Mental Health Conditions in the Postpartum Period: A Scoping Study

Abstract

Background Many women experience mental health disorders during the postpartum period, which can develop into chronic or recurrent conditions and might have negative consequences on the quality of parent-infant interactions, long-term mental health of the mother, the family, as well as child development. We aimed to Summarize the current literature on mental health disorders during the postpartum period; from 2 to 52 weeks after childbirth. Methods In this scoping study electronic databases were systematically searched for primary studies published in English between January 2016 and December 2022, and we performed an additional quality appraisal. Descriptive statistics for quantitative data and inductive content analysis for qualitative data were used. Results The final body of literature consisted of 34 articles. Three key categories were identified and used to summarize the literature: mental health screening instruments, postpartum mental health conditions, and associated factors with postpartum mental health. Seventeen different screenings instruments were identified, whereof the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was the most used. The periods during which the participant’s mental health screening evaluation was conducted varied from four to 52 weeks postpartum, and both single and multiple mental health screenings were common. Six mental health conditions were covered, whereof postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety were the most common. Family and partner support were identified as critical factors associated with development of postpartum menatal health conditions, as well as a history of previous mental health- or medical disorders prior to peripartum. Furhermore, the COVID-19 pandemic had impact on social support, resulting in increased levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as postpartum anxiety. Conclusion Offering a spectrum of support services and care should be made available to all relevant subgroups of mothers throughout pregnancy and up to one year after birth, especially for mothers with pre-existing mental health conditions. Future studies are needed on postpartum psychosis, the effect of long-term postpartum mental health conditions on the child’s well-being, and the fathers’ mental health requires further attention.