Depression and anxiety in pregnancy during COVID-19: A rapid review and meta-analysis

Lianne M Tomfohr-Madsen; Nicole Racine; Gerald F Giesbrecht; Catherine Lebel; Sheri Madigan

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113912

Depression and anxiety in pregnancy during COVID-19: A rapid review and meta-analysis

Psychiatry Res. 2021 Jun:300:113912. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113912. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Authors

Lianne M Tomfohr-Madsen¹, Nicole Racine², Gerald F Giesbrecht³, Catherine Lebel⁴, Sheri Madigan²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. Electronic address: ltomfohr@ucalgary.ca.
² Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, AB, Canada.
³ Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
⁴ Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Abstract

The study rapidly reviewed and meta-analyzed the worldwide prevalence of depression and anxiety among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic search of the literature and meta-analyses were conducted from December 2019 - February 2021 with a total of 46 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Depression was assessed in 37 studies (N = 47,677), with a pooled prevalence of 25.6%. Anxiety was assessed in 34 studies (N = 42,773), with a pooled prevalence of 30.5%; moderation by time showed that prevalence of anxiety was higher in studies conducted later in the pandemic.

Keywords: Anxiety; COVID-19; Depression; Mental health; Meta-analysis; Pregnancy.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Anxiety / epidemiology*
COVID-19*
Depression / epidemiology*
Female
Humans
Pandemics*
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications / epidemiology*
Pregnant Women / psychology*
Prevalence