Psychopathology and COVID-19 pandemic in the perinatal period

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic on March 2020, emerging as a major stressful life event with a significant impact on mental health, particularly in pregnant and postpartum women. Perinatal mental disorders are common health problems during child-bearing period and are associated with adverse maternal and fetal/infant outcomes. Thus, it is important to understand how women experienced their pregnancy and transition to motherhood while dealing with concerns about their health, risk of infection, as well as the social distancing and confinement measures implemented worldwide to contain the spread of the virus. This chapter aims to summarize the evidence available so far regarding changes in perinatal practices and mental health treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, characterization of the psychological impact assessed in terms of perinatal depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, pregnancy loss, and risk factors that have been associated with greater perinatal psychopathology during COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, we will present the major practical implications of COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal mental health and future steps that need to be undertaken.