[Postpartum depression: correlations and predictive factors]

Post-partum depression (PPD) belongs to the depressive spectrum consecutive to a pregnancy. It is important to detect it as soon as possible to avoid non-negligible consequences for the mother, the new born and close relatives. It some cases, PPD may give way to post-partum psychosis, a psychiatric emergency. The present study splits 88 women in two groups, within days of delivery, as a function of their score at the Edinburgh postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), an internationally validated scale which predicts future episodes of PPD. The two groups are then compared to a series of open items, obtained by personal interview, with the objective to better differentiate psychological and historical data giving way to this condition. Among the women, 27.3% had a score on the EPDS > or = 12 which is higher than what is generally encountered in the literature. The main results of this study are: 1) the higher percentage in the at risk group of women living with a significant other; 2) the presence of psychic or somatic issues during the pregnancy; 3) the feelings of negligence by the immediate environment; 4) auto-depreciative tendency, the ill-fulfilling of maternal function. These items are easily detectable if a little more attention was dedicated to young mothers soon after delivery.