title: Identifying women at risk for postpartum anxiety: a prospective population-based study.
abstract: To develop a multifactorial model to predict anxiety symptomatology at 8 weeks postpartum.
  
  
  
  In a population-based study, 522 women in a health region near Vancouver, Canada, completed questionnaires at 1, 4, and 8 weeks postpartum. Questionnaires included risk factors measured at 1 week (sociodemographic, biological, pregnancy-related, life stressors, social support, obstetric, and maternal adjustment). Sequential logistic regression was completed to develop a predictive model of anxiety symptomatology at 8 weeks (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory score >40).
  
  
  
  The prevalence of anxiety symptomatology at 1, 4, and 8 weeks postpartum was 22.6%, 17.2%, and 14.8% respectively. In multivariable models, anxiety symptomatology at 1 week (aOR 2.78, 95% CI: 1.04-7.43), multiparous parity (aOR 3.29, 95% CI: 1.28-8.48), history of psychiatric problems (aOR 3.07, 95% CI: 1.19-7.97), perceived stress (1 SD increase: aOR 4.92, 95% CI: 2.62-9.26), and childcare stress (1 SD increase: aOR 1.63, 95% CI: 1.01-2.64) were independent predictors of anxiety symptomatology at 8 weeks.
  
  
  
  While a significant proportion of women experience anxiety symptomatology following childbirth, multiparous women with a psychiatric history who have high levels of diverse stress are at greatest risk. These key factors may be used to promote early identification and secondary preventive interventions.
authors.affiliation: Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.|Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: C-L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.affiliation: Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Falah-Hassani
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology (Health Studies Program), University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada.|Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.|Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.|Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Vigod
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anxiety; postpartum; risk factors