Postpartum Depression Research Articles

DESCRIPTIVE STUDY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MOTHERS WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION SCREENING RESULTS ON THE SEVENTH DAY PUERPERIUM

Postpartum depression is a psychological disorder that occurs during the postpartum period. The incidence of postpartum depression in Indonesia is between 50-70%. The development of the baby and the mother’s social life can be severely affected by postpartum depression. Screening is necessary to anticipate the incidence of postpartum depression. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of mothers with postpartum depression screening results on the seventh day of postpartum women. The design of this study was a quantitative descriptive with a cross-sectional approach. The population of 38 people used the total sampling technique so that the total sample was 38 people. The research instrument used a general data questionnaire and EPDS. The results of the study showed that postpartum mothers who experienced a risk of postpartum depression were 21.1%. Based on the characteristics, namely mothers aged 20-35 years (18.4%), primiparous (13.2%), spacing of children <2 years (8.7%), mothers who do not work (15.8%), and mothers with senior high school education (15.8%). The risk of depression experienced by postpartum mothers in Blimbing, Malang is thought to be caused by factors such as parity, distance between children and education level. Although in small numbers. Postpartum depression can have a negative impact on the mental health of the mother and the development of the child in the future, so depression screening needs to be tried so that the coverage of early detection of postpartum depression increases.

Risk and timing of postpartum depression in parents of twins compared to parents of singletons.

Parents of twins appear to be at increased risk of postpartum depression (PPD), yet little is known about the magnitude and timing of onset in the postpartum period compared to singleton parents. We conducted a cohort study using the Danish nationwide health registers. We defined a study population of parents that is, mothers and fathers of all twin and singleton livebirths between 1997 and 2019. Postpartum depression was defined as incident depression diagnosis or a redeemed antidepressant prescription from childbirth through 365 days postpartum. We performed a parametric time-to-event analysis based on Poisson regression. The time scale was time since birth, modeled using restricted cubic splines. From this we estimated the hazard ratio (HR) representing the momentary risk, and the cumulative risk ratio (RR) over the first year postpartum, in twin compared to singleton parents. The study population was based on 27,095 twin and 1,350,046 singleton births. In adjusted analyses, the HR of twins compared to singletons was highest around 2 months postpartum (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.10-1.49) for mothers, and around 6 months (1.20, 95% CI 1.02-1.42) for fathers. The 6 months adjusted cumulative RR of PPD in twins compared to singletons was 1.24 (95% CI 1.10-1.40) for mothers and 1.11 (95% CI 0.95-1.30) for fathers. Twin mothers had increased risk of PPD compared to singleton mothers, which was driven by an immediate increase after childbirth. The risk among twin fathers was not increased immediately after childbirth, but we found slightly elevated risk around 6 months postpartum. This could suggest diverse patterns of PPD symptomatology in twin parents compared to singleton parents and between mothers and fathers. Our findings underline parents of twins as a potentially vulnerable group to PPD and emphasize the need for increased awareness of their mental health.

Plasma and breast milk adipokines in women across the first year postpartum and their association with maternal depressive symptoms and infant neurodevelopment: Protocol for the APPLE prospective cohort study.

Adiponectin and leptin play important roles in the central nervous system. During the postpartum period, there is a need for a better understanding of the relationship between these cytokines and the neurological development of the infant, as well as their influence on preventing maternal depressive symptoms. To assess the correlation between adiponectin and leptin in maternal plasma and breast milk and their association with: infant neurodevelopment at 6 and 12 months of age; and maternal mental health over the first year postpartum. Prospective cohort study with four follow-up. Mothers and their newborns are recruited within the first 15 days postpartum (baseline). Follow-up visits occur at 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum. Visits include blood and breast milk collection, application of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Beck Depression Inventory to assess maternal mental health, application of the Bayley-III scale for infant developmental assessment, maternal and infant anthropometry and body composition, evaluation of reproductive history, mother-infant bonding, breastfeeding, consumption of ultra-processed foods, sleep quality, and socio-economic and demographic data. The research received funds in August 2022, and participant recruitment began in September 2022. The sample size will consist of 95 mother-child pairs. As of September 2023, 68 participants have been recruited. The project will provide insights into the association between adiponectin and leptin with postpartum depression and infant neurodevelopment, ultimately promoting improved care and quality of life for these groups. Additionally, it will provide data on the type of delivery, infant physical growth, maternal and infant body composition changes, sleep quality, consumption of ultra-processed foods, and maternal metabolic health, including vitamin D metabolites, oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolites, phospholipid species and triacylglycerols, which are of significant relevance to public health and, when interconnected, may yield important results and contribute to the existing literature. Name of the registry: Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBec). Registration number: RBR-9hcby8c.

