Kristin Voegtline1, Jennifer L Payne2,3, Lindsay R Standeven2, Bridget Sundel2, Meeta Pangtey2, Lauren M Osborne2,3. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. 2. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. 3. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Abstract
Purpose: Pathological worry is a major feature of anxiety in the peripartum, and we sought to examine the factor structure, validity, and reliability in the peripartum of a scale used to measure worry in the general population (the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, PSWQ). Materials and Methods: Pregnant/postpartum women (N = 295) were followed at up to six visits, which included completion of the PSWQ and other psychological scales. Principal components analysis, descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, chi-square tests, and mixed linear regression models were used to evaluate scale reliability and validity. Results: Most participants (63%) reported a history of a mood disorder, 40% an anxiety disorder, and 18% both. Mean PSWQ score at entry was 47.19 (of a possible 80). PSWQ scores were positively correlated with conceptually related measures (correlations 0.55-0.76, all p < 0.001), and were most closely aligned with the TRAIT scale of Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Scale. Participants with a history of any mood or anxiety disorder had significantly higher worry scores (ts range = 3.70-6.69, ps < 0.01). Individuals with a current diagnosis were more likely to be high worriers (χ2 = 8.26, p = 0.004 and χ2 = 34.99, p < 0.001 for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, respectively). Conclusions: The PSWQ correlated well with all psychological scales, especially TRAIT anxiety. Worry appears to be a major component of perinatal anxiety, and the PSWQ may be a valuable tool for more precise specification of the clinical phenotypes of perinatal anxiety. Limitations include a study population that was largely Caucasian and well educated, so study results require replication in a more diverse population.
Purpose: Pathological worry is a major feature of anxiety in the peripartum, and we sought to examine the factor structure, validity, and reliability in the peripartum of a scale used to measure worry in the general population (the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, PSWQ). Materials and Methods: Pregnant/postpartum women (N = 295) were followed at up to six visits, which included completion of the PSWQ and other psychological scales. Principal components analysis, descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, chi-square tests, and mixed linear regression models were used to evaluate scale reliability and validity. Results: Most participants (63%) reported a history of a mood disorder, 40% an anxiety disorder, and 18% both. Mean PSWQ score at entry was 47.19 (of a possible 80). PSWQ scores were positively correlated with conceptually related measures (correlations 0.55-0.76, all p < 0.001), and were most closely aligned with the TRAIT scale of Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Scale. Participants with a history of any mood or anxiety disorder had significantly higher worry scores (ts range = 3.70-6.69, ps < 0.01). Individuals with a current diagnosis were more likely to be high worriers (χ2 = 8.26, p = 0.004 and χ2 = 34.99, p < 0.001 for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, respectively). Conclusions: The PSWQ correlated well with all psychological scales, especially TRAIT anxiety. Worry appears to be a major component of perinatal anxiety, and the PSWQ may be a valuable tool for more precise specification of the clinical phenotypes of perinatal anxiety. Limitations include a study population that was largely Caucasian and well educated, so study results require replication in a more diverse population.
Authors: Shaila Misri; Andrea B Eng; Jasmin Abizadeh; Ekin Blackwell; Alicia Spidel; Tim F Oberlander Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2013-06-18 Impact factor: 6.505
Authors: Qiu-Yue Zhong; Bizu Gelaye; Alan M Zaslavsky; Jesse R Fann; Marta B Rondon; Sixto E Sánchez; Michelle A Williams Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-04-27 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Lindsay R Standeven; Lauren M Osborne; Joshua F Betz; Gayane Yenokyan; Kristin Voegtline; Liisa Hantsoo; Jennifer L Payne Journal: Arch Womens Ment Health Date: 2021-10-29 Impact factor: 4.405