Prenatal depression in women hospitalized for threatened preterm labour: A prospective study in Greece

Abstract

Introduction

Pregnancy complications may require admission in a high-risk pregnancy unit (HRPU). A complicated pregnancy and hospital admission might negatively affect the pregnant woman's mental health.

Objectives

To screen for depressive symptoms in pregnant women admitted in a high-risk pregnancy unit due to threatened preterm labour and also to investigate for associated risk factors.

Aims

Early identification of prenatal depression will decrease the risk of pregnancy complications and postnatal depression.

Methods

A prospective study enrolled pregnant women admitted at ³24 gestational weeks due to threatened preterm labour in a university hospital HRPU, between 9/2014 and 11/2015. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess depressive symptoms and a cut-off score ³13 was considered as indicative of depression. Test results were then correlated with the indication for admission, demographic and socio-economic parameters.

Results

Overall, 80 of the women admitted in the HRPU were eligible for the study and agreed to complete the questionnaire. The mean age was 29.4 ± 6.23 years and the mean gestational week at the admission was 31.6 ± 3.33 weeks. The prevalence of prenatal depression (score ³13) was 25% (20/80). In the multivariable model, depression was significantly correlated with the existence of thoughts for pregnancy termination [P = .03 OR = 4.560 95% CI: (1.162–17.892)].

Conclusions

One quarter of pregnant women admitted in the HRPU with the indication of threatened preterm labour may suffer from clinically significant depression. An unwanted pregnancy was found to be independently associated with prenatal depression whereas no association was found with any obstetric parameters.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.