Prevalence and correlates of postpartum depression in first-time mothers

The prevalence and correlates of postpartum depression were examined in a large (N = 1,033) sample of married, primiparous, middle-class mothers of full-term, healthy infants; 9.3% met modified Research Diagnostic Criteria for depression. However, 39% of the nondepressed women also reported at least 1 somatic symptom. Depressed women whose symptoms were current obtained elevated scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale, as did some women who did not meet depression criteria. Depressed women different from nondepressed women on several socioeconomic status indicators and the occurrence of obstetric complications, even in this low-risk sample. These data have implications for the assessment of depression in postpartum women.