Pregnancy and depression

Abstract

Introduction: The criteria for the diagnosis of depression are the same regardless of the pregnancy status. However, depression is often overlooked in pregnancy, as the symptoms of depression are often similar to the somatic experiences associated with pregnancy. Risk factors for the development of depression in pregnancy include insufficient social support, living alone, marital discord, having an unwanted pregnancy, or having multiple children.
Aim: The aim of this study is to make a systematic review of the literature on the impact of depression on pregnancy.
Materials and Methods: The following research databases were searched: MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE and PubMed for a 10-year period. The focus was on studies investigating depression in pregnant women.
Results: Between 12% and 15% of women meet the criteria for depression at a time during pregnancy or after birth. It is unclear why the second and third trimesters of pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of depression (compared to the first trimester).
Conclusion: Several risk factors predispose to depression during pregnancy. Some of them are poor prenatal care, poor nutrition, stressful events, a previous history of psychiatric disorders, pre-existing complications of puberty, pregnancy events like previous abortions. Other factors include age, marital status, planned or unplanned pregnancy, previous birth history, and level of social support. Thus, the evaluation of depression during pregnancy is essential for the detection of pregnant women in need of intervention to maintain maternal and infant wellbeing.