Neonatal outcomes in offspring of women with anxiety and depression during pregnancy. A linkage study from The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) and Medical Birth Registry of Norway.
BACKGROUND: The presence of mental disorder during pregnancy could affect the offspring.Aims: To examine the effects of anxiety disorder and depression in pregnant women on neonatal outcomes, and to compare neonatal outcomes between offspring of attendees and non-attendees in a general population-based health survey. METHOD: Pregnant women (n = 680) were identified from the population-based health study of Nord-Tr?ndelag County (HUNT-2) by linkage with the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. The women rated themselves on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale (HADS). Outcome variables were gestational length, birth weight, and Apgar scores. RESULTS: HADS-defined anxiety disorder during pregnancy was associated with lower Apgar score at one minute (score