Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Women who experience symptoms of depression prior to becoming pregnant have an increased risk of preterm birth, but black women who are depressed are at greater risk of delivering a preterm baby than white women, according to a report in the Journal of Women’s Health.

Researchers looked at data collected between 1990 and 1996 from a larger study investigating heart disease risk, and pulled data from 555 women who were 24 years old on average when they gave birth. Researchers studied that data for links between race, preterm birth and pre-pregnancy depressive mood. The data showed that 18.1 percent of the 249 black women gave birth prematurely – at less than 37 weeks gestation – compared to 8.5 percent among the 306 white participants.

The prevalence of pre-pregnancy depression was also higher among black women compared with white women – 9.4 percent compared to 7.2 percent, respectively. Researchers say the findings suggest that a woman’s overall health must be viewed when considering reproductive outcomes.

But it also points to a need for health care professionals to address a woman’s emotional presence especially if she is pregnant or considering pregnancy. Depression during pregnancy can be dangerous for both the mother and her unborn child, leading to poor nutrition; dependence on alcohol, drugs or cigarettes; and suicidal behavior, all of which can contribute to premature birth. Psychotherapy and antidepressants are a viable option but doctors and patients must both be advised of the potential risks that antidepressants carry. Some SSRIs commonly used to treat depression, such as Paxil, can increase the risk of birth defects, especially heart defects, which have led manufacturers like GlaxoSmithKline to include warnings of potential birth defects on the medication’s label.

Source: Reuters

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