Title: Screening for postnatal depression by antenatal questionnaire.

POPLINE Document Number: 277020

Author(s):

El Biely MM
Haggag W

Source citation:

Egyptian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1999 Oct-Dec;25(10-12):775-782.

Abstract:

Objective: Whether antenatal psychosocial assessment of childbearing women would identify those at risk for postpartum depression. Methods: 400 Pregnant women were included in this study starting from early pregnancies (8 weeks). During routine antenatal care visits the women asked to repeat the general health questionnaire (GHQ) at 10 weeks, 20 weeks, and 34 weeks gestation. After 3 days of the delivery, the women were interviewed again and asked to repeat GHQ and Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS). The women were assessed at 6 weeks postpartum. Results: Screening for liability to postpartum depression identify: 1. Postnatal mental illness affects 10% of all mothers. 2. Mother's mood with 3 days of delivery was the best predictor of later postnatal depression. 3. More than 50% of the cases of the first onset major depression are associated with earlier presence of minor depression during pregnancy. 4. Other women develop the illness for the first time postpartum. Conclusions: Attention to emotional and mental health must be an important aspect of antenatal care. The obstetrician must be aware of the patient's psychiatric condition. The indication for psychiatric consultation must be familiar to any obstetrician. (author's)

Keywords:

Egypt
Research Report
Clinical Research
KAP Surveys
Women in Development
Mothers
Depression
Screening
Psychosocial Factors
Time Factors
Africa, Northern
Africa
Developing Countries
Research Methodology
Surveys
Sampling Studies
Studies
Economic Development
Economic Factors
Parents
Family Relationships
Family Characteristics
Family and Household
Mental Disorders
Diseases
Examinations and Diagnoses
Behavior
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population