Pregnancy, somatic complaints and depression: a French population-based study

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Perinatal Mental Health
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Antenatal depression poses significant risks to both mothers and newborns.
• Current screening for depression is not routinely integrated into standard obstetric care.
• Somatic complaints are common during pregnancy and may indicate underlying mental health issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the hypothesis that a high number of somatic complaints correlates with an increased risk of depression during pregnancy.
• To assess the utility of somatic complaints as a potential screening indicator for antenatal depression.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 1000 pregnant women during routine OB/GYN visits.
• Participants completed a questionnaire including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a checklist of 18 somatic complaints.
• Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between somatic complaints and depression risk.

Main Results:

• The median number of somatic complaints reported was 5.
• Antenatal depression (EPDS score > 10.5) was identified in 18.3% of women during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.
• An increase in somatic complaints from 3 to 7 multiplied the odds of being at-risk for antenatal depression by 2.91.

Conclusions:

• The study suggests a significant link between the number of somatic complaints and the risk of antenatal depression.
• Further research is warranted to explore the relationship between somatic symptoms and pregnancy depression.
• Women with numerous somatic complaints during pregnancy should be considered at high risk and referred for clinical assessment.