Influence of postpartum depression on maternal-infant bonding and breastfeeding practices among mothers in Abeokuta, Ogun state

BackgroundPostpartum Depression (PPD) is a severe mental health condition that adversely affects mothers and their infants. The influence of PPD on maternal-infant bonding and breastfeeding practices has been scarcely reported in Nigeria. Therefore, we examined the prevalence of PPD, the associated factors, and the relationship with maternal-infant bonding and breastfeeding practices in Abeokuta, Nigeria.MethodA descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 600 mothers within the extended postpartum period (≤ 1 year) from three government-owned immunisation clinics at primary, secondary, and tertiary health facilities in Abeokuta, Ogun State. PPD was assessed using the Edinburgh postnatal depression Scale (EPDS ≥ 13), and maternal-infant bonding was evaluated using the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ ≥ 50). We also examined breastfeeding practices (i.e. the time to initiation by 30 min, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and early commencement of complementary feeding by 2 months). Data was analysed using chi-square and logistics regression models at a 5% significance level.ResultsThe prevalence of PPD was 21.8%, 95% CI (18.7–25.3). Factors associated with PPD were maternal age: 25–34 years [AOR = 0.52; 95% CI (0.29–0.90)]; ≥ 35 years [AOR = 0.44; 95% CI (0.20–0.96)], being married [AOR = 0.43; 95% CI (0.21–0.85)], perceived stress increased the odds of PPD: moderate stress level [AOR = 8.38; 95% CI (3.50–19.9)]; high-stress level [AOR = 47.8; 95% CI (8.65–263.7)] and self-reported history of emotional problems [AOR = 3.25; 95% CI (1.43–7.38)]. There was a significant direct association between PPD and poor maternal-infant bonding [AOR = 3.91; 95% CI (1.04–4.60)]. PPD reduces the odds of early breastfeeding initiation [AOR = 0.43; 95% CI (0.28–0.68)], but no association was found between PPD and exclusive breastfeeding [AOR = 1.07; 95% CI (0.07–1.67)].ConclusionThe prevalence of PPD was high in our study population and associated with poor maternal-infant bonding and late breastfeeding initiation but not with exclusive breastfeeding. Promoting maternal mental health to foster stronger mother-infant relationships and better breastfeeding practices has become crucial.

Analysis the Deficiency of China's Maternity Leave System Between China and the United States

Abstract: This paper compares the welfare system of China and the United States, the welfare content for both genders, aims of policy and policy effects. The comparison results show that the laws and regulations of China's maternity leave system are more unified. Second, there is a significant lack of parental leave for parents to support and care for their children. Third, the incidence of postpartum depression among Chinese women is increasing from year to year and is more common than that in the United States. Among the four comparative indicators, the two countries only show a more obvious consistency in the legislative objectives of the birth policy. This paper suggests that China should draw lessons from the unpaid maternity leave of the US federal government and appropriately improve the welfare level while maintaining the paid maternity leave policy. The maternity leave time of female workers should be extended. Male workers should enjoy father leave. In addition, new future government policies will need to include a mandatory requirement, requiring that parents have to exercise their respective powers to take parental leave and family leave. If the holiday cannot be used up before employees return to work, the surplus ought to be left for future use. In this way, employment equity and gender equality will be improved to a great extent.

