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Objective To investigate the impact of major depressive disorder (MDD) and antidepressant medication before and during pregnancy on obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Study design A national register‐based cohort study of pregnant women born in Sweden, and their first child born in 2012–2015 (n = 262 329). Women diagnosed with MDD and who had redeemed an antidepressant one year before becoming pregnant (“before pregnancy”) and women who were diagnosed with MDD and who had redeemed an antidepressant both before and during pregnancy (“before and during pregnancy”) were compared with each other and with women who had neither been diagnosed with MDD nor been prescribed antidepressants (population controls). Results In comparison to population controls, the “before pregnancy” and the “before and during pregnancy” groups had increased likelihoods of operative childbirth (aOR = 1.19, 95 % CI 1.12−1.27, aOR = 1.38, 95 % CI 1.28−1.48 respectively), and with an increased likelihood for the child being admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (aOR = 1.51, 95 % CI 1.17−1.95, aOR = 1.55, 95 % CI 1.14−2.11). Children born to mothers in the “before and during pregnancy” group had an increased likelihood of preterm birth (aOR = 1.72, 95 % CI 1.52−1.95,), while children to mothers in the “before pregnancy” group had an increased likelihood of low birthweight (aOR = 1.15, 95 % CI 1.00−1.33) compared to population controls. Women in the “before and during pregnancy” group had an increased likelihood for hyperemesis during pregnancy (aOR = 1.93, 95 % CI = 1.60–2.32), having an operative childbirth (aOR = 1.17, 95 % CI = 1.06–1.29) or a preterm birth (aOR = 1.53, 95 % CI = 1.28–1.81) compared to the “before pregnancy” group. Conclusions Women with MDD and antidepressant medication prior to becoming pregnant are at increased risk for adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes compared to women without an MDD. Continuation of antidepressant medication during pregnancy somewhat increased the risk for adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

Introduction Identification of pregnant women suffering from depression or other mental disorders is a challenge for antenatal caregivers. The purpose of this case-control study was to describe mental disorders and the risk factors for mental disorders in women with depressive symptoms assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale during the first trimester and to compare them with pregnant women without depressive symptoms. Material and methods In total, 2271 women answered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at the first antenatal visit with a midwife. An Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score of 13 or higher was considered to be screen-positive and these women were further assessed. Screen-negative pregnant women, matched for age and parity, were chosen as controls. Results In total, 149 (6.6%) women were found to be screen-positive. The majority (126, 85%) had at least one mental disorder or risk factor for mental disorder, such as depression (36.0%), anxiety (14.8%), or severe fear of childbirth (20.8%). The screen-positive women were more often smokers (16.1% vs 1.3%), unemployed (19.9% vs 1.3%), or on sick leave (25.3% vs 14.1%) during pregnancy and more often used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor during pregnancy (14.2% vs 2.7%) compared with the screen-negative women (PFunding Agencies|ALF, Region Ostergotland [LIO-35 9731]

Background It is crucial to provide care based on individual needs. Swedish health care is obliged to give care on equal conditions for the entire population. The person with the greatest need should be given the most care, and the health care system should strive to be cost-efficient. Medical and technical advances have been significant during the last decades and the recent Covid-19 pandemic has caused a shift in health care, from in-person visits to virtual visits. The majority of pregnant women with a low risk assessment have an uncomplicated antenatal course without adverse events. These women probably receive excessive and unnecessary antenatal care. This study will investigate if an antenatal care program for healthy pregnant women with a low risk for adverse outcomes could be safely monitored with fewer in-person visits to a midwife, and with some of them replaced by virtual visits. Methods This is a non-inferiority trial where a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled design will be used. Data collection includes register data and questionnaires that concern antenatal, obstetric and neonatal outcomes, patient- and caregiver-reported experiences, healthcare-economy, and implementation aspects. The modified antenatal care (MAC) study is performed in parts of the southeast of Sweden, which has approximately 8200 childbirths annually. At the start of the study, all antenatal care centers included in the study will use the same standard antenatal care (SAC) program. In the MAC program the in-person visits to a midwife will be reduced to four instead of eight, with two additional virtual meetings compared with the SAC program. Discussion This presented study protocol is informed by research knowledge. The protocol is expected to provide a good structure for future studies on changed antenatal care programs that introduce virtual visits for healthy pregnant women with a low risk for adverse outcomes, without risking quality, safety, and increased costs. Trial registration The study is registered the 21th of April 2021 in the ISRCTN registry with trial ID: ISRCTN14422582, retrospectively registered.

