Introduction/Objectives:
Anxiety in pregnancy and postpartum is a widespread symptom in women with and without prior mental disorder, nevertheless it has received – in contrast to depression -less attention in the literature. There are a few studies which give evidence that anxiety in pregnancy could be a predictor of postpartum depression, while there is contradictory data about the influence on birth and infant outcomes (Austin et al., 2006; Beck, 2001; O'Hara und Swain, 1996; Robertson et al., 2004). Data is mainly based on the diagnosis of anxiety disorders, research on pregnancy related specific anxiety is just in its infancy but could allready give indication of possibly stronger influences on peri- and postnatal outcomes (Huizink et al., 2004). There is evidence that the comorbidity ofbipolar disorder and anxiety leads to a worse course and increase of severity of illness. There is – to our knowledge – no data regarding the special topic of anxiety in pregnancy and postpartum in patients with bipolar affective disorder.
Participants, Materials/Methods:
As a part of a study on women with bipolar affective disorder – retrospectively interviewed about pregnancy, birth and postpartum – and mothers without severe diseases, general and pregnancy specific anxiety is evaluated. Based on the existing literature we have summarized the most important topics of pregnancy and postpartal anxietys in a personal interview, in addition the STAI (Laux et al.1981) is used for evaluating trait anxiety.
Results:
Main questions are influences of pregnancy specific and general anxiety on postpartal depression in women with bipolar disorder and without mental diseases. In addition correlations between pregnancy specific and diagnosis of anxiety in general as well as the influence of birth on the course of anxiety disorders are evaluated.
Conclusions:
If we can find postive answers by our study it could help us in detecting expectant mothers with high risk of postpartum depression – with special focus on the vulnerable group of women with bipolar affective disorder – by evaluating the anxiety status in pregnancy and so help to avoid severe consequences for mother and child.
