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Longitudinal assessment of symptoms of postpartum mood disorder in women with and without a history of depression

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Abstract

The main objective of the present study was to report the incidence, recurrence, prevalence, and course of depressive symptoms during the transition from late pregnancy to the postpartum period in healthy women with and without a history of depression. The study also aimed to examine the predictive value of a history of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)/premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) for peripartum depressive symptoms. A sample of 687 healthy women with (n = 192) and without (n = 495) a history of depression were included in the present analyses. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed during late pregnancy, 1–2 weeks postpartum, and 4–6 weeks postpartum using the German version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. PMS/PMDD was assessed retrospectively using the German version of the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool. Women with a history of depression were twice more likely to show peripartum depressive symptoms than women without a history of depression. A history of symptoms of PMS/PMDD prior to the current pregnancy was associated with increased odds of peripartum depressive symptoms (p values < .05). Peripartum depressive symptoms are highly prevalent, especially in women with a history of depression and co-existing symptoms of PMS/PMDD. Screening for depression in the antenatal period is highly recommended, particularly for individuals with previous PMS/PMDD or a history of depression.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Corinne Hasler and Alessia Corso who helped to recruit the participants for the study. Special acknowledgment goes to Marina Haller for her support in the statistical analyses. We are also deeply thankful to Astrid Dörig for designing the flyer for the study, and to the women who kindly participated.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14/ 26, 8050, Zürich, Switzerland

    Eszter Anna Pataky & Ulrike Ehlert

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  1. Eszter Anna Pataky
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  2. Ulrike Ehlert
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Correspondence to Ulrike Ehlert.

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Participants were asked for informed consent to be part of this study. Ethics approval from the Canton of Zurich was obtained before the commencement of the study.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Pataky, E.A., Ehlert, U. Longitudinal assessment of symptoms of postpartum mood disorder in women with and without a history of depression. Arch Womens Ment Health 23, 391–399 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-019-00990-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-019-00990-4

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