European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

AIM: Study aimed to assess the burden of psychological morbidity due to lockdown in
the pregnant females.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was an observational study conducted in the
department of obstetrics &gynecology, GMC Kathua during the covid lockdown period
from June 2020 to August 2020. 100 antenatal patients attending OPD were included
in the study after excluding those with hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, bleeding
pv,IUGR,oligohydramnios,threatened preterm labour, known psychiatric illness or
taking psychotropic medication, prior sleep disorder. The patients were assessed using a
questionnairewhich was framed using various scales such as PHQ-9 for Depression,
GAD7 for anxiety, Perceived Stress Scale and Insomnia severity index , in addition to
incorporating various sociodemographic and obstetrical details.The arbitrary division
of PHQ‑ 9 scores into ratings of minimal (0–4),mild (5–9), and moderate to severe
depression (≥10) suggested by Reddy et al. was used in this study. Cutoff points of 5, 10,
and 15 were interpreted as representing mild, moderate, and severe levels of anxiety on
the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Insomnia severity index scored on a fivepoint
Likert’s scale (0 = no problem to 4 = very severe problem). Score of 0–7 depicted
absence of insomnia, 8–14 showedsubthreshold insomnia, 15–21 represented moderate,
and 22–28 showed severe insomnia.