To diagnose gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), plasma glucose measurements during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) put high demands on the methods in terms of accuracy. The aim was to evaluate and compare diagnostic performance of a point-of-care test and a glucose hexokinase laboratory method. Using risk-based screening, 175 pregnant women were included. They underwent a 75 g OGTT in their 28th (median) week of gestation. Venous blood was collected in two different tubes. Plasma glucose was measured on Cobas c701 and in duplicates on AccuChek Inform II (both methods from Roche Diagnostics). Accuracy was assessed by participating in external control programs with reference method assigned values. The methods were compared for all samples (

Use of medication for different kinds of symptoms and diseases during pregnancy is common. When counseling the pregnant woman, an understanding of her perceptions concerning the use of medication as well as possible associated anxiety and obstacles is important to ensure high adherence to the treatment regimen.A questionnaire was developed regarding the use of medication, perceptions on use of medication, as well as perceptions about pregnancy outcomes in association with medication use during pregnancy. In total, 850 pregnant women in gestational weeks 25-29 participated in the study.The response rate was 92.7% (n = 832/898). About 19.4% of the respondents (n = 160/824) were frequent users (medication use daily to several times a week) and 28.4% (n = 234/824) were non-frequent users (medication use once a week to once a month). The majority perceived medication use during early pregnancy (61.4%, n = 501/816), late pregnancy (55.6%, n = 455/819) and breastfeeding (57.7%, n = 474/821) as probably harmful or harmful. These findings were more common in non-users (medication used rarely or never) than frequent users (P-value0.001,0.001 and 0.007). The pregnant women had great confidence in advice from a physician (83.8%, n = 666/795) or a midwife (77.0%, n = 620/805) concerning medication during pregnancy.The majority of pregnant women in Sweden consider the use of medication during pregnancy either 'probably harmful' or 'harmful' and this perception is associated with non-use of medication. The pregnant women in our study had high confidence in healthcare professionals when seeking advice; thus, actively asking about perceptions could lead to better counseling.

Background Universal screening for postpartum depression is crucial for early detection, interventions and support. The aim of this study was to describe the proportion of, and explore risk factors for, women not being offered screening, as well as for declining an offer or not being screened due to any other unknown reason. Methods Socioeconomic, obstetrical and neonatal data, extracted from the Swedish Pregnancy Registry, for 9,959 pregnancies recorded for the Ostergotland county between 2016 and 2018 were linked to Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) screening results at 6–8 weeks postpartum, extracted from medical records. Risk factors were assessed using logistic regression models and with a nomogram for easy visualization. Results In total, there were no recorded offers of EPDS screening in the medical records for 30.0% of women at the postpartum follow-up. Women born outside of Sweden and women reporting poor self-rated health were at increased risk of not being offered screening for postpartum depression. Limitations There is a possibility that women were offered screening or were screened, but this was incorrectly or never recorded in medical records. Conclusions The majority of women were offered screening for postpartum depression, but there is room for improvement in order to achieve universal screening. Awareness among healthcare providers of the risk factors for not screening might increase adherence to guidelines for universal screening. Overcoming barriers for screening and raising the topic of mental-health issues for postpartum women should be prioritized.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication with negative impacts on mother and child. The primary aim of this study was to examine whether plasma glucose cutoffs for GDM diagnosis based on venous sampling can be replaced by cutoffs based on capillary sampling. A prospective cross-sectional study was performed at an antenatal care clinic including 175 pregnant women undergoing an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Duplicate samples were collected by capillary and venous puncture while fasting and 1 h and 2 h after an OGTT. Both samples were analyzed on Accu-Chek Inform II. The cutoffs for a GDM diagnosis using capillary samples were corrected from 5.1 to 5.3 mmol/L for the fasting sample, from 10.0 to 11.1 mmol/L for the 1 h sample, and from 8.5 to 9.4 mmol/L for the 2-h sample using half of the dataset. Applying these cutoffs to the remaining dataset resulted in a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 85.0%, 95.0%, and 90.3%, respectively, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 83%, an negative predictive value (NPV) of 96%, and a positive negative likelihood ratio (LHR) of 16.4 using capillary sampling for the GDM diagnosis at fasting and 2-h after. Corrected cutoffs and capillary samples can be used for the diagnosis of GDM with maintained diagnostic accuracy using Accu-Chek Inform II. Funding Agencies|ALF grants Region Ostergotland, Sweden [LIO-531111]

Objectives Oxytocin is the drug of choice in preventing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). The aim was to compare the peroperative- and total blood loss within two hours and PPH after planned cesarean section (CS) when receiving 2.5 IU vs 5.0 IU of oxytocin in different risk groups for PPH. Study design A pilot study including 927 women undergoing planned CS where women receiving 2.5 IU of oxytocin were compared to women receiving 5.0 IU of oxytocin. Main outcome measures Data comparing peroperative blood loss, total blood loss within two hours and PPH were analyzed. Results The women receiving 2.5 IU of oxytocin had a slightly higher peroperative blood loss, compared to the 5.0 IU group (476 ml vs 426 ml, p = 0.029). The total blood loss two hours after surgery showed no significant difference between the groups (626 ml vs 595 ml, p = 0.230). In the 2.5 IU group 13% had a blood loss ≥ 1000 ml vs 10% in the 5 IU group (aOR 1.64, 95% CI = 1.05–2.56). When the women considered to be at high risk for postpartum hemorrhage were excluded, we found no difference in the likelihood for postpartum hemorrhage between the groups (aOR 1.13, 95% CI = 0.64–1.99). Conclusions Women undergoing planned CS and receiving 2.5 IU of oxytocin had a slightly higher risk for postpartum hemorrhage in this study. However, a lower dose of 2.5 IU of oxytocin seems to be a safe option in planned CS for women without known risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage, but further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Background Cervical cancer is a highly preventable disease. To not attend an organized cervical cancer screening program increases the risk for cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer. The aim was to investigate the participation rate in three different intervention groups for non- attendees in the Swedish national program for cervical screening. The participation in the recommended follow up, and the histology found were also examined. Method Population-based randomized control trial. It included10,614 women that had not participated in the cervical cancer screening programme during the last six years (ages 30-49) and the last eight years (ages 50-64) were randomised 1:1:1(telephone call from a midwife (offering the choice between a visit for a pap smear or an HPV self-sampling test); an HPV self-sampling test only; or the routine procedure with a yearly invitation). Results In the intention to treat analysis the participation rates were 25.5% (N = 803/3146) vs 34.1% (N = 1047/3068) and 7.0% (N = 250/3538) (pFunding Agencies|ALF Grants Region Ostergotland [022-95984]

Introduction About 8% of the pregnant women in Sweden receive counseling for fear of childbirth (FOC) during pregnancy. Little is known about the long-term reproductive and obstetric outcomes after counseling for FOC: Therefore, the objective of this historical cohort study was to compare the long-term reproductive and obstetric outcomes in women treated for FOC in their first pregnancy to women without FOC. Material and methods All nulliparas consecutively referred for treatment of severe FOC between 2001 and 2007 (n = 608) were compared with all other nulliparas giving birth on the same day (n = 431). Women who were not fluent in Swedish, missing a postal address, had moved out of the area, given birth at another hospital or had a late spontaneous abortion were excluded (n = 555). A total of 235 women agreed to participate in the study, 63 (39%) women in the index group and 172 (53%) in the reference group. The women were contacted by letter in 2015, ie 7-14 years after first childbirth, and asked to permit access to their medical charts from pregnancies and childbirths and to fill out a study specific questionnaire. Based on data from the medical charts and questionnaire, the mode of delivery, birth experience, obstetric complications, FOC, counseling for FOC and number of childbirths were compared in the two groups. Results Women in the index group less often gave birth more than twice compared with the reference group (8.2% vs 22.0%, P = 0.012). We found no significant differences in complications during subsequent pregnancies and deliveries. Women in the index group more often gave birth by CS in their first (P = 0.002) and second childbirth (P = 0.001), more often had a less positive birth experience (index group NRS: median 6.0, interquartile range 6 vs reference group NRS: 7.0, interquartile range 5, P = 0.004) in their first delivery and more often received counseling for FOC (58.7% vs 12.5%, P amp;lt; 0.001) in subsequent pregnancies. Women in the index group more often experienced FOC (18% vs 5.3%, P = 0.001) 7-14 years after first childbirth. Conclusions FOC is not easily treated. Despite treatment and exposure to childbirth many women received treatment in their next pregnancy and still suffered from FOC 7-14 years after the first childbirth. Funding Agencies|Medical Research Council of Southeast Sweden, FORSS

Objective Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is the most common obstetric emergency. A well-established postpartum haemorrhage protocol in the labour ward is crucial for effective treatment. The aim of the study was to investigate if practical obstetric team training improves the patient outcome and clinical management of PPH. Setting The practical obstetric team training (PROBE) at Linkoping University Hospital, Sweden, with approximate 3000 deliveries annually, was studied between the years of 2004-2011. Each team consisted of one or two midwives, one obstetrician or one junior doctor and one nurse assistant. Emergency obstetrics cases were trained in a simulation setting. PROBE was scheduled during work hours at an interval of 1.5 years. Population Pre-PROBE women (N = 419 were defined as all women with vaginal birth between the years of 2004-2007 with an estimated blood loss of amp;gt;= 1000 ml within the first 24 hours of delivery. Post-PROBE women (N = 483) were defined as all women with vaginal birth between the years of 2008-2011 with an estimated blood loss of amp;gt;= 1000 ml within the first 24 hours of delivery. The two groups were compared regarding blood loss parameters and management variables using retrospective data from medical records. Results No difference was observed in estimated blood loss, haemoglobin level, blood transfusions or the incidence of postpartum haemorrhage between the two groups. Post-PROBE women had more often secured venous access (pamp;lt;0.001), monitoring of vital signs (pamp;lt;0.001) and received fluid resuscitation (pamp;lt;0.001) compared to pre-PROBE women. The use of uterine massage was also more common among the post-PROBE women compared with the pre-PROBE women (pamp;lt;0.001). Conclusion PROBE improved clinical management but not patient outcome in women with postpartum haemorrhage in the labour ward. These new findings may have clinical implications since they confirm that training was effective concerning the management of postpartum haemorrhage. However, there is still no clear evidence that simulation training improve patient outcome in women with PPH.

In Sweden, information on drug use during pregnancy is obtained through an interview and recorded in a standardized medical record at every visit to the antenatal care clinic throughout the pregnancy. Antenatal, delivery, and neonatal records constitute the basis for the Swedish Medical Birth Register (MBR). The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the reliability of reported drug use by simultaneous screening for drug substances in the blood stream of the pregnant woman and thereby validate self-reported data in the MBR. Plasma samples from 200 women were obtained at gestational weeks 10-12 and 25 and screened for drugs by using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TOF-MS). The results from the analysis were then compared to medical records. At the first sampling occasion, the drugs found by screening had been reported by 86% of the women and on the second sampling, 85.5%. Missed reported information was clearly associated with drugs for occasional use. The most common drugs in plasma taken in early and mid-pregnancy were meclizine and paracetamol. Two types of continuously used drugs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and propranolol, were used. All women using them reported it and the drug screening revealed a 100% coherence. This study shows good coherence between reported drug intake and the drugs found in plasma samples, which in turn positively validates the MBR. Funding Agencies|Medical Research Council of Southeast Sweden [FORSS-385451]

Objective To compare psychiatric in-and outpatient care during the 5 years before first delivery in primiparae delivered by caesarean section on maternal request with all other primiparae women who had given birth during the same time period. Design Prospective, population-based register study. Setting Sweden. Sample Women giving birth for the first time between 2002 and 2004 (n = 64 834). Methods Women giving birth by caesarean section on maternal request (n = 1009) were compared with all other women giving birth (n = 63 825). The exposure of interest was any psychiatric diagnosis according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ninth revision, ICD-9, 290-319; tenth revision, ICD-10, F00-F99) in The Swedish national patient register during the 5 years before first delivery. Main outcome measures Psychiatric diagnoses and delivery data. Results The burden of psychiatric illnesses was significantly higher in women giving birth by caesarean section on maternal request (10 versus 3.5%, P less than 0.001). The most common diagnoses were ` Neurotic disorders, stress-related disorders and somatoform disorders (5.9%, aOR 3.1, 95% CI 1.1-2.9), and ` Mood disorders (3.4%, aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.7-3.6). The adjusted odds ratio for caesarean section on maternal request was 2.5 (95% CI 2.0-3.2) for any psychiatric disorder. Women giving birth by caesarean section on maternal request were older, used tobacco more often, had a lower educational level, higher body mass index, were more often married, unemployed, and their parents were more often born outside of Scandinavia (P less than 0.05). Conclusions Women giving birth by caesarean section on maternal request more often have a severe psychiatric disease burden. This finding points to the need for psychological support for these women as well as the need to screen and treat psychiatric illness in pregnant women. Funding Agencies|County Council of Ostergotland, Sweden

