HYPEREMESIS GRAVIDARUM AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES: A SYSTEMATIC INQUIRY INTO PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY

Abstract

Background: Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a severe pregnancy condition with extensive somatic burden. Its psychological sequelae—depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—are increasingly reported but not comprehensively synthesized. Objective: To review published studies examining psychiatric disorders in women with HG, during pregnancy and postpartum, focusing on prevalence, risk magnitude, and the persistence of symptoms. Methods: Literature search conducted on PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO through mid-2025. Studies included cohorts, case-controls, cross-sectional and follow-ups, reporting psychiatric outcomes in HG. Key outcomes: depression, anxiety, PTSD. Extracted prevalence, effect sizes. Quality assessed via standard tools (NOS, cohort follow-ups). Results: Topalahmetoğlu et al (2017) found very high relative risks for moderate depression and severe anxiety in women with HG vs controls. PMC Nijsten et al (2022) followed 215 HG patients; at ~6 weeks postpartum, ~24.1% had anxiety (HADS ≥8), ~20.4% depression; at ~4.5 years, ~39.7% had anxiety, ~27.4% depression, and ~21.9% met PTSD criteria. Severity of HG (PUQE-24 scores) predicted PTSD and anxiety. PubMed+1 Tan et al (2014) in Malaysia showed that depression, anxiety, stress were significantly higher in HG women during admission, declining by third trimester but still notable compared to controls. PLOS Conclusion: Women with HG are at elevated risk for psychiatric morbidity—especially anxiety, depression and PTSD—that may persist postpartum. Severity of symptoms correlates with risk. Clinical care of HG should integrate mental health screening and support.