Antenatal depression - effects on pregnancy and fetal outcome

Over the last few decades a large number of studies have investigated mental illness during pregnancy detecting a considerable prevalence of antenatal depression at a level of approximately 10%. Whilst much attention has been paid to the subject in the Anglo-American and Scandinavian world the issue has scarcely been studied in Germany. At present the effects of antenatal depression on fetal development and pregnancy outcome are subject to international discussion. Studies suggest a shortened duration of gestation and an elevated risk of prematurity as well as low birth weight. Even though there exists a multitude of scientific approaches to explain these phenomena, the exact pathophysiological pathways have not yet been fully elucidated. Overall the currently published findings are still inconclusive which is also due to eminent methodological differences between studies limiting their comparability. The following article gives an overview about the disease pattern, its possible adverse effects on pregnancy and fetal outcome and the present state of knowledge in the field.