Personality disorders in the perinatal period

Mental disorders are among the most common morbidities of the perinatal period, but research has mostly focused on depression and anxiety disorders. Few studies have examined the effect of personality disorders in the perinatal period. The study aimed to investigate the impact of disordered personality traits on objective and subjective complaints about the childbirth and the postnatal period. Furthermore, we aimed to explore the effects of disordered personality traits on postpartum depression and attachment styles. The sample included 415 women, who attended prenatal care in Iceland. The women completed psychological questionnaires, including the Standardized Assessment of Personality – Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS), used to assess disordered personality traits. Univariate analysis and binary logistic regression were used to explore associations between the variables. The prevalence of elevated disordered personality traits (SAPAS ≥4) in the sample was 22.2% (95% CI 18.2-26.2). Women with elevated disordered personality traits were more likely to have subjective complaints about motherhood and breastfeeding, without having objective problems with childbirth, breastfeeding or with the newborn baby. Women with elevated disordered personality traits were more likely to exhibit postpartum depression and to have attachment difficulties