Victor Pop1, Maarten van Son2, Hennie Wijnen3, Viola Spek4, Johan Denollet4, Veerle Bergink5. 1. CoRPS - Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, Tilburg, the Netherlands. Electronic address: V.J.M.Pop@uvt.nl. 2. Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands. 3. Midwifery Science Academy Maastricht, the Netherlands. 4. CoRPS - Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, Tilburg, the Netherlands. 5. Department of Psychiatry and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The use of psychotropic drugs for depression during pregnancy has increased over the past decades, but it is unclear whether women are becoming more depressed over time. METHODS: We investigated the occurrence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy in four cohorts (N 300-2000) in the same area in the Netherlands over a period of 25 years using a similar study design. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS) at various time points during pregnancy. Demographics, lifestyle factors, obstetric characteristics and EDS scores were compared between the four cohorts. RESULTS: From 1988 to 2014, Mean EDS scores during the first and third trimester of pregnancy increased significantly (P < 0.001). The number of women with elevated EDS scores doubled from 7% in 1988-1989 to 14% in 2012-2014 (P = 0.001). The number of highly educated women increased from 23% to 66% and those with paid employment from 75% to 95%, while smoking and alcohol use decreased significantly (all Ps < 0.001). These trends were similar to those of the National Statistics. A previous history of depression, multi-parity and paid employment were associated with higher EDS scores. LIMITATIONS: Women were highly educated, predominantly Caucasian and had a partner. CONCLUSIONS: Paradoxically, there was a significant increase in depressive symptomatology during pregnancy over a period of 25 years, while protective factors for depression during pregnancy improved. Potential explanations could be greater awareness, high societal expectations, use of social media or the stressful combination of paid work and children at home.
BACKGROUND: The use of psychotropic drugs for depression during pregnancy has increased over the past decades, but it is unclear whether women are becoming more depressed over time. METHODS: We investigated the occurrence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy in four cohorts (N 300-2000) in the same area in the Netherlands over a period of 25 years using a similar study design. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS) at various time points during pregnancy. Demographics, lifestyle factors, obstetric characteristics and EDS scores were compared between the four cohorts. RESULTS: From 1988 to 2014, Mean EDS scores during the first and third trimester of pregnancy increased significantly (P < 0.001). The number of women with elevated EDS scores doubled from 7% in 1988-1989 to 14% in 2012-2014 (P = 0.001). The number of highly educated women increased from 23% to 66% and those with paid employment from 75% to 95%, while smoking and alcohol use decreased significantly (all Ps < 0.001). These trends were similar to those of the National Statistics. A previous history of depression, multi-parity and paid employment were associated with higher EDS scores. LIMITATIONS: Women were highly educated, predominantly Caucasian and had a partner. CONCLUSIONS: Paradoxically, there was a significant increase in depressive symptomatology during pregnancy over a period of 25 years, while protective factors for depression during pregnancy improved. Potential explanations could be greater awareness, high societal expectations, use of social media or the stressful combination of paid work and children at home.
Authors: Lotte Muskens; Myrthe G B M Boekhorst; Willem J Kop; Marion I van den Heuvel; Victor J M Pop; Annemerle Beerthuizen Journal: Arch Womens Ment Health Date: 2022-03-26 Impact factor: 4.405
Authors: Margreet Meems; Lianne Hulsbosch; Madelon Riem; Christina Meyers; Tila Pronk; Maarten Broeren; Karin Nabbe; Guid Oei; Stefan Bogaerts; Victor Pop Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-10-27 Impact factor: 2.692