Detection rates of mental disorders in pregnant women with subjective depressive symptoms

Abstract

Objective To analyze the detection rates of mental disorders in women with subjective depressive symptoms during pregnancy and the postnatal period. Methods From March 1st 2020 to February 28th 2021, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were used to screen pregnant women and mothers who were established in a third-grade hospital. The women with PHQ-9≥5 or EPDS≥9 were followed up. Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was used to confirm the detection rates of mental disorders. Results Of the 342 women who were followed up, 24 (7.0%) were diagnosed with depressive episodes. There were 17 cases had depression in the past. Among them 3 women had a history of depression before pregnancy, and 14 had the first episode after pregnancy. The detection rate of depression in the second trimester is higher than that in the first and third trimester; 9 (2.6%)with (hypo)manic episodes; 6 (1.8%) with panic disorder; 13(3.8%) with agoraphobia; 3(0.9%) with social phobia; 15(4.4%) with generalized anxiety disorder; 6 (1.8%)with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Eighteen women suffered from two or more mental disorders, accounting for 29.0% of the total number of diagnosed mental disorders. Conclusions A variety of mental disorders occur in women with subjective depressive symptoms during pregnancy and the postnatal period, and comorbidity is a common finding. Pregnant women with depression may have several episodes during this period. So it is necessary to evaluate their mental status professionally.

Keywords

• pregnant women|mental disorders|incidence