ASSOCIATIONS OF DEPRESSION AND PREECLAMPSIA DURING PREGNANCY

Preeclampsia has remained as one of the most important obstetrical problems
for which different factors have been suggested. Recently, psychopathologies identified many risk
factors for preeclampsia, but few studies have focused on the relation between maternal mental health
status and preeclampsia risk. The aim of this study was to determine the association between
depression and incidence of preeclampsia in pregnant women admitted to Mahdieh Hospital, 2012.
Materials & Methods In this case-control study, Beck Depression Inventory was used as data
gathering tool. 190 pregnant women, 95 as case group (preeclampsia) and 95 as control group
(healthy), who had inclusion criteria, were included in the study. All participants were selected based
on target sampling method.
Results: The results of this study showed that 81.1% of healthy and 76.8% of preeclamptic women
had some levels of depression. 35.8% of healthy, and 34.7% of preeclamptic women had mild
depression, 31.6% and 17.9% had moderate depression and 13.7% and 24.8% had severe depression
respectively. Among cofounders, numbers of prenatal cares was controlled by entering in logistic
regression. After adjusting for cofounders the effect of depression remained ineffective.
Conclusion: Regarding the high prevalence of depression in pregnant women, midwives and health
care worker's should pay attention to the psychological health of pregnant women during prenatal
period, and depression screening and appropriate treatment should be emphasized.