Prevalence and risk factors for a high level of postnatal depression symptomatology in Italian women: A sample drawn from ante-natal classes

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 327-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Grussu ◽  
Rosa Maria Quatraro

AbstractBackgroundDepression after childbirth is a major problem affecting 10–22% of all mothers. In Italy, postnatal depression has not yet been systematically studied.MethodsIn this retrospective study we have sought to identify risk factors, assessed during pregnancy, and their importance for postnatal depression symptoms in a sample of 297 Italian women attending ante-natal classes organised by the local Consultorio Familiare Unit of the National Health Service, Italy. The Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory – revised form (PDPI-Revised), was used to identify risk factors, 8–9 month of pregnancy. A double-test strategy using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12), was administered to screen women with a higher occurrence of symptoms of postnatal depression six–eight weeks after delivery. Women with high EPDS (<8) and high GHQ12 (<3) scores were compared with those who had scored below the EPDS and/or GHQ12 threshold scores.ResultsWe found that 13% of the women studied showed high postnatal depressive symptomatology, which is very similar to rates of prevalence of postnatal depression in the first year after the birth of the child reported in other Western World studies. Feeling anxious during pregnancy is a strong predictor of high symptoms of depression at 6–8 weeks after delivery. However, University education and friends' support appear to be important protective factors.ConclusionThese findings could be useful both for Italian health professionals and for researchers interested in the transcultural aspects of postnatal depression.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Mao-Sheng Ran ◽  
Ru Gao ◽  
Jing-Xia Lin ◽  
Tian-Ming Zhang ◽  
Sherry Kit Wa Chan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This study aimed to explore the impacts of COVID-19 outbreak on mental health status in general population in different affected areas in China. Methods This was a comparative study including two groups of participants: (1) general population in an online survey in Ya'an and Jingzhou cities during the COVID-19 outbreak from 10–20 February 2020; and (2) matching general population selected from the mental health survey in Ya'an in 2019 (from January to May 2019). General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used. Results There were 1775 participants (Ya'an in 2019 and 2020: 537 respectively; Jingzhou in 2020: 701). Participants in Ya'an had a significantly higher rate of general health problems (GHQ scores ⩾3) in 2020 (14.7%) than in 2019 (5.2%) (p < 0.001). Compared with Ya'an (8.0%), participants in Jingzhou in 2020 had a significantly higher rate of anxiety (SAS scores ⩾50, 24.1%) (p < 0.001). Participants in Ya'an in 2020 had a significantly higher rate of depression (SDS scores ⩾53, 55.3%) than in Jingzhou (16.3%) (p < 0.001). The risk factors of anxiety symptoms included female, number of family members (⩾6 persons), and frequent outdoor activities. The risk factors of depression symptoms included participants in Ya'an and uptake self-protective measures. Conclusions The prevalence of psychological symptoms has increased sharply in general population during the COVID-19 outbreak. People in COVID-19 severely affected areas may have higher scores of GHQ and anxiety symptoms. Culture-specific and individual-based psychosocial interventions should be developed for those in need during the COVID-19 outbreak.


Author(s):  
Zuzana Škodová ◽  
Ľubica Bánovčinová ◽  
Eva Urbanová ◽  
Marián Grendár ◽  
Martina Bašková

Background: Postpartum depression has a negative impact on quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Slovak version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Methods: A paper and pencil version of the 10-item EPDS questionnaire was administered personally to 577 women at baseline during their stay in hospital on the second to fourth day postpartum (age, 30.6 ± 4.9 years; 73.5% vaginal births vs. 26.5% operative births; 59.4% primiparas). A total of 198 women participated in the online follow-up 6–8 weeks postpartum (questionnaire sent via e-mail). Results: The Slovak version of the EPDS had Cronbach’s coefficients of 0.84 and 0.88 at baseline (T1) and follow-up, respectively. The three-dimensional model of the scale offered good fit for both the baseline (χ2(df = 28) = 1339.38, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.02, and TLI = 0.99) and follow-up (χ2(df = 45) = 908.06, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.09, and TL = 0.90). A risk of major depression (EPDS score ≥ 13) was identified in 6.1% in T1 and 11.6% in the follow-up. Elevated levels of depression symptoms (EPDS score ≥ 10) were identified in 16.7% and 22.7% of the respondents at baseline and follow-up, respectively. Conclusions: The Slovak translation of the EPDS showed good consistency, convergent validity, and model characteristics. The routine use of EPDS can contribute to improving the quality of postnatal health care.


