Righetti-Veltema, M., Conne-Perréard, E., Bousquet, A., & Manzano, J. (1998). Risk factors and predictive signs of postpartum depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 49(3), 167-180. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-0327(97)00110-9
Righetti-Veltema M, Conne-Perréard E, Bousquet A, Manzano J. Risk factors and predictive signs of postpartum depression. J Affect Disord. 1998;49(3):167-180. doi:10.1016/s0165-0327(97)00110-9
Righetti-Veltema, Marion, et al. "Risk factors and predictive signs of postpartum depression." Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 49, no. 3, 1998, pp. 167-180.
Service Médico-pédagogique, Office de la Jeunesse, Département de l'Instruction Publique, Geneva, Switzerland.
Linked to ROR, the Research Organization Registry
RRM Academy Synopsis
Postpartum depression risk can be spotted during pregnancy
Job and social difficulties, previous births, stressful life events, low mood before delivery, early separation from the baby and a negative birth experience marked the women most at risk. Among 570 women followed to three months after birth, 58 (10.2%) had postpartum depression. The authors conclude that women at risk can be detected during pregnancy.
Key Findings
Midwives met 570 women during pregnancy and saw each one again three months after delivery.
58 new mothers (10.2%) were found to have postpartum depression.
Job and social difficulties, having given birth before, stressful life events, low mood before delivery, early separation from the baby and a negative birth experience were the most significant factors.
Mothers with depression coped less well and were more vulnerable to new stresses.
Interpretation
This record holds only the abstract of a 1998 cohort study, so the summary follows the abstract alone. Midwives screened the women in pregnancy with a questionnaire written by the authors and a standard symptom checklist. They used a depression scale at three months. The authors built a short predictive scale that was still being validated. They state that protective factors remain to be studied.
RRM Context
RRM cares for the whole person through the reproductive years, from pregnancy to the months after birth. Life events, early separation of mother and baby, and the birth experience are part of a mother's health.
Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.
Abstract
Background
Depressed new mothers usually do not seek and therefore do not receive any psychiatric help.
Methods
In order to assess predictive signs of postpartum depression (PPD), an unselected sample of 570 women were seen by midwives during their pregnancy, using a questionnaire elaborated by ourselves and Derogatis' Hopkins Symptom Checklist. Three months after delivery each new mother was examined again by the same midwife using Cox' Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. The medical files were also examined.
Results
Of the new mothers, 58 (10.2%) suffered from PPD. Most significant factors were socio-professional difficulties, multiparity, deleterious life events, depressive mood prior to delivery, early mother-child separation and negative birth experience. The coping abilities of the depressed mother were decreased and her vulnerability to new stress factors increased.
Conclusion
It is possible to detect women at risk for PPD already during pregnancy. We therefore elaborated a very simple, short predictive scale which is in the process of validation.
Limitations
Protective factors still have to be studied.
Clinical Relevance
Knowledge of these factors should help all caregivers to recognize, during pregnancy, women at risk for PPD, in order to initiate preventive and/or therapeutic measures.
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