這項研究由Robert Wood Johnson、Finding Answers、Disparities Research for Change and the Children's Fund of Connecticut贊助。作者們表示沒有相關資金上的往來。
Postpartum Depression Could Become Chronic Depression in Low-Income Mothers
By Brian Hoyle
Medscape Medical News
May 7, 2010 (Vancouver, British Columbia) — Depression in "underserved" women of childbearing age is very common, with almost 20% of surveyed mothers of children 12 months or older continuing to experience moderate to severe symptoms of depression, according to the results of a study presented here at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2010 Annual Meeting.
"This finding reinforces the finding of other studies that depression in mothers is not restricted to the postpartum period, and that as children get older, the prevalence of maternal depression may be higher," said lead researcher Carol C. Weitzman, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, in an interview with Medscape Pediatrics after her presentation.
"I think these findings are very important and exciting. They underscore the need for clinicians to be aware of the burden of depression among mothers beyond the postpartum period. This study also adds to the knowledge base about the severity of depressive symptoms experienced by mothers in underserved communities. It also begins to provide us information about possible successful interventions to help mothers," said Linda Chaudron, MD, MS, associate professor psychiatry, obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center, in New York, told Medscape Pediatrics. Dr. Chaudron was not involved with the study.
In designing the study, Dr. Weitzman and colleagues reasoned that children's routine check-up visits could serve as a targeting opportunity to identify depressed mothers, since women can be less inclined to seek out treatment for depression.
While visiting a Yale well-child clinic for disadvantaged children, 845 English- and Spanish-speaking mothers supplied demographic information and completed the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomology-Self Report (QIDS-SR). The 16-item questionnaire is an established measure of depression severity. Those who screened positive for depression were interviewed to confirm the symptoms.
Overall, 44% of mothers (n?= 372) had depressive symptoms. The QIDS-SR scores were indicative of mild symptoms in 25% of the mothers, moderate symptoms in 13%, and severe symptoms in 6%.
Of those with moderate symptoms, 24% were unemployed and 23% had a child 5 years of age or older. Ethnicity, marital status, education, and maternal age had no significant bearing on the prevalence of moderate symptoms of depression.
Of the 372 mothers, 71 were selected at random for a series of on-site cognitive behavior therapy sessions or referral to a case management social worker. All showed improvements in their depression symptoms, and improvements were especially pronounced in those who received cognitive behavioral therapy.
"Maternal depression is an enormous public health issue and, if we truly want to stack the deck in favor of children reaching their potential, we need to address maternal and paternal mental health issues," Dr. Weitzman told Medscape Pediatrics.
"With the knowledge that many low-income mothers of young children experience depression, it is important that we understand their needs and understand how we can best help them to engage in treatment that is acceptable and that works for them. The study results are an exciting step in this direction," Dr. Chaudron added.
The study was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson, Finding Answers, Disparities Research for Change and the Children's Fund of Connecticut. The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
