Biopsychosocial determinants of treatment outcome for mood and anxiety disorders up to 8 months postpartum

Abstract

Little is known about the biopsychosocial determinants that predict postpartum treatment outcome for mood and anxiety disorders. Postpartum mood and anxiety symptoms and psychosocial/biological variables were recorded for 8 months of 22 women treated with antidepressants during pregnancy. Depression scores decreased by 58%, whereas anxiety scores decreased by 35%. Family history of psychiatric illness and prior psychiatric illness unrelated to pregnancy predicted depressive treatment outcome, and sexual abuse history and prior psychiatric illness unrelated to pregnancy predicted anxiety outcome. Biological and psychosocial variables predicted pharmacological treatment outcome in postpartum-depressed and anxious women.

Predictors of Recovery from Depression and Anxiety in Women: A Longitudinal Study from Childbirth to 6 Years

“…Earlier studies found that prior psychiatric illness predicted treatment outcomes in postpartum depressed/anxious women. 41,42 Our findings, which are different, could be due to underreporting of psychiatric history by mothers during their initial assessment. Due to fear of stigma, acceptance of psychiatric illness after a baby's birth can be distressing and shameful.…”