Depression and anxiety during pregnancy and six months postpartum : a follow-up study

• AIMS: To investigate the relationship between antenatal and postpartum depression and anxiety and to explore associated maternal characteristics. METHODS: From a population-based sample of 1,555 women attending two obstetric clinics in Sweden, all women with an antenatal psychiatric diagnosis (n = 220) and a random selection of healthy women (n = 500) were contacted for a second assessment three to six months postpartum. The Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders was used for evaluation on both occasions. RESULTS: Fewer cases of depressive and/or anxiety disorders were prevalent postpartum compared with the second trimester screening. Depression and/or anxiety were prevalent in 16.5% of postpartal women versus 29.2% of pregnant women. There was a significant shift from a majority of subthreshold diagnoses during pregnancy to full Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) diagnoses during the postpartum period. A history of previous psychiatric disorder, living single, and obesity were significantly associated with a new-onset postpartum psychiatric disorder. The absence of a previous psychiatric disorder was significantly associated with a postpartum recovery of depression or anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Depression and anxiety appear to be less common postpartum than during pregnancy.

Nyckelord

Adult

Anxiety Disorders/*epidemiology

Case-Control Studies

Depression; Postpartum/*epidemiology

Depressive Disorder/*epidemiology

Female

Follow-Up Studies

Humans

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Complications/*epidemiology

Prevalence

Sweden/epidemiology

MEDICINE

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)