Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Women with Threatened Abortion: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Background: Threatened abortion (TA) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Despite the attention paidto the adverse outcomes of obstetrics, only a few studies have been conducted on the psychological status of womenwith threatened abortion. This study aimed to compare the symptoms of depression and anxiety in women with TAand those without threatened abortion.Materials and Methods: In a case-control study, 136 women with TA (the case group) and 136 women without TA(the control group), were matched with the case group in terms of gestational age, education level, age, and numberof pregnancies, were examined from Obstetric clinics of Babol University of Medical Sciences. Demographic informationand pregnancy history were obtained from all participants. Additionally, the women filled out the BSI-18questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22 software.Results: The results showed that in women with threatened abortion, the likelihood of experiencing depressionsymptoms was 1.9 times higher [odds ratio (OR)=1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.13-3.23, P=0.015], anxietysymptoms were 1.8 times higher (OR=1.83, 95% CI=1.08-3.10, P=0.024), and somatization was 2.6 times higher(OR=2.65, 95% CI=1.61-4.37, P<0.001) compared to pregnant women without threatened abortion. Additionally, inwomen with threatened abortion, the risk of psychological distress was 3.3 times higher (OR=3.30, 95% CI=1.96-5.56, P<0.001) than in women without threatened abortion.Conclusion: This study suggests that gynecologists, midwives, and healthcare providers, in addition to providingmedical care for women threatened with abortion, should identify women at risk of experiencing symptoms of depressionand anxiety. Providing appropriate psychological support should be prioritized in the management of women withthreatened abortion.

Keywords

• anxiety
• depression
• pregnancy
• psychological distress
• threatened abortion