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

Abstract

These findings could be useful both for Italian health professionals and for researchers interested in the transcultural aspects of postnatal depression.

Incidence and prevalence of postpartum depression in a rural community of India

“…Another issue of contention is the cutoff limit administered for diagnosing depression using EPDS. Some authors have used a cutoff limit as low as 8 points 21 whereas others have used higher scores i.e. upto 13.…”

“…Occasionally retrospective studies have also been published by extracting data from national databases or baby clinics. 13,21,35 The inherent fallacy of such studies is exclusion of cases with still births and intrauterine deaths as also the limitation imposed due to sampling errors. Our study differs from others in that a two time point assessment was carried out in a community cohort and a meticulous follow up was ensured to avoid attrition related errors.…”

“…In some of the studies, only EPDS has been used, 1, 5-9, 11-14,17,19,20,22-24,28,33,34 whereas in other studies, EPDS in combination with ICD 10, BDI and other scales have been used. 15,16,18,21,26,32 Scales such as PDSS, MINI, Hamilton depression scale and SRQ25 have been used rarely. 10,27,29,31 The major drawback of the EPDS scale is its inability to assess antepartum depression as it is specifically designed for postpartum depression.…”

“…Whereas the definition of the period of postpartum depression applies largely to a duration of 6 weeks in the postpartum period, 36 and most authors have assessed the prevalence of PPD at around 6-8 weeks postpartum, 1,11,20,21,[23][24]26,27,33,34 nevertheless a variable time period has been included and in some studies upto 6 -9 months postpartum period has been included, 9,15,32 Some authors have assessed prevalence of a cumulative antepartum and postpartum or peripartum depression. 12,35 In an interesting study conducted in Turkey, prevalence of depression was assessed at 36-38 weeks antepartum and then again at 5-8, 10-14 and 20-26 weeks postpartum.…”

“…1,6,8, 12,15,19.20,23,33 Most authors have resorted to a single cross sectional survey in the postpartum period. 1,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]14,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]26,27,29,[32][33][34] The essential flaw in a single time point evaluation in the postpartum period is over estimating the prevalence as it undermines the importance of, exclusion of cases that may have also pre existing depression in the antepartum period which does not necessarily classify as postpartum depression. Therefore the incidence of the disease is probably a more important estimate than point prevalence as was estimated in most studies.…”