Bipolar Disorder Screening in Pregnant Women

• Published in: Psychiatry and behavioral sciences Vol. 8; no. 4; p. 158
• Main Authors: Demet Saglam Aykut, Filiz Civil Arslan, Yildirim, Mihriban, Guven, Suleyman, Tiryaki, Ahmet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Istanbul Yerkure Tanitim ve Yayincilik Hizmetleri A.S 01.10.2018
• Subjects: Bipolar disorder; Pregnancy
• ISSN: 2636-834X
• DOI: 10.5455/PBS.20180710121523

Objective: Characteristically, the onset of bipolar disorder is the early adulthood and the first episode affects women of childbearing age. The studies indicate that 60–70 % of women with bipolar disorder experince mood symptoms during the periods of pregnancy and/or postpartum. The aim of the present study is to determine the prevalence of bipolar disorder in pregnancy and the risk of bipolar disorder among pregnant women who had positive screening for prenatal depression. Methods: The study involved 347 literate pregnant women between the ages of 18–50. All patients were screened with self-report scales of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Mood Disorders Questionnaire (MDQ). MDQ score of 7 or above in addition to a clinical interview with SCID-I. Results: Three hundered forty-seven pregnant women participating in the study, completed both scales. Of the participants, 52 (16.5%) EPDS scale was found to be positive indicator while 27 (8.5%) MDQ scale was positive indicator. Diagnosis of bipolar disorder was considered in 3 (11.1%) out of 27 individuals who had MDQ score of 7 or above by a clinical interview with SCID-I. The results also indicated that the probability of positive EPDS screening is significantly higher than negative screening in participants with positive MDQ screen (p=0.001). Discussion: As a result of the study, 8.5% of patients who were referred to the obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinic in the perinatal period was found to have higher risk for bipolar disorder. Diagnosis of bipolar disorder was considered in 11.1% of patients of high risk group. EPDS was negative in 16 (5.1%) of 27 patients who were screened with MDQ.