Timing of Postpartum Depressive Symptoms

Details

• Journal Article:
  Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD)
• Personal Author:
  Robbins, Cheryl L. ; Ko, Jean Y. ; D’Angelo, Denise V. ; Salvesen von Essen, Beatriz ; Bish, Connie L. ; Kroelinger, Charlan D. ; Tevendale, Heather D. ; Warner, Lee ; Barfield, Wanda
• Description:
  Introduction
  
  Postpartum depression is a serious public health problem that can adversely impact mother–child interactions. Few studies have examined depressive symptoms in the later (9–10 months) postpartum period.
  
  Methods
  
  We analyzed data from the 2019 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) linked with data from a telephone follow-up survey administered to PRAMS respondents 9 to 10 months postpartum in 7 states (N = 1,954). We estimated the prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) at 9 to 10 months overall and by sociodemographic characteristics, prior depression (before or during pregnancy), PDS at 2 to 6 months, and other mental health characteristics. We used unadjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) to examine associations between those characteristics and PDS at 9 to 10 months. We also examined prevalence and associations with PDS at both time periods.
  
  Results
  
  Prevalence of PDS at 9 to 10 months was 7.2%. Of those with PDS at 9 to 10 months, 57.4% had not reported depressive symptoms at 2 to 6 months. Prevalence of PDS at 9 to 10 months was associated with having Medicaid insurance postpartum (PR = 2.34; P = .001), prior depression (PR = 4.03; P <.001), and current postpartum anxiety (PR = 3.58; P <.001). Prevalence of PDS at both time periods was 3.1%. Of those with PDS at both time periods, 68.5% had prior depression.
  
  Conclusion
  
  Nearly 3 in 5 women with PDS at 9 to 10 months did not report PDS at 2 to 6 months. Screening for depression throughout the first postpartum year can identify women who are not symptomatic early in the postpartum period but later develop symptoms.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Depression Depression, Postpartum Female Humans Postpartum Period Pregnancy Prevalence Risk Assessment
• Source:
  Prev Chronic Dis. 2023; 20
• DOI:
  http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.230107
• ISSN:
  1545-1151
• Pubmed ID:
  37943725
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC10684283
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Volume:
  20
• Collection(s):
  Preventing Chronic Disease
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e6316d49206e98d22d3ac06e681bbc61ea5da90f61386e515b5c54c414133b6974d924d497afab818702f7c85f2a32051a1abe5053b5a80dfe853a2f937f7e71
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/151070/cdc_151070_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 573.33 KB ]