Depression is more common during pregnancy than after childbirth

Although postnatal depression is given high priority, little attention has been paid to depression during pregnancy. However, some evidence suggests that mood during pregnancy may affect the unborn child. Evans et al (p 257) studied the symptoms of depression in over 9000 mothers during pregnancy and after childbirth. They found that symptoms were more common during pregnancy than postnatally. There were no differences in the pattern or severity of symptoms reported postnatally and in pregnancy. The authors call for more emphasis to be put on understanding, detecting, and treating depression in pregnancy.


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Relevant Article

Cohort study of depressed mood during pregnancy and after childbirth
Jonathan Evans, Jon Heron, Helen Francomb, Sarah Oke, and Jean Golding
BMJ 2001 323: 257-260. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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