Functioning and well-being at 24 weeks postpartum of women with postnatal depression

Summary

Background: Postnatal depression, an episode of major depression occurring within six months postpartum, occurs in 10–15% of mothers. Previous research has focussed on prevalence, risk factors, treatment, and impact, with little emphasis on assessment of functioning and well-being in women with this depression. Our aim was to examine the effect of postnatal depression, age, and parity on eight indicators of functional status, using the SF-36 self-report questionnaire, at 24 weeks postpartum.

Methods: The study used a prospective cohort design. 424 postpartum women, recruited from Nepean, Cowra, Dudley and Orange Hospitals (New South Wales, Australia) completed questionnaires assessing functioning and well-being (SF-36), and postnatal depression (EPDS).

Results: Compared to age-appropriate Australian normative data, women with postnatal depression (n = 54, 12.7%) were impaired on five of eight SF-36 dimensions at twenty four weeks postpartum (i.e. Role Limitations due to Physical and Emotional Problems, Social Functioning, Mental Health, and Vitality), while women without this depression (n = 370) were impaired on two dimensions only (i.e. Role Limitations due to Emotional Problems and Vitality). Women with and without postnatal depression differed on six SF-36 dimensions (i.e. Role Limitations due to Physical and Emotional Problems, Social Functioning, Bodily Pain, Mental Health, and Vitality). Role Limitations due to Physical Problems were more impaired in depressed first-time than multiparous mothers, with no parity difference for women without postnatal depression.

Conclusion: Some declines in functioning and well-being are associated with the postpartum period generally, but postnatal depression detrimentally effects other specific aspects of the postpartum women's functional status.