title: Examination of premenstrual symptoms as a risk factor for depression in postpartum women.
abstract: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant public health concern with prevalence of major and minor depressions reaching 20 % in the first three postpartum months. Sociodemographic and psychopathology correlates of PPD are well established; however, information on the relationship between premenstrual disorders and the development of PPD is less well established. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the role of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)/premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) as a risk factor for PPD. Premenstrual symptoms were assessed retrospectively using the premenstrual symptoms screening tool (PSST) and depression was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria and assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). A two-stage screening procedure was applied. In the first stage, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was employed. In the second stage, women endorsing ≥5 symptoms on the PHQ-9 were administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, HDRS, and PSST. Hierarchical linear regression showed that history of depression and PMS/PMDD contributed an additional 2 % of the variance (p < 0.001), beyond that of sociodemographic factor effects. The full model accounted for 13 % of the variance in postpartum depressive symptoms. Using logistic regression, a significant association also emerged between PMS/PMDD and PPD (OR = 1.97). The findings of this study suggest that PMS/PMDD is an important risk factor for PPD. Women endorsing a history of PMS/PMDD should be monitored during the perinatal period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA. melissa-buttner@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Melissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Buttner
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Mott
authors.forename: Teri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pearlstein
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Caron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zlotnick
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: O'Hara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult