Survey study, 2005
How common is depression during pregnancy and what causes it?
Depression affects about 13.9% of pregnant women in this Lebanese hospital. Risk factors include family history of depression, mood changes before the period, and life stressors like lack of partner support and financial problems.
What they did
79 pregnant women at a hospital clinic in Beirut, Lebanon filled out depression screening questionnaires and a 45-question survey about known risk factors for depression. Most were in their second or third trimester of pregnancy.
What they found
13.9% of the pregnant women screened positive for depression. Women with personal depression history had 8.1 times higher risk, family depression history 4.9 times higher risk, mood changes before their period 8 times higher risk, previous antidepressant use 12.4 times higher risk, prior oral birth control use 4.9 times higher risk, major financial problems 10.5 times higher risk, pregnancy complications 6.9 times higher risk, unwanted pregnancy 6.4 times higher risk, lack of husband support 10.4 times higher risk, and poor sexual relationship 13.3 times higher risk.
What it means for you
Depression is fairly common in pregnancy in Lebanon and is linked to both mental health history and life circumstances. This study was conducted at one hospital in Lebanon, so findings may not apply to other populations or countries.
79
pregnant women studied
13.9%
had depression
About the study
- Original title
- [Depressive syndromes during pregnancy: prevalence and risk factors]
- Authors
- Lteif Y, Kesrouani A, Richa S
- Journal
- Journal de gynecologie, obstetrique et biologie de la reproduction
- Year
- 2005
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 79
- What was tested
- Screening for depression and assessment of personal and life-circumstance risk factors
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0368-2315(05)82745-0
Topics
Related studies
Lab study, 2018
How does depression affect menstrual function and fertility in women?
Randomised trial, 2017
Does Sepranolone reduce symptoms of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMDD)?
Cohort study, 1993
When are new mothers most likely to get depression - right after birth or later?
Survey study, 1988
Do women with PMS have higher rates of postpartum depression and birth control side effects?
Case report, 2024
How is PMDD diagnosed and treated in teenagers?
Survey study, 2024
How do hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle affect gut health and mood?