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Status of Pregnant Women: A Single-Center Study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced people to make major life changes, and there is concern that depressive tendencies have increased in pregnant women during the pandemic. This study used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), administered in the second trimester, to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on the mental health of Japanese women during pregnancy and to provide early intervention. The study included 1,320 pregnant women (663 pre-COVID-19 and 657 during COVID-19) with similar background characteristics and compared the results for the COVID-19 period (September 2020-August 2021) and control period (September 2018-August 2019). Women treated for psychiatric disorders were excluded. The EPDS cutoff score was 13. The median EPDS scores were 3 (1-6) points during the control period and 3 (1-5) points during the pandemic (p = 0.166) for the control and pandemic periods. Fourteen patients (2.1%) during the control period and 20 (3.0%) during the pandemic scored ≥13 points; however, the difference was not significant (odds ratio, 1.455; 95% confidence interval: 0.692-3.143). COVID-19 did not change mid-pregnancy EPDS scores at a single Japanese center.

Trajectories and predictors of depressive symptoms among pregnant women: A 3-year longitudinal study.

Not all women experience the same changes in depression from pregnancy through the years following childbirth, but the patterns of prenatal and postnatal depression are underexplored. This study investigated the trajectories and associated predictors of depressive symptoms in women from pregnancy through the first 3 years postpartum. We followed 340 pregnant women from an antenatal clinic in Hong Kong, first at 20-24 weeks of gestation, then at 4 weeks after childbirth, and again at 3 years after childbirth. Pregnant women reported their depressive symptoms whether they had intimate partner violence, health conditions, adverse childhood experiences, family support, and perceived partner involvement. Latent class growth analysis was applied to identify distinct trajectories of depression, and binary logistic regressions were performed to analyze predictors of trajectories. We found that 26.5% of women showed clinical depressive symptoms at 20-24 weeks of gestation, 9.7% at 4 weeks after childbirth, and 12.6% at 3 years after childbirth. Two classes were identified: a low-stable group (86.2%) and a relapsing/remitting group (13.8%). Women with a history of trauma (i.e., intimate partner violence and adverse childhood experiences) and mental health difficulties were more likely to be classified in the relapsing/remitting group than in the low-stable group. Family support and partner emotional involvement appeared to protect the women from suffering relapsing/remitting depression. The findings highlight the importance of screening for depression throughout pregnancy and extending several years postpartum. Distinguishing the different trajectories of depression and identifying its associated factors are critical to providing targeted interventions to the most vulnerable women (i.e., a relapsing/remitting group in the present study). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Turkish adaptation of the antenatal risk questionnaire-revised: study of validity and reliability

ObjectiveThis study sought to translate the Antenatal Risk Questionnaire-Revised (ANRQ-R) into Turkish and evaluate its psychometric properties for assessing psychosocial vulnerabilities among Turkish-speaking pregnant women.MethodsThe ANRQ-R was translated into Turkish following standard linguistic adaptation procedures. Psychometric properties were then examined using a cross-sectional study design, involving 156 pregnant women recruited from antenatal clinics in Turkey. Participants completed the Turkish ANRQ-R and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Statistical analyses, including intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for test-retest reliability, Pearson correlation analysis for item-total test correlations, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis for diagnostic accuracy, were conducted.ResultsThe ANRQ-R Turkish version showed high test-retest reliability with an ICC of 0.888 for the total score. Moderate to good ICCs were obtained for individual Likert-type items (0.572–0.849). Criterion-related validity was established via moderate correlations with the EPDS and its anxiety subscale EPDS-3 A (r = 0.537 and r = 0.431, respectively). ROC analysis demonstrated good discriminatory power (Area Under the Curve = 0.75) with an optimal cut-off score of 17, yielding 78% sensitivity and 65% specificity for identifying potential depression cases.ConclusionsThis study provides preliminary evidence of the overall reliability of the Turkish version of the ANRQ-R as a measure of psychosocial risk among Turkish-speaking women during pregnancy. Despite some limitations in item-level internal consistency indicators, integration of the ANRQ-R into routine antenatal care could enhance early identification and intervention strategies, potentially improving maternal health outcomes. Future research should aim to further validate the scale across diverse populations and settings, using a diagnostic tool as the reference standard.

