Pregnant women with posttraumatic stress disorder and risk of preterm birth.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in about 8% of pregnant women. Stressful conditions, including PTSD, are inconsistently linked to preterm birth. Psychotropic treatment has been frequently associated with preterm birth. Identifying whether the psychiatric illness or its treatment is independently associated with preterm birth may help clinicians and patients when making management decisions.

Objective

To determine whether a likely diagnosis of PTSD or antidepressant and benzodiazepine treatment during pregnancy is associated with risk of preterm birth. We hypothesized that pregnant women who likely had PTSD and women receiving antidepressant or anxiolytic treatment would be more likely to experience preterm birth.

Design, setting, and participants

SUBMITTER: Yonkers KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4134929 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature