Epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention of women’s mental health during the perinatal period

Abstract

Mental health problems such as anxiety, mood disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, stress-related disorders, and feelings of guilt may develop during the perinatal period and are more common during the perinatal period. Perinatal mental illness is associated with a high risk of maternal and infant morbidity and disability. The prevalence of perinatal mental disorders varies from 5.6% to 85.6% in different parts of the world. Patient demographic factors, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, pandemic (COVID-19), previous chronic disease, and psychiatric and nonpsychiatric disease conditions are risk factors for having mental illness during the perinatal period in women. Mental disorders during the perinatal period have serious consequences for both mothers and children. Decreased brain development and risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus are among the complications of mental disease in children. Early detection, screening, and intervention of perinatal mental disease in the pre- and postpartum period are important to maintain women’s mental health. Interventions like psychological interventions, family support, partner support, and dietary management are common nonpharmacological interventions. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and benzodiazepines are effective nonpharmacological agents for short-term treatment.