TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - Altered stress patterns and increased risk for postpartum depression among low-income pregnant women
JO  - Archives of women's mental health
A1  - Scheyer, Kathryn
A1  - Jr, Guido G. Urizar
SP  - 317
EP  - 328
VL  - 19
IS  - 2
N2  - Postpartum depression (PPD) has been associated with a number of negative maternal and infant health outcomes. Despite these adverse health effects, few studies have prospectively examined patterns of pre- and postnatal stress that may increase a woman's risk for PPD. The current study examined whether the timing of altered salivary cortisol patterns and perceived stress levels during pregnancy and at 3 months postpartum was associated with PPD symptoms among 100 low-income mothers. Higher levels of PPD were found among women with a lower cortisol awakening response (first and second trimester), lower average daily cortisol (second trimester), a flatter diurnal cortisol pattern (second and third trimester and at 3 months postpartum), and a less abrupt drop in both cortisol and perceived stress from the third trimester to 3 months postpartum. These results support the need for early screening and regulation of stress levels to promote depression prevention efforts in at-risk populations.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1434-1816
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00737-015-0563-7
ID  - ref1
ER  -