Pregnancy is a time when many physiological and psychosocial changes occur. It can bring a range of mixed emotions from excitement to apprehensiveness and stress. It is also a period of increased vulnerability to the onset or relapse of mental illness.
Until recently, mental health problems during the antenatal period have received much less attention in comparison to mental health problems in the postpartum period. The most common mental health problems during pregnancy are anxiety and depression, which are amongst the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. New Zealand is home to some of the highest rates of antenatal anxiety and depression internationally with between 20–25% and 12–22% of pregnant women affected respectively.
Symptoms of antenatal anxiety and depression can often occur concurrently; they can range from mild to severe and can either continue on to or begin anytime during pregnancy. Symptoms of antenatal anxiety can include panic attacks, phobias and persistent worry about anything, including concerns about baby’s health, pregnancy and/or birth. Women experiencing anxiety during their pregnancy can often feel irritable, tense and low in energy and have difficulties with concentration or sleep.
Pregnant women experiencing depression, on the other hand, can feel low in mood and/or lose interest or pleasure in things that they usually enjoy. They may experience changes in sleep or appetite, and feel on edge, guilty, worthless and/or hopeless. They may have little energy or motivation to do anything, have poor concentration and even have thoughts that life isn’t worth living.
Many symptoms of antenatal anxiety and depression such as fatigue, loss of energy, appetite and changes in sleep overlap with normal pregnancy symptoms and, as such, it can be difficult to distinguish between common pregnancy symptoms and those which may be expressions of a more serious underlying mental health issue. Although a degree of anxiety and ‘ups and downs’ is normal, when there are several symptoms present and the symptoms begin to affect a woman’s daily functioning or become upsetting, antenatal anxiety and depression may be the cause and support should be sought.
Some mums more at risk
Some pregnant women are at greater risk of developing anxiety and/or depression than others. Women who have a personal history of mental illness, have little support from their partner or socially, or have an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy are more likely to develop antenatal anxiety and depression as well as women who experience adverse life events or high stress. Antenatal anxiety and depression can have a long-term impact not only on the pregnant woman but also on her infant and the rest of the family.
Anxiety and depression during the antenatal period are the strongest predictors of postnatal depression, which in turn can affect the relationship between the mother and affect the cognitive, socioemotional and behavioural development of the infant. Anxiety and depression during pregnancy have also been associated with an increased risk of pregnancy and birth complications, and of depression in fathers. Given the wider implications of antenatal anxiety and depression, it is paramount that the symptoms are recognised and treated early in the pregnancy.
Currently in New Zealand, as in many other countries, the first line of treatment recommended for mild to moderate symptoms of antenatal anxiety and depression is psychological interventions, which typically include talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT). Although evidence to support the efficacy of these treatments is increasing, and the majority of pregnant women prefer this form of treatment over medication, many have difficulty accessing these treatments due to issues with time, stigma, cost and childcare.
For more severe symptoms, psychiatric medication is the recommended treatment even though there is little evidence to support its effectiveness and safety during pregnancy. Many pregnant women are reluctant to use this form of treatment given the known and unknown risks to the baby. Unfortunately, risks to the exposed baby are well documented and include congenital abnormalities, developmental delays and increased risk of mental and physical health problems later in life. For any pregnant woman suffering from anxiety and/or depression, the risks of exposing the baby to psychiatric medication during pregnancy must be weighed against the risks to both the mother and the baby of untreated anxiety and depression.
Given the barriers to accessing conventional treatments, many pregnant women may be left untreated. In an attempt to address this treatment gap, alternative interventions including acupuncture, massage, bright light therapy and exercise have been investigated. These interventions are beginning to show promise in reducing symptoms of depression but not yet anxiety. Other promising interventions include web-based interventions that utilise CBT or behavioural activation-based programmes. These self-help programmes have been shown to be beneficial for improving both anxiety- and depressive-related symptoms during the antenatal period and may be perhaps a more accessible and affordable alternative to seeing a therapist.
Diet plays a significant role
Nutritional interventions present another possible treatment option for symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy given that diet has beenshown to play a significant role in maternal mental health. Diets that are less diverse and poor in quality such as those that have highly processed and sugary foods have been associated with symptoms of antenatal depression, anxiety and stress. A healthy diet on the other hand, such as the Mediterranean diet, that is rich in fruits and vegetables and healthy fats from nuts, seeds and fish has been associated with lower symptoms of depression and anxiety during pregnancy and improved cognitive enhancement and social relatedness in the infant.
A healthy, varied diet is important for maintaining wellbeing perhaps owing to the variety of vitamins and minerals contained in food. Nutrients work together in the body and indeed every cell in our body requires a diverse range of vitamins and minerals in order to support both physical and mental functioning. Nutrients are required for the synthesis of neurotransmitters, which can include our feel-good hormones.
Some people, however, may need more nutrients than they can typically obtain from their diets given that our foods are less nutrient dense than they were 50 years ago. Additionally, some people may not absorb vitamins and minerals as well as others because of inflammation in the gut and genetic differences. This means that fewer nutrients are available to support optimal brain function. One way in which we can get more nutrients into our body is to supplement with vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
Although a number of studies have focused on the prevention of postnatal depression, very few have investigated the use of nutritional supplements for the treatment of anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Omega 3 fatty acids have shown promise for reducing depression scores during the antenatal period and a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement taken during the preconception period has improved symptoms of depression for women with evidence of mood disruption. Indeed, evidence has accumulated over the last ten years showing that multi-vitamin and mineral interventions have been beneficial for a variety of psychological conditions including low mood and anxiety. Nutritional supplements may therefore present an alternative treatment for antenatal anxiety and depression; however, more research is needed.
It is clear that antenatal anxiety and depression are serious problems that need to be recognised and treated urgently and effectively. Emerging evidence suggests that alternative interventions may be effective at treating anxiety and depression during pregnancy and may provide additional options for women who do not want to engage or are not able to access conventional treatments. Further research will help with making those difficult decisions about which treatments hold evidence for effectively treating these debilitating symptoms that can emerge during pregnancy.
