) (n=1521) females in grades 9 -12 were examined. FSI history was assessed by asking the following yes/no question: "Have you ever been physically forced to have sexual intercourse when you did not want to?" The outcome variable, suicidality, was measured by a single yes/no item: "During the past 12 months, did you ever seriously consider attempting suicide?" Alcohol use, was assessed by asking, "During the past 30 days, on how many days did you have 1 or more drinks of alcohol?" Responses were dichotomized as "yes/no" to having one or more drinks of alcohol on at least 1 day in the past 30 days. , and a range of other covariates. 4 domains of change were coded into three categories: good change, no change, bad change. The analyses were then conducted for single domains and for a sum score indicating the overall rating of change. The CAGE questionnaire score, the score of drinking-related problems and mean annual intake of alcohol were used as the outcomes, and regression modelling was used to analyze the association between the exposures and the outcomes taking range of covariates into the account. The analysis was done separately for men and women. Results: After controlling for age, sex and range of possible confounding variables, the persons who rated the changes as negative have more alcohol-related problems and alcohol abuse (odds ratios of a high CAGE score 1.30 for men and 1.76 for women for those reporting negative change compared to those reporting no change). The amount of consumed alcohol is significantly higher among the "winners" (those who rate the changes as good), followed by loosers with those rating changes as neutral drinking the least. Conclusions: While the alcohol-related problems and alcohol abuse are more likely among those who perceive the social and economic changes as negative, the amount of consumed alcohol is significantly higher among the "winners" of social change. There was a large reduction in the price of alcohol in 2004 in Finland due to a reduction in alcohol taxes by one-third, on the average, and due to the abolition of travellers' duty free allowances from the EU. The present study investigated the effects of this reduction in alcohol prices on alcohol-related and all-cause mortality, alcohol-related hospitalisation, and interpersonal violence. This study used several population-based register data and statistical Methods: Time series intervention analysis modelling was applied to monthly aggregations of deaths and hospitalisation in 1996-2006 for men and women aged 15 years and over. Socioeconomic differentials in alcohol-related mortality and interpersonal violence data were analysed with a before/after design. Alcohol-related mortality was defined using information on both underlying and contributory causes of death. Hospitalisation related to alcohol was defined as those with a reference to alcohol in the primary diagnosis.