Anxiety and depression in women and men from early pregnancy to 3-months postpartum

To investigate high-anxiety and depression in women and men from early
pregnancy to 3-months postpartum, 260 Portuguese couples (N=520) filled
in the State-Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) and the Edinburgh Post- Natal
Depression Scale (EPDS) at the first, second, and third pregnancy
trimesters, childbirth, and 3-months postpartum. Rates for high-anxiety
(STAI-S≥45) in women (13.1%; 12.2%; 18.2%; 18.6%; 4.7%) and men (10.1%;
8.0%, 7.8%; 8.5%; 4.4%) and for depression (EPDS≥10) in women (20.0%,
19.6%, 17.4%, 17.6%; 11.1%) and men (11.3%; 6.6%; 5.5%; 7.5%; 7.2%) were
high. Rates for depression were higher than rates for high-anxiety only
in women during early pregnancy and the postpartum, but not at the
third pregnancy trimester and childbirth. Rates for high-anxiety and
depression were higher in women than in men during pregnancy/childbirth,
but not at 3-months postpartum. Rates for high-anxiety but not rates
for depression were higher during pregnancy/childbirth compared to
3-months postpartum and only in women. Considering that 15.9% of the
parents-to-be were highly anxious and/or depressed during
pregnancy-comparing to 9.3% at 3-months postpartum-particular
attention should be drawn to both women's and men's mental health early
in pregnancy.