Prospective Study on the Association between Harm Avoidance and Postpartum Depressive State in a Maternal Cohort of Japanese Women

Kaori Furumura,Tokiko Morita,Naomi Banno,Atsuko Kanai,Satomi Murase,Norika Hayakawa,Setsuko Goto,Norio Ozaki,Tomoko Masuda,Hinako Usui,Yukako Nakamura,Ai Tamaji,Takashi Okada,Tomoko Shiino,Takayoshi Koide,Branko Aleksic,Naoko Ishikawa,Harue Ohoka,Marianna Mazza

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0034725

Kaori Furumura, Tokiko Morita + Show 17 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0034725

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Abstract

BackgroundRecent studies have displayed increased interest in examining the relationship between personality traits and the onset, treatment response patterns, and relapse of depression. This study aimed to examine whether or not harm avoidance (HA) was a risk factor for postpartum depression measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the state dependency of HA.MethodsPregnant women (n=460; mean age 31.9±4.2 years) who participated in a prenatal program completed the EPDS as a measure of depressive state and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) as a measure of HA during three periods: early pregnancy (T1), late pregnancy (around 36 weeks), and 1 month postpartum (T2). Changes in EPDS and HA scores from T1 to T2 were compared between the non depressive (ND) group and the postpartum depressive (PD) group.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the level of HA between the ND and PD groups at T1. In the ND group, EPDS and HA scores did not change significantly from T1 to T2. In the PD group, both scores increased significantly from T1 to T2 (EPDS, p<0.0001; HA, p<0.048). In the ND and PD groups, a significant positive correlation was observed in changes in EPDS and HA scores from T1 to T2 (r=0.31, p=0.002).ConclusionsThese results suggest that HA cannot be considered a risk factor for the development of postpartum depression measured by EPDS. Furthermore, HA may be state dependent.

Highlights

Recent studies have displayed increased interest in examining the relationship between personality traits and the onset, treatment response patterns, and relapse of depression [1,2,3]
Our colleagues examined the state dependency of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) [9] in patients with major depression [7] and reported that harm avoidance (HA), an anxiety-related trait associated with neuroticism, decreased as symptoms of depression improved in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD)
There was no significant difference in HA during T1 between the non depressive (ND) and postpartum depressive (PD) groups (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Recent studies have displayed increased interest in examining the relationship between personality traits and the onset, treatment response patterns, and relapse of depression [1,2,3]. Our colleagues examined the state dependency of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) [9] in patients with major depression [7] and reported that harm avoidance (HA), an anxiety-related trait associated with neuroticism, decreased as symptoms of depression improved in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). These patients were medicated with antidepressants; there may be state dependency of personality traits regarding depression [7]. This study aimed to examine whether or not harm avoidance (HA) was a risk factor for postpartum depression measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the state dependency of HA

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Conclusion