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Prevalence and risk factors of postnatal depression among women attending antenatal courses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2011

Daniele Piacentini ,
Daniela Leveni ,
Giuseppe Primerano ,
Marina Cattaneo ,
Loredana Volpi ,
Giuseppe Biffi  and
Fiorino Mirabella
Daniele Piacentini*
Affiliation:
Dipartimento Salute Mentale, Azienda Ospedaliera di Treviglio, Treviglio (Bergamo)
Daniela Leveni
Affiliation:
Dipartimento Salute Mentale, Azienda Ospedaliera di Treviglio, Treviglio (Bergamo)
Giuseppe Primerano
Affiliation:
Dipartimento Salute Mentale, Azienda Ospedaliera di Treviglio, Treviglio (Bergamo)
Marina Cattaneo
Affiliation:
Dipartimento Salute Mentale, Azienda Ospedaliera di Treviglio, Treviglio (Bergamo)
Loredana Volpi
Affiliation:
Dipartimento Salute Mentale, Azienda Ospedaliera di Treviglio, Treviglio (Bergamo)
Giuseppe Biffi
Affiliation:
Dipartimento Salute Mentale, Azienda Ospedaliera di Treviglio, Treviglio (Bergamo)
Fiorino Mirabella
Affiliation:
Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma
*
Address for correspondence: Dr. D. Piacentini, Ambulatorio Psico Sociale, Viale Martiri della Libertà 6, 24019 Zogno (Bergamo). Fax: +39-0345-52030 E-mail: daniele.piacentini@tin.it
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Summary

Aims – Postnatal depression, the most frequent complication occurring after pregnancy, is often not recognized. The prevalence of postnatal depression is currently considered to be 10–15% in western countries. A wide range of risk factors related to postnatal depression were researched in international studies. Our aim was to evaluate the risk factors and their frequency in a women population of Bergamo Province and compare the results with findings of international literature. Methods – 595 women taking part to antenatal courses in three hospitals in Bergamo Province were screened for Postnatal Depression using EPDS and clinical interview. Prevalence and possible psychosocial risk factors data were collected and subsequently analysed and compared with literature findings. Results – Thirty six (7.1%) women of our sample had postnatal depression. Depressed mood and depression during pregnancy, anxiety during pregnancy, poor social support, recent life events, a history of depression or other psychiatric history, presence of maternity blues were the strongest predictors of postnatal depression in our sample. Conclusions – The Psychosocial risk factors emerged from our study are substantially the same indicated by international studies, on the contrary prevalence is a little lower. This result may be explained considering that our women sample wasn't completely representative of general population.

Declaration of Interest: Results of this study are part of a project, “Identification and early treatment of post partum depression”, approved and financially supported by Regione Lombardia. This study didn't receive grants or support from drug companies. There are no conflicts of interest.

Keywords

depressionpost partum/diagnosisdepressionpost partum/epidemiologyrisk factorsmass screening
Type
Original Articles
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 18 , Issue 3 , September 2009 , pp. 214 - 220
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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