Postpartum depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder and resultant risk factors among teenage mothers: a community-based study

The prevalence of postpartum depression in teenage mothers is higher than that in adult mothers. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression, distress, and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) following childbirth and its resultant risk factors among teenage mothers. Material and Methods. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 167 teenage women aged 11–19 years, 8-week after giving birth, in Tabriz, Iran. The data were collected using by socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist and Postpartum Distress Measure scale. Results. The study results revealed that 12.6% and 7.2% of the participants had postpartum depression and PTSD, respectively. The results showed that the variables of the number of children, dissatisfaction with marriage, and history of preconception depression were among the risk factors associated with postpartum depression. The results indicated that unwanted pregnancy, lack of spousal support, insufficient income, and infant restlessness variables were predictors of PTSD. Conclusion. Based on our findings, it is crucial to identify teenage mothers with predisposing factors for postpartum depression and PTSD. Providing family planning counseling to reduce unwanted pregnancies, training fathers to support their spouses, and ensuring timely referral of high-risk individuals are essential interventions to address the mental health challenges faced by teenage mothers.

The role of physical activity, diet, and stress management in maternal and infant health during pregnancy

Introduction and aim of the study: During pregnancy, significant physiological, hormonal and circulatory changes occur that affect both the health of the mother and the child. Therefore, it is important for the mother to maintain physical activity, a healthy diet, and reduce stress to prevent complications and health problems for the mother and the child. Material and Methods: The Pubmed database was searched. The criteria for qualifying the article for the review were the following keywords: pregnancy, exercise, rehabilitation, nutrition during pregnancy, postpartum depression, atopy, stress, asthma. 30 articles from 2002-2023 were analyzed. Description of the state of knowledge: Regular physical activity during pregnancy brings many benefits such as reducing the risk of complications during childbirth, postpartum depression and helps to maintain a healthy body weight. Diet also has an impact on the health of both mother and baby. It should be balanced, providing the necessary nutrients and taking into account the mother's caloric needs. It is very important to reduce stress due to its negative impact on the mother and child. Summary: Physical activity and a healthy diet directly affect the course of pregnancy and the health of the fetus and baby. Exercise prevents pregnancy complications and other diseases, and maternal nutritional status is critical for fetal growth. During pregnancy, women are exposed to stress, which can be the cause of chronic mental disorders. Depression is the most common mental illness that occurs during pregnancy, which is influenced by various factors. In addition, maternal stress has a negative impact on the child's health, potentially increasing the risk of a number of atopic and non-atopic diseases.

Efficacy of a Standalone Smartphone Application to Treat Postnatal Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: Smartphone app interventions based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are promising scalable alternatives for treating mental disorders, but the evidence of their efficacy for postpartum depression is limited. We assessed the efficacy of Motherly, a standalone CBT-based smartphone app, in reducing symptoms of postpartum depression. Methods: Women aged 18–40 with symptoms of postpartum depression were randomized either to intervention (Motherly app) or active control (COMVC app). The primary outcome was symptoms of depression measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at post-treatment. Secondary outcomes were anxiety symptoms, parental stress, quality of sleep, behavioral activation, availability of response-contingent positive reinforcement, and clinical improvement at post-treatment and 1-month follow-up. Exploratory analyses were performed to investigate if app engagement was associated with treatment response. Results: From November 2021 to August 2022, 1,751 women volunteered, of which 264 were randomized, and 215 provided primary outcome data. No statistically significant differences were found between groups at post-treatment: intervention: mean (SD): 12.75 (5.52); active control: 13.28 (5.32); p = 0.604. There was a statistically significant effect of the intervention on some of the secondary outcomes. Exploratory analyses suggest a dose-response relationship between Motherly app engagement and outcomes. Conclusion: Our standalone app intervention did not significantly reduce postnatal depression symptoms when compared to active control. Exploratory findings suggest that negative findings might be associated with insufficient app engagement. Consistent with current literature, our findings suggest that standalone app interventions for postpartum depression are not ready to be implemented in clinical practice.

