CORRELATES OF POSTNATAL DEPRESSION IN MOTHERS AND FATHERS

Background. We compare and contrast some correlates of paternal and ma ternal depression after the live birth of a first child, as part of a longitudinal study. Method. Fifty-four first-time mothers attending ob stetric services in Oporto, Portugal, and 42 of their husbands or part ners participated in a longitudinal study of their mental health. All subjects were given a semi-structured clinical interview (SADS) at six months antenatally and at 12 months postnatally and sub-samples were interviewed at three months postnatally. At all these times all the mo thers and fathers also completed a translated version of a self-rating scale for depression, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a series of other questionnaires and interviews to measure differ ent psychosocial variables. Profiles of risk factors associated with d epression in the first postnatal year were analysed by means of logist ic regressions. Results. In the mothers, aside from a history of depre ssion, the only other powerful predictor of postnatal depression was t he mean objective negative impact score of life events. 'Postnatal' de pression in fathers was associated with a history of depression in the mselves and with the presence of depression in their wives or partners during pregnancy and soon after delivery. Conclusion. Prevention and early treatment of depression in fathers may benefit not only themselv es but also their spouses and their children.