Differential effects of ethnic density on the risk of postnatal depression and personality dysfunction.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between ethnic density and psychiatric disorder in postnatal women in the UK is unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of own and overall ethnic density on postnatal depression (PND) and personality dysfunction.


METHODS
Multilevel analysis of ethnically mixed community-level data gathered from a sample of 2262 mothers screened at 6 weeks postpartum for PND and personality dysfunction.


RESULTS
Living in areas of higher own ethnic density was protective against screening positive for PND in White women (z = -3.18, P = 0.001), even after adjusting for area level deprivation, maternal age, relationship status, screening positive for personality dysfunction, parity and geographical clustering (odds ratio (OR) 0.98 (95% CI 0.96-0.99); P = 0.002), whereas the effect on personality dysfunction (z = -2.42, P = 0.016) was no longer present once the effect of PND was taken into account (OR = 0.99 (95% CI 0.90-1.0); P = 0.13). No overall ethnic density effect was found for women screening positive for PND or personality dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
In White women, living in areas of higher own ethnic density was protective against developing PND.
Andrea Du Preez, MSc, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Susan Conroy, MSc, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Susan Pawlby, MA, PhD, CPsychol, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Paul Moran, MD, MSc, MRCPsych, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Carmine M. Pariante, MD, FRCPsych, PhD, Psychological Medicine, The James Black Centre, King's College London, UK.
Andrea
A
Du Preez
Andrea Du Preez, MSc, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Susan Conroy, MSc, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Susan Pawlby, MA, PhD, CPsychol, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Paul Moran, MD, MSc, MRCPsych, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Carmine M. Pariante, MD, FRCPsych, PhD, Psychological Medicine, The James Black Centre, King's College London, UK.
Susan
S
Conroy
Andrea Du Preez, MSc, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Susan Conroy, MSc, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Susan Pawlby, MA, PhD, CPsychol, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Paul Moran, MD, MSc, MRCPsych, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Carmine M. Pariante, MD, FRCPsych, PhD, Psychological Medicine, The James Black Centre, King's College London, UK.
Susan
S
Pawlby
Andrea Du Preez, MSc, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Susan Conroy, MSc, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Susan Pawlby, MA, PhD, CPsychol, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Paul Moran, MD, MSc, MRCPsych, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Carmine M. Pariante, MD, FRCPsych, PhD, Psychological Medicine, The James Black Centre, King's College London, UK.
Paul
P
Moran
Andrea Du Preez, MSc, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Susan Conroy, MSc, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Susan Pawlby, MA, PhD, CPsychol, Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Paul Moran, MD, MSc, MRCPsych, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London; Carmine M. Pariante, MD, FRCPsych, PhD, Psychological Medicine, The James Black Centre, King's College London, UK carmine.pariante@kcl.ac.uk.
Carmine M
CM
Pariante
D000328:Adult; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008131:London; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult