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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 10/2006

01-10-2006 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Postnatal depressive symptoms go largely untreated

A probability study in urban New Zealand

Authors: Irene M. Thio, BSc, BA(Hons), PhD, Mark A. Oakley Browne, BSc, MB, ChB, PhD, FRANZCP, John H. Coverdale, MD, MEd, FRANZCP, Nick Argyle, MB, BS, MRCPsych, FRANZCP

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 10/2006

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Abstract

Background

Prior studies providing estimates of the prevalence of postnatal depressive symptoms (PNDS) in New Zealand have been hampered by methodological shortcomings. Aims of this study were to derive an accurate estimate of PNDS prevalence and treatment frequency in an urban population of a major city in New Zealand.

Method

This was a one-wave postal survey of a probability, community sample of all women in Auckland who were 4 months postpartum. PNDS was assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

Results

There were 225 usable responses (78% response-rate): 36 women (16.0%) scored above the threshold for depressive symptomatology, and nine of them were in treatment. A further 31 women (13.8%) scored just below the threshold region for depressive symptomatology, and none were in treatment.

Conclusion

The prevalence rate of PNDS in urban New Zealand is slightly higher than the world-wide average, and goes largely untreated in the community. Health care providers should remain vigilant to the finding that almost one in three mothers with infants is suffering with symptoms of depression and may need strong encouragement to admit they need help.
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Metadata
Title
Postnatal depressive symptoms go largely untreated
A probability study in urban New Zealand
Authors
Irene M. Thio, BSc, BA(Hons), PhD
Mark A. Oakley Browne, BSc, MB, ChB, PhD, FRANZCP
John H. Coverdale, MD, MEd, FRANZCP
Nick Argyle, MB, BS, MRCPsych, FRANZCP
Publication date
01-10-2006
Publisher
Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 10/2006
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0095-6

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