PMH-C Risk Factors 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which socioeconomic factor is most strongly associated with increased risk for perinatal depression?
- Advanced maternal age
- Low income and financial stress (Correct answer)
- Primiparity
- Urban residence
Correct answer: Low income and financial stress
Low income and financial stress are among the strongest socioeconomic predictors of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
Question 2: A client reports that her mother and sister both experienced postpartum depression. This elevates her risk primarily due to which factor?
- Shared environmental stressors
- Genetic heritability of mood disorders (Correct answer)
- Identical hormonal profiles
- Similar birth outcomes
Correct answer: Genetic heritability of mood disorders
Family history of depression reflects genetic heritability, which is a well-established biological risk factor for perinatal mood disorders.
Question 3: Which pregnancy complication is most associated with increased risk of perinatal anxiety disorders?
- Gestational hypertension
- Hyperemesis gravidarum (Correct answer)
- Placenta previa
- Polyhydramnios
Correct answer: Hyperemesis gravidarum
Hyperemesis gravidarum, due to its severe physical symptoms and functional impairment, is significantly associated with increased perinatal anxiety and depression.
Question 4: Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy increases risk for perinatal mental health disorders primarily through which mechanism?
- Direct fetal harm
- Chronic trauma and toxic stress activation (Correct answer)
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Sleep deprivation alone
Correct answer: Chronic trauma and toxic stress activation
IPV activates the HPA axis and chronic stress response, leading to toxic stress that substantially elevates risk for PMAD.
Question 5: A nulliparous client at 32 weeks gestation expresses intense fear of childbirth. This is best described as a risk factor for which perinatal condition?
- Postpartum psychosis
- Tokophobia-related anxiety and PTSD (Correct answer)
- Bipolar disorder onset
- Infant bonding disorder only
Correct answer: Tokophobia-related anxiety and PTSD
Severe fear of childbirth (tokophobia) is a recognized risk factor for perinatal anxiety, PTSD, and negative birth experiences.
Question 6: Which infant characteristic is a recognized risk factor for postpartum depression in the mother?
- Female infant sex
- Infant with medical complications or NICU admission (Correct answer)
- Infant born at term
- Infant with high birth weight
Correct answer: Infant with medical complications or NICU admission
NICU admission or infant medical complications significantly increase maternal stress and risk for postpartum depression.
Question 7: Unplanned or unwanted pregnancy is associated with increased PMAD risk primarily because it:
- Causes hormonal abnormalities unique to unplanned pregnancies
- Reduces social support and increases ambivalence about the maternal role (Correct answer)
- Always involves younger maternal age
- Leads to poorer obstetric outcomes automatically
Correct answer: Reduces social support and increases ambivalence about the maternal role
Unplanned pregnancy often reduces social support, increases role ambivalence, and diminishes psychological preparedness, elevating PMAD risk.
PMH-C Risk Factors 2
Which socioeconomic factor is most strongly associated with increased risk for perinatal depression?