title: Prevalence and course of anxiety disorders (and symptom levels) in men across the perinatal period: A systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Men's experiences of anxiety within the perinatal period can adversely impact themselves, their partner and infant. However, we know little about the prevalence and course of men's anxiety across the perinatal period. The current review is one of the first to systematically review the published literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane, SCOPUS, and Web of Science) were searched to identify relevant papers published prior to April 2015. The literature search identified articles with data for expectant fathers (prenatal period) and/or fathers of an infant aged between 0 and 1 (postnatal period). The following data were extracted: (a) anxiety disorder prevalence (diagnostic clinical interviews), (b) 'high' anxiety symptom prevalence (above thresholds/cut-points on anxiety symptom scales) and (c) mean anxiety levels (anxiety symptom scales). Initially, 537 unique papers were identified. Subsequently, 43 papers met criteria for inclusion in the review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence rates for 'any' anxiety disorder (as defined by either diagnostic clinical interviews or above cut-points on symptom scales) ranged between 4.1% and 16.0% during the prenatal period and 2.4-18.0% during the postnatal period. The data reviewed suggest the course of anxiety across the perinatal period is fairly stable with potential decreases postpartum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wide variation in study measurement and methodology makes synthesis of individual findings difficult. Anxiety is highly comorbid with depression, and thus measures of mixed anxiety/depression might better capture the overall burden of mental illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anxiety disorders are common for men during the perinatal period. Both partners should be included in discussions and interventions focused on obstetric care and parent mental health during the perinatal period.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. Electronic address: Liana.Leach@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Liana S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Leach
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Carmel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poyser
authors.affiliation: Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Amanda R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cooklin
authors.affiliation: Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giallo
mesh_terms: D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010332:Paternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Anxiety; Fatherhood; Men; Perinatal; Prevalence