Mood instability during pregnancy and postpartum: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Perinatal mental health
• Mood instability
• Maternal-infant interaction

Background:

• Perinatal mood instability (MI) is frequently observed in women during pregnancy and postpartum.
• Existing research links perinatal MI to various mental health disorders.
• Understanding the scope and impact of perinatal MI is crucial for maternal and child well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the existing evidence on perinatal mood instability (MI).
• To focus on the relationship between perinatal MI and perinatal depression.
• To examine the effects of perinatal MI on children.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched seven academic health databases for English-language, peer-reviewed articles (1985-July 2017).
• Screened 1927 abstracts, with 4 quantitative studies selected for final analysis after quality assessment.

Main Results:

• Perinatal women exhibited significantly higher levels of MI compared to non-perinatal women.
• MI is a notable characteristic in perinatal women, irrespective of depression status.
• Postpartum mood lability predicts psychopathology up to 14 months; maternal emotion dysregulation, not psychopathology, heightens mother-infant facial synchrony.

Conclusions:

• Perinatal mood instability is a significant clinical observation with implications for maternal mental health.
• The findings underscore the need for further research into perinatal MI and its long-term effects.
• A notable gap exists in the current literature regarding perinatal mood instability.