RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms in the Immediate Postpartum Period
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 258
OP 261
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2011.03.100249
VO 24
IS 3
A1 Ganesh Pawar
A1 Christine Wetzker
A1 Dwenda Gjerdingen
YR 2011
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/24/3/258.abstract
AB Purpose: There is currently little information about rates of positive maternal depression screens immediately after delivery; rather, most studies have assessed the prevalence of major depression between 1 and 6 months postpartum. This study investigated the rate of positive 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) surveys within 1 to 2 days after delivery.Methods: A retrospective chart review of PHQ-9 results obtained within 1 to 2 days after childbirth was performed on 441 women who delivered at 3 St. Paul, MN, hospitals during February 2010.Results: Out of 441 deliveries recorded during the study period, PHQ-9 results were available for 361 women (81.9%). A total of 9 women (2.5%) had positive PHQ-9 scores within 1 to 2 days after delivery.Conclusion: We found very low rates of depressive symptoms during the immediate postpartum period, which leads us to suggest that this is not an ideal time for postpartum depression screening or evaluation.