Cohort study, 1993
When are new mothers most likely to get depression - right after birth or later?
Depression peaked at 10 weeks after birth, not immediately afterward. PMS before pregnancy was only linked to postpartum depression once women's periods restarted.
What they did
They followed 293 women from 32 weeks of pregnancy through 34 weeks after birth, measuring depression at multiple time points roughly every 6 weeks.
What they found
Depression rates ranged from 7 to 14%, with the highest at 10 weeks postpartum. Women were significantly more depressed at 10 weeks compared with pregnancy and the first few weeks after birth. Different women were depressed at different time points, not the same group throughout. PMS was only significantly related to postpartum depression once menstruation restarted.
What it means for you
Postpartum depression often arrives weeks after birth, not right away. A history of PMS becomes relevant to postpartum mood once your cycle restarts. The study tracked women through pregnancy and the postpartum period only, so we don't know about longer-term patterns.
293
women
7-14%
prevalence of depression postpartum
10 weeks
peak depression timing after birth
About the study
- Original title
- Prevalence of post partum depression--or is it post-puerperium depression?
- Authors
- Pop VJ, Essed GG, de Geus CA et al.
- Journal
- Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica
- Year
- 1993
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 293
- What was tested
- None - observational longitudinal study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/00016349309021112
Topics
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