Objective. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of blood and injection phobia in an unselected pregnant population, in order to estimate the need for curative intervention programmes. Design. A cross-sectional study. Setting. Antenatal care clinics in the southeast region of Sweden. Sample. In total, 1,606 consecutively registered pregnant women attending their first visit with a midwife. Methods. The women were asked to complete the Injection Phobia-Anxiety scale, measuring phobic symptoms. Women who scored >20 on the questionnaire were telephone-interviewed and then diagnosed or dismissed according to the DSM-IV criteria for blood and injection phobia. Main outcome measures. Prevalence of blood and injection phobia according to the DSM-IV. Results. Of 1,529 women who chose to participate (92.5%), 110 women or 7.2% fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for blood and injection phobia. The mean age of the women was 29.1 years. Conclusions. Blood and injection phobia is hitherto unreported in the literature, but seems to be relatively common and needs to be recognized during pregnancy as it causes a great deal of discomfort and fear among pregnant women. The Injection Phobia-Anxiety scale is suitable as a screening tool in an antenatal care clinic setting.

Objective To compare sociodemographics, parity and mode of delivery between women diagnosed with vaginismus or localised provoked vestibulodynia (LPV) to women without a diagnosis before first pregnancy. Design Retrospective, population-based register study. Setting Sweden. Sample All women born in Sweden 1973-83 who gave birth for the first time or remained nulliparous during the years 2001-09. Methods Nationally linked registries were used to identify the study population. Women diagnosed with vaginismus or LPV were compared to all other women. Odds ratios for parity and mode of delivery were calculated using multinominal regression analysis and logistic regression. Main outcome measures Parity and mode of delivery. Results Women with vaginismus/LPV were more likely to be unmarried (P = 0.001), unemployed (P = 0.012), have a higher educational level (P less than 0.001), a lower body mass index (P less than 0.001) and use nicotine during pregnancy (P = 0.008). They were less likely to give birth (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.61, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.56-0.67). Women with vaginismus/LPV more often delivered by caesarean section (P less than 0.001) especially for maternal request (adjusted OR 3.48, 95% CI 2.45-4.39). In women having vaginal delivery, those with vaginismus/LPV were more likely to suffer a perineal laceration (adjusted OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.56-2.25). Conclusions Women with vaginismus/LPV are less likely to give birth and those that do are more likely to deliver by caesarean section and have a caesarean section based upon maternal request. Those women delivering vaginally are more likely to suffer perineal laceration. These findings point to the importance of not only addressing sexual function in women with vaginismus/LPV but reproductive function as well. Funding Agencies|Medical Research Council of Southeast Sweden

Background: To study pregnancy and delivery outcomes in nulliparous women with severe FOC (fear of childbirth), all of whom had received routine treatment for their FOC and to make comparisons with a healthy reference group of nulliparous women. To study the possible relationship between the number of FOC-treatment sessions and the delivery method. Methods: All nulliparous women with a diagnose FOC who received routine treatment for FOC (n = 181) and a reference group of nulliparous women without FOC (n = 431) at a university and a county hospital in the south east region of Sweden were analysed. Data from antenatal and delivery medical records were used to study outcome. Results: The majority of women with severe FOC had a vaginal delivery. The incidence of elective CS was greater in the index group than in the reference group (p less than 0.001). The total number of women with a planned CS in the index group was 35 (19.4%) and in the control group 14 (3.2%). Thus, on average five women per year received an elective CS during the study years due to severe FOC. The women in the index group who wished to have a CS were similar to the other women in the index group with reference to age, BMI, chronic disease but had been in in-patient care more often during their pregnancy than those who did not ask for CS (p = 0.009). Conclusion: In this study of women treated for severe FOC, the majority gave birth vaginally and no relationship was found between number of treatment sessions and mode of childbirth.

