ALPHA PSYCHIATRY
Original Articles

Is postpartum depression a specific diagnosis? A prospective study

Alpha Psychiatry 2012; 13: 16-23
Read: 712 Downloads: 528 Published: 01 February 2012

Objective: The studies investigating the prevalence and incidence of postpartum depression (PPD), as well as its nosologic status have controversial results. This article is part of a prospective, epidemiological study concerning postpartum depression in Erzurum City, Eastern Turkey. The present study focuses on the prevalence and incidence of PPD at sixth weeks after delivery and its diagnostic distribution according to DSM-IV. Methods: Four hundred and seventy-nine pregnant women in their third trimester were arranged to be visited by trained community midwives at 7-10 days and sixth weeks after delivery. Data were collected by use of the questionnaires on detailed sociodemographic and health information at each visit and the participitants filled out the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) at six weeks after delivery. Finally, mothers who had PPD diagnosis according to EPDS were visited by a psychiatrist in their homes where the SCID was administered to make a DSM-IV diagnosis and determine whether the depression occurred before or after delivery. Results: The prevalence rate of PPD measured by EPDS was 14% in this population. The incidence of PPD was estimated as 6% with clinical interviews. Most of the depressed mothers (74.0%) were diagnosed as major depressive disorder according to DSM-IV, but there were some other depressive states too. Conclusion: The prevalence and incidence rates of PPD do not appear to be significantly different from those of non-childbearing women. PPD should not be seen as a specific clinical entity as far as its diagnostic distribution is concerned. [Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg 2012; 13(1.000): 16-23]

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EISSN 2757-8038