Researchers from King’s College London and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust have recently published a study of 476,857 pregnant women with Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) whose records were part of the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network data, anonymised electronic healthcare record data from 18 countries.

HG affects up to 3.6% of pregnancies and is the most common cause of hospitalisation in the first trimester of pregnancy. Women with HG experience prolonged and severe nausea and vomiting, leading to dehydration and weight loss. The researchers examined 24 neuropsychiatric and mental health-related outcomes reported within a year of diagnosis.

There was an over 50% increased risk in 13 conditions, including post-partum psychosis and post-traumatic stress disorder. The risks were doubled for Wernicke’s encephalopathy (a neurological condition due to vitamin B1 deficiency), refeeding syndrome, eating disorders, and depression. These risks extend into the postpartum period, even for those who have ‘only’ had symptoms of HG in the first trimester.

There is a need for more research into this area, as well as clinical pathways to support women nutritionally and mentally during HG and beyond pregnancy.