Women with anxiety disorders during pregnancy are at increased risk of intense postnatal depressive symptoms: a prospective survey of the MATQUID cohort

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Abstract
Objective. – Studies have suggested that women with pregnancy anxiety may be at greater risk of postnatal depression (PND). However, due to the high comorbidity between anxiety and depressive disorders, this finding may be confounded by the association between prenatal depression and postnatal depression. The aim of the present prospective study was to assess whether anxiety disorder (AD) during pregnancy is an independent predictor of intensity of postnatal depressive symptoms. Method. – The MATQUID cohort survey was conducted on pregnant women (n = 497) attending a state maternity hospital. Psychiatric status during pregnancy was assessed during the third trimester using a structured diagnostic interview. Intense postnatal depressive symptoms at 6 weeks post-partum were defined by a score >12 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Results. – Nearly one out of four women (24.1%) presented with at least one pregnancy AD, and 29 (5.8%) presented with a score >12 on the EPDS. After adjustment for presence of major depression during pregnancy and other confounding factors, women with pregnancy AD were nearly three times more likely to present with intense postnatal depressive symptoms (OR = 2.7, 95%CI 1.1–6.3, P = 0.03). Conclusion. – Promoting the recognition and management of AD in pregnant women may be of interest for the prevention of postnatal depression.