Screening for postpartum depression and risk of suicidality with obstetrical patients: a cross-sectional survey
Abstract Background Pregnancy is a vulnerable time where the physical and social stress of the COVID-19 pandemic affects psychological health, including postpartum depression (PPD). This study is designed to estimate the prevalence and correlates of PPD and risk of suicidality among individuals who...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05903-z |
| _version_ | 1797555800866029568 |
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| author | Carlie Boisvert Robert Talarico Jasmine Gandhi Mark Kaluzienski Alysha LJ Dingwall-Harvey Ruth Rennicks White Kari Sampsel Shi Wu Wen Mark Walker Katherine A. Muldoon Darine El-Chaâr |
| author_facet | Carlie Boisvert Robert Talarico Jasmine Gandhi Mark Kaluzienski Alysha LJ Dingwall-Harvey Ruth Rennicks White Kari Sampsel Shi Wu Wen Mark Walker Katherine A. Muldoon Darine El-Chaâr |
| author_sort | Carlie Boisvert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Pregnancy is a vulnerable time where the physical and social stress of the COVID-19 pandemic affects psychological health, including postpartum depression (PPD). This study is designed to estimate the prevalence and correlates of PPD and risk of suicidality among individuals who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We surveyed individuals who gave birth at The Ottawa Hospital and were ≥ 20 days postpartum, between March 17 and June 16, 2020. A PPD screen consisted of a score ≥ 13 using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. A score of 1, 2, or 3 on item 10 (“The thought of harming myself has occurred to me”) indicates risk of suicidality. If a participant scores greater than ≥ 13 or ≥ 1 on item 10 they were flagged for PPD, the Principal Investigator (DEC) was notified within 24 h of survey completion for a chart review and to assure follow-up. Modified Poisson multivariable regression models were used to identify factors associated with PPD and risk of suicidality using adjusted risk ratios (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Of the 216 respondents, 64 (30%) screened positive for PPD and 17 (8%) screened positive for risk of suicidality. The maternal median age of the total sample was 33 years (IQR: 30–36) and the infant median age at the time of the survey was 76 days (IQR: 66–90). Most participants reported some form of positive coping strategies during the pandemic (97%) (e.g. connecting with friends and family, exercising, getting professional help) and 139 (64%) reported negative coping patterns (e.g. over/under eating, sleep problems). In total, 47 (22%) had pre-pregnancy anxiety and/or depression. Negative coping (aRR:2.90, 95% CI: 1.56–5.37) and pre-existing anxiety/depression (aRR:2.03, 95% CI:1.32–3.11) were associated with PPD. Pre-existing anxiety/depression (aRR:3.16, 95% CI:1.28–7.81) was associated with risk of suicidality. Conclusions Almost a third of participants in this study screened positive for PPD and 8% for risk of suicidality. Mental health screening and techniques to foster positive coping skills/strategies are important areas to optimize postpartum mental health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:52:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4b6cf1f290e3472c899ded1d0d42cb5e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:52:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj.art-4b6cf1f290e3472c899ded1d0d42cb5e2023-11-20T11:14:15ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932023-09-012311910.1186/s12884-023-05903-zScreening for postpartum depression and risk of suicidality with obstetrical patients: a cross-sectional surveyCarlie Boisvert0Robert Talarico1Jasmine Gandhi2Mark Kaluzienski3Alysha LJ Dingwall-Harvey4Ruth Rennicks White5Kari Sampsel6Shi Wu Wen7Mark Walker8Katherine A. Muldoon9Darine El-Chaâr10Faculty of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, University of OttawaClinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteFaculty of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, University of OttawaFaculty of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, University of OttawaClinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteClinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteFaculty of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, University of OttawaClinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteClinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteClinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteClinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteAbstract Background Pregnancy is a vulnerable time where the physical and social stress of the COVID-19 pandemic affects psychological health, including postpartum depression (PPD). This study is designed to estimate the prevalence and correlates of PPD and risk of suicidality among individuals who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We surveyed individuals who gave birth at The Ottawa Hospital and were ≥ 20 days postpartum, between March 17 and June 16, 2020. A PPD screen consisted of a score ≥ 13 using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. A score of 1, 2, or 3 on item 10 (“The thought of harming myself has occurred to me”) indicates risk of suicidality. If a participant scores greater than ≥ 13 or ≥ 1 on item 10 they were flagged for PPD, the Principal Investigator (DEC) was notified within 24 h of survey completion for a chart review and to assure follow-up. Modified Poisson multivariable regression models were used to identify factors associated with PPD and risk of suicidality using adjusted risk ratios (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Of the 216 respondents, 64 (30%) screened positive for PPD and 17 (8%) screened positive for risk of suicidality. The maternal median age of the total sample was 33 years (IQR: 30–36) and the infant median age at the time of the survey was 76 days (IQR: 66–90). Most participants reported some form of positive coping strategies during the pandemic (97%) (e.g. connecting with friends and family, exercising, getting professional help) and 139 (64%) reported negative coping patterns (e.g. over/under eating, sleep problems). In total, 47 (22%) had pre-pregnancy anxiety and/or depression. Negative coping (aRR:2.90, 95% CI: 1.56–5.37) and pre-existing anxiety/depression (aRR:2.03, 95% CI:1.32–3.11) were associated with PPD. Pre-existing anxiety/depression (aRR:3.16, 95% CI:1.28–7.81) was associated with risk of suicidality. Conclusions Almost a third of participants in this study screened positive for PPD and 8% for risk of suicidality. Mental health screening and techniques to foster positive coping skills/strategies are important areas to optimize postpartum mental health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05903-zPostpartum depressionSuicideCOVID-19ObstetricsPregnancyMental health |
| spellingShingle | Carlie Boisvert Robert Talarico Jasmine Gandhi Mark Kaluzienski Alysha LJ Dingwall-Harvey Ruth Rennicks White Kari Sampsel Shi Wu Wen Mark Walker Katherine A. Muldoon Darine El-Chaâr Screening for postpartum depression and risk of suicidality with obstetrical patients: a cross-sectional survey BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Postpartum depression Suicide COVID-19 Obstetrics Pregnancy Mental health |
| title | Screening for postpartum depression and risk of suicidality with obstetrical patients: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_full | Screening for postpartum depression and risk of suicidality with obstetrical patients: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_fullStr | Screening for postpartum depression and risk of suicidality with obstetrical patients: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Screening for postpartum depression and risk of suicidality with obstetrical patients: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_short | Screening for postpartum depression and risk of suicidality with obstetrical patients: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_sort | screening for postpartum depression and risk of suicidality with obstetrical patients a cross sectional survey |
| topic | Postpartum depression Suicide COVID-19 Obstetrics Pregnancy Mental health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05903-z |
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