Düzce Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi (Nov 2010)
Evaluation Of Anxiety And Depression Levels Of Mothers During Prepartum And Postpartum Periods
Abstract
Purpose: In this study, we aimed to determine the change in depression and anxiety levels ofmothers during prepartum and postpartum periods.Methods: Among the mothers who admitted Dicle University Hospital in their third trimesterbetween June 2008 and January 2009 and did not have any physical disorder were enrolled inthe study. After their initial evaluation during the third trimester the mothers were re-evaluatedin their second and third month after birth.Results: Mean age of the mothers was 28.2±4.2 years. Prepartum and postpartum evaluationsof the mothers with BDI revealed 31% and 29% depression ratios, respectively. According tothe STAI-I when evaluated at prepartum and postpartum periods, 47% and 49% of the motherwere significantly anxious. It was 71% and 63% for prepartum and postpartum evaluations withSTAI-II, respectively. There were statistically significant difference between prepartum andpostpartum periods in terms of upper threshold of the BDI and STAI-II scores (p=0.002 andp=0.014).Conclusion: Mothers seem to be under as high risk for depression and anxiety at prepartumperiod as they are at postpartum period. In general, the mothers who had higher levels ofdepression and anxiety before delivery tend to have also higher levels at postpartum period.
