According to a study published by the American Academy of Neurology, pregnant individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a significantly higher risk of developing mental illnesses both during and after pregnancy compared to those without MS.
The research, which analyzed data from 894,852 pregnant individuals over 15 years, revealed that 42% of pregnant people with MS experienced mental health issues during pregnancy, which increased to 50% in the first year after giving birth. In comparison, only 30% of people without MS had mental health issues during pregnancy, rising to 38% after birth.
Ruth Ann Marrie, MD, PhD, the study’s lead author, emphasized that understanding mental health challenges for pregnant individuals with MS is crucial, as it can affect both the parents and their children.
The study found that new mental illness diagnoses affected 8% of people with MS during pregnancy and 14% in the first year post-birth, compared to 7% and 11% for those without MS, respectively. Even after accounting for factors like age and income, the risk of mental illness remained significantly higher for those with MS.
“These findings highlight the importance of preventive and early treatment of mental health issues in pregnant individuals with MS,” said Marrie.
Curious to learn more about how these findings could impact MS treatment and pregnancy management? Dive into the full study!