Risk factors for depressive symptoms in early postpartum period and after puerperium - are they the same?
OBJECTIVE
Correlation between the occurrence of postnatal depressive symptoms at 5 days and 6 weeks postpartum is well established. The objective of the study was to determine the influence of psychosocial and perinatal factors on the occurrence of postpartum depressive symptoms 2 to 5 days and 6 weeks after delivery.


METHODS
373 women in early postpartum (EPG) and 107 women 6 weeks after delivery (late postpartum group - LPG) completed a questionnaire including questions concerning mothers' characteristics, obstetric and neonatal complications during pregnancy, psychiatric factors and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).


RESULTS
21.6% of mothers from EPG and 14.2% in LPG achieved ≥10 points in EPDS. In both groups patients with ≥10 points reported stressful situations during pregnancy, sedative agents usage and a history of suicidal attempts. In EPG women with ≥10 points significantly more frequent delivered preterm, were hospitalized during pregnancy and their newborns had more health problems. In LPG mothers with ≥10 points more often reported several obstetric complications. Maternal comorbidity or sociodemographic factors did not correlate with the risk of depressive symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk factors for depressive symptoms after delivery vary in different time intervals. Therefore screening for PD should not be performed once in a single selected risk group.
1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
Damian
D
Warzecha
Students Scientific Association at the 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
Sylwia
S
Gajda
1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Kosinska-Kaczynska
1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
Iwona
I
Szymusik
1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
Miroslaw
M
Wielgos
D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires