Mood disorders in postpartum patients at the University Hospital in Zielona Góra according to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

Abstract

Introduction. Childbirth and its course have a significant impact on a woman’s mental functioning during the postpartum period and motherhood. The mother’s mental state affects not only her child’s life and health, but also the functioning of the entire family. The literature distinguishes several types of mental disorders that occur in the postpartum period, including postpartum depression. Aim. This study aims to determine the incidence of mood disorders in women up to 6 months postpartum. Material and methods. The research was carried out using a standardized questionnaire – the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) – designed to determine the severity of mood disorders in the postpartum period in women at the University Hospital in Zielona Góra. The survey was conducted among 100 women aged from 17 to 43. Results. The results of the analysis showed that in women who noticed mood disorders during pregnancy (n=11, i.e. 11% of the total and n=10, i.e. 10% of the total), there is a possibility of postpartum depressive disorders (score ≥12 points on the ESDP scale) (p=0.0006). Respondents who answered “Definitely yes”, accounted for 42.31% of women who scored ≥12 points on the ESDP scale, and those who answered “Rather yes”, accounted for 38.46%. Conclusion. Respondents, whose pregnancy ended in a physiological delivery (forces of nature), feel more satisfied with childbirth than the other respondents (n=29 – definitely yes; n=24 – rather yes). In women whose pregnancy ended in caesarean section, the level of dissatisfaction with childbirth (n=9 – rather not) or less satisfaction (n=3 – definitely not) was higher than in the other women (p=0.0124). Keywords: depression, childbirth, depression scale