%0 Journal Article
%T Anxiety During Pregnancy and Postpartum: Course, Predictors and Comorbidity with Postpartum Depression
%A Meri Tadinac
%A Radoslav Herman
%A Sandra Naki£¿ Rado£¿
%J Archive of "Acta Clinica Croatica".
%D 2018
%R 10.20471/acc.2018.57.01.05
%X SUMMARY ¨C Previous findings on peripartum anxiety are inconsistent in respect to the prevalence and course of peripartum anxiety with comorbidity of depression. Our aim was threefold: (1) to examine the course of elevated anxiety during pregnancy, immediately after childbirth, and six weeks postpartum; (2) to establish comorbidity of postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression (PPD); and (3) to examine predictors of anxiety 6 weeks postpartum. A sample of women (N=272) who were below the cut-off score for clinical depression during pregnancy were assessed in the third trimester of pregnancy, then 2 days and 6 weeks postpartum. Questionnaires on anxiety, pregnancy specific distress, stress, coping styles, social support, and depression were administered at each assessment. Obstetric data were collected from the participants¡¯ medical records. The estimated rate of high anxiety was 35% during pregnancy, 17% immediately after childbirth, and 20% six weeks postpartum, showing a decrease in anxiety levels after childbirth. Comorbidity of anxiety and PPD was 75%. Trait anxiety and early postpartum state anxiety are significant predictors of postpartum anxiety. Anxiety is a common peripartum psychological disturbance. Anxiety symptoms overlap with PPD, but not completely, indicating that screening for postpartum mental difficulties should include both depression and anxiety
%K Anxiety
%K Pregnancy
%K predictors
%K Depression
%K Depressive disorder
%K Depression
%K postpartum
%K Comorbidity
%K Prognosis
%K Risk factors
%K Surveys and questionnaires
%K Medical records
%U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6400346/