Screening for perinatal depression and stress: a prospective cohort study
Christina Papapetrou1, Andreas Zouridis2, Anna Eleftheriades3
1Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aretaieio Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28, Athens, Greece. christina.papapetrou@gmail.com.
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
|December 13, 2023
Summary
Routine prenatal screening for maternal depression and stress is crucial. Early identification of psychological distress in pregnant women can improve antenatal care and prevent future mental health issues.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal mental health
- Psychological assessment in pregnancy
- Maternal well-being
Background:
- Maternal psychological disturbances during pregnancy, like depression and anxiety, can negatively impact antenatal care and lead to later mental health problems.
- There is a need to integrate mental health screening into routine prenatal care to identify and manage vulnerable populations.
- Early detection and intervention are key to supporting maternal and infant health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess depressive symptomatology and stress levels in pregnant women undergoing routine prenatal care.
- To identify factors associated with heightened psychological distress during pregnancy.
- To propose an enhanced prenatal screening protocol for early detection of mental health issues.
Main Methods:
- 178 pregnant women were evaluated using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14).
- Psychometric tools were employed to measure depressive symptoms and perceived stress.
- Data were collected during routine prenatal medical assessments.
Main Results:
- Higher levels of perceived stress and depressive symptomatology were linked to younger maternal age, multiple births, and a history of abortion.
- The need for psychiatric referral correlated with earlier stages of pregnancy.
- Psychometric assessment and clinical interviews identified significant psychological distress in a subset of pregnant women.
Conclusions:
- A revised prenatal screening protocol is proposed, emphasizing amplified follow-up for all pregnant women with high scores in depression and perceived stress.
- This approach aims to detect earlier or less evident signs of distress in vulnerable perinatal populations.
- Proactive mental health screening can improve outcomes for mothers and their babies.
