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The Association between Depressive State and Maternal Cognitive Function in Postpartum Women
Elad Mazor1, Eyal Sheiner2, Tamar Wainstock1
1Faculty of Health Sciences, The Joyce and Irving Goldman Medical School, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
American Journal of Perinatology
|August 7, 2018
Summary
Postpartum depression commonly affects mothers, primarily impacting their self-perceived cognitive abilities rather than causing actual cognitive impairment. This study highlights the psychological effects of maternal depression on cognitive self-assessment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Maternal amnesia is a temporary cognitive change during pregnancy and postpartum.
- The prevalence and nature of this cognitive decline, especially its link to postpartum depression, require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence and extent of cognitive decline in mothers.
- To determine the role of postpartum depression in maternal cognitive function.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 120 postpartum women.
- Cognitive function assessed via the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), and Attention Function Index (AFI).
Main Results:
- 33.3% of women showed signs of postpartum depression (EPDS ≥10).
- Maternal depression was significantly associated with lower scores on subjective cognitive assessment (AFI) and nearly significantly lower scores on objective cognitive tests (SDMT).
- Depression independently predicted lower subjective cognitive scores, but not objective SDMT scores, after controlling for covariates.
Conclusions:
- Postpartum depression is prevalent and seems to primarily influence mothers' self-assessment of cognitive abilities.
- Findings suggest that perceived cognitive impairment in mothers may be more closely linked to depression than to objective cognitive deficits.
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