U.S. female veterans who become pregnant may be at increased risk for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to researchers at Yale University School of Medicine.
They studied 43,078 female veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan and were treated at Veterans Administration facilities over five years. Mental health disorders were diagnosed in 32 percent of those who were pregnant, compared with 21 percent who were not pregnant, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Pregnant vets had two times higher rates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. They were also more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia and alcohol or drug abuse/dependence.
The study was published in the Journal of Women's Health.