Citation

Murray L, Cartwright W. J. Reprod. Infant Psychol. 1993; 11(4): 215.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02646839308403221

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A large sample of primiparous women was screened for postpartum depression and for depression occurring before childbirth. Obstetric risk data, rated on the Peripartum Events Scale (O'Hara etal., 1986, 1991), were analysed for women identified as having suffered from depression, and for a control group. Obstetric risk was unrelated to the occurrence of postpartum depression in the population as a whole; but in women with a previous history of depressive disorder obstetric risk (delivery by forceps or Caesarean section) was significantly related to the occurrence of postpartum depression. This finding did not arise as a consequence of a previous psychiatric history predisposing women to higher obstetric risk. The results suggest that it may be profitable to institute routine antenatal recording of information concerning psychiatric history. This would enable additional support to be directed to women experiencing difficult deliveries who may be particularly vulnerable to postnatal depression.