A new study from the University of Turku in Finland has found a strong link between severe morning sickness and a higher risk of depression in pregnant women.
According to the university’s announcement on Friday, women who suffered intense nausea during pregnancy faced greater chances of developing depression both before and after giving birth. Researchers also noted that these women tended to experience postpartum depression earlier than others.
The university said severe nausea places not only a physical strain on women but also a heavy psychological burden. Until now, research on its connection to mental health disorders has been limited. This study is the first to identify a clear association.
Researchers analyzed health records from more than 437,000 Finnish women between 2004 and 2017. They found that 8.8% of women with severe pregnancy-related nausea had been diagnosed with depression before becoming pregnant, compared with only 1% in the comparison group.
“This means they were more than five times more likely to experience depression before pregnancy,” the university noted. The study also found these women were about 3.5 times more likely to develop new depression after childbirth.
On average, women with severe nausea received a depression diagnosis 3.3 years after delivery. In the control group, the average was 4.5 years.
“Our research shows that severe nausea in pregnancy is not only physically demanding but also a significant mental health risk factor,” said doctoral researcher Eeva Terava-Utti. “The findings highlight the need for closer cooperation between psychiatry, gynecology, and primary care.”
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