The prevalence of suicidal ideation identified by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in postpartum women in primary care: findings from the RESPOND trial (original) (raw)

Women with perinatal suicidal ideation–A scoping review of the biopsychosocial risk factors to inform health service provision and research

PLOS ONE, 2022

Objectives This review aims to map the existing evidence on perinatal suicidal ideation, identify biopsychosocial risk factors associated with suicidal ideation and make recommendations for service provision and future research. Methods Scoping review guided by Arskey's and O'Malley's (2005) framework. Five academic databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, ASSIA and Academic Search Complete) were searched from 1 st January 2009 to 1 st April 2022. Studies were screened by title, abstract and full text against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Primary qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies, written in English pertaining to perinatal suicidal ideation were included. Forty-one studies met the eligibility criteria, data were extracted and narratively synthesised. Findings are reported in accordance with the PRISMA-SR extension. Key conclusions Findings were mapped onto the biopsychosocial framework and include sleep deprivation, maternal age, pregnancy complications, mood disorders, intimate partner violence, childhood maltreatment/abuse, low socioeconomic status, alcohol and tobacco misuse, miscarriage/perinatal loss, birth trauma and sleep deprivation. The findings demonstrate that the biopsychosocial risk factors for perinatal suicidal ideation are varied and complex.

Suicidal ideation in pregnancy: an epidemiologic review

Archives of Women's Mental Health, 2016

Objective-Suicidal behaviors are the leading causes of injury and death worldwide, and are leading causes of maternal deaths in some countries. One of the strongest risk factors, suicidal ideation, is considered a harbinger and distal predictor of later suicide attempt and completion, and also presents an opportunity for interventions prior to physical self-harm. The purpose of this systematic epidemiologic review is to synthesize available research on antepartum suicidal ideation. Data sources-Original publications were identified through searches of the electronic databases using the search terms pregnancy, pregnant women, suicidal ideation, and pregnan* and suicid* as root searches. We also reviewed references of published articles. Study Selection-We identified a total of 2,626 articles through the electronic database search. After irrelevant and redundant articles were excluded 57 articles were selected. The selected articles were original articles that focused on pregnancy and suicidal ideation. Results-Of the 57 included articles, 20 reported prevalence, 26 reported risk factors, 21 reported consequences of antepartum suicidal ideation, and 5 reported on screening measures. Available evidence indicates that pregnant women are more likely than the general population to endorse suicidal ideation. Additionally, a number of risk factors for antepartum suicidal ideation were identified including intimate partner violence, <12 years education, and major depressive disorder. Conclusion-There is a need for enhanced screening for antepartum suicidal ideation. The few screening instruments that exist are limited as they were primarily developed to measure antepartum and postpartum depression. Given a substantial proportion of women with suicidal ideation do not meet clinical thresholds of depression and given the stress-diathesis model that shows susceptibility to suicidal behavior independent of depressive disorders, innovative approaches to improve screening and detection of antepartum suicidal ideation are urgently needed.

Two studies on suicidality in the postpartum

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2008

Objective: Research in the prevalence of and risk factors for suicidality in the postpartum is extremely limited. We present here data on the prevalence of and factors associated with suicidality from two postpartum samples.Method: The first sample (SC) comprised 317 women consecutively screened for a trial of psychotherapy for postpartum depression. The second sample was a population-based (PB) sample of 386 women. We used the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to assess suicidality in the SC sample and the self-harm question of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI9) in the PB sample.Results: According to the MINI and the BDI9, prevalence of high suicide risk was 5.7% and 11.1%, respectively, in the SC sample. Previous suicide attempts and a positive BDI were retained as predictors of suicidality. The BDI9 indicated suicidality in 8.3% of the 386 women in the PB sample; a positive BDI was retained in the multivariate analysis as a risk of suicidality.Conclusion: Clinicians should enquire vigorously about suicidality in women presenting with depressive symptoms or previous suicide attempts in the postpartum.

