According to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, pregnant and postpartum people with schizophrenia had a more than threefold increase in the probability of an emergency department visit for interpersonal violence when compared to those without schizophrenia.
Physical, sexual, and psychological abuse by a family member, intimate partner, friend, or stranger are examples of interpersonal violence.
Women With Schizophrenia Encounter Interpersonal Violence
Almost one in every five women with schizophrenia—that is, 20.7%—experience physical or sexual assault during their lifetime. This is approximately 9 times the risk for people who do not have a significant mental disorder.
Unfortunately, nothing is known regarding their danger during pregnancy. Perinatal refers to the time between becoming pregnant and giving birth, which can last up to a year.
The study included around 1.8 million pregnant women aged 15 to 49 years, 4470 of whom had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Individuals with schizophrenia were more likely to reside in a low-income area, to have additional psychiatric and chronic medical disorders, and to have visited an emergency department (ED) for interpersonal violence in the two years preceding their pregnancy.
Violence’s Impact On Mothers, Infants
Overall, 3.1% of people with schizophrenia visited the emergency department for interpersonal violence during pregnancy and the first year after giving birth, compared to 0.4% of those without schizophrenia.
Although pregnant individuals with schizophrenia were equally likely to be evaluated for interpersonal violence (74.3% vs. 73.8%), they were more likely to self-report the violence (10.2% vs. 2.4%).
Schizophrenia was linked with a sixfold increase in the likelihood of receiving an ED visit for interpersonal violence in both pregnancy and postpartum among participants who were screened but did not report interpersonal violence in pregnancy.
Interpersonal violence during pregnancy impacts not just the person suffering it, but also the growing baby or infant. Maternal repercussions include acute injury, chronic pain, and psychological issues. Interpersonal violence is also linked to preterm birth, poor fetal growth, difficulty in maternal-child attachment, and maternal, fetal, and neonatal death.
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