title: Experience of a controlling or threatening partner among mothers with persistent symptoms of depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the prevalence of symptoms of maternal depression (SMD) that continue beyond the postpartum period and the association between persistent SMD and reporting a controlling or threatening partner.
  
  
  METHODS
  We combined data from a survey of mothers 2-6 months after delivery and its 2-year follow-up survey and analyzed the responses of 444 women who responded to both surveys. We focused on exposure to a controlling partner because this was the sole factor that was associated with persistent SMD in preliminary analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postpartum SMD was reported by 23% of the women. Among these women, 46% also reported SMD 2 years later. In bivariate analysis, a controlling partner was associated with persistent SMD (odds ratio, 6.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-31.8; P = .014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost one-half of women with postpartum SMD continue to have symptoms 2 years later. Further research is needed to measure the strength of the association between controlling partners and persistent depression.
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Unit, Section of Women's, Children's, and Family Health, Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Services, State of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Blabey
authors.forename: Emily R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Locke
authors.forename: Yvonne W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Perham-Hester
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult