Hermon N, et al. - The risk of maternal depression was estimated among women hospitalized in a High-Risk Pregnancy Department. Its potential association with adverse perinatal outcome was also assessed. During hospitalization, often occurrence of maternal antenatal depression was noted. It appeared to play a significant and independent role in the prediction of preterm delivery. In the univariate analysis, women who screened positive for depression showed a significantly higher incidence of preterm delivery (< 37 weeks), low birthweight (< 2500 g), low Apgar scores (at 1 and 5 min), and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admissions. In the multivariate regression model, controlled for maternal age, ethnicity, gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, past preterm delivery, and gestational age upon admission, maternal antenatal depression during hospitalization was identified to be an independent risk factor for preterm delivery.