Abuse as a risk factor for prenatal depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Depression is the most common mental disorder in pregnancy. An important risk factor in the development of prenatal depression is lifetime history of abuse. The current review quantitatively synthesized research on the association between history of abuse and prenatal depressive symptoms using a meta-analytic technique. A total of 3322 articles were identified through electronic searches of the following databases: PsycINFO, PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE Cochrane Collaboration databases between the years of 1980 and 2016. All were independently screened against the following inclusion criteria: articles reporting on original data that included measures of prenatal depression and abuse. Data were extracted by the first and second authors. Descriptive analyses were conducted using Excel version 15.32, and all analyses involving effect sizes were conducted using comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA) version 3.0. Seventy articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analyses. Meta-bias detected no publication bias. Abuse had a significant positive relation with prenatal depressive symptoms, with effect sizes in the moderate range for any abuse ([Formula: see text] = 0.287), physical abuse ([Formula: see text] = 0.271), sexual abuse ([Formula: see text] = 0.259), and emotional abuse ([Formula: see text] = 0.340; Cohen 1969. Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Academic Press, New York). The meta-analyses found a robust relation between abuse and prenatal depressive symptoms holding across a variety of demographic and study design characteristics. These results reinforce the established association between trauma victimization and subsequent psychopathology, extending current knowledge to specifically address the under-studied area of prenatal depression. These findings highlight the need for women who have survived child or adulthood abuse to receive appropriate referral and psychological treatment to mitigate their risk for prenatal depression.

Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in females exposed to intimate partner violence

“…Not surprisingly, the examined females reported symptoms of depression and PTSD appeared as a prevalent concern in the current study. Several studies [23,24] confirmed these findings.…”

Prenatal Attachment, Parental Confidence, and Mental Health in Expecting Parents: The Role of Childhood Trauma

“…Most studies on mental health in pregnant women who experienced childhood maltreatment focused on depression and reported a robust association between child abuse or neglect and depressive symptoms. 9 Depression in adults exposed to maltreatment may be even more frequent during pregnancy than after the birth. 10 Despite the fact that antenatal depression is more prevalent in women than in men, a significant proportion of expectant fathers who have a history of childhood maltreatment report depressive symptoms.…”

“…Most studies on mental health in pregnant women who experienced childhood maltreatment focused on depression and reported a robust association between child abuse or neglect and depressive symptoms . Depression in adults exposed to maltreatment may be even more frequent during pregnancy than after the birth .…”

Female survivors of intimate partner violence and risk of depression, anxiety and serious mental illness

“…7 Previous systematic reviews of observational studies have identified associations between being a survivor of IPV with depression, suicide, post-traumatic stress disorder and prenatal depressive symptoms. [8][9][10][11][12] In a recent review of all cohorts exploring the impact of IPV on female survivors' physical and mental health, 4 13 of these studies explored the relationship between IPV and depression. None of these 13 studies were set in the UK.…”