Estel Gelabert1, Susana Subirà2, Lluisa García-Esteve3, Purificación Navarro3, Anna Plaza3, Elisabet Cuyàs4, Ricard Navinés5, Mònica Gratacòs6, Manuel Valdés3, Rocío Martín-Santos7. 1. Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Neuropsychopharmacology Programe, IMIM-Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain. 2. Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain. 3. Neuroscience Institute, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain. 4. Neuropsychopharmacology Programe, IMIM-Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. 5. Neuropsychopharmacology Programe, IMIM-Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Neuroscience Institute, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain. 6. Genes and Disease Program, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG-UPF), CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain. 7. Neuropsychopharmacology Programe, IMIM-Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Neuroscience Institute, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: rmsantos@clinic.ub.es.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although perfectionism from a multidimensional perspective has generally been associated with depressive illness, there are not many studies on its role in major depression in the postnatal period. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between perfectionism dimensions using the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) and major postpartum depression. METHODS: One-hundred-twenty-two women with major postpartum depression (SCID-I; DSM-IV) and 115 healthy postpartum women were evaluated using the FMPS, an instrument for the assessment of six perfectionism dimensions: concern over mistakes, personal standards, parental expectations, parental criticism, doubt about actions and organisation. Other variables were also considered: neuroticism, psychiatric history, social support, life events and genotype combinations according to serotonin transporter expression (5-HTTLPR and Stin2 VNTR polymorphisms). RESULTS: The prevalence of high-perfectionism was higher in major postpartum depression group than in control group (34% vs. 11%; p<0.001). Multivariate models confirmed high-perfectionism as an independent factor associated with major postpartum depression. Specifically, the high-concern over mistakes dimension increased over four-fold the odds of major depression in postpartum period. (OR=4.14; 95% CI=1.24-13.81) Neuroticism, personal psychiatric history and 5-HTT low-expressing genotypes at one of the loci were also identified as independent factors. CONCLUSIONS: High-perfectionism, and particularly high-concern over mistakes is a personality dimension associated with major postpartum depression. The inclusion of perfectionism assessment, together with others factors, may be considered in order to improve the detection of women at risk of postpartum depression, in whom early intervention may be of benefit.
BACKGROUND: Although perfectionism from a multidimensional perspective has generally been associated with depressive illness, there are not many studies on its role in major depression in the postnatal period. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between perfectionism dimensions using the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) and major postpartum depression. METHODS: One-hundred-twenty-two women with major postpartum depression (SCID-I; DSM-IV) and 115 healthy postpartum women were evaluated using the FMPS, an instrument for the assessment of six perfectionism dimensions: concern over mistakes, personal standards, parental expectations, parental criticism, doubt about actions and organisation. Other variables were also considered: neuroticism, psychiatric history, social support, life events and genotype combinations according to serotonin transporter expression (5-HTTLPR and Stin2 VNTR polymorphisms). RESULTS: The prevalence of high-perfectionism was higher in major postpartum depression group than in control group (34% vs. 11%; p<0.001). Multivariate models confirmed high-perfectionism as an independent factor associated with major postpartum depression. Specifically, the high-concern over mistakes dimension increased over four-fold the odds of major depression in postpartum period. (OR=4.14; 95% CI=1.24-13.81) Neuroticism, personal psychiatric history and 5-HTT low-expressing genotypes at one of the loci were also identified as independent factors. CONCLUSIONS: High-perfectionism, and particularly high-concern over mistakes is a personality dimension associated with major postpartum depression. The inclusion of perfectionism assessment, together with others factors, may be considered in order to improve the detection of women at risk of postpartum depression, in whom early intervention may be of benefit.