Anxiety During Pregnancy and Postpartum: Course, Predictors and Comorbidity with Postpartum Depression

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Title (croatian): Anksioznost u trudnoći i nakon porođaja: tijek, prediktori i komorbiditet s poslijeporođajnom depresijom
• Author: Sandra Nakić Radoš https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8330-8427; Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
• Author: Meri Tadinac https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3770-9000; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
• Author: Radoslav Herman; University of Applied Health Studies, Zagreb, Croatia
• Author's institution: University of Applied Health Sciences
• Author's institution: Catholic University of Croatia; (Department of Psychology)
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of Psychology)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: SOCIAL SCIENCES; Psychology

Abstract (english)

Previous findings on peripartum anxiety are inconsistent in respect to the prevalence and course of peripartum anxiety with comorbidity of depression. Our aim was threefold: (1) to examine the course of elevated anxiety during pregnancy, immediately after childbirth, and six weeks postpartum; (2) to establish comorbidity of postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression (PPD); and (3) to examine predictors of anxiety 6 weeks postpartum. A sample of women (N=272) who were below the cut-off score for clinical depression during pregnancy were assessed in the third trimester of pregnancy, then 2 days and 6 weeks postpartum. Questionnaires on anxiety, pregnancy specific distress, stress, coping styles, social support, and depression were administered at each assessment. Obstetric data were collected from the participants’ medical records. The estimated rate of high anxiety was 35% during pregnancy, 17% immediately after childbirth, and 20% six weeks postpartum, showing a decrease in anxiety levels after childbirth. Comorbidity of anxiety and PPD was 75%. Trait anxiety and early postpartum state anxiety are significant predictors of postpartum anxiety. Anxiety is a common peripartum psychological disturbance. Anxiety symptoms overlap with PPD, but not completely, indicating that screening for postpartum mental difficulties should include both depression and anxiety.

Abstract (croatian)

Prethodna istraživanja o peripartalnoj anksioznosti nisu dosljedna s obzirom na učestalost, tijek anksioznosti i komorbiditet s depresijom. Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je: 1) ispitati tijek povišene anksioznosti u trudnoći, neposredno nakon porođaja i 6 tjedana nakon porođaja; 2) utvrditi komorbiditet anksioznosti i poslijeporođajne depresije (PD); 3) ispitati prediktore anksioznosti 6 tjedana nakon porođaja. Uzorak žena (N=272) s rezultatom nižim od kritičnog za kliničku depresiju u trudnoći praćen je u trećem tromjesečju trudnoće te 2 dana i 6 tjedana nakon porođaja. U svakoj točki mjerenja primijenjeni su upitnici anksioznosti, stresa, stresa specifičnog za trudnoću, načina suočavanja, socijalne potpore i depresivnosti. Opstetrički podaci prikupljeni su iz medicinske dokumentacije. Utvrđena je učestalost povišene anksioznosti od 35% u trudnoći, 17% neposredno nakon porođaja i 20% šest tjedana nakon porođaja, pri čemu je utvrđeno smanjenje razine anksioznosti nakon porođaja. Komorbiditet anksioznosti i PD-a je bio 75%. Anksioznost kao osobina i anksioznost kao stanje neposredno nakon porođaja značajni su prediktori anksioznosti šest tjedana nakon porođaja. Anksioznost je česta psihološka smetnja u peripartalnom razdoblju. Anksiozni simptomi se preklapaju s PD-om, ali ne u potpunosti, što upućuje na to da trijaža za poslijeporođajne mentalne teškoće mora uključivati i depresiju i anksioznost.

• Keywords (english): Anxiety; Pregnancy, predictors; Depression; Depressive disorder; Depression, postpartum; Comorbidity
• Keywords (croatian): Anksioznost; Trudnoća, prediktori; Depresija; Depresivni poremećaj; Depresija, poslijeporođajna; Komorbiditet
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Acta clinica Croatica
• Numbering: vol. 57, no. 1, pp. 39-51
• p-ISSN: 0353-9466
• e-ISSN: 1333-9451
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2018.57.01.05
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:231308
• Publication: 2018
• Document URL: https://hrcak.srce.hr/201659
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2019-11-12 11:02:46