Association between maternal perinatal stress and depression and infant DNA methylation in the first year of life

Maternal stress and depression during pregnancy and the first year of the infant’s life affect a large percentage of mothers. Maternal stress and depression have been associated with adverse fetal and childhood outcomes as well as differential child DNA methylation (DNAm). However, the biological mechanisms connecting maternal stress and depression to poor health outcomes in children are still largely unknown. Here we aim to determine whether prenatal stress and depression are associated with differences in cord blood mononuclear cell DNAm (CBMC-DNAm) in newborns (n = 119) and whether postnatal stress and depression are associated with differences in peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNAm (PBMC-DNAm) in children of 12 months of age (n = 113) from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) cohort. Stress was measured using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and depression was measured using the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Questionnaire (CESD). Both stress and depression were measured longitudinally at 18 weeks and 36 weeks of pregnancy and six months and 12 months postpartum. We conducted epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) using robust linear regression followed by a sensitivity analysis in which we bias-adjusted for inflation and unmeasured confounding using the bacon and cate methods. To quantify the cumulative effect of maternal stress and depression, we created composite prenatal and postnatal adversity scores. We identified a significant association between prenatal stress and differential CBMC-DNAm at 8 CpG sites and between prenatal depression and differential CBMC-DNAm at 2 CpG sites. Additionally, we identified a significant association between postnatal stress and differential PBMC-DNAm at 8 CpG sites and between postnatal depression and differential PBMC-DNAm at 11 CpG sites. Using our composite scores, we further identified 2 CpG sites significantly associated with prenatal adversity and 7 CpG sites significantly associated with postnatal adversity. Several of the associated genes, including PLAGL1, HYMAI, BRD2, and ERC2 have been implicated in adverse fetal outcomes and neuropsychiatric disorders. These data further support the finding that differential DNAm may play a role in the relationship between maternal mental health and child health.

Self-compassion and postpartum depression in mothers: A meta-analysis

Purpose: The aim of this study was to provide evidence on a strong relationship between self-compassion and postpartum depression. In addition, it was also to synthesize evidence of the application of population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) procedures quantitatively. Previous researches demonstrated that low self-compassion was a significant factor in postpartum mothers experiencing psychological distress. This is due to a lack of understanding and appreciation on the positive aspects of oneself that leads to the onset of postpartum depression. Method: This study used a meta-analysis with a statistical method that combined the results of several studies on a specific research question. A meta-analysis provides a comprehensive summary of all evidence related to the topic that employed to more accurate and reliable conclusions than only from a single study. The researchers conducted a comprehensive search for databases, include Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Proquest from February 2023 to July 2023. Result: A total of nine articles were identified for inclusion in the review from 3320 articles. The analysis using the DerSinomian and Laird (DL) estimator model resulted an estimated effect size of 0.586 (p < 0.001; 95% CI = -0.668 - -0.504). Although the meta-analysis results showed a strong negative correlation between the variables, heterogeneity and the risk of publication bias must be considered. Conclusion: The meta-analysis of self-compassion and postpartum depression variables indicates a negative correlation with a moderate effect size category. It is in accordance with the findings of nine articles that also demonstrated a negative correlation.

Mothers with Breastfeeding Difficulty Report Increased Depressive Symptoms and Impaired Maternal-Infant Bonding on Social Media.

Background: Protection against postpartum depression is a commonly cited maternal benefit of breastfeeding. However, recent studies have found that negative breastfeeding experiences may actually increase the risk of depressive symptoms. Objective: To investigate women's self-reported associations between breastfeeding experiences and depressive symptoms on a social media platform. Study Design: An electronic search was conducted on Reddit of all original user posts using keywords "breastfeeding" and "depression" from February 2013 to July 2021. Relevant posts and corresponding comments were manually extracted, evaluated for inclusion and exclusion criteria, and analyzed for thematic content. Results: In total, 584 entries was analyzed. Mothers most frequently described difficulty breastfeeding as the cause of new onset mental health symptoms (53%); however, mothers breastfeeding without difficulty were also susceptible (20%). Mothers also reported exacerbated preexisting mental health symptoms-predominantly related to difficulty breastfeeding (17%), but again, others experienced no difficulty (6%). Common words included among all entries were "guilt" (17%), "fail" (14%), "pressure" (7%), "shame" (6%), and "alone" (6%). Among mothers mentioning bonding (n = 99), 58% reported that breastfeeding inhibited infant bonding, versus 1% enhanced bonding; furthermore, 63% reported increased bonding after switching to formula versus 8% unchanged and 6% decreased bonding. Nearly one-quarter (23%) of all posts described inadequate breastfeeding counseling. Finally, 9% of all posts reported a negative experience with health care providers versus 6% a positive experience. Conclusions: Mothers struggling to breastfeed may not experience the classically described benefits of breastfeeding, instead experiencing increased depressive and other mental health symptoms and impaired maternal-infant bonding. Furthermore, limited provider disclosure about potential breastfeeding challenges and alternatives to breastfeeding may exacerbate mental health symptoms associated with breastfeeding difficulties. Balanced information should be presented to mothers contemplating breastfeeding in order to minimize maternal perceptions of "failure."

