Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41806009›Full record

ReviewArchives of gynecology and obstetrics2026

Managing anxiety-related disorders from pregnancy to parenthood.

Willemijn Scholten, Ilja Saris, Eline Eigenhuis, Lisa de Koning, Anna Muntingh, Bibi Schut, Adrie Seldenrijk, Patricia van Oppen, Neeltje Batelaan

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Willemijn Scholten *Outpatient Clinic for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. w.scholten@ggzingeest.nl.ORCID 0000-0002-4765-2749
Ilja Saris *Outpatient Clinic for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Eline EigenhuisOutpatient Clinic for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Lisa de KoningDepartment of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Anna MuntinghOutpatient Clinic for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Bibi SchutOutpatient Clinic for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Adrie SeldenrijkOutpatient Clinic for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Patricia van OppenOutpatient Clinic for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Neeltje BatelaanOutpatient Clinic for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAnxiety-related disorders (ARD), including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), are highly prevalent mental health conditions. The peak prevalence of ARD in women coincides with the critical period of family planning, pregnancy, and child-rearing, affecting 1 in 5 women. This poses several challenges, including fears of passing anxiety on to children, worsening of symptoms during pregnancy or postpartum, and concerns about how therapy affects pregnancy outcomes. Clinicians frequently lack the expertise to adequately address these concerns. This may result in clinicians being cautious about starting treatment. This narrative review provides insights from the literature along with practical recommendations to facilitate decision-making with these challenges.

methodsThis narrative review provides a review of existing literature on ARD and pregnancy, synthesizing key findings from relevant theoretical and empirical studies.

resultsResults show that ARD tend to cluster within families, driven by both genetic and environmental factors. During pregnancy and postpartum, ARD are particularly prevalent, and maternal anxiety is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. Psychotherapy, including exposure therapy, is effective and is overall beneficial for pregnant women, although in specific cases, it can also worsen the anxiety, with no known adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes. SSRI use requires consideration of risks and benefits. Preventive strategies to reduce anxiety vulnerability in offspring are scarce.

conclusionIn conclusion, addressing ARD in (prospective) parents is essential, given the potential negative impact on both parents and children. Clinical awareness is needed to optimize care for this population.

Indexed as

Anxiety DisordersPregnancy ComplicationsFemaleHumansObsessive-Compulsive DisorderPregnancyPregnancy OutcomePsychotherapyStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticAntidepressantsAnxiety disordersExposure therapyOCDParenthoodPregnancyPsychotherapyPTSD

Identifiers

PMID41806009
PMCPMC12975797

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.