Review of suicidal ideation during pregnancy: risk factors, prevalence, assessment instruments and consequences

Background: Pregnancy is a period when women are particularly vulnerable to suicidal ideation and a great opportunity for suicide risk prevention. Aims: This study aimed to establish a comprehensive understanding of suicidal ideation prevalence, risk factors, screening tools, consequences and manage...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Castelao Legazpi, Pilar Carolina, Rodríguez Muñoz, María de la Fe, Olivares Crespo, María Eugenia, Izquierdo Méndez, Nuria
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
Repositorio:e-spacio. Repositorio Institucional de la UNED
Idioma:español
OAI Identifier:oai:e-spacio.uned.es:20.500.14468/23671
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14468/23671
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:61 Psicología
suicidal ideation
pregnancy
prevention
risk factors
prevalence
Descripción
Sumario:Background: Pregnancy is a period when women are particularly vulnerable to suicidal ideation and a great opportunity for suicide risk prevention. Aims: This study aimed to establish a comprehensive understanding of suicidal ideation prevalence, risk factors, screening tools, consequences and management during pregnancy. Method: A literature search was performed in MEDLINE and PsycInfo databases from 2016 to 2021. A narrative synthesis of the literature and a critical overview of the current issues/questions to be addressed within the topic of suicidal ideation during pregnancy was performed. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation during pregnancy was between 2.73 and 18% internationally. The risk factors identifed were major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, difculties with sleep, previous suicide attempts, high rumination, low incomes, being black, being young, low educational level, partner violence, having poor support, food insecurity, history of child abuse, high obstetric risk, multiparity, previous induced abortion and exposure to tobacco or human immunodefciency virus diagnosis. The screening tools used for suicidal ideation during pregnancy were item 10 of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire. Results showed that suicidal ideation during pregnancy is associated with poor cognitive development in children and low birth weight. No case management studies on suicidal ideation were found. Limitations: The main limitation of the available studies was the lack of articles with a high degree of methodological rigour on this subject. Conclusions: This narrative review is a state-of-the-art paper about suicidal ideation during pregnancy. Further research is needed, and researchers should carry out systematic reviews and meta-analyses, leading to Clinical Practice Guidelines in this area. This efort would improve our evidence-based practice in Perinatal Psychology and prevent associated suicidal behaviour.