Psychochemical correlation of emesis gravidarum in Egyptian women

ABSTRACT

The present investigation was designed to study the prevalence of emesis and hyper-emesis gravidarum during pregnancy and to unravel some of the possible psychosocial correlates. The study sample consisted of three thousand women who attended the Antenatal Clinic at Ain Shams University hospital. The prevalence of mild vomiting in this study was estimated to be 42.8 percent, while moderate emesis 23.8 percent, and severe emesis 1.77 percent. On the other hand, 31.6 percent had no vomiting during pregnancy. Those with severe vomiting [53 patients] were subjected to. further thorough psychological assessment of personality, anxiety and depression traits and states by EPI, D scale from Guilford battery and Hamilton anxiety and depression scales. The women were also interviewed by psychiatrists. Severe vomiters scored significantly higher for neuroticism and lower for extroversion in EPI when compared to non-vomiters. They also had significantly higher anxiety and higher depression traits when using Hamilton anxiety and depression scales. Severe vomiters were significantly psychiatrically ill than non-vomiter controls. Women with severe vomiting reported no sexual mal-adjustment more often than did non-vomiters; they had insignificant tendency to be over dependent on their mothers, and they did not repudiate femininity but at the same time they were not accepting maternity. The current study pointed to the importance of the consultation- liaison psychiatry