Depression in pregnant women with and without COVID-19

• Published in: BJPsych open Vol. 7; no. 5; p. e173
• Main Authors: Papadopoulos, Alissa, Nichols, Emily S., Mohsenzadeh, Yalda, Giroux, Isabelle, Mottola, Michelle F., Van Lieshout, Ryan J., Duerden, Emma G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01-09-2021
• Subjects: Coronaviruses; COVID-19; depressive disorders; Education; Gestational age; low- and middle-income countries; Mental depression; Mental health; Mental Health Services; Pandemics; Perinatal psychiatry; Pregnancy; primary care; Questionnaires; rating scales; Short Report; Values; Womens health; Canada; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; India; primary care; rating scales; depressive disorders; low- and middle-income countries; Perinatal psychiatry
• ISSN: 2056-4724; 2056-4724
• DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2021.1010

Evidence suggests that pregnant women who test positive for COVID-19 may develop more severe illness than non-pregnant women and may be at greater risk for psychological distress. The relationship between COVID-19 status (positive, negative, never tested) and symptoms of depression was examined in a survey study (May to September 2020) of pregnant women (n = 869). Pregnant women who reported testing positive for COVID-19 were significantly more likely to report depressive symptoms compared with women who tested negative (P = 0.027) and women who were never tested (P = 0.005). Findings indicate that pregnant women who test positive for COVID-19 should be screened and monitored for depressive symptoms.