Using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to assess suicidal ideation among pregnant women in Lima, Peru

Archives of Women's Mental Health, 2014

We sought to examine the concordance of two suicidal ideation items from the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), to evaluate the prevalence of suicidal ideation among pregnant women, and to assess the co-occurrence of suicidal ideation with antepartum depressive symptoms. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,517 pregnant women attending prenatal care clinics in Lima, Peru. Item 9 of the PHQ-9 assesses suicidal ideation over the last 14 days while item 10 of the EPDS assesses suicidal ideation in the past 7 days. The two suicidal ideation items have a high concordance rate (84.2%) but a moderate agreement (the Cohen's kappa = 0.42). Based on the PHQ-9 and the EPDS, 15.8% and 8.8% of participants screened positive for suicidal ideation, respectively. Assessed by the PHQ-9, 51% of participants with suicidal ideation had probable depression. In prenatal care clinics, screening for suicidal ideation is needed for women with and without depressive symptoms. Future studies are needed to identify additional predictors of antepartum suicidality, determine the appropriate duration of reporting period for suicidal ideation screening, and assess the percentage of individuals with positive responses to the two suicidal ideation items at high risk of planning and attempting suicide.

Suicidal Ideation in the Perinatal Period: A Systematic Review

Mental Health & Prevention, 2018

Objective: To examine literature surrounding suicidal ideation and suicidality in the perinatal period Design: Systematic Literature Review of published 15 research studies Findings: There is a scarcity of prospective studies conducted in suicidal ideation during the perinatal period. More research is needed to ensure childbearing women at risk of suicidal ideation during pregnancy receive the appropriate care and maternity services required to support them throughout this period. Key conclusions: Midwives play an important role in screening women for possible emotional distress and mood disorders during pregnancy. Therefore, midwives need to have knowledge of risk factors so vulnerable women are monitored and supportive maternity services can be implemented if indicated. Implications for practice: Suicidal ideation can have serious consequences for the women and the product if left untreated. Screening for suicidal ideation, antenatal and postnatal depression is imperative. Women with a pre-existing mental health disorders are a particularly vulnerable population group and should be monitored closely for suicidal ideation. Women who experience intimate partner violence or are from low socioeconomic backgrounds also present a risk of suicidal ideation, all of which require complex mental-health care.

Suicides and Suicidal Ideation During the Perinatal Period: Clinical and Demographic Data

International journal of innovative research in medical science, 2022

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for women in the postpartum period. Psychiatric disorders are common in pregnancy, affecting 15-29% of pregnant women, whereas clinical depression affects 10%-15% of them. Women during pregnancy and the postpartum period are particularly vulnerable to suicidal ideation. The prevalence of suicidal ideation ranges from 5% to 14% worldwide, while the rate of suicide during pregnancy and the postpartum period lies between two to three per 100,000 for countries like the UK and the USA. The main risk factor for suicidal ideation in the perinatal period is depression. Other mental illnesses, like schizophrenia, anxiety, bipolar and adjustment disorder, consist of risk factors too. Some of the high-risk social characteristics for suicide thoughts are younger age, unpartnered status and well-being with their marriage, high parity, non-Caucasian race, no health insurance, poor social support, unplanned pregnancy, low-income origin country, unemployment, low educational level and smoking. Obstetrics complications like severe vaginal laceration, low weight infants and admission in the neonatal intensive care unit, perinatal fetal mortality and prior abortions consist of risk factors. Physical, psychological or sexual intimate partner violence, sexual trauma and history of physical or sexual abuse in the army, physical or sexual abuse during childhood, all contribute to suicidal thought. Knowledge of the psychiatric history from the time of enrolment in maternity units, better identification of mental health problems via psychometric screening tools, as well as the use of proper referral and medication, should be the routine in health care services.

The role of personality dimensions, depressive symptoms and other psychosocial variables in predicting postpartum suicidal ideation: a cohort study

Archives of Women's Mental Health, 2019

Suicidability has been associated with neuroticism and psychoticism, but its role during perinatal period has not been analyzed. We explore the association between personality dimensions, depressive symptoms, and other psychosocial variables in postpartum suicidal ideation. A cohort of 1795 healthy Spanish women from the general population was assessed for suicidal ideation (EPDS-Item10) in early postpartum, 8 and 32 weeks postpartum. Sociodemographic, obstetric, and reproductive variables, psychiatric history, social support, stressful life-events during pregnancy, depressive symptoms (EPDS), and the Eysenck's personality dimensions (EPQ-RS) were also assessed at baseline. A major depressive episode (DSM-IV) was confirmed in women with EPDS>10 at follow-up assessments. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted. Adjusted logistic regression analysis was reported as odds ratio (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Seven percent of mothers reported suicidal ideation during the first 8 months postpartum. Sixty-two percent of women with suicidal ideation had a major depressive episode at 8 weeks, and 70% at 32 weeks postpartum. Neuroticism and psychoticism predicted suicidal ideation throughout the first 2 weeks after delivery (OR, 1.03; 95%CI 1.01-1.06; and OR, 1.03; 95%CI 1.01-1.05 respectively). Early postpartum depressive symptoms (OR 1.2; 95%CI 1.11-1.26), personal psychiatric history (OR 2.1; 95%CI 1.33-3.27), and stressful life events during pregnancy (OR 1.88; 95%CI 1.12-3.16) also emerged as predictors of postpartum suicidal ideation. Analysis of women for postpartum suicidal ideation should include not only psychiatric symptoms but also psychosocial assessment (i.e., covering psychiatric history, stressful events, or long-standing personality vulnerabilities) in order to identify those in need of early psychosocial or psychiatric care. E. Gelabert and A. Gutierrez-Zotes both are first authors.

The role of anxiety in the development of suicidal thoughts in pregnant women with mood disorders

2015

Background: Both mood and anxiety disorders are more prevalent in women than men with the onset typically occurring during adolescence or early childbearing years. These disorders are particularly prevalent during pregnancy and the postpartum period. While depression during the perinatal period has received significant attention recently, anxiety has not received the same amount of attention. Methods: The current study was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study that followed 91 women with mood disorders through pregnancy and the postpartum period. Our objective was to determine if a correlation existed between anxiety and suicidality. We hypothesized that pregnant women with a history of a mood disorder and comorbid anxiety are more likely to be suicidal than those without comorbid anxiety. The presence of anxiety was determined using the anxiety subscale of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS; a cut off score of six or greater was used to indicate significant...

Perinatal suicidal ideation and behaviour: psychiatry and adversity

Pregnant women are at increased risk for suicidal ideation and behaviours (SIB) compared to the general population. To date, studies have focused on the psychiatric correlates of SIB with lesser attention given to the associated con-textual risk factors, particularly in low-and middle-income countries. We investigated the prevalence and associated psychiatric and socioeconomic contextual factors for SIB among pregnant women living in low resource communities in South Africa. Three hundred seventy-six pregnant women were evaluated using a range of tools to collect data on socioeconomic and demographic factors, social support, life events, interpersonal violence and mental health diagnoses. We examined the significant risk factors for SIB using univariate, bi-variate and logistic regression analyses (p ≤ 0.05). The 1-month prevalence of SIB was 18%. SIB was associated with psychiatric illness, notably major depressive episode (MDE) and any anxiety disorder. However, 67% of pregnant women with SIB had no MDE diagnosis, and 65% had no anxiety disorder, while 54% had neither MDE nor anxiety disorder diagnoses. Factors associated with SIB included lower socioeconomic status, food insecurity, interpersonal violence, multiparousity, and lifetime suicide attempt. These findings focus attention on the importance of socioeconomic and con-textual factors in the aetiology of SIB and lend support to the idea that suicide risk should be assessed independently of depression and anxiety among pregnant women.