The Effects of Trauma History and Prenatal Affective Symptoms on Obstetric Outcomes.
Prenatal maternal mood may inform the adverse obstetric outcomes seen in disadvantaged populations. The contribution of having a trauma history is not well studied. We examined the impact of trauma exposure and mood symptoms on obstetric outcomes in 358 women. Women with antecedent trauma were more likely to have a history of depression, odds ratio = 2.83, 95% confidence interval [1.81, 4.42], were younger at their first pregnancy, 18.86 years versus 20.10 years, and had a higher number of previous pregnancies, 2.01 versus 1.54, compared to those with no trauma exposure. Women with prenatal anxiety had significantly smaller babies than nonanxious women, 3,313.17 g, (SD = 441.58) versus 3,429.27 g, (SD = 437.82) Trauma history magnified the effects of maternal prenatal mood on birthweight; the moderating effect was limited to those who first experienced a trauma under 18 years of age. Childhood trauma exposure increased vulnerability for low birthweight delivery associated with prenatal mood disturbance. Screening pregnant women for trauma history and current mood symptoms is indicated.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
Emma Robertson
ER
Blackmore
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Frank W
FW
Putnam
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
Eva K
EK
Pressman
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
David R
DR
Rubinow
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Karen T
KT
Putnam
School of Social Work, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA.
Monica M
MM
Matthieu
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
Michelle A
MA
Gilchrist
Department of Psychological Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales.
Ian
I
Jones
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.|Wynne Center for Family Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
Thomas G
TG
O'Connor
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001724:Birth Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult