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BMC Women's Health
Published in: BMC Women's Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Retrospective observation of mental disorders during postpartum period: Results from the Singapore mental health study

Authors: Vathsala Sagayadevan, Siau Pheng Lee, Edimansyah Abdin, Janhavi Vaingankar, Helen Chen, Siow Ann Chong, Mythily Subramaniam

Published in: BMC Women's Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

The perinatal period has been identified as a period of vulnerability for various disorders (particularly anxiety and depressive disorders), which have been associated with negative outcomes for both mother and infant. The current study utilized data from the Singapore Mental Health Study (SMHS) to examine the temporal relationship between mental disorders and the perinatal period, as well as associated risk factors.

Methods

Life table estimation method was used to derive the estimated hazard rate for any mood or anxiety disorders following pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between socio-demographic factors and onset of mental disorders after the first pregnancy.

Results

Among women with children (n = 2278), 1.5 % were found to have an onset of any mental disorder (i.e., mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcohol use disorders), within 2 years after pregnancy. A peak in hazard rate was noted at approximately 1 year following pregnancy for anxiety disorders but not mood disorders. Women who were married, employed and physically healthy were less likely to have had developed any mental disorder.

Conclusions

The prevalence of mental disorders during pregnancy and postpartum was found to be low among women with children in our community sample, with increased vulnerability following delivery. The results offer some insight into the occurrence of mental disorders during the perinatal period among women in Singapore.
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Metadata
Title
Retrospective observation of mental disorders during postpartum period: Results from the Singapore mental health study
Authors
Vathsala Sagayadevan
Siau Pheng Lee
Edimansyah Abdin
Janhavi Vaingankar
Helen Chen
Siow Ann Chong
Mythily Subramaniam
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Women's Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6874
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-015-0279-x

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