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Psychosocial Study of Depression in Early Pregnancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Toshinori Kitamura*
Affiliation:
National Institute of Mental Health, Ichikawa
Masumi Sugawara
Affiliation:
National Institute of Mental Health, Ichikawa
Kensuke Sugawara
Affiliation:
Edogawa University, Nagareyama
Mari Aoki Toda
Affiliation:
Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo
Satoru Shima
Affiliation:
Tokyo Keizai University, Tokyo, Japan
*
Toshinori Kitamura, Department of Sociocultural Environmental Research, National Institute of Mental Health, NCNP, 1–7–3 Konodai, Ichikawa, 272 Japan

Abstract

Background

The psychosocial correlates of depression during pregnancy were explored.

Method

Pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of a general hospital (n=1329) received a set of questionnaires including Zung's Self-Rating Depression Score (SDS). SDS high scorers (>49) (the cases: n=179) were compared with low scorers (<38) (the controls; n=343).

Results

The cases were characterised by: first delivery; more nausea, vomiting, and anorexia; more menstrual pains and premenstrual irritability; early paternal loss; lower maternal care and higher paternal overprotection; higher public self-consciousness score; more smoking and use of medication in pregnancy; unwanted pregnancy; negative psychological response to the pregnancy by the woman and husband; poor intimacy by the husband; and having remarried.

Conclusions

Depression in early pregnancy is determined mainly by psychosocial factors.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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