Open AccessDepression and anxiety during pregnancy and six months postpartum: a follow‐up study
Author(s) -
Andersson Liselott,
SundströmPoromaa Inger,
Wulff Marianne,
Åström Monica,
Bixo Marie
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1080/00016340600697652
Subject(s) - medicine , anxiety , postpartum depression , pregnancy , psychiatry , depression (economics) , postpartum period , population , obstetrics , anxiety disorder , genetics , macroeconomics , environmental health , economics , biology
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.