Psychological Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection During Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the Brief Symptom Inventory

Abstract The emergence of COVID-19 has posed a worldwide scientific challenge. From a mental health perspective, it will be essential to find out what the consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection may be.The present study aims to analyze how COVID-19 has affected a particularly vulnerable group such as women who have become pregnant during the pandemic. For this purpose, we selected pregnant women (n = 881) who had contracted the infection during pregnancy (n = 542) and others who had not contracted the disease at any time during pregnancy (n = 339). The Brief Symptom Questionnaire (BSI) was analyzed to see if pregnant women who have had the disease have higher scores and more altered factors than those who have not contracted the disease. Anxiety and depressive disorders are highly related to the appearance of neurodevelopmental problems in neonates, and it is essential to find out the psychological consequences of the infection in the pregnant population.In conclusion, pregnant women who contract SARS-CoV-2 present significant alterations in: depression; anxiety; somatizations; delirious ideas. In addition, pregnant women who are studying are more likely to develop anxiety, and age seems to be a protective factor against the development of delusions.