2019-01-26
Different trajectories of depressive symptoms during pregnancy
Publication
Publication
Journal of Affective Disorders , Volume 248 p. 139- 146
Background: Up to 10–15% of women experience high levels of depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Since
these levels of symptoms can vary greatly over time, the current study investigated the existence of possible
longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms during pregnancy, and aimed to identify factors associated with
these trajectories.
Methods: Depressive symptoms were assessed prospectively at each trimester in 1832 women, using the
Edinburgh (Postnatal) Depression Scale (E(P)DS). Growth mixture modeling was used to identify trajectories of
depressive symptoms during pregnancy.
Results: Three trajectories of depressive symptoms (E(P)DS scores) were identified: low stable (class 1, reference
group, 83%), decreasing (class 2, 7%), and increasing (class 3, 10%). Classes 2 and 3 had significantly higher
mean E(P)DS scores (7–13 throughout pregnancy) compared to the reference group (stable; E(P)DS <4). Factors
associated with trajectories 2 and 3 included previous depressive episodes, life events during pregnancy, and
unplanned pregnancy. Notably, the only factor distinguishing classes 2 and 3 was the perception of partner
involvement experienced by women during their pregnancies. Class 2 (with decreasing E(P)DS scores) reported
high partner involvement, while class 3 (with increasing E(P)DS scores) reported poor partner involvement
throughout pregnancy.
Limitations: Depressive symptoms were assessed by self-report rather than a diagnostic interview. The participants were more often both highly educated and of Caucasian ethnicity compared to the general Dutch population.
Conclusions: Poor partner involvement was associated with increasing depressive symptoms during pregnancy.
Health professionals should focus on partner involvement during pregnancy in order to identify women who are
potentially vulnerable for perinatal depression.
Additional Metadata | |
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doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.01.021, hdl.handle.net/1765/115260 | |
Journal of Affective Disorders | |
Organisation | Department of Psychiatry |
Boekhorst, M., Beerthuizen, A., J.J. Endendijk (Joyce), K.E.M. van Broekhoven (Kiki), Van Baar, A., Bergink, V., & Pop, V. (2019). Different trajectories of depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Journal of Affective Disorders, 248, 139–146. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2019.01.021 |