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A longitudinal study of psychiatric symptoms in primiparous women: relation to personality disorders and sociodemographic factors

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Summary

Objective: To examine the prevalence of personality disorders (PDs) and elucidate the importance of PDs, sociodemographics and health-related factors for the development of psychiatric symptoms in primiparous women.

Method: 625 primiparous women were assessed during pregnancy, three and 18 months following delivery. The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), the modified SCID-screen questionnaire and the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) were used.

Results: The prevalence of PDs was 6.4%. PD was strongly associated with psychiatric symptoms during and after pregnancy. The most important factor predicting long-lasting mental problems was having a PD. A higher level of psychiatric symptoms was found in pregnancy than postpartum. Psychiatric caseness during pregnancy was strongly associated with caseness postpartum. In addition, socio-economic status, younger age and previous treatment for mental problems were identified as risk factors.

Conclusion: The study indicates a strong association between long-lasting psychiatric illness and personality disorders in childbearing women. A strong association was also found between psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

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  1. Karolinska Institutet, Neurotec Department, Division of Psychiatry, Karolinska University Hospital/Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden

    K. Börjesson, S. Ruppert & M. Bågedahl-Strindlund

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  1. K. Börjesson
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  2. S. Ruppert
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  3. M. Bågedahl-Strindlund
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Börjesson, K., Ruppert, S. & Bågedahl-Strindlund, M. A longitudinal study of psychiatric symptoms in primiparous women: relation to personality disorders and sociodemographic factors. Arch Womens Ment Health 8, 232–242 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-005-0086-8

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