Disordered eating and the perinatal period: A systematic review and best evidence synthesis of mental health and psychosocial correlates.

OBJECTIVE: This paper systematically reviews the literature to date on the relationship between disordered eating and mental health, psychological and social factors during pregnancy and the post-partum period, as well as the direction of associations.

METHODS: Peer reviewed articles were sourced from seven databases: PsycINFO, CINAHL, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, Academic Search Complete, Scopus (MEDLINE), Web of Science, and Proquest. A quality review and best evidence synthesis was conducted.

RESULTS: The final review included 11 prospective cohort and 14 cross sectional/retrospective studies. According to a synthesis of findings, a strong level of evidence supports an association between disordered eating during pregnancy and depressive and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. There was also a limited level of evidence for the association between disordered eating and obsessive-compulsive symptoms during pregnancy and between disordered eating and depressive symptoms during the post-partum period. No directions of associations could be determined.

CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of initial findings, it is recommended that depressive and anxiety symptoms be monitored in conjunction with any disordered eating concerns during perinatal care. Given the significance of the childbearing years to the health and well-being of both mother and infant, further prospective cohort studies in this area are necessitated.