Study: 75% of pregnant women in the US are not screened for mental disorders

The authors presented a detailed socio-demographic profile of the study participants. The average age of the women was 28.7 years, with the vast majority of women giving birth being between 19 and 35 years old (84%). In terms of ethnic composition, 52% were Caucasian women, 17% were African American, and 18% were Latin American.

The most common diagnoses in the database were anxiety disorder (3.7%), depression (3.1%), bipolar disorder (0.7%), post-traumatic stress disorder (0.3%), and sleep disorders (0.2%). These data reflect only officially recorded cases during hospitalizations, while the real prevalence is higher, as indicated by scientists. For example, according to data from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, published in 2016, depression in pregnant women occurs in 14–23% of cases, and postpartum depression affects every tenth woman.

Among complications, caesarean section was recorded in 31.5% of cases, premature birth in 4.6%, postpartum bleeding in 3.6%, and intrauterine fetal death in 0.7%. On average, the presence of mental illness increased the likelihood of complications by 1-2 percentage points compared to women without such diagnoses.

The associations were particularly strong in women with sleep disorders, which significantly increased the likelihood of cesarean section, postpartum hemorrhage, and placental problems. Depression was more often associated with the risk of excess amniotic fluid and fetal death, and posttraumatic stress disorder was strongly associated with preterm birth.

The study authors noted that the impact of mental disorders remained even after accounting for age, income, ethnicity, obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Having three or more diagnoses at the same time increased the risk of complications by one and a half to two times compared with women without mental illness.

According to the researchers, mental illnesses act not only through stress and hormonal changes, but also through social factors. Women with such diagnoses are less likely to see a doctor, are more likely to lead a risky lifestyle and are less likely to follow medical recommendations.

The researchers highlighted the need to incorporate regular mental health screening and intervention into routine obstetric care to reduce maternal mortality and improve newborn health.

In 2024, the Russian Ministry of Health approved a number of new clinical guidelines on obstetrics, including on labor anomalies, which came into effect on January 1, 2025. The document emphasizes that among the causes of labor abnormalities is excessive nervous and mental stress, and the anomalies themselves are recorded in 7.6% of women in labor.