title: The course of anxiety and depression through pregnancy and the postpartum in a community sample.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postnatal and antenatal depression are a focus of considerable clinical and research attention, but little is known about the patterns of anxiety across this period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported anxiety and depression were assessed at 18 and 32 weeks gestation and 8 weeks and 8 months postnatally in a prospective longitudinal study of a community sample of women in England (n=8323).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of cases of postnatal depression were preceded by antenatal depression; similarly, postnatal anxiety was preceded by antenatal anxiety. Despite the stability of anxiety and depression across this period, there was a mean decrease in both anxiety and depression. Finally, antenatal anxiety predicted postnatal depression at 8 weeks and 8 months, even after controlling for antenatal depression (OR=3.22, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data were based on self-report only and there was evidence of selective attrition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings confirm that antenatal anxiety occurs frequently, overlaps with depression and increases the likelihood of postnatal depression.
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heron
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Golding
authors.forename: Vivette
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Glover
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires