A prospective-longitudinal study on the association of anxiety disorders prior to pregnancy and pregnancy- and child-related fears.
This study aimed to investigate the relation between anxiety disorders prior to pregnancy and specific pregnancy- and child-related fears during pregnancy and after delivery. 306 expectant mothers were interviewed regarding anxiety (and depressive) disorders prior to pregnancy and pregnancy- and child-related fears (e.g. fear of labor pain, fear of infant injury) using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview for Women (CIDI-V). Pregnancy- and child-related fears were particularly pronounced in women with multiple anxiety disorders and women with comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders prior to pregnancy. Further analyses revealed associations between particular anxiety disorders and specific pregnancy- and child-related fears. Results remained stable when considering potential confounders such as maternal age, education, marital status, parity, prior abortion and preterm delivery or low birth weight. Our study suggests that especially women with multiple anxiety and/or comorbid depressive disorders may benefit from early targeted interventions to prevent an escalation of anxiety and fears over the peripartum period.
Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany; Faculty of Medicine of the Technische Universität Dresden, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Schubertstraße 42, 01307 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: julia.martini@tu-dresden.de.
Julia
J
Martini
Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany; Behavioral Epidemiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: eva.asselmann@tu-dresden.de.
Eva
E
Asselmann
Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany; SRH Fachhochschule für Gesundheit Gera, Neue Straße 28-30, 07548 Gera, Germany. Electronic address: franziska.einsle@tu-dresden.de.
Franziska
F
Einsle
Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: jens.strehle@tu-dresden.de.
Jens
J
Strehle
Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: hans-ulrich.wittchen@tu-dresden.de.
Hans-Ulrich
HU
Wittchen
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000523:psychology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D058725:Peripartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
Child-related fears; Maternal anxiety disorder; Maternal depressive disorder; Pregnancy-related fears