Antenatal Depressive Symptoms and Computerized Cardiotocography Parameters: An Observational Prospective Study
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
- 2Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
- 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ospedale S.G. Moscati, 83100 Avellino, Italy
- 4Medical Statistics Unit, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
Abstract
Introduction: The present study aims to investigate the possible computerized cardiotocography (cCTG) parameter alteration in patients with elevated antenatal depressive symptoms, evaluated in the third trimester of pregnancy through the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study from 1 August 2024 to 20 August 2025. All pregnant women (after 30 gestational weeks) were included and underwent cCTG and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) evaluation. Based on their EPDS scores, pregnant women were divided into low (score < 10) or high depressive symptom (score ≥ 10) groups. For all included pregnant women, demographic characteristics and cCTG parameters were recorded. The baseline characteristics and cCTG parameters were compared between groups. Short-term variation (STV) difference represented the primary outcomes. Results: A total of 205 pregnant women were enrolled (median gestational age was 38.1 weeks). Demographic, obstetric, or fetal characteristics were homogenous between the groups. There were no cCTG parameter differences between high- and low-EPDS groups: baseline fetal heart rate (p = 0.743), short-term variability (p = 0.663), long-term variability (p = 0.550), accelerations (p = 0.893), and fetal movements (p = 0.275). The Hodges–Lehmann difference in STV was 0.20 ms (95% CI −0.60 to 1.00), and with excluded differences larger than ±1 ms. EPDS score and cCTG parameter correlations were weak (|ρ| ≤ 0.14). Discussion: Maternal depressive symptoms, in late gestation, were not associated with cCTG parameter alterations. These results excluded differences larger than 1 ms but additional studies are needed to explore the fetal autonomic changes related to the maternal depressive symptoms.
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BibTeX
@article{verde2026antenatal,
title = {{Antenatal Depressive Symptoms and Computerized Cardiotocography Parameters: An Observational Prospective Study}},
author = {Marco La Verde and Mario Luciano and Mario Ardovino and Francesca Caparrotti and Franca Cerqua and Mario Fordellone and Bianca Della Rocca and Carlotta Brandi and Davide Pisani and Marco Torella},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/jcm15218705},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8705},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Antenatal Depressive Symptoms and Computerized Cardiotocography Parameters: An Observational Prospective Study
AU - Marco La Verde
AU - Mario Luciano
AU - Mario Ardovino
AU - Francesca Caparrotti
AU - Franca Cerqua
AU - Mario Fordellone
AU - Bianca Della Rocca
AU - Carlotta Brandi
AU - Davide Pisani
AU - Marco Torella
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/07
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO - 10.3390/jcm15218705
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8705
AB - Introduction: The present study aims to investigate the possible computerized cardiotocography (cCTG) parameter alteration in patients with elevated antenatal depressive symptoms, evaluated in the third trimester of pregnancy through the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study from 1 August 2024 to 20 August 2025. All pregnant women (after 30 gestational weeks) were included and underwent cCTG and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) evaluation. Based on their EPDS scores, pregnant women were divided into low (score < 10) or high depressive symptom (score ≥ 10) groups. For all included pregnant women, demographic characteristics and cCTG parameters were recorded. The baseline characteristics and cCTG parameters were compared between groups. Short-term variation (STV) difference represented the primary outcomes. Results: A total of 205 pregnant women were enrolled (median gestational age was 38.1 weeks). Demographic, obstetric, or fetal characteristics were homogenous between the groups. There were no cCTG parameter differences between high- and low-EPDS groups: baseline fetal heart rate (p = 0.743), short-term variability (p = 0.663), long-term variability (p = 0.550), accelerations (p = 0.893), and fetal movements (p = 0.275). The Hodges–Lehmann difference in STV was 0.20 ms (95% CI −0.60 to 1.00), and with excluded differences larger than ±1 ms. EPDS score and cCTG parameter correlations were weak (|ρ| ≤ 0.14). Discussion: Maternal depressive symptoms, in late gestation, were not associated with cCTG parameter alterations. These results excluded differences larger than 1 ms but additional studies are needed to explore the fetal autonomic changes related to the maternal depressive symptoms.
SN - 2077-0383
ER -