Depression Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Depression, including details on clinical depression, medication, symptoms, treatment, counselling, therapy. | ||||||||
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Depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in early pregnancy.Nicholson WK, Setse R, Hill-Briggs F, Cooper LA, Strobino D, Powe NR Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, Clinical Research, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA. wnichol@jhmi.edu OBJECTIVE: Depressive symptoms can be associated with lower health-related quality of life in late pregnancy. Few studies have quantified the effect of depressive symptoms in early pregnancy or among a racially and economically diverse group. Our goal was to estimate the independent association of depressive symptoms with health-related quality of life among a diverse group of women in early pregnancy. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 175 pregnant women receiving prenatal care in a community and university-based setting. We related the presence of depressive symptoms, defined as a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score of 16 or more to health-related quality of life scores from the 8 Medical Outcomes Study Short Form domains: Physical Functioning, Role-Physical, Bodily Pain, Vitality, General Health, Social Functioning, Role-Emotional, and Mental Health. Quantile regression was used to measure the independent association of depressive symptoms with each of the 8 domains. RESULTS: The study sample was 49% African American, 38% white, and 11% Asian. Mean (+/- standard deviation) gestational age was 14 +/- 6 weeks.The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 15%. Women with depressive symptoms had significantly lower health-related quality of life scores in all domains except Physical Functioning. After adjustment for sociodemographic, clinical, and social support factors, depressive symptoms were associated with health-related quality of life scores that were 30 points lower in Role-Physical, 19 points lower in Bodily Pain, 10 points lower in General Health, and 56 points lower in Role-Emotional. CONCLUSION: Women in early pregnancy with depressive symptoms have poor health-related quality of life. Early identification and management of depressive symptoms in pregnant women may improve their sense of well-being. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2. Published 3 April 2006 in Obstet Gynecol, 107(4): 798-806.
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