Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Is postnatal depression a risk factor for sudden infant death?
C A Sanderson1, B Cowden, D M B Hall
1University Department of Paediatrics, Sheffield Children's Hospital.
Background:
In New Zealand, an association has been shown between postnatal depression and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Aim:
To replicate the New Zealand study.
Design Of Study:
Case-control study.
Setting:
The city of Sheffield, UK.
Method:
The database of the Sheffield Child Development Study was used Demographic and obstetric data were collected and at one month postpartum the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was administered. Detailed information on the cause of all infant deaths was available.
Results:
There were 32,984 live births during the study period (from the year 1988 to 1993) and 42 babies died with the cause registered as SIDS. Multivariate analysis showed that smoking was the most important risk factorfor SIDS (odds ratio [OR] = 7.24, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 2.76 to 19.01), followed by a high EPDS (OR = 3.20, 95% CI = 1.46 to 6.99) and residence in an area of poverty (OR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.06 to 5.11).
Conclusions:
The Sheffield data confirm the New Zealand findings. A high EPDS score and, by implication, postnatal depression, may be risk factors for SIDS, however, there are many possible explanations for the association.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Depression: Overview
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Attachment
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...

