Depressive mood in early pregnancy:: prevalence and women at risk in a national Swedish sample

The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of depressive mood in early pregnancy in a national Swedish sample, and to study associations between depressive mood defined as scores >14 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and sociodemographic background, social support, stressful life events, and obstetrical and pregnancy data. A postal questionnaire was completed by 3011 women in gestational week 15 (median). Depressive mood was identified in 8% of the women. Three risk factors were the same for primiparous and multiparous women: lack of support from partner during pregnancy, more than two stressful life events the year prior to this pregnancy and native language other than Swedish. In addition, risk factors were identified in primiparas (unfortunate timing of pregnancy, previous miscarriage and age less than 25 years) and in multiparas (lack of support from person other than partner when coming home with the newborn, single status, negative experience of previous birth, a wish to have a caesarean section, and unemployment). These findings may improve the identification of women with antenatal depressive mood already in early pregnancy.