Childhood abuse, parenting and postpartum depression.

OBJECTIVE: While the potential negative effects on children of maternal depression has been documented, the influence of a maternal history of childhood abuse on child development is unclear. This study, the first stage of a 3-year follow-up study, looks at childhood abuse in women with depression in the postpartum period.
METHOD: Fifty-six women admitted with postpartum depressive disorders were assessed with respect to their wellbeing, relationships and infant interaction. Twenty-eight women had a history of sexual abuse before the age of 16, nine physical/emotional abuse and 19 had no history of abuse.
RESULTS: The mother-infant relationship was seen to be impaired in the sexually abused group (p = 0.007). The significance increased when all abused women were compared to controls (p = 0.001). In addition, abuse was associated with more severe depression on the Beck Depression Inventory (p = 0.046), and a trend to higher anxiety and longer lengths of stay (p = 0.05 for physical abuse). Partners rated themselves as being more skilled and confident parents.
CONCLUSIONS: The effect of childhood abuse was indistinguishable between emotional and physical abuse in postpartum depressed women. The most significant effect was a deleterious one on the mother-infant relationship in those women with a history of abuse.