[Depressive syndromes during pregnancy: prevalence and risk factors]

To study the prevalence of depression during pregnancy and its associated risk factors in Lebanese women.

A prospective randomized study was conducted on a sample of 79 women consulting the gynecology outpatient department of Hotel-Dieu de France in Beirut, Lebanon who completed the Beck depression inventory as well as a 45 multiple choice questionnaire covering known risk factors implicated in depression during pregnancy.

The 79 women of our sample were mostly over 20 years old, had a high educational level, and were almost all in the second or third trimesters of pregnancy. The prevalence of depression was 13.9%, without a significant difference between the different trimesters. Risk factors implicated were: personal or familial history of depression (OR = 8.1 and 4.9 respectively), a history of anti-depressive medication (OR = 12.4) and oral contraceptives (OR = 4.9), mood disorders associated with menstruation (OR = 8), major financial problems (OR = 10.5), medical complications associated with pregnancy (OR = 6.9), unwanted pregnancy (OR = 6.4), lack of support from the husband (OR=10.4), and poor quality of sexual relationship (OR = 13.3).

Our results were comparable to those in the literature. Depression during pregnancy is a common problem in Lebanon, which should be treated and diagnosed early.