Prevalence rates and psychosocial characteristics associated with depression in pregnancy and postpartum in Maltese women

Background: Investigators have commented on the apparent high prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in pregnancy. In Malta there is lack of epidemiological data and therefore, the prevalence of depression during pregnancy and at 8 weeks postpartum among a community sample of Maltese women was carried out. Method: A random sample of 239 pregnant women were interviewed at booking using a detailed sociodemographic history, the revised version of the clinical interview schedule (CIS-R) and Maltese translation of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS). The CIS-R was again administered over the phone at 36 weeks and the EPDS sent by post. At 8 weeks postpartum, the CIS-R, modified version of the social maladjustment schedule and the EPDS were again administered to 95.8% of women. Results: The point prevalence of depression meeting ICD-10 research criteria was 15.5% at booking, 11.1% in the third trimester and 8.7% postpartum of which only 3.9% had an onset since delivery. Conclusions: The low rate of new onset postpartum depression compared with other studies in our sample may be attributable to the social support available to women living in a cohesive Catholic island community. Limitation: The follow-up was limited to 8 weeks postpartum. No control group was used to compare the prevalence of depression in women who did not recently have a baby.