Cohort profile: the Biology, Affect, Stress, Imaging and Cognition (BASIC) study on perinatal depression in a population-based Swedish cohort

Abstract

PurposeWith the population-based, prospective Biology, Affect, Stress, Imaging and Cognition (BASIC) cohort, we aim to investigate the biopsychosocial aetiological processes involved in perinatal depression (PND) and to pinpoint its predictors in order to improve early detection.ParticipantsFrom September 2009 to November 2018, the BASIC study at Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden, has enrolled 5492 women, in 6478 pregnancies, of which 46.3% first-time pregnancies and with an average age of 31.5 years. After inclusion around gestational week 16–18, participants are followed-up with data collection points around gestational week 32, at childbirth, as well as three times postpartum: after 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year. At the last follow-up, 70.8% still remain in the cohort.Findings to dateIn addition to internet-based surveys with self-report instruments, participants contribute with biological samples, for example, blood samples (maternal and from umbilical cord), biopsies (umbilical cord and placenta) and microbiota samples. A nested case–control subsample also takes part in cognitive and emotional tests, heart rate variability tests and bioimpedance tests. Subprojects have identified various correlates of PND of psychological and obstetric origin in addition to factors of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and immune system.Future plansIn parallel with the completion of data collection (final follow-up November 2019), BASIC study data are currently analysed in multiple subprojects. Since 2012, we are conducting an ongoing follow-up study on the participants and their children up to 6 years of age (U-BIRTH). Researchers interested in collaboration may contact Professor Alkistis Skalkidou (corresponding author) with their request to be considered by the BASIC study steering committee.

Mental health among pregnant women during the pandemic in Sweden– a mixed methods approach using data from the Mom2B mobile application for research

“…By the end of October 2020, 1608 women were enrolled in the study and 1345 had answered at least one question related to mental health measures during pregnancy. The included self-report instruments were based on the results from a previous study in Uppsala County, Sweden (17),…”

Severe obstetric lacerations associated with postpartum depression among women with low resilience – a Swedish birth cohort study

“…This study is part of a longitudinal population-based projectthe BASIC (Biology, Affect, Stress, Imaging and Cognition) study 34 that investigates women's psychological wellbeing during and after pregnancy, conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden. Along with the invitation to the routine ultrasound in gestational weeks 16-18, all pregnant, Swedish-speaking women in the Uppsala area who were ≥18 years of age and did not have confidential personal data, received a letter with information about the study and were invited to participate.…”

“…In total, BASIC recruited 6478 pregnancies between September 2009 and November 2019. 34 For the current study, data from vaginally delivered women with valid information regarding the presence of lacerations and PPD (assessed by the Depression Self-Reporting Scale [DSRS] introduced in 2012 and described below), available at the time of analysis in autumn 2019 were used (not all women recruited into the BASIC study had reached the 6 weeks postpartum time-point). Further, the sub-analysis was performed among a smaller number of participants recruited during the years 2014-2019, when even resilience was assessed.…”

“…Data were drawn from the population-based, longitudinal BASIC cohort. 34 Moreover, an instrument based on the DSM-IV criteria for major depression was used instead of a screening instrument. Further, the association between severe perineal lacerations and PPD was investigated for the first time among women with low resilience.…”

“…The participation rate in the BASIC study is around 20%, probably because of the study's comprehensive nature, with multiple questionnaires and biological sampling. 34 The low participation rate may compromise the generalisability of the results. In addition, the participants were informed beforehand about the primary focus of this study, that being antenatal mental health, which may have introduced a selection bias.…”