Affective Temperaments May Predict Postpartum Depression: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Aim:Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious clinical condition, which affects both mother and baby as well as partners. Although PPD is accepted as a mood disorder, there have been limited numbers of studies that investigated affective temperaments in PPD and pregnancy. Moreover, no study has been carried out on the subject of whether affective temperaments assessed during pregnancy can predict PPD.Materials and Methods:One hundred-fourteen pregnant women were included in present study considering specific criteria. Patients were assessed with the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego auto-questionnaire and socio-demographic forms during the third trimester of pregnancy. In the following four weeks of delivery, patients were assessed with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale for evaluating the presence of tendency to PPD.Results:The patients who had a tendency to PPD had significantly higher scores on all affective temperament scores except hyperthymic temperament. In logistic regression analysis, it was found that higher scores of cyclothymic temperament and anxious temperament (AT) were associated with tendency to PPD (Odds ratio: 1.26 and 1.47).Conclusion:Cyclothymic and anxious temperaments are candidates for predicting tendency to PPD. Pregnant women, who have higher scores specifically for cyclothymic and ATs should be considered in terms of affective disorders.

Keywords

• postpartum
• depression
• affective
• temperament