Cognitive Dysfunction and Associated Behaviour Problems in Postpartum Women: A Study from North India.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Childbirth induces significant psychological and biological changes in women.
• Postpartum women are vulnerable to psychiatric disorders like cognitive dysfunction, depression, and anxiety.
• These issues are often under-reported due to caregiver focus on the newborn.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence of behavioral problems and cognitive dysfunction in the postpartum period.
• To compare cognitive function and mental health status between postpartum and non-pregnant women.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 200 postpartum women and 100 healthy controls.
• Cognitive function assessed using Standard Mini-Mental State Examination Scale (SMMSE), Brief Cognitive Rating Scale (BCRS), and Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B).
• Depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms measured by the 21-Item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale.

Main Results:

• Postpartum women demonstrated poorer performance on SMMSE, BCRS, and TMT-B compared to controls (p < 0.001).
• Significantly higher subscores for depression, anxiety, and stress were observed in postpartum women (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Postpartum women exhibit greater cognitive deficits than their non-pregnant counterparts.
• There is a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among postpartum women.