Fear of childbirth predicts postpartum depression: a population-based analysis of 511 422 singleton births in Finland

: Raisanen S, Lehto SM, Nielsen HS, Gissler M, Kramer MR, Heinonen S

Publisher: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP

: 2013

: BMJ Open

: BMJ OPEN

: ARTN e004047

: 3

: 11

: 7

: 2044-6055

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004047

Conclusions A history of depression was found to be the most important predisposing factor of postpartum depression. Women without previous episodes of depression were at an increased risk of postpartum depression if adverse events occurred during the course of pregnancy, especially if they showed physician-diagnosed fear of childbirth.