Association between maternal panic disorders and pregnancy complications and delivery outcomes.
BACKGROUND
The objective of the study was to evaluate the possible association between panic disorders during pregnancy and pregnancy complications, as well as birth outcomes: gestational age and birth weight, as well as preterm birth/low birthweight in newborns.


METHODS
Comparison of newborn infants (without any defects) born to mothers with or without panic disorder in the population-based large data set of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance System of Congenital Abnormalities. Main outcome measures were medically recorded pregnancy complications, as well as gestational age and birth weight, proportion of preterm birth and low birthweight.


RESULTS
Of 38,151 controls, 187 (0.5%) had mothers with panic disorders during pregnancy. Among pregnancy complications, anemia and polyhydramnion showed a higher prevalence in women with panic disorder. There was a higher proportion of males among newborn infants born to mothers with panic diseases compared to newborn infants of mothers without panic disorders. Pregnant women with panic disorders had a shorter (0.4 week) gestational age (adjusted t = 2.3; p = 0.02) and a larger proportion of preterm births (17.1% versus 9.1%) (adjusted POR with 95% CI = 1.9, 1.3-2.8). However, there was no significant difference in the mean birth weight and rate of low birthweight between the two study groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Panic disorders during pregnancy were associated with anemia, a shorter gestational age and a larger proportion of preterm birth. Further studies are needed to confirm and explain or disprove the male excess among newborn infants born to mothers with panic disorders.
Bánhidy
Ferenc
F
Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, School of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
Acs
Nándor
N
Puhó
Erzsébet
E
Czeizel
Andrew E
AE
D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000453:epidemiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012923:Social Class
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents