Depression and anxiety in pregnancy and postpartum in women with mild and severe preeclampsia

Background: Risk for anxiety and depression is increased in women with high‑risk pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate anxiety and depression in women with mild and severe preeclampsia at admission and 6 weeks postpartum. Materials and Methods: In this cohort study, 122 preeclamptic women who were admitted to the Public hospital and Tamin Ejtemaee hospital of Mashhad were included. Selection was done by convenience sampling method. Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI‑II) and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were completed at admission and 6 weeks after delivery. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 using Chi‑square, Fisher’s exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Repeated measurement. Results: The mean depression score was 4.81 ± 4.09 at admission and 11.17 ± 5.5 at 6 weeks postpartum. The mean of trait anxiety was 42.5 ± 10.5 at admission and 32.3 ± 6.5 at 6 weeks postpartum, and the mean of state anxiety score at admission was 43.09 ± 9.5 and at 6 weeks postpartum was 31.99 ± 5.9. There was a significant difference between the scores of depression (F = 3.8, P < 0.001), state anxiety (F = 1.52, P < 0.001), and trait anxiety (F = 1.5, P < 0.001) at admission and 6 weeks postpartum. No significant differences were found between severity of preeclampsia and the scores of depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety at admission and 6 weeks postpartum. Conclusions: The mean score of state and trait anxiety decreased significantly in preeclamptic women from admission to 6 weeks postpartum, but the mean score of depression increased. Severity of preeclampsia was not an independent risk factor of depression and anxiety.