title: Sleep disturbances and depressive symptoms in healthy postpartum women: a pilot study.
abstract: In this pilot study we examined the relationship between objective and subjective sleep disturbances and depressive symptoms in 22 healthy primiparous postpartum women within 3 months after delivery. We found that none of the women in our study had clinically significant depression scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; nonetheless, a variable duration of night-time sleep from night to night during the 7-day monitoring period and reported awakening too early were significantly correlated with increased depressive symptoms. Results suggest that first-time mothers who complain of irregular night-time sleep duration and waking up too early should be screened and evaluated for potential postpartum depressive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No 1, Sec 1, Jen-Ai Rd, Taipei 10051, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shao-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult