Risk factors for psychiatric disorders in infertile women and men undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment

Abstract

Objective: To identify risk factors associated with depression and anxiety in infertile women and men undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: A university hospital in Sweden during a 2-year period.

Patient(s): 825 participants (413 women and 412 men).

Intervention(s): Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD), based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV), as the diagnostic tool for evaluating mood and anxiety disorders, and fertility history and outcome of IVF treatment collected from the patients' medical records.

Main outcome measure(s): Risk factors associated with depression and anxiety disorders.

Result(s): A negative pregnancy test and obesity were the independent risk factors for any mood disorders in women. Among men, the only independent risk factor for depression was unexplained infertility. No IVF-related risk factors could be identified for any anxiety disorder.

Conclusion(s): A negative pregnancy test is associated with an increased risk for depression in women undergoing IVF, but no risk of developing anxiety disorders is associated with the pregnancy test result after IVF. Pregnancy test results were not a risk factor for depression or anxiety among men.