title: Anxiety and depressed mood in obese pregnant women: a prospective controlled cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The psychological health in obese women during pregnancy has been poorly studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare levels of anxiety and depressed mood during pregnancy in obese versus normal-weight women.
  
  
  METHODS
  63 obese pregnant women and 156 normal-weight controls were included prospectively before 15 weeks of gestation. Levels of state and trait anxiety and depressed mood were measured during the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy. A linear mixed-effect model with repeated measures was used to evaluate group differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of state anxiety significantly increased from trimester 1 to trimester 3 in obese pregnant women (beta = 3.70; p = 0.007), while this parameter remained constant throughout pregnancy in normal-weight women. Levels of trait anxiety and depressed mood significantly decreased from trimester 1 to trimester 2 in controls, but not in obese pregnant women. Variables such as maternal education, ethnicity, marital state, psychological history and miscarriages, parity and smoking behaviour had significant effects on anxiety and/or depressed moods during pregnancy. Obese pregnant women show higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptomatology compared to normal-weight pregnant women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventional programmes aiming at preventing the deleterious influence of maternal obesity on perinatal outcomes should include a psycho-educational program specifically tailored to this high-risk group.
authors.affiliation: KHLim, Limburg Catholic University College, PHL University College, dpt.PHL-Healthcare Research, Hasselt, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Annick F L
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Bogaerts
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Devlieger
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nuyts
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Witters
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gyselaers
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Guelinckx
authors.forename: Bea R H
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Van den Bergh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult