Approximately 10% of women experience psychological distress
with significant depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Those with
histories of major depression appear to be at higher risk of the
depression recurring during pregnancy.
This study set out to compare subsequent pregnancy outcome in
women with histories of postnatal depression who were attending a
Tertiary Obstetric Unit (TOU) and a District General Hospital (DGH)
in Northern Ireland.
Women were traced on a special computer system between January
2001 and May 2002. Those with a previous history of postnatal
depression recorded at ‘booking’ for their current pregnancy were
studied. Age, number of previous children, drug history, follow-up
and subsequent antenatal depression were noted.
It was found that 6.6% of women attending the TOU had a
history of postnatal depression, compared with 4.7% in the DGH. The
most common age range was 31-35 years at both centres.
The DGH group had the most children. 70% of patients in the
TOU and 80.6% in the DGH required treatment. The antidepressant
fluoxetine was the most commonly prescribed drug in each
centre.
Other therapy included vitamin B6, oestrogen patches, St.
John’s Wort and acupuncture. 1.3% of women in the TOU and 3.5% in
the DGH were referred to a psychiatrist.
During the subsequent pregnancy, 4.3% of women in the TOU and
4.4% in the DGH remained on antidepressants. Again fluoxetine was
the most commonly prescribed medication. One woman in each centre
took an overdose during this pregnancy.
The authors of the study comment that percentages and ages of
women were similar at both centres. The number of previous children
differed between the centres, and this was geographically specific
to larger families in the more rural setting.
More women in the DGH required treatment, which may be why
more of them attended a psychiatrist. Other therapies are still
being used, even though their effectiveness is questionable
For further information, please contact Liz Fox or Deborah
Hart in the Communications Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127