Abstract

AN OBSERVATIONAL PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON ASSESSMENT OF PSYCHOMETRIC SCORES USING DIFFERENT SCALES DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY

C. Radhika*, P. Sirisha, S. Renuka Devi, Shrestha Brohma, Nikita Baroi and S. Haneesh

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Abstract

During pregnancy, women undergo physiological changes in their body, which leads to anxiety, stress and depression. Individual scales are used to assessment of anxiety, stress and depression. For assessing the anxiety levels in the body of pregnant women, PRAQ-R2 scale is used over the PRAQ due to the lack of usage in parous women because of its one of the item says “I'm anxious about delivery, because I have never experienced this before”. Hence, this PRAQ-R scale can be used only by women who haven't experienced the labor process before. Due to this, PRAQ-R2 is used in this study. Stress in pregnant women was assessed using 10 items questionnaire named PSS-10 (Perceived Stress Scale-10) and depression was assessed using 10 items questionnaire named EPDS. The study included 200 individuals in total. Out of 200, 125 participated in anxiety and stress studies, and 75 participated in depression studies. The pregnant womens in their 3rd trimester are mostly affected with anxiety and stress. Within 75 participants, half of the participants are not affected with depression and the other half of participants are with mild to severe depression. The third trimester is the crucial period for baby’s development and added pressure of ensuring a healthy pregnant can contribute to increased levels of anxiety, stress in expected mothers. Due to this, assessment of anxiety, stress and depression is necessary. Scales gives accurate and reliable results for assessing of anxiety, stress and depression, and avoid risk of elevated levels of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Keywords: Stres s, Anxiety, Depression, Pregnancy, PRAQ r2, PSS, EPDS