Psychiatric Caseness and its Obstetric Correlates in Pregnant Population Attending Antenatal Clinic in TUTH

Background: Prevalence rates for psychiatric disorders during pregnancy have been found to range from 6-13%. Psychiatric caseness during pregnancy not only affects the mother but also affects the health and development of the child. Various factors have been found to be associated with psychiatric caseness in different cultural and social settings including obstetric history. Objective: To evaluate the relation of obstetric history in pregnant population with psychiatric caseness. Methods: This is a cross sectional study with a total of 300 sample collected within 6 months in antenatal clinic of obstetric OPD, TUTH using semi-structured proforma and SRQ-24. Results: 15% of the pregnant women could be labeled as psychiatric cases. Trimester and, complication during current pregnancy showed statistically significant association with psychiatric caseness. Conclusion: As 15% of pregnant ANC attendees were found to be having psychiatric illness, it can be recommended that pregnant females be routinely screened for the possibility of psychiatric caseness especially if it is the first trimester or complication during this pregnancy is noted. J Psychiatric Association of Nepal Vol .3, No.2, 2014, pp:20-24 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpan.v3i2.12383