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Prospective Study of the Psychiatric Disorders of Childbirth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

J. L. Cox ,
Y. Connor  and
R. E. Kendell
R. E. Kendell
Affiliation:
Edinburgh University Department of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, Scotland
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Summary

A representative sample of 105 women were assessed by Goldberg's Standardised Psychiatric Interview (SPI) on two occasions during pregnancy and twice more in the puerperium. Total SPI scores increased significantly after childbirth. Thirteen out of the sample had a severe postnatal depression and a further 17 women had milder depression, which in 15 lasted at least four weeks. Marked deterioration of their marital relationships was reported by the depressed women but no other social or obstetric characteristics of postnatal depression were found. Women with severe postnatal blues were particularly at risk of developing persistent depressive symptoms subsequently. The only two women referred to a psychiatrist had personality disorders rather than depressive illnesses.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 140 , Issue 2 , February 1982 , pp. 111 - 117
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1982 

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