H Woolhouse1, D Gartland, F Mensah, S J Brown. 1. Healthy Mothers Healthy Families, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of maternal depression from pregnancy to 4 years postpartum, and the risk factors for depressive symptoms at 4 years postpartum. DESIGN: Prospective pregnancy cohort study of nulliparous women. SETTING: Melbourne, Australia. SAMPLE: In all, 1507 women completed baseline data in pregnancy (mean gestation 15 weeks). METHODS: Women were recruited from six public hospitals. Questionnaires were completed at recruitment and 3, 6, 12 and 18 months postpartum, and 4 years postpartum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores ≥13 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were used to indicate depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Almost one in three women reported depressive symptoms at least once in the first 4 years after birth. The prevalence of depressive symptoms at 4 years postpartum was 14.5%, and was higher than at any time-point in the first 12 months postpartum. Women with one child at 4 years postpartum were more likely to report depressive symptoms at this time compared with women with subsequent children (22.9 versus 11.3%), and this association remained significant in adjusted models (Adjusted odds ratio 1.71, 95% confidence interval 1.12-2.63). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal depression is more common at 4 years postpartum than at any time in the first 12 months postpartum, and women with one child at 4 years postpartum report significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms than women with subsequent children. There is a need for scaling up of current services to extend surveillance of maternal mental health to cover the early years of parenting.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of maternal depression from pregnancy to 4 years postpartum, and the risk factors for depressive symptoms at 4 years postpartum. DESIGN: Prospective pregnancy cohort study of nulliparous women. SETTING: Melbourne, Australia. SAMPLE: In all, 1507 women completed baseline data in pregnancy (mean gestation 15 weeks). METHODS:Women were recruited from six public hospitals. Questionnaires were completed at recruitment and 3, 6, 12 and 18 months postpartum, and 4 years postpartum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores ≥13 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were used to indicate depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Almost one in three women reported depressive symptoms at least once in the first 4 years after birth. The prevalence of depressive symptoms at 4 years postpartum was 14.5%, and was higher than at any time-point in the first 12 months postpartum. Women with one child at 4 years postpartum were more likely to report depressive symptoms at this time compared with women with subsequent children (22.9 versus 11.3%), and this association remained significant in adjusted models (Adjusted odds ratio 1.71, 95% confidence interval 1.12-2.63). CONCLUSIONS:Maternal depression is more common at 4 years postpartum than at any time in the first 12 months postpartum, and women with one child at 4 years postpartum report significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms than women with subsequent children. There is a need for scaling up of current services to extend surveillance of maternal mental health to cover the early years of parenting.
Authors: K Koutra; M Vassilaki; V Georgiou; A Koutis; P Bitsios; M Kogevinas; L Chatzi Journal: Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci Date: 2016-12-22 Impact factor: 6.892
Authors: Shayna D Cunningham; Shilpa Mokshagundam; Hannah Chai; Jessica B Lewis; Jessica Levine; Jonathan N Tobin; Jeannette R Ickovics Journal: J Midwifery Womens Health Date: 2018-03-23 Impact factor: 2.388
Authors: C A Denckla; A D Mancini; N S Consedine; S M Milanovic; A Basu; S Seedat; G Spies; D C Henderson; G A Bonanno; K C Koenen Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2017-09-11 Impact factor: 7.723