Prevalence and related factors of common mental disorders during pregnancy in Japan: a cross-sectional study.

Kentaro Usuda,Hisateru Tachimori,Tadashi Takeshima,Takako Konishi,Yo Sano,Yutaka Matsuoka,Daisuke Nishi,Miyuki Makino

doi:10.1186/s13030-016-0069-1

Abstract

BackgroundCommon mental disorders (CMD) during pregnancy can have a clearly harmful influence on both mothers and children. Some studies have reported related factors for mental disorders, such as region-specific background. This study examined the prevalence of CMD and its related factors in mid-pregnancy in Japan.MethodsPregnant women between 12 and 24 weeks gestation and aged ≥20 years were consecutively recruited at a maternity hospital in Japan between May 2014 and September 2014. CMD were diagnosed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), self-rated depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and interpersonal traumatic experience was measured using the Life Events Checklist.ResultsAmong 297 eligible pregnant women, 177 participated in the study. Two participants (1.1 %) met the criteria for major depressive disorder. The most frequent diagnosis was agoraphobia (n = 7; 3.9 %). Eleven participants (6.2 %) met the criteria for one or more diagnoses, with 2 participants having two mental disorders and 3 having three mental disorders. Six participants developed CMD after gestation. Logistic regression analysis revealed history of psychiatric disorder, past interpersonal traumatic experience, and feeling pressure to have a child were associated with CMD.ConclusionThese findings indicate a lower prevalence of CMD in mid-pregnancy in Japan than reported in most other countries. Besides the related factors reported previously, feeling pressure to have a child might increase risk for CMD among pregnant women in Japan. Asian cultural background might be related to the lower CMD prevalence and risk factors identified in this study.

Highlights

Common mental disorders (CMD) during pregnancy can have a clearly harmful influence on both mothers and children
While the prevalence and risk factors for CMD among pregnant women expecting their first babies have been investigated in a study involving clinics affiliated with medical universities [5], the findings might not generalize to pregnant women with children
Participants Participants were consecutively recruited from Tuesday to Friday between May 2014 and September 2014 at Toda Chuo Women’s Hospital (TCWH), Saitama Prefecture, which is located in the greater Tokyo area

Summary

Introduction

Common mental disorders (CMD) during pregnancy can have a clearly harmful influence on both mothers and children. This study examined the prevalence of CMD and its related factors in mid-pregnancy in Japan. For over 150 years, Japan has been greatly affected by Western culture, while at the same time has retained its cultural identity in many ways. It would be highly relevant, to examine from a sociocultural perspective the prevalence and risk factors for CMD during pregnancy in Japan. While the prevalence and risk factors for CMD among pregnant women expecting their first babies have been investigated in a study involving clinics affiliated with medical universities [5], the findings might not generalize to pregnant women with children. Fewer than 10 % of pregnant women give birth at university hospitals in Japan [19, 20], and women who do so might have different characteristics from the majority of women who give birth in non-university hospital clinics

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