Top

Published in:

01-08-2015 | Original Article

Intimate partner violence and suicidal ideation in pregnant women

Authors: Jeanne L. Alhusen, N. Frohman, Genevieve Purcell

Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health | Issue 4/2015

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a major public health issue with significant implications for maternal mental health. Less studied is the association between IPV during pregnancy and suicidal ideation. This study reports the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation among low-income pregnant women receiving prenatal care at a university obstetrical clinic from February 2009 to March 2010. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 166 women surveyed between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS). Multiple logistic regression identified factors associated with antenatal suicidal ideation. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 22.89 %. In the fully adjusted model, antenatal depressive symptomatology (OR = 17.04; 95 % CI 2.10–38.27) and experiencing IPV (OR = 9.37; 95 % CI 3.41–25.75) were significantly associated with an increased risk of antenatal suicidal ideation. The prevalence of antenatal suicidal ideation in the current study was higher than other population-based samples though this sample was predominantly single, low-income, and 19 % experienced IPV during pregnancy. Given the strong association of antenatal suicidal ideation, depressive symptomatology, and IPV, health care providers are urged to identify those women at risk so that antenatal care can be tailored to best support optimal maternal and neonatal outcomes.

ACOG committee (2012) Intimate partner violence: opinion no. 518. Obstet Gynecol 119:412–417CrossRef

Agrawal A, Ickovics J, Lewis JB et al (2014) Postpartum intimate partner violence and health risks among young mothers in the United States: a prospective study. Matern Child Health J 18:1985–1992PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

Alhusen JL, Bullock L, Sharps P et al (2014) Intimate partner violence during pregnancy and adverse neonatal outcomes in low-income women. J Womens Health

Alhusen JL, Lucea MB, Bullock L et al (2013) Intimate partner violence, substance use, and adverse neonatal outcomes among urban women. J Pediatr 163:471–476PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

Bailey BA, Daugherty RA (2007) Intimate partner violence during pregnancy: incidence and associated health behaviors in a rural population. Matern Child Health J 11:495–503PubMedCrossRef

Birndorf CA, Madden A, Portera L et al (2001) Psychiatric symptoms, functional impairment, and receptivity toward mental health treatment among obstetrical patients. Int J Psychiatry Med 31:355–365PubMedCrossRef

Borges G, Angst J, Nock MK et al (2006) A risk index for 12-month suicide attempts in the national comorbidity survey replication (NCS-R). Psychol Med 36:1747–1757PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

Bowen A, Stewart N, Baetz M et al (2009) Antenatal depression in socially high-risk women in Canada. J Epidemiol Community Health 63:414–416PubMedCrossRef

Chang J, Berg CJ, Saltzman LE (2005) Homicide: a leading cause of injury deaths among pregnant and postpartum women in the United States, 1991-1999. Am J Public Health 95:471–477PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

Connelly CD, Hazen AL, Baker-Ericzen MJ et al (2013) Is screening for depression in the perinatal period enough? The co-occurrence of depression, substance abuse, and intimate partner violence in culturally diverse pregnant women. J Womens Health 22:844–852CrossRef

Copersino ML, Jones H, Tuten M et al (2008) Suicidal ideation among drug-dependent treatment-seeking inner-city pregnant women. J Maint Addict 3:53–64PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

Cox J, Holden J, Sagovsky R (1987) Detection of postnatal depression- development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Br J Psychiatry 150:782–786PubMedCrossRef

Evans J, Heron J, Francomb H et al (2001) Cohort study of depressed mood during pregnancy and after childbirth. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed) 323:257–260CrossRef

Gavin AR, Tabb KM, Melville JL et al (2011) Prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation during pregnancy. Arch Womens Ment Health 14:239–246PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

Gemmill AW, Leigh B, Ericksen J et al (2006) A survey of the clinical acceptability of screening for postnatal depression in depressed and non-depressed women. BMC Public Health 6:211PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

Greenblatt JF, Dannenberg AL, Johnson CJ (1997) Incidence of hospitalized injuries among pregnant women in Maryland, 1979-1990. Am J Prev Med 13:374–379PubMed

Howard LM, Flach C, Mehay A et al (2011) The prevalence of suicidal ideation identified by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in postpartum women in primary care: Findings from the RESPOND trial. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 11:57. doi:10.1186/1471-2393-11-57

Huang H, Faisal-Cury A, Chan Y et al (2012) Suicidal ideation during pregnancy: prevalence and associated factors among low-income women in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Arch Womens Ment Health 15:35–38CrossRef

Institute of Medicine (2011) Recommendations. In: Clinical preventive services for women: closing the gaps. National Academies Press, Washington, DC, pp 71–141

Kessler RC, Berglund P, Borges G et al (2005) Trends in suicide ideation, plans, gestures, and attempts in the United States, 1990-1992 to 2001-2003. JAMA 293:2487–2495PubMedCrossRef

