1.MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND METABOLIC DISORDERS IN PREGNANCY: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY
Carolyn Breadon ; Shalini Arunogiri ; Alisa Turbic ; Alex Lavale ; Ricardo Maldonado ; Jayashri Kulkarni AM Fahms
ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry 2024;25(5):1-10
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND METABOLIC DISORDERS IN PREGNANCY: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY
Objective: This study aimed to measure sequential rates of obesity, gestational diabetes,
polycystic ovary syndrome, and anxiety, depression, and antidepressant treatment in
pregnant women in Australia between 2008 and 2022.
Materials and Methods: BMI ≥ 30 (obesity), BMI ≥ 35 (severe obesity/obesity class II and
III), gestational diabetes, Type II diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, clinical diagnoses of
anxiety and depression, antidepressant treatment.
Results: Women taking antidepressants in pregnancy were substantially more vulnerable
to obesity (BMI ≥ 30) with rates of 43.59% vs 26.00%. Women taking antidepressants
in pregnancy also had higher rates of severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35) at 25.63% vs 12.98%. A
small minority of these women were also nearly 6 times more likely to drink alcohol in
pregnancy (2.7% vs 0.47%) and to use other drugs in pregnancy such as amphetamines
(0.35% vs 0.07%) and cannabis (3.4% vs 0.73%). When compared with peers matched for
diagnoses of depression and anxiety, women taking antidepressants were still more likely
to be obese (25.63% vs 20.17%) though this difference was not so marked. Rates of obesity
have increased in the cohort studied from 26.86% to 31.27%; of gestational diabetes from
3.98% to 21.77%; of polycystic ovary syndrome from 1.47% to 5.47%; of anxiety from
1.11% to 5.77%; of depression from 2.17% to 4.31%, and antidepressant treatment from
1.45% to 2.16%.
Conclusions: Obesity, gestational diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome rates have
substantially increased between 2008 and 2022 in Australia. Rates of anxiety in pregnant
women have increased substantially over this period, as have rates of depression. Women
living with depression and anxiety in pregnancy are increasing to suffer obesity and
related metabolic conditions. Antidepressant treatment may also increase these women’s
vulnerability to obesity and severe obesity. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (7) July,
2024; 1-10.


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