Citation

Records K, Rice MJ. J. Psychosom. Obstet. Gynaecol. 2009; 30(3): 181-190.

Affiliation

College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. kathie.records@asu.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/01674820903178121

PMID

19728219

Abstract

Despite the growing body of evidence on the significance of postpartum depression, little research has explored the contribution of lifetime or current abuse to postpartum depression. One hundred-thirty-nine women were assessed during their third trimester of pregnancy and followed for 2, 4, 6, and 8 months postpartum for abuse status and depression symptoms. Predictors of postpartum depression were also assessed. Few women reported current abuse experiences, although 37% reported having lifetime physical or sexual abuse or both. Women with a lifetime history of abuse were 3.6-8.4 times more likely to experience postpartum depression than their nonabused peers at each measurement time. This effect steadily increases during the first 6 months after birth and decreases at the 8th month. These findings extend recent reports of the chronicity of abuse and have implications for care providers. The standard of care for abuse assessments may need to be expanded to include consideration of lifetime physical and sexual abuse experiences of pregnant and postpartum women.

Language: en