Kiely M, Gantz MG, El-Khorazaty MN et al (2013) Sequential screening for psychosocial and behavioural risk during pregnancy in a population of urban African Americans. BJOG 120:1395–1402PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

Lindahl V, Pearson JL, Colpe L (2005) Prevalence of suicidality during pregnancy and the postpartum. Arch Womens Ment Health 8:77–87PubMedCrossRef

MacMillan HL, Wathen CN, Jamieson E et al (2006) Approaches to screening for intimate partner violence in health care settings: a randomized trial. JAMA 296:530–536PubMedCrossRef

Martin SL, Mackie L, Kupper LL et al (2001) Physical abuse of women before, during, and after pregnancy. JAMA 285:1581–1584PubMedCrossRef

Mauri M, Oppo A, Borri C et al (2012) SUICIDALITY in the perinatal period: comparison of two self-report instruments. Results from PND-ReScU. Arch Womens Ment Health 15:39–47PubMedCrossRef

McFarlane J, Parker B, Soeken K et al (1992) Assessing for abuse during pregnancy. JAMA 267:3176–3178PubMedCrossRef

McFarlane JM, Groff JY, O’Brien JA et al (2006) Secondary prevention of intimate partner violence: a randomized controlled trial. Nurs Res 55:52–61PubMedCrossRef

Moller HJ (2003) Suicide, suicidality and suicide prevention in affective disorders. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl 418:73–80PubMedCrossRef

Newport DJ, Levey LC, Pennell PB et al (2007) Suicidal ideation in pregnancy: assessment and clinical implications. Arch Womens Ment Health 10:181–187PubMedCrossRef

O’Connor T, Heron J, Golding J et al (2002) Maternal antenatal anxiety and children’s behavioral/emotional problems at 4 years: report from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Br J Psychiatry 180:502–508PubMedCrossRef

Palladino CL, Singh V, Campbell J et al (2011) Homicide and suicide during the perinatal period: findings from the National Violent Death Reporting System. Obstet Gynecol 118:1056–1063PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

Pico-Alfonso MA, Garcia-Linares MI, Celda-Navarro N et al (2006) The impact of physical, psychological, and sexual intimate male partner violence on women’s mental health: depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder, state anxiety, and suicide. J Womens Health 15:599–611CrossRef

Ryan D, Milis L, Misri N (2005) Depression during pregnancy. Can Fam Physician 51:1087–1093PubMedCentralPubMed

Shah PS, Shah J (2010) Maternal exposure to domestic violence and pregnancy and birth outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analyses. J Womens Health 19:2017–2031CrossRef

Silverman JG, Decker MR, Reed E et al (2006) Intimate partner violence around the time of pregnancy: association with breastfeeding behavior. J Womens Health 15:934–940CrossRef

Stallones L, Leff M, Canetto SS et al (2007) Suicidal ideation among low-income women on family assistance programs. Women Health 45:65–83PubMedCrossRef

Taft A, O’Doherty L, Hegarty K et al (2013) Screening women for intimate partner violence in healthcare settings. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 4, CD007007PubMed

Tandon SD, Cluxton-Keller F, Leis J et al (2012) A comparison of three screening tools to identify perinatal depression among low-income African American women. J Affect Disord 136:155–162PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

Tjaden P, Thoennes N (2000) Full report of the prevalence, incidence, and consequences of violence against women: findings from the national violence against women survey. (No. 181867). US Department of Justice, Washington, DCCrossRef

Vest JR, Catlin TK, Chen JJ et al (2002) Multistate analysis of factors associated with intimate partner violence. Am J Prev Med 22:156–164PubMedCrossRef

Weaver TL, Allen JA, Hopper E (2007) Mediators of suicidal ideation within a sheltered sample of raped and battered women. Health Care Women Int 28:478–489PubMedCrossRef

Wingood GM, DiClemente RJ, Raj A (2000) Adverse consequences of intimate partner abuse among women in non-urban domestic violence shelters. Am J Prev Med 19:270–275PubMedCrossRef

Title: Intimate partner violence and suicidal ideation in pregnant women
Authors: Jeanne L. Alhusen
N. Frohman
Genevieve Purcell
Publication date: 01-08-2015
Publisher: Springer Vienna
Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health / Issue 4/2015
Print ISSN: 1434-1816
Electronic ISSN: 1435-1102
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-015-0515-2

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Intimate partner violence and suicidal ideation in pregnant women

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 4/2015

Psychophysiology and posttraumatic stress disorder symptom profile in pregnant African-American women with trauma exposure

The importance of intimate partner violence and suicidal ideation in pregnant women

The assessment of the relationship between personality, the presence of the 5HTT and MAO-A polymorphisms, and the severity of climacteric and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women

A case report demonstrating the efficacy of a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral therapy approach for treating anxiety, depression, and problematic eating in polycystic ovarian syndrome

Maternal attitudes, depression, and anxiety in pregnant and postpartum multiparous women

Cognitive-behavioral group treatment for perinatal anxiety: a pilot study