A prospective-longitudinal study on the association of anxiety disorders prior to pregnancy and pregnancy- and child-related fears

Julia Martini; Eva Asselmann; Franziska Einsle; Jens Strehle; Hans-Ulrich Wittchen

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.04.007

A prospective-longitudinal study on the association of anxiety disorders prior to pregnancy and pregnancy- and child-related fears

J Anxiety Disord. 2016 May:40:58-66. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.04.007. Epub 2016 Apr 8.

Authors

Julia Martini¹, Eva Asselmann², Franziska Einsle³, Jens Strehle⁴, Hans-Ulrich Wittchen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany; Faculty of Medicine of the Technische Universität Dresden, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Schubertstraße 42, 01307 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: julia.martini@tu-dresden.de.
² Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany; Behavioral Epidemiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: eva.asselmann@tu-dresden.de.
³ Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany; SRH Fachhochschule für Gesundheit Gera, Neue Straße 28-30, 07548 Gera, Germany. Electronic address: franziska.einsle@tu-dresden.de.
⁴ Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: jens.strehle@tu-dresden.de.
⁵ Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: hans-ulrich.wittchen@tu-dresden.de.

PMID: 27115070
DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.04.007

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relation between anxiety disorders prior to pregnancy and specific pregnancy- and child-related fears during pregnancy and after delivery. 306 expectant mothers were interviewed regarding anxiety (and depressive) disorders prior to pregnancy and pregnancy- and child-related fears (e.g. fear of labor pain, fear of infant injury) using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview for Women (CIDI-V). Pregnancy- and child-related fears were particularly pronounced in women with multiple anxiety disorders and women with comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders prior to pregnancy. Further analyses revealed associations between particular anxiety disorders and specific pregnancy- and child-related fears. Results remained stable when considering potential confounders such as maternal age, education, marital status, parity, prior abortion and preterm delivery or low birth weight. Our study suggests that especially women with multiple anxiety and/or comorbid depressive disorders may benefit from early targeted interventions to prevent an escalation of anxiety and fears over the peripartum period.

Keywords: Child-related fears; Maternal anxiety disorder; Maternal depressive disorder; Pregnancy-related fears.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Anxiety / psychology*
Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis*
Anxiety Disorders / psychology
Fear / psychology*
Female
Humans
Labor Pain / psychology
Longitudinal Studies
Mothers / psychology*
Peripartum Period / psychology*
Pregnancy
Prospective Studies
Young Adult