AbstractsPsychology

Limited studies have been conducted on mental health outcomes of pregnant women with a history of pregnancy loss, but there are indications of increased risk of symptoms of anxiety and depression. The main aim of the study is to investigate whether women with a history of pregnancy loss are more likely to experience depression and anxiety both during and after subsequent pregnancies than pregnant women without that history. This was done by comparing the groups concerning different diagnoses during and after pregnancy, and by looking at severity of symptoms. Finally, problems related to physical health were also studied and compared between the two groups. Of the initial 2523 participants, 650 pregnant women were interviewed after being screened positive for depression and/or anxiety pre- and/or postnatally, or randomly selected from the screen negative group. Women with a history of early pregnancy loss were compared to women without a history of pregnancy loss and their scores on EPDS and DASS were compared. Women with a history of pregnancy loss had more anxiety symptoms in pregnancy at week 16 than the comparison group. At week 25 the research group had more depressive symptoms than the comparison group. No differences were found between the groups after childbirth. Women with a history of pregnancy loss were more likely to be diagnosed with hypochondriasis in pregnancy than women in the comparison group.