Obsessional symptoms in expectant women and outcome of their pregnancy

The aim of this investigation was to explore whether, within the scope of personality traits and their modifications during pregnancy, the obsessional dimension may have a protective role against premature birth. In fact, obsessional characterology with its tendency to control may suggest that the women with these traits do not passively experience their pregnancy and may try to control its evolution, at least in their fantasies. Personality dimensions have been recorded using Derogatis' psychological self-administered questionnaire, in which women were asked to assess their level on the Derogatis symptom scale before and during pregnancy. The survey involved 351 women (117 premature and 234 term deliveries) who had both completed the self-administered questionnaire on the 6-month pregnancy visit and answered a specific interview at birth. Our results have shown that the existence of obsessional traits before pregnancy apparently does not have a protective role against premature delivery (odds ratio = 1.40; NS). Conversely, intensified obsessional symptoms during pregnancy are associated with a decreased premature birth rate (odds ratio = 0.44; p < 0.05). These results remain when the presence of obsessional traits before pregnancy is taken into account (adjusted odds ratio = 0.38; p < 0.02). The possibility of a defence reaction to this situation of pregnancy is discussed.