POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION - RISK-FACTORS

Abstract

An international collaborative study of psychological adjustment in pregnancy and postpartum was carried out in Australia, The Netherlands and Italy. The study aimed to identify factors contributing to a depressed mood postpartum and to determine the way in which these factors interact. The women studied were in their first pregnancy to reach 28 weeks gestation. The study was prospective, with interviews and rating scales repeated at 28 weeks gestation, 4 days postpartum and 4 months postpartum. The major outcome assessment of mood was the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Forty-three per cent of women reported experiencing emotional problems in the 4 months after delivery. In 14% of the samp..