title: [Maternal attachment patterns and personality in post partum depression].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigates the prevalence of post partum depression (PPD) in a sample of Roman women, and the role of socio-demographic variables, personality structure and maternal attachment patterns, in order to identify primary and secondary prevention strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected in two phases. During the third trimester of pregnancy, a sample of 453 women completed a socio-demographic data sheet and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Among the patients scoring 12 or more at EPDS, 15 entered the second phase of the study and completed SCID-II and Adult Attachment Interview. PPD diagnosis was confirmed by the SCID-I. The study group was compared with a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 453 women who were evaluated, 92 (20.3%) scored ≥12 at EPDS, 39 has been enrolled and 15 entered the study. Presence of depressive symptoms was associated with: complications in pregnancy, previous psychiatric disorders, family and marital conflicts. 66.6% of depressed mothers showed more than one diagnosis on Axis II (particularly avoidant/dependent + borderline or histrionic + dependent). The AAI showed a prevalence of insecure (33.3%) and unresolved/disorganized (46.6%) attachment pattern in the clinical group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that psychological factors such as personality structure and attachment patterns are not only involved in post natal affective disorders, but have a key role in the onset and development of PPD.
authors: UOS Igiene mentala delle Relazioni Afective e del Post Partum, UOC Psichiatria e Psicofarmacologia, DAI Neurologia e Psichiatria, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza Università di Rome. franca.aceti@uniroma1.it
authors: Franca
authors: F
authors: Aceti
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Baglioni
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Ciolli
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: De Bei
authors: Flavia
authors: F
authors: Di Lorenzo
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Ferracuti
authors: Nicoletta
authors: N
authors: Giacchetti
authors: Isabella
authors: I
authors: Marini
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Meuti
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Motta
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Roma
authors: Michela
authors: M
authors: Zaccagni
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D010551:Personality