<p>Depressive symptoms in pregnant women with high trait and state anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum</p>

Abstract

Background: Depression and anxiety are frequent during pregnancy, and epidemiological studies demonstrate high rates of co-morbidity. Aims: To evaluate the association between the trait and state anxiety and depressive symptoms in women during the perinatal period. Method: A transversal study was conducted at the National Institute of Perinatology (INPer, Mexico City) from 2012 and 2015. Pregnant women diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) were included (N=128). Depressive and anxiety symptoms were evaluated using CES-D and STAI, respectively. Patients were sub-classified according to percentile 75 for Low and High Trait Anxiety (LTA, HTA) and Low and High State Anxiety (LSA, HSA); depressive symptoms were compared between pregnant women and women in the postpartum, by state and trait levels. Results: CES-D scores differed according to state and trait anxiety levels: while we observed that depressive scores (CES-D) were higher in HTA patients compared to LTA prenatally (35.9±9,5 vs 21.2±10,8 respectively; p =0.001), this finding was not observed in the postpartum period. In the case of state anxiety depressive scores were elevated among HSA versus LSA groups before delivery (33.0±11.3 vs 14.0±6.7 respectively; p=0.008) and after partum (35.1±8.06 vs 10.0±6.0; p =0.005). Conclusions: Patients showed higher scores of depressive symptoms when high trait or state anxiety comorbidity is present during the perinatal period. In the postpartum period, even low trait anxiety scores were associated with high depressive scores.

Adverse psychosocial factors in pregnancy and preterm delivery

“…This may be especially true for the psychometric measures that do not have validated cut‐points. While our approach to categorising the psychosocial measures is consistent with other studies that utilised the same resilience, general anxiety, perceived stress, and partner support measures, results from our sensitivity analysis using different cut‐points indicate that our findings are sensitive to our chosen cut‐points 22,32‐35 …”

Cortisol and DHEA-S levels in pregnant women with severe anxiety

“…High anxiety and stress during pregnancy have been linked to adverse maternal health outcomes [69], postpartum depression [2,4,70] and long-lasting negative effects in the offspring in the postnatal life [71]. The anxiety effects on the mother's health during pregnancy include increased cortisol levels, pro-inflammatory cytokines, obstetric problems (i.e., lower birthweight for gestational age, earlier delivery and pregnancy-induced hypertension) and cesarean section [12,48,49,55].…”

A Comprehensive Analysis of Post-partum Depression Risk Factors: The Role of Socio-Demographic, Individual, Relational, and Delivery Characteristics

“…To assess the women's anxiety level, the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI_Y2) (41, 42) was used. This questionnaire is the most widely used measure of anxiety during pregnancy, especially in association with postnatal depression (43). The STAI_Y2 is a 20-item self-report questionnaire asking to report how often the anxiety state was experienced.…”