Changes in prenatal depression and anxiety levels in low risk pregnancy among Iranian women: A prospective study

Abstract

Background There is limited information on the changes in uncomplicated pregnancies. Therefore, in the present study, the changes of depression and anxiety changes in uncomplicated pregnancies during the prenatal period was evaluated. Method This longitudinal study was performed on 256 pregnant women at the beginning of the rst trimester of pregnancy. Inclusion criteria included the absence of pre-pregnancy depression and anxiety and poor pregnancy history. Exclusion criteria were the incidence of pregnancy complications. The level of their depression and anxiety at the time of entering the study were completed by self-report using the DASS questionnaire at 9-10, 11-12, 24-25, and 33-35 weeks of pregnancy. Results The results of the study indicated the effect of time on the level of perinatal depression and anxiety (p < 0.001). These ndings showed that the level of depression increased signi cantly from 9 to 24 weeks of pregnancy and decreased in the 32-34 weeks, but did not reach the level of depression at 9 weeks of pregnancy. Also, the anxiety level increased signi cantly from the onset of pregnancy to the 24 weeks gestation but did not change during the second and third trimesters. The ndings of the study showed that depression and anxiety levels in each of the pregnancy termites were related to its level in the previous trimesters. Conclusion The results of the study showed that the level of depression and anxiety of women in uncomplicated pregnancies also increases. Therefore, psychological health screenings in the second trimester of pregnancy should be performed in these women.

Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Prevalence of Insomnia, Anxiety, and Depression During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The average duration between data collection and publication was 2,018.187 ± 1.709 in the studies included in the analysis. The studies were conducted in Israel (Adler et al, 2019), United States (Gildner et al, 2020;Kalmbach et al, 2019;Kinser et al, 2018;Perzow et al, 2021), Turkey (Akgor et al, 2021;Alan et al, 2020;Nacar & Taşhan, 2019;Sel et al, 2019), Ethiopia (Bante et al, 2021;Belay et al, 2018;Duko et al, 2019;Gebremichael et al, 2018;Habtamu Belete et al, 2019;Shitu Ayen et al, 2020;Tesfaye & Agenagnew, 2021;Tiki et al, 2020), Bangladesh (Begum & Biswas, 2020), Italy (Cena et al, 2020;, China (Dong et al, 2021;Lau et al, 2018;Lin et al, 2021;Mo et al, 2018;Yang et al, 2021;Yu et al, 2020;Zhang et al, 2021;Zhang, Yang, et al, 2020), Denmark (Ertmann et al, 2020), South Africa (Govender et al, 2020;Kaiyo-Utete et al, 2020), Iran (Hamzehgardeshi et al, 2021;Kazemi & Dadkhah, 2022;Saadati et al, 2021), Finland (Laitinen et al, 2021), Ghana (Lillie et al, 2020), Vietnam (Luong-Thanh et al, 2021, Croatia (Mikšić et al, 2018), Malez either (Nasreen et al, 2018)...…”

“…Besides, the income level of the countries did not have a statistically significant effect on the prevalence of depression during pregnancy (Q = 2.43 df = 2 p = .2965). This systematic review included findings about 13 studies on the depression symptoms measurement scores during pregnancy (Akgor et al, 2021;Dong et al, 2021;Gebremichael et al, 2018;Gildner et al, 2020;Kazemi & Dadkhah, 2022;Kinser et al, 2018;Lau et al, 2018;Lillie et al, 2020;Lin et al, 2021;Luong-Thanh et al, 2021;Perzow et al, 2021;Sheeba et al, 2019;Zilver et al, 2021). Depression symptoms mean score obtained from these studies was found 6.109 ± 0.577 (95% CI: 4.978-7.239; z: 10.591, I 2 : 99.604; p < .001).…”

“…However, the result of the meta-regression conducted with the moderator variable before and during the pandemic was not statistically significant (Q = 1.68, df = 1, p = .194; Figure 2). This systematic review included findings about nine studies on the depression symptoms measurement scores during pregnancy before the Covid-19 pandemic (Gebremichael et al, 2018;Kazemi & Dadkhah, 2022;Kinser et al, 2018;Lau et al, 2018;Lillie et al, 2020;Luong-Thanh et al, 2021;Perzow et al, 2021;Sheeba et al, 2019;Zilver et al, 2021). Depression symptoms mean score obtained from these studies was found 5.766 ± 0.431 (95% CI: 4.922-7.239; z: 6.610, I 2 : 99.902; p < .001) before the Covid-19 pandemic.…”

“…However, there was no significant differences were found between middle-income and high-income countries (Q = 0.15 df = 1 p = .7032). This systematic review included findings about 10 studies on the anxiety measurement scores during pregnancy (Akgor et al, 2021;Alan et al, 2020;Dong et al, 2021;Kazemi & Dadkhah, 2022;Kinser et al, 2018;Lin et al, 2021;Mikšić et al, 2018;Perzow et al, 2021;Stepowicz et al, 2020;Zilver et al, 2021). The anxiety mean score reported in these studies was z: 3.193, I 2 : 99.991; p < .001).…”

Prevalence and predictors of prenatal depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multistage observational study in Beijing, China

“…Furthermore, it is important to consider potential demographic predictors when identifying high-risk pregnant women for timely intervention for prenatal depression. Pregnancy can be a challenging time for women, with physical and biological changes that can increase the risk of depression [ 31 ]. Factors such as gestational week, number of pregnancies, history of abortion, pregnancy intentions, and sex preference can also contribute to prenatal depression.…”