The psychological precipitants of transient postpartum depression: A review |
| |
Authors: | Jacqueline A Thirkettle and Robert G Knight |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Psychology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand |
| |
Abstract: | Studies reporting incidence rates for the “postpartum blues” (defined as atransient depressive episode occurring in the first 10-14 days after childbirth) are surveyed, and the methodological issues involved
in collecting these data are considered. When women provide self-report ratings of depression on each day in the first postpartum
week, the incidence of the blues is about 66%. Psychological factors found to be associated with the blues include a history
of psychiatric disturbance or depression during pregnancy, menstrual distress, and a trouble-free pregnancy. Other factors
not shown to be related to the blues include maternal age, socioeconomic status, prenatal anxiety, method of feeding, and
whether the pregnancy was wanted. There is no evidence concerning the effect of the blues on maternal attachment, and the
relationship between the blues and postpartum depression is unclear. There is discussion of the significance of the blues
as a measure of the effectiveness of antenatal preparation and adjustment to the crisis of childbirth. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|