Co-occurring psychiatric symptoms are associated with increased psychological, social, and medical impairment in opioid dependent pregnant women

The interaction of psychiatric symptoms with drug dependence during pregnancy is not well understood. This study examines the relationship of psychiatric symptoms to severity of drug use and drug-related problems among participants in a clinical trial of pharmacologic treatment of opioid dependence during pregnancy (N = 174). A total of 64.6% reported additional psychiatric symptoms (48.6% mood symptoms, 40.0% anxiety symptoms, and 12.6% suicidal thinking). Women who endorsed co-occurring psychiatric symptoms showed more severe impairment on the Addiction Severity Index. Further investigation is warranted to understand the effect of psychiatric symptoms on long-term maternal and neonatal outcomes.