Psychosocial and Obstetric Factors associated with Postpartum Depressive Symptoms

Kim, Jae Won; Kim, Jeong Hwa; Kim, Byeong Jo; Eun, Dae Sook; Kim, Heon; Kim, Jeong Eun; Lee, Gyoung Min; Lee, Hyun Soo; Choi, Jin

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to examine the psychosocial and obstetric factors associated with postpartum depressive symptoms in Korea.
METHODS
At the 1-week postpartum visit, 61 postpartum women completed Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Stait-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Data related to psychiatric and obstetric characteristics, pregnancy and delivery related events were collected from standardized medical records. 42 women without a history of pregnancy or delivery within 6 months were selected as a control group. The postpartum group were divided into depressive and non-depressive group according to the EPDS and BDI results.
RESULTS
Compared to the normal control group, mean scores of EPDS and BDI were significantly higher (p<.05) in the postpartum group. The postpartum group scored significantly higher in somatization, psychoticism, and global severity index profiles according to the SCL-90-R results (p<.05). The rates of having experienced severe emotional stress during pregnancy and of smokers before pregnancy were significantly higher (p<.01) in the postpartum depressive group (EPDS >or=10 and BDI >or=10) when compared to the postpartum non-depressive group. The psychosocial stress experienced during pregnancy was identified as a significant risk factor for postpartum depressive symptoms when multiple logistic regression analysis was performed after controlling for age and education level.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that postpartum women in Korea have many psychiatric problems such as depressive mood and somatization which necessitate proper care and assessment during the early postpartum period. Stress management during pregnancy is also needed as a method of prevention against postpartum depression.