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Impact of Prenatal Depressive Symptoms on Postpartum Depressive Symptoms: Mediation Effect of Perinatal Health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 July 2018

Fábio Silva ,
Ana Conde  and
Raquel Costa
Fábio Silva
Affiliation:
Universidade Portucalense (Portugal)
Ana Conde
Affiliation:
Universidade Portucalense (Portugal)
Raquel Costa*
Affiliation:
Universidade Europeia / Laureate International Universities (Portugal)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Raquel Costa. Universidade Europeia. Escola de Saúde. Estrada da Correia, 53, Carnide Universidade Europeia, Laureate International Universities, Lisboa 1500–210. Portugal. E-mail: rqlcosta@gmail.com
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Abstract

To analyze the mediation effect of perinatal health on the association between prenatal depressive symptoms and postpartum depressive symptoms 180 women filled the Edinburgh Postnatal Depressive Scale (EPDS) at 35 weeks of gestation and two months after childbirth. Perinatal health data was collected during the first 4 days after childbirth, using the Optimality Index. 25.6% of the mothers-to-be presented clinically significant depressive symptoms, and of these, 80.4% still show clinically significant depressive symptoms at 2-months postpartum. Prenatal depressive symptoms predict higher postpartum depressive symptoms. Additionally, results also showed that the effect of prenatal depressive symptoms on postnatal depressive symptoms is not mediated by perinatal health. Mothers-to-be with prenatal depressive symptoms seem to be at risk for postnatal depression, even when perinatal health is not compromised. This highlights the importance of early screening of prenatal depressive symptoms in order to promote an early intervention on women’s mental health, leading to a better transition to parenthood and to a decrease of the burden of this public health problem on children and families.

Keywords

perinatal healthprenatal depressive symptomspostpartum depressive symptomsscreening

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 21 , 2018 , E28
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2018 

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Footnotes

Funding information: Fundação Bial, Ref. 157/12.

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