Trend of psychological symptoms from pregnancy to postpartum: a prospective study during COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract Psychological symptoms during pregnancy and the postpartum period require special attention, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to evaluate the trajectory of psychiatric symptoms from pregnancy to the postpartum period during the COVID-19 pandemic. This pr...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Discover Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44192-025-00184-8 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850277975458578432 |
|---|---|
| author | Angela Hamidia Faezeh Hosseini Shahnaz Barat Soraya Khafri Faezeh Khorshidian Shirin Shahrokhi Mahbobeh Faramarzi |
| author_facet | Angela Hamidia Faezeh Hosseini Shahnaz Barat Soraya Khafri Faezeh Khorshidian Shirin Shahrokhi Mahbobeh Faramarzi |
| author_sort | Angela Hamidia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Psychological symptoms during pregnancy and the postpartum period require special attention, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to evaluate the trajectory of psychiatric symptoms from pregnancy to the postpartum period during the COVID-19 pandemic. This prospective study was conducted at Babol University of Medical Sciences from February 2020 to September 2021. A total of 252 pregnant women completed the Symptom Checklist 25 (SCL-25), the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale, and the Post-Traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale at both prenatal and postpartum time points. Results indicated that the mean total score of psychological symptoms decreased modestly from pregnancy to postpartum (39.61 ± 11.67 vs. 32.78 ± 12.15, p < 0.001). Additionally, symptoms of somatization, depression, anxiety, and phobia significantly declined from pregnancy to postpartum (p < 0.05). However, levels of depression, anxiety, and phobia remained significantly higher among women with a positive history of COVID-19 infection compared to those without, during both pregnancy and postpartum. While the overall mean score of psychological symptoms showed a slight reduction from pregnancy to postpartum, many symptoms persisted, particularly in individuals with a COVID-19 infection history or post-traumatic stress symptoms. The study recommends that healthcare providers, including obstetricians, nurses, and midwives, implement timely screening and treatment for psychological symptoms from pregnancy through postpartum. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-39845298f9d44a78bb2cf238dc6a4f46 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2731-4383 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-39845298f9d44a78bb2cf238dc6a4f462025-08-20T01:49:40ZengSpringerDiscover Mental Health2731-43832025-05-015111010.1007/s44192-025-00184-8Trend of psychological symptoms from pregnancy to postpartum: a prospective study during COVID-19 pandemicAngela Hamidia0Faezeh Hosseini1Shahnaz Barat2Soraya Khafri3Faezeh Khorshidian4Shirin Shahrokhi5Mahbobeh Faramarzi6Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical SciencesHealth Research Institute, Babol University of Medical SciencesInfertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical SciencesBehshahr Azad UniversitySocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical SciencesAbstract Psychological symptoms during pregnancy and the postpartum period require special attention, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to evaluate the trajectory of psychiatric symptoms from pregnancy to the postpartum period during the COVID-19 pandemic. This prospective study was conducted at Babol University of Medical Sciences from February 2020 to September 2021. A total of 252 pregnant women completed the Symptom Checklist 25 (SCL-25), the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale, and the Post-Traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale at both prenatal and postpartum time points. Results indicated that the mean total score of psychological symptoms decreased modestly from pregnancy to postpartum (39.61 ± 11.67 vs. 32.78 ± 12.15, p < 0.001). Additionally, symptoms of somatization, depression, anxiety, and phobia significantly declined from pregnancy to postpartum (p < 0.05). However, levels of depression, anxiety, and phobia remained significantly higher among women with a positive history of COVID-19 infection compared to those without, during both pregnancy and postpartum. While the overall mean score of psychological symptoms showed a slight reduction from pregnancy to postpartum, many symptoms persisted, particularly in individuals with a COVID-19 infection history or post-traumatic stress symptoms. The study recommends that healthcare providers, including obstetricians, nurses, and midwives, implement timely screening and treatment for psychological symptoms from pregnancy through postpartum.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44192-025-00184-8Psychological symptomsPregnancyPostpartumCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Angela Hamidia Faezeh Hosseini Shahnaz Barat Soraya Khafri Faezeh Khorshidian Shirin Shahrokhi Mahbobeh Faramarzi Trend of psychological symptoms from pregnancy to postpartum: a prospective study during COVID-19 pandemic Discover Mental Health Psychological symptoms Pregnancy Postpartum COVID-19 |
| title | Trend of psychological symptoms from pregnancy to postpartum: a prospective study during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Trend of psychological symptoms from pregnancy to postpartum: a prospective study during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Trend of psychological symptoms from pregnancy to postpartum: a prospective study during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trend of psychological symptoms from pregnancy to postpartum: a prospective study during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Trend of psychological symptoms from pregnancy to postpartum: a prospective study during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | trend of psychological symptoms from pregnancy to postpartum a prospective study during covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | Psychological symptoms Pregnancy Postpartum COVID-19 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44192-025-00184-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT angelahamidia trendofpsychologicalsymptomsfrompregnancytopostpartumaprospectivestudyduringcovid19pandemic AT faezehhosseini trendofpsychologicalsymptomsfrompregnancytopostpartumaprospectivestudyduringcovid19pandemic AT shahnazbarat trendofpsychologicalsymptomsfrompregnancytopostpartumaprospectivestudyduringcovid19pandemic AT sorayakhafri trendofpsychologicalsymptomsfrompregnancytopostpartumaprospectivestudyduringcovid19pandemic AT faezehkhorshidian trendofpsychologicalsymptomsfrompregnancytopostpartumaprospectivestudyduringcovid19pandemic AT shirinshahrokhi trendofpsychologicalsymptomsfrompregnancytopostpartumaprospectivestudyduringcovid19pandemic AT mahbobehfaramarzi trendofpsychologicalsymptomsfrompregnancytopostpartumaprospectivestudyduringcovid19pandemic |