Depression and anxiety during the perinatal period

Abstract

BackgroundMood and anxiety and related disorders (AD) account for a significant proportion of mental health conditions, with close to 30 % of the population (28.8 %) suffering from an AD at some time in their life, and over fifteen percent (16.2 %) suffering from a mood disorder. The existing empirical literature leaves a number of important gaps with respect to our understanding of mood, anxiety and stress related difficulties among pregnant and postpartum women. The objective of this research is to address these.MethodsParticipants were 660 English-speaking pregnant women. Participants for the portion of the research estimating the prevalence/incidence of perinatal mood disorders and AD (N = 347) were recruited proportionally from a geographically defined area. All participants were recruited via prenatal clinic visits at hospitals, physician offices and midwifery clinics, and via community outreach at events and through word of mouth. Recruitment took place between November 9, 2007 and November 12, 2010. Participants were administered questionnaires prenatally at two time points (approximately 24 and 33 weeks gestation) and again at 4–6 weeks’ postpartum and 6-months postpartum. Prevalence/incidence study participants who screened above cut-off on one or more of the 4–6 week mood and anxiety questionnaires were also administered a diagnostic interview for mood disorders and AD at approximately 8–12 weeks postpartum.DiscussionThis research addresses a number of gaps in our understanding of mood, anxiety and stress among pregnant and postpartum women. Specifically, gaps in our knowledge regarding the prevalence and incidence of (a) AD and mood disorders, and (b) anxiety and stress among women experiencing a medically high-risk pregnancy, interest in stress management training in pregnancy, mental health treatment barriers and access and screening for anxiety among pregnant and postpartum women are addressed. The findings from this series of studies have the potential to improve screening, assessment and treatment of mood and anxiety problems suffered by pregnant and postpartum women.

Consensus Bundle on Maternal Mental Health

“…Prevalence estimates of prenatal anxiety range from 13–21%, with postpartum prevalence estimated at 11–17%. 4 When left untreated, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are associated with adverse effects for women and their children. Depression with peripartum onset, or perinatal depression, refers to a major depressive episode occurring during pregnancy or within 4 weeks after birth.…”

“…5,6 Owing to the prevalence of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and the potential effects on both maternal and child health, optimizing maternal mental health care represents an important patient safety issue. Similar to depression, perinatal anxiety is associated with adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes and insecure maternal– newborn attachment 4 and is a strong predictor of perinatal depression. 7 Sixty percent of women with perinatal depression have pre-existing comorbid psychiatric disorders; of these, more than 80% are anxiety disorders.…”

Screening for antepartum anxiety and depression and their association with domestic violence among Egyptian pregnant women

“…Sample size was calculated using the online OpenEpi software, version 3.01 (Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA) [22], assuming 15% ± 5% frequency of both anxiety and depression as a problem among pregnant women [23] and at a 95% confidence interval (CI) with a design effect of 2 to guard for probability of nonrandom selection of participants. These inputs yielded a total of 392 pregnant women.…”

Promoção Da Saúde Materna a Partir Do Vivido Do Parto De Mulheres Cardiopatas

“…No que diz respeito à dimensão emocional, sabe-se que a ansiedade e estresse devem ser particularmente considerados no âmbito da gestação de alto risco, imprimindo complicações que culminam em piores resultados perinatais e afetando as relações familiares, por alterações do estado de saúde mental (16) . A doença cardíaca também está associada a maior desenvolvimento de depressão pós-parto, especialmente diante de complicações maternas.…”