Prenatal Depression Effects on Pregnancy Feelings and Substance Use

• NCJ Number: 221381
• Journal: Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: 2007 Pages: 111-125
• Author(s): Tiffany Field; Regina Yando; Debra Bendell; Maria Hernandez-Reif; Miguel Diego; Yanexy Vera; Karla Gil
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH46586; MH00331
• Sponsoring Agency: Johnson & Johnson; National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study assessed depressed (n=110) and nondepressed (n=104) mothers on self-report measures of depression, anxiety, anger, feelings about pregnancy, and substance use on the first day after their children's births.

Abstract

Findings show that the depressed mothers scored higher on the depression, anger, and anxiety scales as well as the Perinatal Anxieties and Attitudes Scale. They also reported using more substances, including cigarettes, caffeine, and medications (primarily antibiotics). The depressed mothers also scored lower on the Feelings About Pregnancy and Delivery Scale, including the coping, support, intimacy, and cultural effects scores. In addition, the depressed mothers reported having more stressful situations during pregnancy, being less happy when finding out they were pregnant, and their partner also being less happy when finding out about the pregnancy. These findings indicate the importance of considering these risk factors in addition to the focus on prenatal biochemistry and activity levels. The findings also supported the use of prenatal screening scales such as the one developed for this study in order to help pregnant women identify those factors that seem to be influencing their pregnancy. The mothers were recruited at a neonatal nursery on the first day of their infants' lives. They were administered the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) for depression and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) for a diagnostic assessment. Mothers who scored above 16, the cutoff point for depression on the CES-D were assigned to the depressed group. Following the administration of the CES-D and the SCID, the mothers were assessed for anxiety, anger, the perinatal anxieties and attitudes, and their feelings about their pregnancy. Substance-use questions pertained to coffee drinking, smoking, and alcohol use. Medical complications and medications used during pregnancy were also determined. 7 tables and 45 references