Assessment of Depression and Anxiety in Couples with Infertility
Authors: Zain  , Naphade  , Nilesh  , Jyoti V. Shetty , Asmita Jagtap 
Published: November 2023

Background:

Infertility is considered a major setback for the couple and the increasing magnitude of infertility issues causes life crises with a wide range of sociocultural, emotional, physical, and financial problems. The study aims to assess the prevalence and severity of depression and anxiety in couples diagnosed with infertility and to determine the relationship, if any, between the severity of depression and anxiety with sociodemographic variables, duration, and treatment of infertility.

Setting and Design:

This is a descriptive observational study that was carried out in the outpatient department setting of a tertiary care hospital from January “2020 to December” 2020.

Aims and Objectives:

The study aims at assessing the prevalence and severity of depression and anxiety in couples diagnosed with infertility and determining the relationship, if any, between the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms and the treatment received for infertility.

Materials and Methods:

Fifty couples (100 subjects) diagnosed with infertility fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria were assessed using specially designed pro forma and relevant scales for assessment. Detailed history regarding symptoms of infertility was taken, and patients were interviewed based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases-10 criteria for depression and anxiety. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale questionnaires were used to measure the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Statistical Analysis:

The collected data were coded and entered in a Microsoft Excel sheet. The data were analyzed using Statistical Packages for the Social Science version 21.0 software. The results are presented in a tabular and graphical format. For quantitative data, mean and standard deviation (SD), etc., were calculated. Qualitative data were represented in the form of frequency and percentage. The association between qualitative variables was assessed by Fisher’s exact test. Quantitative data were represented using mean ± SD. Analysis of quantitative data between the two groups was done using an unpaired t-test if the data passed the “Normality test” and by Mann–Whitney test if the data failed the “Normality test.” P < 0.05 was taken as the level of significance.

Results:

A statistically significant was found between depression among wives and the support received from their respective spouses and a significant correlation was observed between the duration of infertility with the presence of depression and anxiety among couples (P < 0.01). A significant correlation was also observed between the duration of treatment of infertility with the presence of depression and anxiety among couples (P < 0.01).

Conclusion:

In our study, the prevalence and severity of depression and anxiety are found to be associated with the support received from the spouse and statistically significant correlation was found between the prevalence and severity of depression and anxiety and the duration of infertility and the duration of treatment. No statistically significant relationship was found with the age of the patient, education level, occupation, and number of early issues.