Depression and anxiety in women during pregnancy and neonatal outcome: Data from the EDEN mother–child cohort

• Published in: Early human development Vol. 88; no. 8; pp. 643 - 649
• Main Authors: Ibanez, Gladys, Charles, Marie-Aline, Forhan, Anne, Magnin, Guillaume, Thiebaugeorges, Olivier, Kaminski, Monique, Saurel-Cubizolles, Marie-Josèphe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.08.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Advanced Basic Science; Anxiety; Anxiety - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Birth Weight; Birthweight; Comorbidity; Depression; Depression - epidemiology; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Male; Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - epidemiology; Pregnancy Complications - psychology; Premature Birth - epidemiology; Preterm birth; Young Adult; Pregnancy; Depression; Anxiety; Preterm birth; Birthweight; Human; Mood disorder; Affect affectivity; Neonatal; Pregnancy disorders; Premature delivery; Mother; Prematurity; Female; Birth weight; Child
• ISSN: 0378-3782; 1872-6232; 1872-6232
• DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2012.01.014

According to the World Health Organization, mental health disorders are the leading causes of disease burden in women from 15 to 44years. These conditions in pregnant women may affect the offspring. To analyze the relation between depression and anxiety of pregnant women and neonatal outcomes including gestational age and birthweight. Observational cohort study. 2002 women recruited before the 20th gestational week. Gestational age at delivery in completed weeks of amenorrhea and preterm delivery defined as birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation. Spontaneous preterm birth (PB) defined as either spontaneous preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of the membranes. Medically indicated preterm delivery defined as delivery that begins by induction or cesarean section. Birthweight as a continuous variable and centiles of the customized fetal weight norms for the French population. From the 1719 women included in the study, 7.9% (n=135) were classified as “anxious”, 11.8% (n=203) as “depressed”, 13.2% (n=227) as “depressed and anxious”. After adjusting for potential confounders, depression combined with anxiety during pregnancy increased the risk of spontaneous PB (Odds Ratio: 2.46 [1.22–4.94]), but did not influence medically indicated PB nor birthweight. In this study, comorbidity of depressive and anxiety symptoms was the worst condition during pregnancy. Further studies are needed to investigate depression and anxiety together to improve the comprehension of the biological modifications involved.