The 8 Psychological Disorders That Can Arise During Pregnancy
Normally, pregnancy is synonymous with happiness for many women: it means that they are going to bring into the world a new life, made by them.
However, there are many occasions in which women may suffer from a psychological problem, since pregnancy and motherhood are a source of doubts and fears and, in essence, increase their vulnerability.
The symptoms of all types of psychological conditions can be masked by the pregnancy itself, which is why below we are going to see and understand what they are. Psychological disorders that may arise during pregnancy.
Common psychological disorders that can appear during pregnancy
Pregnancy is usually a time of joy and excitement for most women, anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new life into the world. They imagine what name to give him, what clothes to buy him, what he will want to be when he grows up, if he will look like his father… there are many positive thoughts that can appear when knowing that they are pregnant and that in a few months they will give birth.
However, pregnancy is also an intimidating event, source of a lot of stress, worry and, sometimes, a real health problem. Emotional ups and downs, temperamental and physiological changes, and doubts about whether or not it is best to have a child are issues that can give rise to a full-blown mental problem.
In part, the mother’s health is compromised, and this is why it is important to know what are the 8 psychological disorders that can arise during pregnancy.
1. Depression in pregnant women
If we say that depression is the most likely disorder that a pregnant woman suffers from, we probably won’t be surprised. Mood disorders are the type of disorder most commonly associated with pregnancy. Many of the symptoms of depression can resemble those of a normal pregnancy, such as changes in sleep patterns, alterations in appetite, or loss of energy.
About 70% of women show a negative mood during pregnancy, and it has been seen that about 14% would meet diagnostic criteria for depression at 32 weeks. This percentage rises to 17% when they are between weeks 35 and 36. It seems that The first and third semesters are those in which women report being more down and depressedcoinciding with having received the news of her pregnancy and knowing that they will soon give birth.
Among the risk factors for a pregnant woman to suffer from depression we have: a history of depression, stopping taking antidepressants if she takes them, a history of postpartum depression and a family history of this disorder. Also There are psychosocial correlates that contribute to the appearance of this diagnosissuch as a negative attitude towards pregnancy, lack of social and family support and refusal of the couple or family to have a new baby.
The effects of depression in pregnant women affect both their health and that of the fetus. It can cause a woman to not take her doctor’s recommendations seriously regarding prenatal care, nutrition and self-care, in addition to neglecting the medication prescribed by the professional or, on the other hand, taking drugs that she should not. Suicidal thoughts, self-harming behavior, and harm to the fetus or baby may also appear once she is born.
The treatment used for pregnant women diagnosed with depression is usually the same as that for depressed people, although with the additional need to ensure the safety of the fetus. Education and family and professional support are essential, since as pregnancy is a unique experience for women, some may not know how the process will develop. If pharmacological treatment is chosen, it will be necessary to assess whether the benefits are greater than the risks.
2. Anxiety disorders during pregnancy
Anxiety disorders are a group of mental disorders that are linked to anguish and stress. All of them involve states of hyperactivation of the nervous system and muscle groups, leading the person to be in a sustained state of alert.
Among the most common we have panic attacks, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and social phobia. Each of them can occur during pregnancy, some being more common than others.
2.1. Panic attacks
Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear that cause severe physical reactions, despite there being no real danger or apparent cause. These attacks can cause a lot of fear and make those who suffer them feel like they are losing control, having a heart attack, or even going to die.
Some women may experience panic attacks during pregnancy. The idea has been raised that they could be due to dysfunctions in the thyroid gland.but the possible psychosocial factors that may promote the onset of attacks should not be ignored.
Another explanation, also of biological origin, for panic attacks during pregnancy is the increase in blood flow resistance in the uterine artery, in addition to changes in cortisol levels in the plasma of the mother and fetus.
The main treatments for panic attacks during pregnancy include pharmacological therapies, especially benzodiazepines, nighttime sedatives and antidepressants, although doctor’s approval will be required. They can also be treated with cognitive-behavioral, relaxation techniques, sleep hygiene and dietary changes.
2.2. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by two main symptoms. One is obsessions, which are intrusive and catastrophic thoughts that cannot be eliminated from consciousness. The other, compulsions, are repetitive behaviors and rituals performed in response to obsessions.
Pregnant women are at greater risk of developing OCD at the beginning of pregnancy and also shortly after giving birth. In fact, about 40% of pregnant patients with this disorder indicate that it began to manifest at the beginning of pregnancy.
It is believed that the appearance of OCD during pregnancy is related to the fact that the woman has to worry about an extra reason: the pregnancy itself and how the birth will occur.
They worry a lot about how healthy the baby will be, and they fervently want to be able to control all the variables of pregnancy.but since they can’t, they begin to perform compulsions such as pulling their hair, cleaning themselves, eating, ordering things meticulously…
The treatments available are the same as for non-pregnant people, cognitive-behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy. There is also education, specifying to the pregnant woman that although she cannot control absolutely everything related to her pregnancy, there are healthy habits that will positively influence her health and that of the baby.
Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by a state of constant alert, with a tendency to be very irritable due to any minimally annoying stimulus. Besides, People with this disorder can easily experience panic episodesstartle excessively and suffer attacks of tremors, dizziness and excessive sweating.
About 10% of pregnant women meet diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder at some point during pregnancy. Between the risk factors for developing this disorder during pregnancy has previously presented it, in addition to lack of education about how pregnancy can develop, lack of social and family support and history of child abuse.
Some of the therapies that may be beneficial for pregnant women who have this disorder are Mindfulness, acceptance of the situation, and behavioral activation strategies.
2.4. Social phobia
Social phobia is an anxiety disorder that involves the patient living extreme shyness and inhibition, accompanied by a lot of anxiety, in social situations. The person feels uncomfortable going out, seeing other unknown people, or having to face situations in which they have to meet a new person.
There is not much data on social phobia during pregnancy. It has been observed that it can appear in some cases, as a result of the fear of people seeing her physical changes, especially if not many people knew that she was pregnant. Also It may be due to a drop in self-esteem.since the physical changes that come with pregnancy are not usually perceived as positive.
3. Eating Disorders in Pregnancy
The prevalence of Eating Disorders in pregnant women is close to 5%. Among the reasons that make a woman change her eating behavior pattern we have the obsession with not wanting to gain weight, worrying excessively about eating everything you think the baby needs or simply take cravings to extreme cases. There may even be cases of pica, causing the woman to eat things that are theoretically inedible (e.g., rolling papers, sucking on coins).
Having an eating disorder appears to increase the risk of having a cesarean delivery, as well as suffering from postpartum depression. Also, as it may be the case that the woman follows a diet that does not have all the necessary nutrients, she runs a greater risk of suffering spontaneous abortions or that, if the baby is born, it has a weight significantly below normal. expected.
4. Schizophrenia and pregnancy
Episodes of psychosis during pregnancy are a really strange phenomenon, although they can occur. They are especially common in women who already have a history of schizophrenia.. Pregnancy is an experience that can cause a lot of mental alteration, being catastrophic in those people who completely lack it.
Some women may exhibit such delusional symptoms of schizophrenia that they may deny the fact that they are pregnant, despite showing obvious signs of it. This could be understood as the opposite case of what a psychological pregnancy is. In the postpartum period, these women may be especially sensitive to subsequent psychotic episodes.
Has been found relationships between schizophrenia disorder and premature rupture of the membrane, gestational age less than 37 weeks and use of incubator and resuscitation. Relationships have also been found between the mother suffering from schizophrenia and premature birth, in addition to being associated with low birth weight.
Treatment focuses primarily on psychoeducation, which could reduce the risk of pregnancy complications. Brief therapies focused on each particular case may also be useful for some patients. Regarding pharmacological treatment, clozapine has been tested with pregnant women and women with schizophrenia, finding that it entailed few risks in pregnancy, childbirth, and the health of both the mother and the baby.
5. Bipolar disorder
Pregnancy is a period in which changes in mood are expected. However, if these changes occur very suddenly, are very frequent and intense, they are cause for concern, since it could be a case of bipolar disorder. The main risk factor for presenting it during pregnancy is have a history of this disorder and have interrupted pharmacological treatment.
It is common for women who were taking treatment with mood stabilizers to interrupt it when they become pregnant because they consider it harmful to their baby. When you stop them, the sudden changes in mood return, thus manifesting the symptoms of the disorder.
Although you typically cannot take mood stabilizers, It will be the psychiatrist’s decision whether the woman can consume them while pregnant., as long as the benefits have been considered to be greater than the possible risks. Among the factors that will be taken into account when deciding whether or not to prescribe these drugs will be the number and severity of manic and depressive episodes, the level of insight, family support and the person’s own wishes.
What to do to prevent them?
Each woman is different and her pregnancy experience is unique. It is not possible to expect that all women, after receiving the same advice or the same treatments, will develop the same type of pregnancy and experience it in the same way. Likewise, it is possible to reduce the severity of possible psychiatric disorders that may appear with adequate monitoring of their psychological state and psychoeducation.
There is no doubt that pregnancy can be a source of psychological disturbances, especially if it is not managed properly. For this reason, there are many psychologists and psychiatrists specialized in the mental health of pregnant women, knowing which treatments, both preventive and to treat a disorder that has appeared, are the most appropriate for this population. They are experts in the detection and intervention of psychological problems that pregnant women may manifest.
During pregnancy, not only the physiological and temperamental changes that the woman may experience must be taken into account. Besides, It should be evaluated whether you have good psychosocial supportto what extent she feels excited about the new life she is going to bring into the world, if she really wants to have a baby and to what extent her environment is pressuring her to have one or not.
