Is there relationship between social support, psychological distress, mood disorders and emesis gravidarum?

Emesis Gravidarum (EG) is common medical condition in pregnancy with significant negatively effects on daily social life, physical and psychological health. In this study, relationship of social support, psychological distress and mood disorders on EG were investigated.

The pregnant women with mild EG were accepted as control group and moderate and severe EG were accepted as patient group. All patients completed sociodemographic data collection form, Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea scale (PUQE-24), Symptom Check List questionnaire (SCL-90 R), Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), Beck depression inventory (BDI) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). STAI, BDI, MSPSS and GSI (global symptom index) scores of the patients and control groups were compared.

Statistically significant differences were found between the patients and control group on STAI score, BDI score and GSI scores. No statistically significant were found between the patients and control group on MSPSS score.

Social support does not prevent patients from EG. But, there is a clear relationship between EG and psychological distress. Thus, psychiatric evaluation should be done in patients with EG. Obstetricians should encourage their patients to have psychiatric support. Further studies on relationship of psychosocial factors and EG are needed.