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Anxiety and Related Disorders During the Perinatal Period
Nichole Fairbrother1, Fiona L Challacombe2,3, Sheryl M Green4,5
1Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada;
Annual Review of Clinical Psychology
|February 14, 2025
Summary
Anxiety disorders are common in women and affect one in five pregnant and postpartum individuals. This review covers perinatal anxiety, including pregnancy-specific anxiety and fear of childbirth.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Mental Health
Background:
- Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental health conditions, disproportionately affecting women.
- These conditions impact 20% of pregnant and postpartum individuals, exceeding depression rates.
- Perinatal periods show increased risk for anxiety disorder development and exacerbation, including obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review the literature on anxiety and anxiety-related disorders during the perinatal period.
- To discuss pregnancy-specific anxiety and fear of childbirth, which are crucial in this context.
- To provide information on the scope, prevalence, etiology, comorbidity, screening, assessment, and treatment of perinatal anxiety.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of anxiety and anxiety-related disorders in the perinatal context.
- Inclusion of diagnostic classifications and non-diagnostic constructs like pregnancy-specific anxiety and fear of childbirth.
- Synthesis of information on prevalence, etiology, comorbidity, screening, assessment, and treatment.
Main Results:
- Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in pregnant and postpartum populations.
- Specific constructs like pregnancy-specific anxiety and fear of childbirth are significant.
- Existing literature covers various aspects from etiology to treatment, highlighting gaps in knowledge.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal anxiety is a significant public health concern requiring attention.
- Further research is needed to address identified knowledge gaps.
- Improved screening, assessment, and treatment strategies are crucial for this population.
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