Cohort study, 2013
Does having PMS or PMDD before pregnancy increase the risk of postpartum depression?
Yes. Women with a history of PMS or PMDD were more likely to develop postpartum depression, especially those who had been pregnant before. The link was confirmed at 5 days, 6 weeks, and 6 months after birth.
What they did
Swedish hospital-based cohort study. All women delivering at a university hospital during one year (May 2006 to June 2007) were invited to participate. They completed questionnaires at 5 days, 6 weeks, and 6 months postpartum, reporting previous premenstrual symptoms and depression symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (score of 12 or more counted as depression).
What they found
Among 2318 women, 7.1% had reported a history of premenstrual syndrome and 2.9% had reported premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Both groups showed higher rates of postpartum depression at all three follow-up times. The association remained significant only in women who had been pregnant before.
What it means for you
Women with PMS or PMDD should be monitored for postpartum depression, particularly those with prior pregnancies. The study relied on women remembering their premenstrual symptoms after giving birth and only included women at one Swedish hospital.
7.1%
Women with history of PMS
2.9%
Women with history of PMDD
2318
Total women studied
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual syndrome and dysphoric disorder as risk factors for postpartum depression
- Authors
- Sylvén SM, Ekselius L, Sundström-Poromaa I et al.
- Journal
- Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica
- Year
- 2013
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 2,318
- What was tested
- None (observational study).
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/aogs.12041
Topics
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