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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 8/2005

01-08-2005 | Original Paper

Psychosocial risk factors to major depression after childbirth

Authors: Philip Boyce, Prof., MB, BS, MD, FRANZCP, MRC Psych, Anthea Hickey, BPsych, MMedsci, MClin Psych

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 8/2005

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Abstract

Background

Risk factors to postnatal depression (PND) have generally been identified in well-defined homogenous samples of primiparous women. There is a need for studies to assess risk factors in a heterogeneous sample of women.

Aim

This study is aimed to identify psychosocial risk factors to postnatal depression.

Method

Subjects underwent a baseline assessment within 2 days of childbirth and completed postal questionnaires at 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks postpartum. Postnatal depression was defined as scoring above 12 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale on two occasions and meeting criteria for major depression using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R.

Results

Four hundred and twenty-five women with a mean age of 26.9 years participated in the study. Forty-two women were considered to be cases of postnatal depression. A significantly increased risk for postnatal depression was associated with (a) being 16 years old or younger, (b) a past history of psychiatric illness, (c) experiencing one or more life events, (d) marital dissatisfaction, (e) experiencing unsatisfactory social support, (f) a vulnerable personality and (g) having a baby of the nondesired sex.

Conclusion

This study confirmed that psychosocial risk factors, predominantly in the areas of social support and personality style, are closely associated with postnatal depression.
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Metadata
Title
Psychosocial risk factors to major depression after childbirth
Authors
Philip Boyce, Prof., MB, BS, MD, FRANZCP, MRC Psych
Anthea Hickey, BPsych, MMedsci, MClin Psych
Publication date
01-08-2005
Publisher
Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 8/2005
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0931-0

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