The Preventive Role of Perceived Social Support in Postpartum Psychiatric Morbidity: Insights from a Rural Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in South India

Abstract Introduction: Postpartum psychiatric disorders show a rising trend in developing countries, where the lack of social support is a major risk factor. Evidence from Western scientific literature also reports of similar preventive role of social support in postpartum psychiatric states. However, the attitudes toward childbearing may differ across cultures and also within the same cultural sphere. With this background, we aimed to assess the perceived social support and its association with postpartum psychiatric morbidity in a rural setting in South India. Methodology: A total of 100 postpartum women who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study following their consent. Sociodemographic data sheet and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, Text Revision (DSM IV-TR), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were administered on them. Appropriate statistical analysis was done. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The majority of our sample recorded high perceived social support (76%), with 90% reporting high support from a special person. 10% had major depressive disorder, out of which 6% recorded melancholia, and 7% recorded suicidality on DSM IV-TR. Increasing age had lower perceived social support, P = 0.024. As perceived social support was reduced, increased psychiatric morbidity was significantly noted, with suicidality and melancholia. Conclusions: Our study finds a significant association between perceived social support and postpartum depression (PPD). Lesser social support was associated with increased suicidality and melancholia features in cases of PPD. Amplification of social support in expectant mothers is a useful way to safeguard against postpartum psychiatric disorders.

A longitudinal study of facial function, quality of life, and depression in Bell’s palsy during pregnancy and puerperium

Bell’s palsy can reduce facial function and quality of life. Pregnancy may also be physically and psychologically challenging. This study investigates depression among pregnant and puerperal women with and without Bell’s palsy and if degree of facial palsy and depression was correlated. Thirty-one women with pregnancy-associated Bell’s and 31 women without Bell’s palsy were prospectively included and followed one year at two University Hospitals, Stockholm. Depression was assessed with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). In women with Bell’s palsy, Facial Disability Index (FDI), Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE) scale, and Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SFGS) were collected. The association between Bell’s palsy and EPDS ≥ 11 was assessed by logistic regression, and between EPDS and FDI, FaCE, and SFGS, respectively, by Spearman rank correlation. Median EDPS did not differ between groups (7.0 vs. 6.0, p = 0.74, one month, 6.5 vs. 6.0, p = 0.87, 12 months). EPDS at one month was correlated to FDI (p = 0.002) and FaCE (p = 0.004) and at 12 months to FDI (p = 0.009) but not to FaCE (p = 0.08). No correlation was found between EPDS and SFGS. In summary, no association appeared between pregnancy-associated Bell’s palsy and depression. Patient-reported function correlated well with depression in pregnancy-associated Bell’s palsy, while physician-reported facial function did not.

Implementing a group singing intervention for postpartum depression within the Italian health service.

In the United Kingdom a singing intervention for Postpartum Depression (PPD) titled "Music and Motherhood" was found to be effective. The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe coordinated a study to assess the feasibility of implementing and adapting the intervention in other countries. In Italy, recent studies have highlighted the need to promote the availability of effective interventions for PPD in primary care. To describe the implementation of "Music and Motherhood" within the Italian primary care services dedicated to pregnancy and postnatal care in three different geographical locations, thus providing an example of strategies for implementing an arts and health intervention in primary care that can improve health and well-being. A 10-week group singing intervention for mothers with PPD was conducted as part of a single arm feasibility study. Data were collected through one-to-one interviews, focus groups and questionnaires from the professionals involved in the implementation and selected participating mothers. A conceptual framework including acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, implementation process, costs and sustainability was adopted for analysis. Number of sessions attended by mothers and implementation outcome measures for acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility, each consisting of four items rated on a 5-point Likert scale were also gathered. The intervention was found to be inclusive of women from different socio-cultural backgrounds and appropriate to the context. The group setting and the use of an arts-based intervention helped to de-medicalise the process of care maximising resources. Singing helped mothers to express their feelings and find strategies to improve interaction with their child. Attention to mothers' needs and the co-presence of the professional singing leader and a health professional were among the key factors. The median number of sessions attended was nine out of 10. In terms of acceptability, almost 90% of the professionals were in complete agreement that they liked and approved the intervention. Our study adds to the evidence that an arts and health intervention proven effective in one culture and linguistic context can be adapted to another. Collaboration among health professionals and artists in the implementation process and adequate funding are instrumental in moving from project to programme level.

Risk factors of the antenatal depression in a sample of Italian pregnant women: a preliminary study.

Antenatal depression is characterized by low mood, insomnia, disorganised behaviour, irritability, and agitation during the pregnancy. If underestimated, antenatal depression is untreated during the pregnancy. It is associated to higher levels of suicide, higher risk of depression after childbirth, preeclampsia, preterm birth, low birth weight, poor interactions between child and mother and severe obstetric outcomes. New data underlined the importance to prevent the risk of depression during the pregnancy. This study examines the predictive validity of potential risk factors, such as socio-demographic and psychological factors, in developing the antenatal depression. The sample was composed by Italian pregnant women (N = 247, mean age of 33.77, SD = 4.78 years). This sample completed the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Teate Depression Inventory (TDI) and questionnaires about demographic variables. To study associations among variables examined bivariate correlations were computed. To analyse the role of socio-demographic factors and the psychological dimension to predict the severity of the antenatal depression a logistic regression was performed. Results showed significantly positive correlations between the EPDS and the TDI, and no associations among the EPDS and all socio-demographic factors. Therefore, only the psychological factors were significant predictive risk factors of antenatal period. Finally, higher score of the depression measured via TDI predicted higher score of the EPDS. Our results had implications in clinical field. Indeed, the early diagnosis of depression during the pregnancy can help operators in the gynaecological field to prevent the depression in the post-partum period.

Serial Multiple Mediation of the Marital Satisfaction and Parenting Competence in the Relationship Between Postpartum Depression and Parent-Infant Attachment in First-Time Parents With Low- and High-Risk Pregnancy Experiences: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Little is known regarding the effects of postpartum depression on parent-infant attachment in high-risk parents. Based on Mercer's theory of becoming a mother, this study aimed to (1) examine the mediating effects of marital satisfaction and parenting competence in the relationship between postpartum depression and parent-infant attachment using a serial mediation model in first-time parent couples during the first 6 months postpartum, and (2) compare the serial mediation models between parents who had experienced low-risk and high-risk pregnancies. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 194 first-time parent couples at 1 to 6 months postpartum were included. Participants completed an online survey on postpartum depression, marital satisfaction, parenting competence, and parent-infant attachment. In both low- and high-risk groups, parenting competence was a common mediator of the impact of postpartum depression on parent-infant attachment. A sequential mediation effect involving both marital satisfaction and parenting competence was observed in high-risk mothers. Our findings suggest that the adverse impacts of postpartum depression on parent-infant attachment can be mitigated by boosting parenting competence or improving the marital satisfaction in couples experiencing first high-risk pregnancy.

Examining the Link Between Delivery Method, Sleep Quality, and Postpartum Depression: Insights from a Prospective Study

This study investigates the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) among 200 women who delivered at Government Women’s Hospital, Dharashiv, from October 2023 to March 2024. The findings reveal a half-year prevalence of PPD at 13% for vaginal deliveries and 26% for cesarean deliveries, resulting in a pooled prevalence of 22% in India. This figure is notably higher than the 12.9% reported in high-income countries and aligns with the 19.2% prevalence found in low- and middle-income nations. The study highlights the challenges faced by mothers in accessing adequate postpartum care, especially given the short hospital stays and low rates of follow-up visits, which contribute to undetected mental health issues. Urban mothers exhibited higher rates of PPD, potentially due to factors such as overcrowding and increased stress. The mean age of affected mothers was 28.05 years, with no significant associations found between PPD and socio-demographic variables like family type or maternal education. Notably, a prior history of depression was linked to higher prevalence rates. These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced screening and intervention strategies for PPD in India, particularly for vulnerable populations, to improve maternal mental health outcomes and overall family well-being.