BJPsych Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Gallagher ◽  
Mark A. Wetherell

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is likely to exacerbate the symptoms of poor mental health in family caregivers. Aims To investigate whether rates of depressive symptomatology increased in caregivers during COVID-19 and whether the unintended consequences of health protective measures, i.e., social isolation, exacerbated this risk. Another aim was to see if caregivers accessed any online/phone psychological support during COVID. Method Data (1349 caregivers; 6178 non-caregivers) was extracted from Understanding Society, a UK population-level data-set. The General Health Questionnaire cut-off scores identified those who are likely to have depression. Results After adjustment for confounding caregivers had a higher risk of having depressive symptoms compared with non-caregivers, odds ratio (OR) = 1.22 (95% CI 1.05–1.40, P = 0.008) evidenced by higher levels of depression pre-COVID-19 (16.7% caregivers v. 12.1% non-caregivers) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (21.6% caregivers v. 17.9% non-caregivers), respectively. Further, higher levels of loneliness increased the risk of depression symptoms almost four-fold in caregivers, OR = 3.85 (95% 95% CI 3.08–4.85, P < 0.001), whereas accessing therapy attenuated the risk of depression (43%). A total of 60% of caregivers with depression symptoms reported not accessing any therapeutic support (for example online or face to face) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions COVID-19 has had a negative impact on family caregivers’ mental health with loneliness a significant contributor to depressive symptomatology. However, despite these detriments in mental health, the majority of caregivers do not access any online or phone psychiatric support. Finally, psychiatric services and healthcare professionals should aim to focus on reducing feelings of loneliness to support at-risk caregivers.


Author(s):  
Nontokozo Lilian Mbatha ◽  
Kebogile Elizabeth Mokwena ◽  
Sphiwe Madiba

Postnatal depression (PND) remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in different socio-economic backgrounds in South Africa. This study determined the prevalence of and clinical and obstetric risk factors for PND symptoms among HIV positive women in health facilities in a rural health district in South Africa. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to measure PND from 386 women who had delivered a live infant. More than half (58.5%) tested HIV positive during the current pregnancy. The prevalence of PND symptoms was 42.5%. Logistic regression analysis yielded significant associations between clinical and obstetric variables of pre-term baby (p-value < 0.01), baby health status p-value < 0.01), baby hospitalization, (p-value < 0.01), and knowing the baby’s HIV status (p-value = 0.047). Maternal variables associated with PND were level of education (p-value < 0.01), monthly income (p-value < 0.01), and source of income (p-value = 0.05). At multivariate analysis, none of the clinical and obstetrical risk factors were independently associated with the PND. The high prevalence of PND symptoms underscore the need to integrate routine screening for PND in prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV programmes to enable early diagnosing and treatment of PND.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Carmina Lorenzana Santiago ◽  
Maria Antonia Esteban Habana

