title: Progression of major depression during pregnancy and postpartum: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate major depressive symptoms among a high-risk group of pregnant women managed at a tertiary care setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study prospectively evaluated pregnant women who met DSM-IV criteria for a major depressive episode (MDE). Psychiatric measures for depression, anxiety and social impairment were administered at monthly intervals during pregnancy and immediate postpartum period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four women provided longitudinal data from mid pregnancy to 2 months of postpartum period. 86% of women were clinically symptomatic at the beginning of study during pregnancy and only 32% remained clinically symptomatic at 2 months following delivery reaching. This difference reached a statistical significance level p < 0.001. Pregnant women with prior histories of major depression, comorbid anxiety disorder, histories of domestic violence, and those with uninvolved spouse or partners were more at-risk to be clinically symptomatic in the immediate postpartum period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a group consisting of largely Latina women at a tertiary care setting, progression of major depression when treated with antidepressant medication(s) is that of an improvement from pregnancy to immediate postpartum period. Further longitudinal studies are needed to assess impact of clinical characteristics and treatment on major depression in larger diverse obstetric group.
authors.affiliation: Dallas VA Medical Center, Mental Health , Dallas, TX , USA .
authors.forename: Geetha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shivakumar
authors.forename: Neysa L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Donald D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: McIntire
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leveno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents