title: In first-time mothers, post-partum depressive symptom prospectively predict symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Symptoms of both depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are prevalent among first-time mothers following birth. However, the direction of the association between the two types of symptoms is unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety six first-time mothers giving birth via vaginal delivery (N=38), emergency C-Section (N=27) and planned C-Section (N=21) were assessed for depression and PTSD twice: Six weeks post-partum and six-weeks later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cross-lagged Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analyses revealed a prospective effect of depressive symptoms on PTSD symptoms. No moderating factors were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A relatively modest sample size and only two assessment waves.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An early detection and intervention with symptoms of post-partum depression might also prevent the development of PTSD symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. Electronic address: Golan.shahar878@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Golan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shahar
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herishanu-Gilutz
authors.affiliation: Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Gershon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holcberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
authors.forename: Ora
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kofman
mesh_terms: D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000523:psychology; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Comorbidity; First-time-mothers; PTSD; Post-partum-depression; Structural-equation-modeling; Symptoms