Psychological well-being during pregnancy determines the chance of postpartum depression

The mental health of a woman during pregnancy is an important determinant of postpartum depression (PPD), which could have important implications for early detection. Furthermore, this study, published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, concrete that 13% of women suffer from depression 8 weeks after delivery.

Besides this, this research team, coordinated by Dr. Manolis Kogevinas, codirector of Creal, centre of ISGlobal alliance, add that between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, 17% of women with no prior history of psychiatric illness have any symptoms of depression.

Among women without a history of psychological problems before pregnancy, anxiety and depression during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of postpartum depression. Specifically, an increase of one unit on the scale Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale(EPDS-measures the intensity of depressive symptoms) during pregnancy was associated with an increase of 27% in the risk of postpartum depression.

Reference: Koutra K, Vassilaki M, Georgiou V, Koutis A, Bitsios P, Chatzi L, Kogevinas M. Antenatal maternal mental health as determinant of postpartum depression in a population based mother-child cohort (Rhea Study) in Crete, Greece. Soc Psych Psych Epid 2013.