Psychological correlates of depression in fathers and mothers in the firstpostnatal year

This study investigated psychological correlates of depression in fathers a nd mothers in the first postnatal year, using a mixed, mainly clinically re ferred sample and a cross-sectional design. ne Edinburgh Postnatal Depressi on Scale (EPDS) was used for depression screening for mothers, and the EPDS , Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) fo r fathers. A total of 75 mothers (47.5%) had EPDS scores > 12, and 45 fathe rs (48.9%) exceeded the threshold on one or more of the three screening ins truments. Most of the variance in paternal and maternal depression was acco unted for by neuroticism. However, while mothers appeared primarily influen ced by their own personality, perinatal and infant-related factors, fathers appeared more influenced by mothers' personality difficulties and unresolv ed past events, and mothers' current mental health and infant-related probl ems, as well as the state of the marital/de facto relationship. The BDI and EPDS seemed to measure more severe pervasive forms of paternal depression than the GHQ, and the EPDS appeared to tap some items more specifically ass ociated with perinatal psychological risk than the BDI. Depression in one p artner was moderately correlated with depression in the other High rates of paternal depression and anxiety in mothercraft settings suggest the need t o routinely assess the mental state of both parents in these settings, and to include fathers in postnatal depression intervention programmes. The mot her's negative perceptions of her infant's temperament are significantly as sociated with maternal and paternal depression, suggesting an important foc us for intervention.