Postnatal depression - myth and reality: maternal depression before and after the birth of a child

Background: Much has been written about postnatal depression as a clinical condition. There is some evidence to suggest that a substantial proportion of women who give birth experience a depression in the postnatal period. Th is paper reports the results of a longitudinal study of the mental health o f a large sample of women who were in the early stages of pregnancy at entr y to the study, Methods: Each participant was assessed for symptoms of depr ession at the first clinic visit (entry to the study), and reassessed at va rious intervals at 3-5 days, at 6 months, and again at 5 years after the bi rth of the child - using the DSSI-D (Delusions-Symptoms-States Inventory). Results: Retrospective recall questions indicate that shortly after the bir th the majority of women experienced some depressed mood. Of those who expe rienced depressed mood, the data suggest that the symptoms were not severe, nor did these symptoms generally continue beyond a few weeks. The longitud inal data indicate that levels of depression in our sample are highest eith er at the first clinic visit or at the 5-year follow-up. Rates of depressio n at the 6-month follow-up are relatively low by comparison. Conclusion: Wh ile most mothers experience periods of depressed mood after the birth of th eir baby, these periods are generally of short duration and of lesser inten sity than a major depression. Mothers appear to experience increasing level s of symptoms of depression as their child grows up. Many of the "cases" of depression experienced at the 5-year follow-up represent a recurrence of a previous experience of depression.