Anxiety and Depression among Women after Miscarriage at Jordan University Hospital

Abstract

Background: Miscarriage is associated with moderate to high risk of psychological problems. In Arab countries the percentage of people who seek psychological help is low. The epidemiological mental studies for clinical and community samples are not frequently conducted in Jordan. The purpose is to study the rate of anxiety and depression after miscarriage since we lack these data in Jordan Methodology: A cross-sectional study for women with early pregnancy loss up to 13 weeks of gestation. A total of 200 women were recruited between June 2018 and November 2019. Assessment for the severity of anxiety and depression was carried out within 12 hours using translated and validated versions of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and the Patients Health Questionnaire 9. Results: A total of 200 women were included in the study. Their mean age was 33.1 ± 6.3 years and ranges between 19-47 years. Miscarriage ranges from 1-12 weeks of conception with a mean of 1.9 ± 1.5.Our results for anxiety immediately post evacuation showed that 19.5% had severe anxiety and 22.5% had moderately to severe depressive symptoms. Two subgroups were compared: the first group was 92 women with ≥ 2 miscarriages (21.7% had severe anxiety and 20.7% had moderate to severe depressive symptoms), the second group was 27 women with no previous childbirth (18.5% had severe anxiety and 22.2% had moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Fetal loss is a risk factor for mental illness. Appropriate medical and psychological counseling is recommended to reduce anxiety and depression after miscarriage. Increasing medical staff awareness is important to respond to this problem.