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There are identifiable risk
factors commonly associated with perinatal depression. These
risk factors, or combinations of risk factors, serve as predictors
of who may be at risk of depression. Even in the absence of these
risk factors, administration of a screening instrument, such as
the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), is encouraged.
Significant Predictors for Perinatal Depression
- Prenatal depression
- Child care stress
- Life stress
- Poor social support
- Prenatal anxiety
- Poor marital relationship
- History of previous depression
- Difficult infant temperament
- Maternity blues
- Single marital status
- Previous postpartum depression
- Severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Family history of depression
- Taking excessive sick leave during pregnancy
- Frequent visits to doctor during pregnancy
- Bereavement
- Prior stillborn
Other Predictors for Perinatal Depression
- Difficult family relationships
- Work stress/new job
- Severe financial difficulties
- Recent stressful events
- Victim of violence or abuse
- Low confidence as a parent
- Family history of postpartum depression
- Teen or adolescent
- Complicated or difficult pregnancy
- Thyroid problems or family history of thyroid problems
- Poor diet or severe morning sickness
- Oral-contraceptive use or Depo-Provera shot soon after delivery
- Early or recent loss of a parent
- Other psychiatric disorders
- Excessive lability of mood during pregnancy
- Transient baby blue syndrome symptoms during first ten postpartum
days
References:
Beck CT. Predictors of Postpartum Depression: An Update. Nurs
Res. 2001;50;275-285
Beck, CT. Revision of the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory.
JOGNN. 2001. Vol. 31
Kleiman, Karen. Could I Have Postpartum Depression? http://www.postpartumstress.com
Lembke, Anna. A Psychosocial Approach to Postpartum Depression.
Psychiatric Times, June 2002; Vol. XIX, Issue 6.
Misri, S. A Review of Screening Tools. http://www.wellmother.com
Misri, S. Postpartum depression: Is there an Andrea Yates in
your practice? Current Psychiatry Online. 2002; Vol 1., No 5
Misri, S., Duke, M. Depression During Pregnancy and Postpartum.
Journal of the Society of Obstetrics & Gynecology of Canada
1995; 17:657-665
Nielsen, F., Videbech, P., Hedegaard, M. Postpartum depression:
identification of women at risk. BJOB, 2000. Oct; 107(10): 1210-7
Pavlovich-Danis, SJ. When “Can Do” Fades to “Why
Bother”: Understanding Depression in Women. Nursing Spectrum:
2004, June 1
Watt, Sword, Krueger, Sheehan. A cross-sectional study of early
identification of postpartum depression: Implications for primary
care providers from The Ontario Mother & Infant Survey. BMC
Family Practice. 2002, 3:5
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