Abstract
Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) have been reported to be associated with distinct physiological responses to psychosocial stress. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of nausea and vomiting on anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Eighty-three pregnant women with nausea and vomiting and 83 healthy pregnant women were included. All participants completed the demography- and pregnancy-related questionnaire, including Rhodes Index of Nausea and Vomiting, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The median BAI and EPDS levels were 13 (min-max: 0-43) and 7 (min-max: 0-20) for the study group and 4 (min-max: 0-26) and 4 (min-max: 0-16) for control group, respectively. A univariate analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in terms of BAI levels (p<0.001) between the groups, but no significant difference was observed in terms of EPDS. In a logistic regression analysis, both anxiety (p=0.018) and depression (p=0.022) were found to be affected by NVP. The BAI levels of the NVP group correlated with the severity of NVP. According to the results of the present study, women with severe NVP experienced a higher level of anxiety and depression, which necessitates an extra awareness from healthcare professionals in order to be able to contribute effectively.
Highlights
Nausea and vomiting during the early stages of pregnancy usually occur between the fifth and eighteenth weeks of pregnancy, and more than 70% of pregnant women have reported the presence of these symptoms extending until parturition [1,2,3,4]
A univariate analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in terms of Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) levels (p
According to the results of the present study, women with severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) experienced a higher level of anxiety and depression, which necessitates an extra awareness from healthcare professionals in order to be able to contribute effectively
Summary
Nausea and vomiting during the early stages of pregnancy usually occur between the fifth and eighteenth weeks of pregnancy, and more than 70% of pregnant women have reported the presence of these symptoms extending until parturition [1,2,3,4]. There are still questions regarding the exact cause of both conditions, it does appear to be associated with various metabolic and endocrine factors. Studies have shown that NVP may be linked with psychological disturbances, including eating disorders, neurotic tendencies, hysteria, and rejection of pregnancy, as well as anxiety and depression with psychological stress related to poverty and marital conflicts [6, 7]. From these psychological disturbances, anxiety and depression exert a special importance, because apart from being a cause, it can be a consequence of NVP.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
