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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
Prevalence, onset and comorbidity of postpartum anxiety and depressive disorders
C Reck1, K Struben, M Backenstrass
1Department of General Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg , Germany. corinna_reck@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Objective:
The study presents data on the 3-month prevalences of postpartum anxiety disorders (PAD) and postpartum depressive disorders (PDD) and their comorbidity in a German community sample. Associations with sociodemographic variables and previous history of psychopathology were analysed.
Method:
Data were gathered in a longitudinal study over the first 3 months postpartum. In a two-stage screening procedure, a population-based representative sample of 1024 postpartum women was assessed for symptoms of anxiety and depression using DSM-IV-based screening instruments.
Results:
The estimated rates of DSM-IV disorders were 11.1% for PAD and 6.1% for PDD. Comorbidity was found in 2.1%. The rate for PAD with postpartum onset was 2.2% and for PDD 4.6%. Young mothers and mothers with a low education level had a heightened risk of developing depression following delivery.
Conclusion:
Because of the clinical relevance of PAD, controlled studies and specialized programmes for prevention and treatment are urgently required.
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