How does Alexithymia Effect Depression and Anxiety Scores in Third Trimester of Pregnancy?

Abstract

It is known that psychological factors during pregnancy are important parameters for maternal and infant health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to screen and detect alexithymia and depression and their relationship as primary outcomes to lower the risk of their possible adverse consequencies over mother and infant relationship. Material and Methods: Between May 2020 and February 2022 302 pregnant women in the third trimester of their pregnancy who applied to our antenatal check-ups in Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic of Istanbul Professor Doctor Cemil Taşçıoğlu State Hospital participated in this cross-sectional study. After the exclusion criteria were applied, a total of 260 pregnant women were found eligible for this study and the remaining 194 pregnant women agreed to participate in the study. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Beck Depression Scale and Beck Anxiety Scale questionnaire were administered to each of the participants separately. According to the results, the patients were divided into two groups according to their alexithymia scores. Patients diagnosed with alexithymia and those who were not diagnosed with alexithymia were evaluated. Results: Thirty-four (17.5%) patients diagnosed with alexithymia after TAS-20 evaluation were compared with one hundred and sixty pregnant women who did not have alexithymia. The anxiety and depression scores of the patients in the alexithymia group were significantly higher than the patients in the non-alexithymia group (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). There was a significant and strong correlation between TAS scores and BDI and BAI scores (r:0.365 p<0.001, r:0.305 p<0.001, respectively). A negative strong correlation between TAS scores and the marital status was also noted (r:-0.439 p<0.001). And a statistically significant negative correlation was also found between parity and the TAS score (r:-0.161 p=0.025) Conclusion: We concluded that depression and anxiety are encountered more frequently in alexithymic pregnant women. And we revealed that divorced pregnant women have higher prevalence of alexithymia in comparison to married ones. We also found a statistically significant positive correlations between the total TAS scores and the BDI and BAI scores. Finally we revealed a negative correlation between TAS scores and the marital status and the parity.