DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY 25:718–724 (2008) Research Articles A MULTIRISK APPROACH TO PREDICTING CHRONICITY OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS

Background: Persistence of postpartum depression (PPD) carries potential adverse implications for the emerging mother–child relationship and for child development. Methods: This study was designed to investigate factors related to the onset and persistence of PPD; in particular, we examined the cumulative effect of a range of psychosocial risk factors in predicting chronic PPD symptoms. One hundred and five women were interviewed at three assessment periods: within the first days after childbirth, at 6 months, and at 18 months postpartum. Results: Depressive symptoms at 6 months predicted 18 months depressive symptoms, even when controlling for the contribution of maternal depression at birth. Psychosocial risk had a moderating influence on the stability of depressive symptomatology. Women with two or more risk factors at birth were more likely to have stable depressive symptomatology across the infants ’ first 18 months of life. Conclusion: To prevent a chronic course of PPD it may be necessary to identify both depressive symptoms and relevant psychosocial risk factors