title: The effects of maternal major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder on birth weight and gestational age: a comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study comparatively examined the impact of maternal major depression, generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder on gestational age and birth weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 90 women (24 subjects with major depression, 19 subjects with panic disorder, 22 subjects with generalized anxiety disorder, and 25 healthy subjects) in the perinatal period who were admitted to three hospitals were included in the study. Psychiatric diagnoses were determined by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. The birth weight and gestational age of the subjects in each groups were compared with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences among the study groups for birth weight and gestational age (P<0.001 for both variables). These parameters were significantly lower in the subjects with major depression (P=0.021 and P=0.015, respectively) and panic disorder (P<0.001 for both variables) compared to healthy controls. Compared with major depression, panic disorder was associated more negatively with birth weight (P=0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Major depression, and especially panic disorder, may negatively affect the gestational length and birth weight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Necmettin Erbakan, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey. farukuguz@gmail.com
authors.forename: Faruk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Uguz
authors.forename: Mine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahingoz
authors.forename: Erdem Onder
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Sonmez
authors.forename: Cagatay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karsidag
authors.forename: Goksen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.forename: Bilge Burcak
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Annagur
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Annagur
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology