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Recording available 2/16-5/2
Recording available 2/16-5/2
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Abstract Award
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Poster Session 3

Category: Perinatal Mental Health

Poster Session 3

(858) Postpartum psychiatric morbidity following pregnancy-associated intimate partner violence and sexual assault

Thursday, February 12, 2026
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM  

    Submitting Author and Presenting Author(s)

  • Manasa G. Rao, MD

    Resident Physician
    Columbia University
    New York, New York, United States

    • Coauthor(s)

  • TW

    Timothy Wen, MD, MPH

    Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego
    San Diego, California, United States

  • EH

    Emily Hansman, MD

    Columbia University Medical Center
    New York, New York, United States

  • Mary E. D'Alton, MD

    Obstetrician and Gynecologist-in-Chief Willard C. Rappleye Professor and Chair
    Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
    New York, New York, United States

  • AF

    Alexander M. Friedman, MD, MPH

    Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
    Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
    New York, New York, United States

Objective:
Intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault (SA) during pregnancy are associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders (SUD) and maternal mortality, yet national data on short term risks of psychiatric and SUD morbidity remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the association of IPV/SA in pregnancy and postpartum readmissions with de novo psychiatric or SUD at the national level.

Study Design:
The 2016-2021 Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to identify delivery hospitalizations with an IPV/SA diagnosis, excluding preexisting psychiatric or SUD diagnoses. Outcomes were 180-day readmissions with a new (1)psychiatric or (2)SUD diagnosis, identified using ICD-10 codes. Joinpoint regression assessed temporal trends in IPV/SA and de novo psychiatric and SUD diagnoses, expressed as average annual percent change (AAPC). Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the association between IPV/SA in pregnancy and postpartum readmissions for de novo psychiatric and SUD diagnoses, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and delivery complications.

Results:
Among 10.4 million delivery hospitalizations, 22,515 (22 per 10,000 births) were complicated by IPV/SA, increasing from 14 to 31 per 10,000 births during the study period (AAPC 16.8%, 95% CI:14.6%-19.6%) with no significant changes in de novo psychiatric or substance use readmissions. Postpartum readmissions with de novo psychiatric (1.1% vs. 0.3%) and substance use (1.0% vs. 0.2%) disorders were higher among those with IPV/SA compared to those without (Table 1). Adjusted analysis showed nearly three times higher likelihood of readmissions with de novo psychiatric (aOR 2.53, 95% CI: 1.94, 3.31) and SUD (aOR 2.61, 95% CI: 2.02, 3.39) among those with IPV/SA (Table 2).

Conclusion:
Despite low overall readmission, rates of IPV/SA in pregnancy have increased over time. IPV/SA during pregnancy is significantly associated with increased rates of de novo psychiatric and substance use disorders. This data may underscore the need tailored perinatal screening to mitigate postpartum psychiatric morbidity.