Depressive Symptoms in Pregnant Women: Does Diabetes Have an Impact?

Abstract

Background: Potential adverse consequences of maternal depression such as preterm labour and delivery, NICU admission, and altered development in the offspring underscore the need to better delineate contributing risk factors. Despite the association of diabetes and depression in non-gravid populations, there is limited data on the impact of a diabetes diagnosis on the prevalence of depression during pregnancy. The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence of self-reported depressive symptoms in pregnant women with and without diabetes. Study Design: This observational study utilized a cross-sectional convenience sampling method. The Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition (BDI-II) was used to screen women during a routine obstetrical visit. Rate comparisons were performed using the independent t-test, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Two hundred women were screened. 22% of participants with diabetes and 23% of participants without diabetes reported depression symptoms classified as moderate or severe. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding somatic, cognitive, or total BDI-II scores. Conclusion: Given the rates of depression symptoms reported in this population and the possible negative sequelae of untreated depression, screening for this condition should be a routine component of quality prenatal care regardless of comorbidities.