Quality of life and depression in normal and in high-risk pregnancy. Analysis of a sample of 100 women

• Published in: Minerva ginecologica Vol. 57; no. 4; p. 451
• Main Authors: Pesavento, F, Marconcini, E, Drago, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Italian
• Published: Italy 01.08.2005
• Subjects: Adult; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - therapy; Depression, Postpartum - prevention & control; Female; Humans; Personality Inventory; Pregnancy - psychology; Pregnancy Complications - diagnosis; Pregnancy Complications - psychology; Quality of Life; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; World Health Organization
• ISSN: 0026-4784

The aim of this paper was to assess quality of life, possible presence of depressive symptomatology and their possible relationship during normal and high-risk pregnancy. A total of 100 women (50 experiencing a normal pregnancy and 50 experiencing a high-risk pregnancy) were studied. They completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) to assess the quality of life and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to assess the level of depressive symptomatology. The mean of the scores obtained in both the entire sample and the 2 subgroups was calculated, and then the results obtained were compared. The study shows that the women with normal pregnancy have a good perception of their quality of life, instead women with high-risk pregnancy do not think so. They consider it more unfavourable then the others. It also emerged, that the 12% of our sample (all women with high-risk pregnancy) shows a significant level of depressive symptomatology. It is very important to identify early women at risk of depressive symptoms or mental disorders, so that it is possible to offer an adequate psychological support during pregnancy, to prevent the worsening of the symptoms or the development of a real mental disorder in the postnatal period.