Research Article, J Womens Health Issues Care Vol: 5 Issue: 5
Depression, Anxiety and Stress during Pregnancy
| Quaresma C1*, Silva C2, Forjaz Secca M1,3, Goyri O’Neill J1,4 and Branco J4,5 | |
| 1Laboratório de Instrumentação, Engenharia Biomédica e Física da Radiação (LIBPhys-UNL), Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Monte da Caparica, Portugal | |
| 2Escola Superior de Saúde do Alcoitão, 2649-506 Alcabideche, Portugal | |
| 3Ressonância Magnética – Caselas, 1400-045 Lisboa, Portugal | |
| 4Nova Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 1169-056 Lisboa Portugal | |
| 5Maternidade Drº Alfredo da Costa, 1069-089 Lisboa, Portugal | |
| Corresponding author : Claudia Quaresma (LIBPhys-UNL), Departamento de F�?sica, Faculdade de Ci�?ªncias e Tecnologias, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Monte da Caparica, Portugal Tel: +351 212948576 Fax: +351212948549 E-mail: q.claudia@fct.unl.pt |
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| Received: July 20, 2016 Accepted: July 07, 2016 Published: July 12, 2016 | |
| Citation: Quaresma C, Silva C, Forjaz Secca M, Goyri O��?Neill J, Branco J (2016) Depression, Anxiety and Stress during Pregnancy. J Womens Health,Issues Care 5:5. doi:10.4172/2325-9795.1000247 |
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of the present study is to quantitatively evaluate psychological factors (depression, anxiety and stress) on four different moments of pregnancy.
Study design: The presence of depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms and their severity were evaluated at 12, 20, 32 and 37 weeks of gestation, in 47 pregnant women aged between 20 and 39 years, using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales. Factor analysis was performed on the full 42 items of the scales. We used the Wilcoxon test to compare the different moments of evaluation.
Results: scores higher than the normal level were found for 19.1% (at 12 weeks), 12.8% (at 20 weeks), 21.3% (at 32 weeks) and 17% (at 37 weeks) of women in the case of depression, for 21.3% (at 12 weeks), 29.8% (at 20 weeks), 48.9% (at 32 and 37 weeks), of women in the case of anxiety, and 27.7%. (at 12 weeks), 29.8% (at 20 weeks), 36.2% (at 32 and 37 weeks) of women in case of stress.
Conclusion: We found out that stress and anxiety increased during pregnancy while depressions decreased at 20 weeks of gestation and increased again during the 3rd trimester.
