How Accurately Do Mothers Recall Postnatal Depression? Further Data from a 3 Year Follow-Up Study

Abstract

Because many doctors regard postnatal depression as a trivial illness that is readily forgotten, a study was carried out to determine how accurately a mother recalled being depressed 3 years previously. Ninety-one women investigated in a previous study were re-interviewed 3 years later when their accuracy recalling postnatal depression was carefully evaluated. Seventeen (18%) described episodes of depression during the 4 months post partum; the mean duration of such episodes was 12 weeks.

Comparison of the SPI depression ratings when the mother was depressed with those obtained retrospectively 3 years later showed 88% agreement. Seven of the 11 mothers who had a prolonged postnatal depressive illness accurately recalled this illness; of the four who did not, two had a second postnatal depression that prevented recall of the earlier depression.