The risk of eating disorder relapse during pregnancy and after delivery and postpartum depression among women recovered from eating disorders

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify relapse of Eating Disorders (EDs) during pregnancy and after delivery as well as postpartum depression in women who had complete remission of EDs. Of the 1,008 patients with EDs who visited outpatient clinic between 1994 and 2004, 55 experienced ED remission and pregnancy. Of these, 25 (21 with BN and 4 with AN) consented to participate in this study. They were interviewed every 2 weeks both during pregnancy and after giving birth. The eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were used as reference scales for diagnosing the EDs and postpartum depression, respectively. A two-sided unpaired test was used for the statistical analysis. Sixteen participants (67%) experienced ED relapse during pregnancy and 12 (50%) relapsed after birth. Twelve had postpartum depression. Among the participants who did not have postpartum depression, there were no low-body-weight infants. This study revealed that recurrence of EDs and the occurrence of postpartum depression were higher in this population, indicating the need to closely monitor EDs during pregnancy and after birth.