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Correlates of Postnatal Depression in Mothers and Fathers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

M. E. G. Areias ,
R. Kumar ,
H. Barros  and
E. Figueiredo
M. E. G. Areias
Affiliation:
Institute de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Largo Professor Abel Salazar 2, 4000 Porto, Portugal
R. Kumar*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF
H. Barros
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Serviço de Higiene e Epidemiologia, Av. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4300 Porto, Portugal
E. Figueiredo
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciênncias Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Largo Professor Abel Salazar 2, 4000 Porto, Portugal
*
Professor R. Kumar, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF
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Abstract

Background

We compare and contrast some correlates of paternal and maternal depression after the live birth of a first child, as part of a longitudinal study.

Method

Fifty-four first-time mothers attending obstetric services in Oporto, Portugal, and 42 of their husbands or partners participated in a longitudinal study of their mental health. All subjects were given a semi-structured clinical interview (SADS) at six months antenatally and at 12 months postnatally and sub-samples were interviewed at three months postnatally. At all these times all the mothers and fathers also completed a translated version of a self-rating scale for depression, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a series of other questionnaires and interviews to measure different psychosocial variables. Profiles of risk factors associated with depression in the first postnatal year were analysed by means of logistic regressions.

Results

In the mothers, aside from a history of depression, the only other powerful predictor of postnatal depression was the mean objective negative impact score of life events. ‘Postnatal’ depression in fathers was associated with a history of depression in themselves and with the presence of depression in their wives or partners during pregnancy and soon after delivery.

Conclusion

Prevention and early treatment of depression in fathers may benefit not only themselves but also their spouses and their children.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 169 , Issue 1 , July 1996 , pp. 36 - 41
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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