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The prevalence of antenatal and postnatal co-morbid anxiety and depression: a meta-analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2017

K. Falah-Hassani ,
R. Shiri  and
C.-L. Dennis
K. Falah-Hassani*
Affiliation:
Western University, London, ON, Canada University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
R. Shiri
Affiliation:
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
C.-L. Dennis
Affiliation:
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
*
*Address for correspondence: K. Falah-Hassani, Ph.D., Western University, Faculty of Education, 1137 Western Road, London, ON N6G 1G7, Canada. (Email: kfalahha@uwo.ca)
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Abstract

To date, the precise prevalence of co-morbidity of anxiety and depression in the perinatal period is not well known. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of co-morbid anxiety and depression in the antenatal and postnatal periods. Systematic searches of multiple electronic databases were conducted for studies published between January 1950 and January 2016. We included 66 (24 published and 42 unpublished) studies incorporating 162 120 women from 30 countries. Prevalence of self-reported antenatal anxiety symptoms and mild to severe depressive symptoms was 9.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 7.8–11.2, 17 studies, n = 25 592] and of co-morbid anxiety symptoms and moderate/severe depressive symptoms was 6.3% (95% CI 4.8–7.7, 17 studies, n = 27 270). Prevalence of a clinical diagnosis of any antenatal anxiety disorder and depression was 9.3% (95% CI 4.0–14.7, 10 studies, n = 3918) and of co-morbid generalized anxiety disorder and depression was 1.7% (95% CI 0.2–3.1, three studies, n = 3085). Postnatally between 1 and 24 weeks postpartum, the prevalence of co-morbid anxiety symptoms and mild to severe depressive symptoms was 8.2% (95% CI 6.5–9.9, 15 studies, n = 14 731), while co-morbid anxiety symptoms and moderate/severe depressive symptoms was 5.7% (95% CI 4.3–7.1, 13 studies, n = 20 849). The prevalence of a clinical diagnosis of co-morbid anxiety and depression was 4.2% (95% CI 1.9–6.6, eight studies, n = 3251). Prevalence rates did not differ with regard to year of publication, country income, selection bias and attrition bias. The results suggest that co-morbid perinatal anxiety and depression are prevalent and warrant clinical attention given the potential negative child developmental consequences if left untreated. Further research is warranted to develop evidence-based interventions for prevention, identification and treatment of this co-morbidity.

Keywords

Anxietydepressionperinatal periodpostnatal periodpregnancy
Type
Review Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 47 , Issue 12 , September 2017 , pp. 2041 - 2053
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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