MS raises risk of mental illness during and soon after pregnancy

Women diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a significantly higher risk of developing mental illness during pregnancy and soon after birth compared to women who become pregnant while suffering from other chronic health conditions.

Depression and anxiety were the most common conditions reported.

The findings were published on Jan. 22, 2025 in Neurology.

“Our findings highlight the heightened vulnerability of mothers with MS to mental illness, emphasizing the need for mental health screening and early intervention, including the use of preventive strategies” said lead author Ruth Ann Marrie, MD, PhD, of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada

The investigators retrospectively analyzed data from 894,852 pregnant subjects. Of these, 1,745 had MS, 5,954 had epilepsy, 4,924 had irritable bowel disease and 13,002 had diabetes.

They were matched to 869,227 pregnant subjects who did not have MS or any of the other conditions.

The researchers examined individual health records from two years before conception to three years after birth.

They found that subjects with MS had a 26% higher incidence of mental illness during pregnancy and a 33% higher risk in the first year postpartum, compared to those without MS, and after adjusting for factors such as age, socioeconomic status, and obstetric complications.

Mental illness affected 42% of subjects with MS during pregnancy and 50% of subjects with MS during the first year postpartum.

Mental illness affected 30% of subjects without MS during pregnancy and 38% during the first year postpartum.

Subjects with epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes also had elevated risks of developing mental illness during pregnancy and in the first postpartum year, compared to subjects without these conditions.

“Future studies should look at how MS affects mental health in mothers during and after pregnancy and if it’s worse in different stages of MS. Doctors should know about these risks, make sure to check mental health, and provide treatment if needed,” she added.