Dr. Adams
10-24-2008, 06:07 PM
"Women with severe depressive symptoms in early pregnancy have twice the risk for preterm delivery as those without depressive symptoms. In addition, the risk for preterm delivery increases with increasing depression. Both medical professionals and pregnant woman is that we should pay serious attention to depression during pregnancy.
The leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality, preterm delivery accounts for the highest medical expenditure for infants in the United States, with an estimated cost of $26 billion per year. Yet, despite decades of research, the incidence of preterm delivery has not declined, and the causes are largely unknown.
Recent research shows depression during pregnancy may influence levels of placental hormones and may be a risk factor in preterm delivery.
The effect of depressive symptoms during pregnancy and risk for preterm delivery was exacerbated when a woman had less than a college degree, 2 or more prior pregnancies, a history of subfertility, and the presence of obesity and stressful events. However, these associations did not reach statistical significance."
Hum Reprod. October 23, 2008.
The leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality, preterm delivery accounts for the highest medical expenditure for infants in the United States, with an estimated cost of $26 billion per year. Yet, despite decades of research, the incidence of preterm delivery has not declined, and the causes are largely unknown.
Recent research shows depression during pregnancy may influence levels of placental hormones and may be a risk factor in preterm delivery.
The effect of depressive symptoms during pregnancy and risk for preterm delivery was exacerbated when a woman had less than a college degree, 2 or more prior pregnancies, a history of subfertility, and the presence of obesity and stressful events. However, these associations did not reach statistical significance."
Hum Reprod. October 23, 2008.