sodium-ethylxanthate and Depression--Postpartum

The purpose of this paper is to analyse postpartum depressive symptoms as related to baby gender, maternal region of birth, stress, perception of child difficult temperament and some demographic factors. The setting was 36 Swedish child health centres. Mothers of 1,848 19-month-old children completed a questionnaire, including an item about recall of postpartum sadness. A subsample of 360 answered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Overall, significantly more mothers of boys than of girls recalled postpartum sadness. The same was found in mothers born in Sweden and in other regions, except for the Middle East (no significant result). Among those born in Sweden and in other regions, more mothers of boys than of girls scored ≥12 on the EPDS, except for Middle East mothers with the opposite pattern (no significant finding). More mothers of "difficult" boys than of "difficult" girls recalled postpartum sadness. Our findings are tentative but may inspire future research. Immigrant mothers in Sweden seem rather like the majority population, possibly with the exception of Middle East mothers. The significance of parents' knowledge of their child's gender in advance is an important area for research. Future parents could benefit from discussing gender expectations with a nurse or other professional.

Topics: Adult; Culture; Depression; Depression, Postpartum; Female; Gender Identity; Humans; Mothers; Postpartum Period; Sex; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Temperament

Postnatal depression is a recognised cause of delayed cognitive development in infants in developed countries. Being underweight is common in South Asia.. To determine whether postnatal depression contributes to poor growth and development outcomes in Goa, India.. Cohort study for growth outcomes with nested case-control study for developmental outcomes. A total of 171 babies were weighed and measured at 6-8 weeks following birth. The following measures were used: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for maternal mood, and sociodemographic and infant health variables. Outcome measures were: weight (<5th centile), length (<5th centile), and Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants scores at six months.. Postnatal depression was a strong, and independent, predictor of low weight and length and was significantly associated with adverse mental development quotient scores.. This study provides evidence for the first time that postnatal depression, a potentially treatable disorder, is a cause of poor growth and development in South Asia.

Topics: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Cohort Studies; Depression, Postpartum; Developing Countries; Developmental Disabilities; Female; Humans; India; Infant; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Male; Sex

Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Depression, Postpartum; Educational Status; Female; Guilt; Humans; India; Infant, Newborn; Male; Mothers; Poverty; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sex; Social Support

This study described the natural history of depression in mothers who recently gave birth in a low-income country and to investigate the effect of risk factors, particularly related to infant gender bias, on the occurrence and outcome of depression.. The authors studied a group of pregnant mothers recruited during their third trimester of pregnancy from a district hospital in Goa, India. The mothers were interviewed at recruitment, 6-8 weeks, and 6 months after childbirth. Interview data included presence of antenatal and postnatal depression, obstetric history, economic and demographic characteristics, and gender-based variables (preference for male infant, presence of marital violence).. Depressive disorder was detected in 59 (23%) of the mothers at 6-8 weeks after childbirth; 78% of these patients had had clinically substantial psychological morbidity during the antenatal period. More than one-half of the patients remained ill at 6 months after delivery. Economic deprivation and poor marital relationships were important risk factors for the occurrence and chronicity of depression. The gender of the infant was a determinant of postnatal depression; it modified the effect of other risk factors, such as marital violence and hunger. Depressed mothers were more disabled and were more likely to use health services than nondepressed mothers.. Maternal and infant health policies, a priority in low-income countries, must integrate maternal depression as a disorder of public health significance. Interventions should target mothers in the antenatal period and incorporate a strong gender-based component.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Depression, Postpartum; Ethnicity; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gender Identity; Humans; India; Infant, Newborn; Male; Poverty; Pregnancy; Risk Factors; Sex; Social Values; Spouse Abuse

Post-partum depression in the developing world has received little research attention, and its association with disturbances in the mother-infant relationship is unknown.. To determine the prevalence of post-partum depression and associated disturbances in the mother-infant relationship in Khayelitsha, a South African peri-urban settlement.. The mental state of 147 women who had delivered two months previously was assessed, and the quality of their engagement with their infants was determined.. The point prevalence of DSM-IV major depression was found to be 34.7%. Maternal depression was associated with poor emotional and practical support from the partner. It was also associated with insensitive engagement with the infants.. The rate of post-partum depression in Khayelitsha was around three times that found in British post-partum samples, and these depressions were strongly associated with disturbances in the mother-infant relationship.

Topics: Adult; Depression, Postpartum; Developing Countries; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Marital Status; Maternal Age; Mother-Child Relations; Parity; Prevalence; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Sex; Socioeconomic Factors; South Africa; Urban Population

In this study of 192 cases of post partum psychosis, the mean age of cases was 24.2 years. A past history of post partum psychosis was present in 16 cases (8.3%). As per the RDC categories, a majority of patients had unspecified functional psychosis and developed psychosis after the birth of first child. There was a positive correlation between the birth of female child and psychosis. The majority of cases developed psychosis within first 2 weeks after delivery. There were several other statistically significant differences when these cases were compared with non-puerperal, disease-matched controls.

Topics: Adult; Antidepressive Agents; Antipsychotic Agents; Behavioral Symptoms; Case-Control Studies; Chi-Square Distribution; Depression, Postpartum; Electroconvulsive Therapy; Female; Humans; India; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Unwanted; Prospective Studies; Psychotic Disorders; Puerperal Disorders; Risk Factors; Sex