2002 International International Biennial Scientific Meeting

TIMING OF RECURRENCE OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

Katherine L Wisner*, James M Perel, Kathleen S Peindl, and Barbara H Hanusa

* Gottfried and Gisela Kolb Professor of Outpatient Psychiatry, Women's Mental HealthCARE, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

wisnerkl@msx.upmc.edu

Objectives: To assess the timing of recurrence in women who have suffered from a previous episode of postpartum-onset major depression (PPMD) in the year following another birth.

Methods: Non-depressed women who had at least one past episode of PPMD were recruited during pregnancy. Subjects were assessed prospectively for 20 weeks with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Research Diagnostic Criteria for recurrence of major depression. Evaluations were performed at 24, 36, and 52 weeks to assess for episodes beyond 20 weeks postpartum.

Results: The data revealed a clustering of cases, with 5 of the 21 recurrences (24%) occurring in the first two weeks. Thirteen of the 21 recurrences (67%) and 19/21 recurrences (90%) occurred in the first 20 and 28 weeks following birth, respectively.

Conclusions: The one-year recurrence rate was 21/51 or 41%, with a clustering of cases near delivery. All recurrences except two occurred by 28 weeks postpartum.