P-667: Alcohol abuse risk factors and psychiatric disorders in pregnant women with a history of infertility

Abstract

To determine whether alcohol abuse risk factors, depression andother psychiatric disorders are associated with a history of infertility. A cross-sectional study of pregnant women awaiting their first prenatal visit in a private suburban obstetrics and gynecology practice. Pregnant women awaiting their first prenatal visit completed a questionnaire and underwent an interview consisting of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IIIR and the Family Alcohol and Drug Survey. The data obtained from women with a history of infertility were compared to the data from those without prior infertility. 89 subjects participated in the study, 27 with prior infertility and 62 without. Subjects with a history of infertility were slightly older than control subjects (34.7 vs 31.1 years, P < 0.001); otherwise, subjects were similar between the groups with respect to race, marital status, employment, and education. Pregnant women with a history of infertility reported needing significantly more drinks to get high, 3.3 vs. 2.7, P = 0.04, and they were more likely to have clinically elevated T-ACE alcohol tolerance scores (83.3% vs. 52.3%) than women without such history (P < 0.01). Major depression was diagnosed in 69.2% of infertility subjects vs. 30% of controls (P <0.05). Simple phobia (23.1% vs. 10%, P <0.01), generalized anxiety disorder (23.1% vs. 3%, P <0.01), panic disorder (15.4% vs. 0%, P <0.05) and bulimia (7.7% vs. 0%, P <0.05) were also more common in women with a history of infertility compared to controls. Pregnant women with a history of infertility are at increased risk for alcohol abuse and are more likely to suffer from other psychiatric disorders than women without such history. Special attention to these issues is warranted when caring for pregnant women who were previously infertile.