Backgroun: Little is known about how anxiety disorders affect pregnancy outcomes. Therefore we investigated the impact of one anxiety disorder, blood- and injection phobia, on obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Method: From a population-based prospectively collected cohort we compared an index group of 110 women with blood- and injection phobia with a control group of 220 women. Standardized medical records were used to collect data. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes e.g. elective cesarean, prematurity, and small for gestational age were used as the main outcome measures. Result: Women with blood- and injection phobia stated more often a fear of childbirth (p

Stress and/or anxiety during pregnancy affect maternal and fetal well-being and can cause premature delivery and postnatal pathology in the child. Women suffering from phobias related to blood and injections are prone to high levels of stress, including anxiety and sometimes panic attacks, during pregnancy. Cortisol is amongst the mediators through which the neurohormonal expressions of maternal psychological factors may be transduced to the fetus. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pregnant women suffering from blood and injection phobia have raised cortisol levels or are characterized by unusual diurnal salivary cortisol profiles compared with healthy controls. The sample consisted of 110 pregnant women with blood and injection phobia and 110 pregnant healthy controls. Both groups provided morning and evening saliva samples in weeks 25 and 36 for the assay of cortisol. In gestational week 25, when blood was drawn for the mandatory blood testing, extra blood was taken to analyze corticotrophin-releasing factor, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and cortisol in serum. The diurnal decline in salivary cortisol as well as increased cortisol levels were observed during pregnancy. Pregnant women suffering from blood and injection phobia had a higher output of cortisol compared with women without the phobia (F = 6.25, df = 1, p = 0.014), but no marked difference in the diurnal cortisol rhythm was found between groups. Our findings indicate that untreated blood and injection phobia during pregnancy increases cortisol concentrations. Blood and injection phobia is treatable, and cognitive behavioral therapy can be used. Women with blood and injection phobia during pregnancy therefore need to be recognized and offered treatment without delay in early pregnancy.

Around 7% of pregnant women suffer from blood- and injection phobia. The aim was to investigate if cognitive behavior group therapy (CBT) is effective in treating pregnant womens blood- and injection phobia. Thirty pregnant women with blood- and injection phobia according to DSM-IV took part in an open treatment intervention. A two-session cognitive behavior group therapy was conducted. As controls, 46 pregnant women with untreated blood- and injection phobia and 70 healthy pregnant women were used. Repeated measures ANOVA were performed. The scores for the CBT treatment group on the "Injection Phobia Scale-Anxiety" were reduced both after each treatment session and postpartum (p andlt; 0.001). Anxiety and depressive symptoms were also reduced (p andlt; 0.001). Cognitive-behavior group therapy for pregnant women with blood- and injection phobia is effective and stable up to at least 3 months postpartum. It seems also to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com:Caroline Lilliecreutz, Ann Josefsson and Gunilla Sydsjö, An open trial with cognitive behavioral therapy for blood- and injection phobia in pregnant women-a group intervention program, 2010, ARCHIVES OF WOMENS MENTAL HEALTH, (13), 3, 259-265.http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0126-xCopyright: Springer Science Business Mediahttp://www.springerlink.com/

Background: Preterm birth defined as birth prior to 37 weeks of gestation is caused by different risk factors and implies an increased risk for disease and early death for the child. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of maternal stress during pregnancy on the risk of preterm birth. Methods: A case-control study that included 340 women; 168 women who gave birth preterm and 172 women who gave birth at term. Data were manually extracted from standardized medical records. If the medical record contained a psychiatric diagnosis or a self-reported stressor e.g., depression or anxiety the woman was considered to have been exposed to stress during pregnancy. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was used to calculate the attributable risk (AR) of maternal stress during pregnancy on preterm birth, both for the women exposed to stress during pregnancy (AR1 = (AOR-1)/AOR) and for the whole study population (AR2 = AR1*case fraction). Results: Maternal stress during pregnancy was more common among women who gave birth preterm compared to women who gave birth at term (p Funding Agencies|The Medical Research Council of Southeast Sweden