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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
What lies behind postnatal depression: is it only a mood disorder?
Gisèle Apter1, Emmanuel Devouche, Maya Gratier
1University Denis Diderot Paris 7, France. gisdanap@aol.com
Journal of Personality Disorders
|June 13, 2012
Summary
Mothers experiencing postnatal depression (PND) are twice as likely to have personality disorders (PD). This highlights a significant comorbidity impacting maternal mental health and infant relationships.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Perinatal Mental Health
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Postnatal depression (PND) significantly affects the mother-infant relationship.
- Comorbidity of major depressive disorder with Axis II disorders is well-established.
- Understanding PND's association with personality disorders (PD) is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of PD in mothers with PND compared to non-PND mothers at 3 months postpartum.
- To identify the types of PD prevalent in the PND population.
- To explore the clinical symptom severity in relation to PND and PD.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 109 women and their 12-week-old infants participated.
- Depression was assessed using the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).
- Personality disorders were evaluated using the Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders (SIDP-IV).
Main Results:
- Mothers with PND showed twice the incidence of PD compared to the non-PND group.
- The PND group exhibited a significantly greater number of severe clinical symptoms (p < .002).
- Specific types of PD were identified within the depressed cohort.
Conclusions:
- A higher prevalence of personality disorders exists in mothers with postnatal depression.
- PND is associated with more severe clinical symptoms, potentially linked to underlying PD.
- Further research is needed to understand PND heterogeneity and its developmental impact.
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