SUBTHRESHOLD PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS AND POST-PARTUM MOOD DISORDERS

Objectives: During puerperium several mood disorders may occur, classified in:1) Maternity Blues, 2) Postpartum Depression (PPD) and 3) Puerperal Psychosis. Psychiatric symptoms in pregnant women are significantly undetected, and treatment rates are very low (1). Research shows that risk factors related to PPD are a history of depression before and during pregnancy, prior maternity blues, marital distress, lack of social support and last stressful events (2-3). Aim of this research is to investigate possible relationships among subthreshold psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders. Methods: The study was conducted in the Obstetric Unit of the University Hospital of Messina on a sample of 110 women recruited during the third trimester of pregnancy. The following instruments were administered to each subject: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and General Five Spectrum Measure (GSM-V). Moreover, the Kennerley’s Blues Questionnaire (BQ) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were administered for measuring postpartum affective disorders respectively at day 3 and at month 3 and 6 after delivery. Results: Statistical analysis (Pearson correlation) showed the following positive correlations: 1) BDI = BQ (p<0.0001), EPDS month 3 ( p<0.0001), EPDS month 6 ( p=0.005); 2) STAI = BQ (p=0.008), EPDS month 3 (p=0.045); 3) GSM-V/Panic = EPDS month 3 (p=0.003), EPDS month 6 (p=0.002); 4) GSM-V/depressive = BQ (p=0.036), EPDS month 3 ( p=0.010), EPDS month 6 (p=0.013); 5) GSM-V/obsessive compulsive = EPDS month 3 (p=0.017); 6) GSM-V/social phobia = BQ (p=0.013); 7) GSM-V/anorexia-bulimia = BQ (p=0.037), EPDS month 3 (p=0.004), EPDS month 6 (p=0.024). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that subthreshold psychiatric symptoms should be considered as risk factors in predisposing and in maintaining postpartum mood disorders. A screening aimed to the early identification of subthreshold symptoms could play an important role in preventing postpartum mood disorders by structured psychological supportive treatment. References 1. Vesga Lopez O., Blanco C., Keyes K., Olfson M., Grant B.F. & Hasin D.S. (2008). Psychiatric disorders in pregnant and postpartum women in the United States. Archives of General Psychiatry 65, 805-815. 2. Bener A, Gerber LM, Sheikh J. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders and associated risk factors in women during their postpartum period: a major public health problem and global comparison. Int J Womens Health. 2012;4:191-200. 3. F. Gonidakiset al. Maternity blues in Athens, Greece: A study during the first 3 days after delivery. Journal of Affective Disorders 99(2007), 107-115 21st World Congress of Social Psychiatry. 2013 Lisbon. Portugal. www.wasp2013.com