Major depression in pregnancy and post partum associated with anxiety disorders and substance use
- 1Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- 2School of Nursing & Midwifery, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
- Correspondence to Debra Kay Creedy
Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies, University of Queensland, Mansfield Place, St Lucia, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia; d.creedy{at}griffith.edu.au
Implications for practice and research
-
■ Women are vulnerable to depression and anxiety during pregnancy and post partum, yet only one in four seek help.
-
■ Clinical management of mothers experiencing depression should assess for substance abuse, unmet needs and psychiatric co-morbidities.
-
■ Population-based studies can determine prevalence but cause and effect is best shown through intervention-based randomised controlled trials.
-
■ Depressed women are less likely to respond to surveys, so using face-to-face and telephone interviews can enhance response rates and completion.
Context
Pregnancy can trigger a first depressive episode or recurrence of depression for some women. Depressive symptoms of pregnant and post partum women do not differ much from those of depressed …
