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Purpose <p>Anxiety symptoms are among the most common emotional experiences for women during their reproductive years, particularly during pregnancy. Maternal antenatal anxiety symptoms are associated with several adverse maternal and fetal outcomes including miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm delivery, and low birth weight. Less is known about the association of maternal antenatal anxiety symptoms and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and chronic hypertension. The physiological changes accompanying the state of anxiety, irrespective of their association with underlying anxiety disorders, adversely affect pregnancy outcomes including HDP. Moreover, anxiety symptoms and HDP share overlapping physiological mechanisms including cortisol dysregulation, sympathetic activation, inflammation, and placental ischemia. Thus, the focus of this review is to examine the existing recent literature on the association between anxiety symptoms during the prenatal period and HDP.</p> Recent Findings <p>The literature regarding maternal antenatal anxiety symptoms and HDP is limited and demonstrates considerable variability in study designs, measurement tools, definitions of hypertensive disorders, sample characteristics, and reported outcomes. Some studies suggest that maternal psychological distress is unlikely to contribute to the development of HDP, while others indicate a significant association between anxiety symptoms and the risk of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension.</p> Summary <p>Despite these inconsistencies, there is strong emerging evidence to suggest that there is a bidirectional relationship between antenatal anxiety symptoms and HDP. The physiological overlap between these conditions can lead to diagnostic overshadowing and highlights the need for further research to better understand their interplay. Integration of mental health care into prenatal care is crucial for addressing the association between these conditions and has the potential to improve health outcomes for birthing people and their children.</p>

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Examining the Relationship between Maternal Anxiety Symptoms & Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月5日

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  • Sitara Soundararajan,
  • Marlee Madora,
  • Candace Hatten-Powell,
  • Rubiahna Vaughn

摘要

Purpose

Anxiety symptoms are among the most common emotional experiences for women during their reproductive years, particularly during pregnancy. Maternal antenatal anxiety symptoms are associated with several adverse maternal and fetal outcomes including miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm delivery, and low birth weight. Less is known about the association of maternal antenatal anxiety symptoms and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and chronic hypertension. The physiological changes accompanying the state of anxiety, irrespective of their association with underlying anxiety disorders, adversely affect pregnancy outcomes including HDP. Moreover, anxiety symptoms and HDP share overlapping physiological mechanisms including cortisol dysregulation, sympathetic activation, inflammation, and placental ischemia. Thus, the focus of this review is to examine the existing recent literature on the association between anxiety symptoms during the prenatal period and HDP.

Recent Findings

The literature regarding maternal antenatal anxiety symptoms and HDP is limited and demonstrates considerable variability in study designs, measurement tools, definitions of hypertensive disorders, sample characteristics, and reported outcomes. Some studies suggest that maternal psychological distress is unlikely to contribute to the development of HDP, while others indicate a significant association between anxiety symptoms and the risk of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension.

Summary

Despite these inconsistencies, there is strong emerging evidence to suggest that there is a bidirectional relationship between antenatal anxiety symptoms and HDP. The physiological overlap between these conditions can lead to diagnostic overshadowing and highlights the need for further research to better understand their interplay. Integration of mental health care into prenatal care is crucial for addressing the association between these conditions and has the potential to improve health outcomes for birthing people and their children.