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01-04-2009 | Original Contribution

Seeking help for anxiety and depression after childbirth: results of the Maternal Health Study

Authors: Hannah Woolhouse, Stephanie Brown, Ann Krastev, Susan Perlen, Jane Gunn

Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health | Issue 2/2009

Abstract

Access to treatment for postnatal anxiety and depression is dependant on women seeking help for psychological symptoms. The aim of this paper was to investigate what women themselves say about seeking help for emotional difficulties after childbirth. The Maternal Health Study is a prospective pregnancy cohort study investigating the physical and psychological health of 1,507 nulliparous women during pregnancy and after birth. One thousand, three hundred eighty-five women completed a computer-assisted telephone interview at 9 months postpartum; 8.5% of women reported intense anxiety or panic attacks occasionally or often, and 9.5% reported depressed mood, between 6 and 9 months postpartum. Of those experiencing anxiety symptoms alone 44.4% had spoken to a health professional, compared with 65.5% of women experiencing depressive symptoms alone (RR = 0.68, 95% CI—0.5 to 0.9). Measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms at 9 months postpartum were not validated against diagnostic criteria. Anxiety is a common experience in the perinatal period. More research is needed into this area to determine what levels of anxiety are ‘normal’ and acceptable to women during this period. Public health campaigns may have been more effective in encouraging women to seek help for depression than anxiety.

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Title: Seeking help for anxiety and depression after childbirth: results of the Maternal Health Study
Authors: Hannah Woolhouse
Stephanie Brown
Ann Krastev
Susan Perlen
Jane Gunn
Publication date: 01-04-2009
Publisher: Springer Vienna
Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health / Issue 2/2009
Print ISSN: 1434-1816
Electronic ISSN: 1435-1102
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0049-6

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Seeking help for anxiety and depression after childbirth: results of the Maternal Health Study

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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