Abstract Background Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in 10-15% of deliveries worldwide. Unfortunately there is a dearth of local studies on its exact prevalence. Method This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for PPD among postpartum patients at a tertiary government hospital using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale-Filipino Translation (EPDS-F), a 10-point questionnaire translated into Filipino and previously validated. Four hundred patients within 8 weeks postpartum were recruited and their EPDS-F scores and sociodemographic, medical and personal history, and delivery and perinatal outcome data were obtained. Results The overall prevalence of PPD was 14.5%, which is within the known worldwide prevalence. Among those that had family incomes below PhP10,000, the proportion that had high EPDS-F scores was 68.8%, while those that had low EPDS-F scores was 48.8% (significant at p=0.001). Among those that finished below tertiary education, the proportion that had high EPDS-F scores was 81%, while those that had low EPDS-F scores was 59.9% (significant at p=0.002). Among those who delivered vaginally, 62.1% had high EPDS-F scores vs 44.2% low EPDS-F (p=0.03). Of those that had epidural anesthesia (106 or 26.5%), 44.8% had high EPDS scores and 26.0% had low EPDS-F scores (p=0.04). Regression analysis showed that having an abdominal delivery is correlated with a lower EPDS-F score by 0.87% by logistic regression and 0.46 % by probit regression. Having a higher educational attainment and monthly income are associated with a lower EPDS-F score by regression analysis. Conclusions The prevalence may be skewed because a tertiary government institution caters to delicate pregnancies and those in low socioeconomic brackets. It may be worthwhile to compare responses from a public versus a private institution, also urban versus rural areas. It would be interesting also to evaluate the mode of delivery variable and how exactly it correlates with the development of postpartum depression.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Ju Chiu ◽  
Chun-Yu Tsai ◽  
Tsung-Yu Tsai

Abstract Background: To discern if prevalence of depressive symptoms in adults aged 65 and above in Taiwan changed during the past decade and to identify if protective and risk factors of depressive symptomatology differ by gender. Method: Data of nationally representative older adults (65+) interviewed from the 2005, 2009 and 2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in Taiwan was analyzed (n=8,832). The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used for the measurement of depressive symptomatology. Results: Age adjusted prevalence rate of depressive symptomatology among older adults in Taiwan reduced from 20.6% to 13.3% (X2=-7.5, p<.05) in the community. The most significant factors associated with higher depressive symptomatology in both gender was too much carbohydrates intake, which was significantly associated with 8.8 (95%CI=5.1-15.2) and 7.9 (95%CI=5.2-11.8) times depressive symptomatology in men and women respectively. Factors associated with lower depressive symptomatology in both gender include advanced age (over the age of 85), exercise and social participation. The advanced age for men and women reduced about 63% (AOR over the age of 85=0.4, 95%CI=0.2-0.9) and 62% (AOR over the age of 85=0.4, 95%CI=0.2-0.8) of depressive symptomatology for men and women respectively; Exercise reduced about 50% (AOR exercise=0.5, 95%CI=0.3-0.6) and 58% (AOR exercise=0.5, 95%CI=0.3-0.6) of depressive symptomatology for men and women respectively; social participation reduced about 55% (AOR social participation=0.5, 95%CI=0.3-0.7) and 36% (AOR social participation=0.6, 95%CI=0.5-0.9) of depressive symptomatology for men and women respectively.Conclusions: For adults aged over 65, advanced age, which is 85+ for men and 75+ for women, is a significant protective factor guarding against depressive symptoms. Carbohydrates, cognitive disorder, heart disease and falls were associated with higher depressive symptomatology in both gender. The pulmonary disease, underweight and educational level were risk factors for men; metabolic disease and milk intake were risks for women. Common factors associated with lower depressive symptomatology in both gender includes advanced age, exercise and social participation. Tea and coffee intake and married status were associated with lower depressive symptomatology for women.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 782-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danijela Vojtikiv-Samoilovska ◽  
Anita Arsovska

BACKGROUND: Although post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most common neuro-psychiatric consequence after a stroke there is still some obscurity regarding its aetiology and risk factors, which complicates its management. A better knowledge of the predictors will enable better prevention and treatment.AIM: The aim of this work was the identification of the risk factors for PSD, typical for the Macedonian population, which will help in early prediction, timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease.MATERIALS AND METHODS:  We carried out a prospective study at the Clinical Hospital in Tetovo, the Republic of Macedonia to determine the prevalence of PSD and to analyse the socio-demographic characteristics as possible risk factors in 100 patients on discharge and after 5 months. The depression symptoms were quantified using the Hamilton Depression Ranking Scale (HAM-d) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).RESULTS: The average age of the patients with PSD on the first examination is 65.0 ± 8.3, whereas on the second examination is 64.5 ± 9.2. According to the Mann-Whitney U test, the difference between the average ages on both examinations is statistically insignificant for p > 0.05. On both examinations, the statistically significant dependence of p > 0.05 between PSD and the occupational status and PSD and education is not recorded. On both examinations, the PSD in male patients was 78.0% and 62.7%, while in female patients it was 85.4% and 68.3% not recording the statistically significant dependence of p < 0.05 between PSD and the gender.CONCLUSION: The socio-demographic characteristics of the patients with PSD cannot be considered as predictors of the disease.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 720-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Carlberg ◽  
Maigun Edhborg ◽  
Lene Lindberg

