Maternal diet, depression and antidepressant treatment in pregnancy and across the first 12 months postpartum in the MPEWS pregnancy cohort study: Perinatal diet, depression and antidepressant use

Abstract

Background: There is increasing interest in the association between perinatal depression and diet including whether diet may have an impact on depressive symptoms and equally whether depression influences diet. Furthermore, whether pharmacological treatment of depression with antidepressant medication also may influence diet. Methods: We examine diet, perinatal depression, and antidepressant use in 442 women recruited in early pregnancy and followed until 12 months postpartum as part of the Mercy Pregnancy Emotional Wellbeing Study. Measures included Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM at recruitment in early pregnancy and comprehensive dietary intake questions, Edinburgh Postnatal Dep..