Antepartum depressive and anxious symptoms: Association with physiological parameters of the newborn

Abstract

Introduction The Perinatal period is a time of vulnerability for developing psychiatric disorders of higher prevalence in the female gender - depression and anxiety1. Numerous authors have proposed that maternal psychological factors could influence pregnancy course and the well-being of mother and newborn2. Objectives To explore the relationship between perinatal psychological disorder and physiological parameters evaluated at birth, such as the Apgar Index (AI; 1, 5 and 10 minutes), head circumference, weight, length and age. Methods 533 women answered, in the second trimester of pregnancy (16.98±4.83 weeks of gestation), several questions about psychosocial variables, the Perinatal Depression Screening Scale3 and the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale4. Of these, 208 (39.0%) women were interviewed with the Diagnostic Interview for Psychological Distress5. Newborn physiological parameters were obtained from electronic health records. Results AI was significantly (pcutoff point, 14.6%) had significantly lower AI (p<.05), which was also observed in newborns of women who considered having had a stressful event (only AI 1 minute). Women’s newborns with maternal anxiety disorders during pregnancy (5.3%), had significantly lower values in AI, head circumference, weight and age of birth. Regression analyses showed that anxiety in pregnancy (symptoms and/or diagnoses) is a predictor of newborn physiological parameters, explaining significant percentages(r≈22%; p<.05) of its variability. Conclusions Early detection of psychological disorders in pregnancy, namely anxiety, is determinant to prevent adverse neonatal outcomes. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• Anxiety
• Depression
• perinatal
• Psychological disorders