Depression and anxiety during pregnancy and six months postpartum: a follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between antenatal and postpartum depression and anxiety and to explore associated maternal characteristics.


METHODS
From a population-based sample of 1,555 women attending two obstetric clinics in Sweden, all women with an antenatal psychiatric diagnosis (n = 220) and a random selection of healthy women (n = 500) were contacted for a second assessment three to six months postpartum. The Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders was used for evaluation on both occasions.


RESULTS
Fewer cases of depressive and/or anxiety disorders were prevalent postpartum compared with the second trimester screening. Depression and/or anxiety were prevalent in 16.5% of postpartal women versus 29.2% of pregnant women. There was a significant shift from a majority of subthreshold diagnoses during pregnancy to full Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) diagnoses during the postpartum period. A history of previous psychiatric disorder, living single, and obesity were significantly associated with a new-onset postpartum psychiatric disorder. The absence of a previous psychiatric disorder was significantly associated with a postpartum recovery of depression or anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
Depression and anxiety appear to be less common postpartum than during pregnancy.
Andersson
Liselott
L
Department of Clinical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. liselott.andersson@nll.se
Sundström-Poromaa
Inger
I
Wulff
Marianne
M
Aström
Monica
M
Bixo
Marie
M
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology