Postpartum depression during the Covid 19 pandemic: A systematic review
Main Article Content
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious debilitating psychiatric mood disorder and a major public health concern worldwide, as it may convey significant negative consequences to the mother and offspring. The symptoms including severe mood swings, sleep disturbances and emotional arousals, may lead to suicide or infanticide thus making the early diagnosis of postpartum depression crucial. This review based on data from studies in the United States of America, indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic lead to a significant increase of almost 36% in postpartum depression compared to pre-pandemic levels. The surge in the levels of anxiety, fear and insecurity about the future in women, the poorer medical care support, social distancing and the increased domestic violence incidents are factors linked to the raise of postpartum depression rates. Women with a history of depressive symptoms are more likely to experience a relapse, while the probability of developing postpartum depression is higher in cases where women give birth to their first child. Anxiety about the ability to make the necessary medical visits is a serious additional risk factor for the marginalized groups of women, while studies show poor quality and effectiveness of the online information sessions women received by medical or midwifery staff.
Keywords:
Postpartum depression (PPD), COVID-19, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
Article Details
How to Cite
KONSTANTOPOULOU, Georgia; TALANTZI, Angeliki; MAVROEIDI, Eleni.
Postpartum depression during the Covid 19 pandemic: A systematic review.
Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 11, n. 8, aug. 2023.
ISSN 2375-1924.
Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/4280>. Date accessed: 13 may 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v11i8.4280.
Section
Review Articles
The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.
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29. Mollard E, Wittmaack A. (2021). Experiences of Women Who Gave Birth in US Hospitals During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Patient Experience, 8, 13-29. doi:10.1177/2374373520981492
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2. Bajaj M.A. et.al., (2022). Rates of self-reported postpartum depressive symptoms in the United States before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 151, 108-112. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.04.011
3. Boekhorst, M. G. B. M., Muskens, L., Hulsbosch, L. P., Van Deun, K., Bergink, V., Pop, V. J. M., & van den Heuvel, M. I. (2021). The COVID-19 outbreak increases maternal stress during pregnancy, but not the risk for postpartum depression. Archives of Womens Mental Health, 24(6), 1037-1043. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737- 021-01104-9
4. Bradley D, Blaine A, Shah N, Mehrotra A, Gupta R, Wolfberg A. (2020). Patient Experience of Obstetric Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Results From a Recurring National Survey. Journal of Patient Experience, 7(5), 653-656. doi:10.1177/2374373520964045
5. Beeson T, Claridge A, Wojtyna A, Rich D, Minks G, Larson A. (2021). Pregnancy and Childbirth Expectations During COVID-19 in a Convenience Sample of Women in the United States. Journal of Patient Experience, 8, 14-31. doi:10.1177/23743735211039329
6. Bayrampour H, Tsui MYE. (2023). Postpartum people’s experiences of and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic during the first year of the pandemic: A descriptive qualitative study. Women’s Health, 19, 17-24. doi:10.1177/17455057231157480
7. Branquinho, M., Canavarro, M. C., & Fonseca, A. (2022). A Blended Cognitive–Behavioral Intervention for the Treatment of Postpartum Depression: A Case Study. Clinical Case Studies, 21(5), 438–456. https://doi.org/10.1177/15346501221082616
8. Davis A, Bradley D. (2022). Telemedicine utilization and perceived quality of virtual care among pregnant and postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 0(0). doi:10.1177/1357633X221133862
9. Floyd James K, Aycock DM, Barkin JL, Hires KA. (2021). Examining the Relationship Between Black Racial Identity Clusters and Postpartum Depressive Symptoms. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 27(4), 292-305. doi:10.1177/10783903211002650
10. Fanning, S. (2023). Visual Representation & Visible Boundaries in Online Postpartum Depression Support Groups. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication, 53(2), 73–88. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472816221125188
11. Gildner, T.E., Uwizeye, G., Milner, R.L. et al. (2021). Associations between postpartum depression and assistance with household tasks and childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from American mothers. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 21, 828-847. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04300-8
12. Giurgescu C, Wong AC, Rengers B, et al. (2022). Loneliness and Depressive Symptoms among Pregnant Black Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 44(1):23-30. doi:10.1177/01939459211043937
13. Jacob A, Thomas T, Antretter J. (2022). Perceptions of Postpartum Mothers of Their Experiences as a Patient During COVID-19 Crisis: A Phenomenological Study. Journal of Patient Experience, 9, 23-38. doi:10.1177/23743735221147761
14. Vuong P, Dardon AT, Chen C-C, et al. (2021). Does the ‘halo effect’ of trauma center verification extend to severe postpartum hemorrhage? A four-year retrospective review of level 1 trauma centers in the United States. Trauma, 23(3), 198-205. doi:10.1177/1460408620943485
15. Wang S.Y. et.al. (2021). Factors Influencing Paternal Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 293, 51-63. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.05.088
16. Zhang Y, Ma ZF. (2021). Psychological responses and lifestyle changes among pregnant women with respect to the early stages of COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 67(4), 344-350. doi:10.1177/0020764020952116
17. Usmani S, Greca E, Javed S, et al. (2021). Risk Factors for Postpartum Depression During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 12(1), 14-27. doi:10.1177/21501327211059348
18. Vatcheva, T, Mostaert, A, Van Ingelgem, V, Henrion, E, Legros, L. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on postpartum depression among mothers of extreme and early preterm infants. International Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics, 155, 490– 495. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.13859
19. Yazdanpanahi Z, Vizheh M, Azizi M, Hajifoghaha M. (2022). Paternal Postnatal Depression During COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Health Care Providers. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 13, 15-29. doi:10.1177/21501319221110421
20. Van Lieshout RJ, Layton H, Savoy CD, et al. (2022). Public Health Nurse-delivered Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Postpartum Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 67(6), 432-440. doi:10.1177/07067437221074426
21. Stojanov, J., Stankovic, M., Zikic, O., Stankovic, M., & Stojanov, A. (2021). The risk for nonpsychotic postpartum mood and anxiety disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 56(4), 228–239. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091217420981533
22. Schindler-Ruwisch J, Phillips KE. (2021). Breastfeeding During a Pandemic: The Influence of COVID-19 on Lactation Services in the Northeastern United States. Journal of Human Lactation, 37(2), 260-268. doi:10.1177/08903344211003898
23. Rajendran S, Lutenbacher M, Dietrich MS. (2021). Negative Correlation Between Health Care Coverage and Postpartum Depression Among Hispanic Women. Hispanic Health Care International, 19(3), 182-189. doi:10.1177/1540415321993428
24. Kettrey HH, Steinka-Fry KT. (2021). Effects of March of Dimes Supportive Pregnancy Care on Social Support and Postpartum Depression. Health Education & Behavior, 48(5), 670-679. doi:10.1177/10901981211019919
25. McFarland MJ, McFarland CAS, Hill TD, D'Oria R. (2021). Postpartum Depressive Symptoms during the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Examination of Population Birth Data from Central New Jersey. Journal of Maternity Child, 25(3), 353-359. doi: 10.1007/s10995-020-03116-w
26. Norris KG, Huang PA, Glantz JC, Kodam R-S, Anto-Ocrah M. (2021). A Cross-Cultural Analysis of the COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on Antenatal Healthcare-Seeking Behaviors in Ghana and the United States. Journal of Patient Experience, 8, 14-17. doi:10.1177/23743735211062392
27. Mitchell-Eaton, E. (2021). Postpartum geographies: Intersections of academic labor and care work. Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, 39(8), 1755–1772. https://doi.org/10.1177/2399654420953518
28. Mollard E, Kupzyk K, Moore T. (2021). Postpartum stress and protective factors in women who gave birth in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women’s Health, 17(4), 33-52. doi:10.1177/17455065211042190
29. Mollard E, Wittmaack A. (2021). Experiences of Women Who Gave Birth in US Hospitals During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Patient Experience, 8, 13-29. doi:10.1177/2374373520981492
30. Hamil J, Gier E, Garfield CF, Tandon D. (2021). The Development and Pilot of a Technology-Based Intervention in the United States for Father’s Mental Health in the Perinatal Period. American Journal of Men’s Health, 15(5), 14-29. doi:10.1177/15579883211044306
31. DiBacco, T. A., & Gaynor, S. T. (2021). Prolonged Exposure Therapy: A Case of Comorbid PTSD, ADHD, and GAD. Clinical Case Studies, 20(5), 351–367. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534650121994267