This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (310)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Michael W. O'Hara, PhD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1986;43(6):569-573.

Abstract
• A sample of 99 women was studied prospectively from the second trimester of pregnancy until nine weeks post partum. Depressed and nondepressed women identified at (1) the second-trimester assessment and (2) the postpartum assessment were compared on measures of stressful life events and social support provided by their spouses and close confidants. Nine percent of women during pregnancy and 12% of women after delivery were depressed. Women experiencing postpartum depression reported more stressful life events and less support from their spouses after delivery than the women not experiencing postpartum depression. Women experiencing depression during pregnancy reported somewhat less support from their spouses and more support from their confidants than nondepressed women. The results of the study suggest that different causes may be responsible for prepartum and postpartum depression.

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication April 26, 1985.

Reprint requests to Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 (Dr O'Hara).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Plasma Melatonin Circadian Rhythm Disturbances During Pregnancy and Postpartum in Depressed Women and Women With Personal or Family Histories of Depression
Parry et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2008;165:1551-1558.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Maternal depression: risk factors and treatment options during pregnancy
Conlon and Lynch
The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 2008;10:151-155.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Factors related to depression during pregnancy: are there gender differences?
Escribe-Aguir et al.
J. Epidemiol. Community Health 2008;62:410-414.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Barriers to Care for Antenatal Depression
Kopelman et al.
Psychiatr. Serv. 2008;59:429-432.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy and the Rates of Spontaneous Abortions: A Meta-Analysis
Hemels et al.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2005;39:803-809.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Adaptation of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders for assessing depression in women during pregnancy and post-partum across countries and cultures
Gorman et al.
Br. J. Psychiatry 2004;184 :s17-s23.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prenatal and Postpartum Depression among Low-Income Dominican and Puerto Rican Women
Zayas et al.
Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences 2003;25:370-385.
ABSTRACT  

Onset and Persistence of Postpartum Depression in an Inner-City Maternal Health Clinic System
Yonkers et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2001;158:1856-1863.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Detection and Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders and Substance Use Among Pregnant Women Cared for in Obstetrics
Kelly et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2001;158:213-219.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Adequacy of Prenatal Care Among Women With Psychiatric Diagnoses Giving Birth in California in 1994 and 1995
Kelly et al.
Psychiatr. Serv. 1999;50:1584-1590.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Serum Concentrations of Antidepressants and Benzodiazepines in Nursing Infants: A Case Series
Birnbaum et al.
Pediatrics 1999;104:11e-11.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Chart-Recorded Psychiatric Diagnoses in Women Giving Birth in California in 1992
Kelly et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 1999;156:955-957.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Hormonal Changes in the Postpartum and Implications for Postpartum Depression
Hendrick et al.
Psychosomatics 1998;39:93-101.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Marriage, Intimate Support and Depression during Pregnancy: A Study of Inner-City Women
Gallagher et al.
J Health Psychol 1997;2:457-469.
ABSTRACT  

Childbearing and Women's Mental Health
Zelkowitz
Transcultural Psychiatry 1996;33:391-412.
ABSTRACT  

Stress and Health Outcomes Among Mothers of Low-Birth-Weight Infants
Gennaro et al.
West J Nurs Res 1993;15:97-113.
 

Controllability of Stressful Events and Satisfaction With Spouse Support Behaviors
CUTRONA and SUHR
Communication Research 1992;19:154-174.
ABSTRACT  

Prospective Study of Postpartum Blues: Biologic and Psychosocial Factors
O'Hara et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1991;48:801-806.
ABSTRACT