RT Journal Article
T1 Prevalence of postpartum major depression and depressive symptoms in Spanish women: A longitudinal study up to 1 year postpartum
A1 Míguez Varela, María del Carmen
A1 Vázquez, M. Belén
K1 Postpartum depression
K1 Probable depression
K1 Major depression
K1 Prevalence
K1 Longitudinal study
AB ObjectiveDepression is a prevalent mental disorder in the postpartum period, with consequences for both the mother and her offspring. However, longitudinal studies determining the moments of greatest vulnerability and severity of depression during the postpartum period are scarce. The aims of this research were to determine the prevalence and trajectories of probable depression and major depression during the first year postpartum.DesignLongitudinal study.SettingInterviews were conducted personally at three times: 2 months, 6 months and 1 year postpartum.Participants561 postpartum women.Measurements and findingsDepression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Descriptive and comparative analyses have been carried out. The prevalence of probable depression at 2 months, 6 months and 1 year postpartum, using a cut-off point ≥ 10, was 30.3%, 26.0% and 25.3%, respectively; and that of major depression using SCID was 10.3%, 10.9% and 14.8, respectively. The prevalence of probable depression was highest at 2 months postpartum and that of major depression at 1 year postpartum. Probable depression followed a downward trajectory and major depression followed an upward trajectory.Key conclusions and implications for practiceThe clinical relevance of this research is that it has made it possible to demonstrate that depression is very prevalent in the first year postpartum and that, far from subsiding, the prevalence remains very high even at 1 year postpartum. Our findings highlight the importance of taking mental health care into account throughout at least the first year postpartum
PB Elsevier
SN 0266-6138
YR 2023
FD 2023-08-28
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/31260
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/31260
LA eng
NO Midwifery 126 (2023) 103808
DS Minerva
RD 3 may 2026