Several studies have used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), developed to screen new mothers, also for new fathers. This study aimed to further contribute to this knowledge by comparing assessment of possible depression in fathers and associated demographic factors by the EPDS and the Gotland Male Depression Scale (GMDS), developed for “male” depression screening. The study compared EPDS score ≥10 and ≥12, corresponding to minor and major depression, respectively, in relation to GMDS score ≥13. At 3–6 months after child birth, a questionnaire was sent to 8,011 fathers of whom 3,656 (46%) responded. The detection of possibly depressed fathers by EPDS was 8.1% at score ≥12, comparable to the 8.6% detected by the GMDS. At score ≥10, the proportion detected by EPDS increased to 13.3%. Associations with possible risk factors were analyzed for fathers detected by one or both scales. A low income was associated with depression in all groups. Fathers detected by EPDS alone were at higher risk if they had three or more children, or lower education. Fathers detected by EPDS alone at score ≥10, or by both scales at EPDS score ≥12, more often were born in a foreign country. Seemingly, the EPDS and the GMDS are associated with different demographic risk factors. The EPDS score appears critical since 5% of possibly depressed fathers are excluded at EPDS cutoff 12. These results suggest that neither scale alone is sufficient for depression screening in new fathers, and that the decision of EPDS cutoff is crucial.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdallah Y. Naser ◽  
Anas Nawfal Hameed ◽  
Nour Mustafa ◽  
Hassan Alwafi ◽  
Eman Zmaily Dahmash ◽  
...  

ObjectivesDepression and anxiety persist in cancer patients, creating an additional burden during treatment and making it more challenging in terms of management and control. Studies on the prevalence of depression and anxiety among cancer patients in the Middle East are limited and include many limitations such as their small sample sizes and restriction to a specific type of cancer in specific clinical settings. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and risk factors of depression and anxiety among cancer patients in the inpatient and outpatient settings.Materials and MethodsA total of 1,011 patients (399 inpatients and 612 outpatients) formed the study sample. Patients’ psychological status was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale. The prevalence rate of depressive and anxious symptomatology was estimated by dividing the number of patients who exceeded the borderline score: 10 or more for each subscale of the HADS scale, 15 or more for the GAD-7 scale, and 15 or more in the PHQ-9 by the total number of the patients. Risk factors were identified using logistic regression.ResultsThe prevalence of depressive and anxious symptomatology among all patients was 23.4% and 19.1–19.9%, respectively. Depressive symptomatology was more prevalent across patients who were hospitalized (37.1%) compared with patients in the outpatient setting (14.5%) (p &lt; 0.001). Similarly, anxious symptomatology was more prevalent in the inpatient setting (p &lt; 0.001). In the inpatient setting, depressive symptomatology was more prevalent among patients with bladder cancer, while severe anxious symptomatology was more prevalent across patients with lung cancer. In the outpatient setting, depressive and anxious symptomatology was more prevalent among breast and prostate cancer patients, respectively. Despite that, around 42.7% and 24.8% of the patients, respectively, reported that they feel anxious and depressed, and only 15.5% of them were using medications to manage their conditions.ConclusionOur study findings demonstrated a higher prevalence of depressive and anxious symptomatology in the inpatient setting and advanced disease stages. In addition, the underutilization of antidepressant therapy was observed. There is a need to consider mental disorders as part of the treatment protocol for cancer patients. Enhanced clinical monitoring and treatment of depression and anxiety of cancer patients are required.


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