Interviews effective predictors of postpartum depression among expectant women

FINDINGSFor non-depressed, pregnant women with histories of major depressive disorder, preventive treatment with antidepressants may not necessarily protect against postpartum depression, according to new UCLA-led research. In addition, asking questions about daily activities — especially work — appears to be an effective screening tool for helping doctors identify women at risk of depression after they have their babies.BACKGROUNDTwenty percent of adult women will experience an episode of major depressive disorder at some point in their lives. Women with a history of depression are particularly vulnerable to depression after they give birth. The researchers recognized that there is a lack of data on predictors of postpartum depression in women with previous histories of depression but who don ’t suffer from it during pregnancy.METHODFrom April 2003 to March 2009, researchers recruited 343 pregnant women who were not suffering from depression at the time of conception but who had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder at some time prior to pregnancy. Women with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or a substance abuse disorder were not included.Scientists enrolled participants in the study between 12 and 36 weeks gestation. A study psychiatrist assessed each woman ’s mood and psychotropic medication at least twice, once within 60 days before their babies’ due dates and again within 60 days after delivery. The researchers used structured, clinical interviews inclu...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news