136. Pregnancy specific anxiety and distress is related to increased IL-6 during the second trimester of pregnancy

• Published in: Brain, behavior, and immunity Vol. 32; pp. e39 - e40
• Main Authors: Fishe, K.J, Tell, D, Mathews, H.L, Witek Janusek, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.09.2013
• Subjects: Allergy and Immunology; Psychiatry
• ISSN: 0889-1591; 1090-2139
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2013.07.148

Pregnancy is accompanied by a multitude of physical and psychological changes that require adaptation for optimal maternal-infant health. Higher perceptions of stress during pregnancy can disrupt neuroendocrine-inflammatory processes required for successful pregnancy outcomes. The study purpose was to determine the contribution of pregnancy specific anxiety and distress versus general psychological health on levels of proinflammatory cytokine IL-6, in low-risk pregnant women. Results revealed perceived stress was positively correlated with greater depression, anxiety and mood disturbance; in contrast, social support was associated with reduced stress perception. Women who reported greater pregnancy specific anxiety also had higher pregnancy specific distress, which was predominately driven by worry about delivery and infant health. Further, those women with greater pregnancy specific distress and anxiety exhibited significantly higher levels of plasma IL-6. In contrast, plasma IL-6 was not related to generalized psychological measures. These results demonstrate that pregnancy specific psychological constructs provide unique and possibly more salient information regarding psychological factors that contribute to increased inflammatory production during pregnancy. Early elevations in IL-6 can ripen the cervix and contribute to the onset of labor and premature birth. Thus, assessment of pregnancy specific anxiety and distress will facilitate identification of women at risk for premature birth and poor birth outcomes; these women can thus be targeted for early intervention strategies designed to reduce prenatal stress and to improve maternal infant health outcomes.