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Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
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High worry in pregnancy predicts postpartum depression
Lauren M Osborne1, Kristin Voegtline2, Lindsay R Standeven3
1Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|August 3, 2021
Summary
High worry during pregnancy, identified by the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), is a significant predictor of postpartum depression symptoms (PPDS). This measure is more effective than psychiatric diagnosis or antenatal depressive symptoms for predicting PPDS.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal mental health
- Psychiatry
- Psychological assessment
Background:
- Anxiety during pregnancy is a major risk factor for postpartum depression (PPD).
- High worry is a key characteristic of anxiety disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) for identifying high worry in pregnant women.
- To determine if PSWQ scores predict the development of postpartum depression symptoms (PPDS).
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 295 pregnant women were followed through 6 months postpartum.
- The PSWQ and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were administered at multiple time points.
- Diagnoses of mood and anxiety disorders were confirmed via SCID and expert psychiatric review.
Main Results:
- Women with major depressive disorder (MDD) or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) were more likely to report high antenatal worry (PSWQ >60).
- High antenatal worry was the sole significant predictor of PPDS (OR=3.91).
- Neither psychiatric diagnosis nor antenatal depressive symptoms predicted PPDS in multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
- The PSWQ can serve as a valuable clinical tool for assessing worry in pregnant individuals.
- Elevated worry during pregnancy is a stronger predictor of PPDS than psychiatric diagnosis or antenatal depressive symptoms.
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