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SUICIDALITY in the perinatal period: comparison of two self-report instruments. Results from PND-ReScU

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess suicidality in a non-clinical sample during the perinatal period and to report suicidality rates in women with major or minor depressive episode (MmD), assessed with the SCID, during the perinatal period. Women (1,066) were recruited at the third month of pregnancy and followed until the 12th month postpartum (N = 500). Suicidality was assessed with the MOODS-SR and with item 10 of the EPDS at different time-points during the perinatal period. The period prevalence of suicidality was 6.9% (95% CI: 6.0–7.8) during pregnancy and 4.3% (95% CI: 3.4–5.2) during postpartum, assessed with the MOODS-SR, and was 12.0% (95% CI: 10.8–13.2) during pregnancy and 8.6% (95% CI: 7.4–9.8) during the postpartum period, assessed with the EPDS. The prevalence of suicidality in women who had MmD during pregnancy was 26.4% and 34.1%, assessed with the MOODS-SR and the EPDS, respectively, while it was 18.4% (MOODS-SR) and 30.6% (EPDS) during the postpartum period. Clinicians should assess suicidality in women presenting with MmD during the whole perinatal period. Furthermore, suicidality should be assessed in women with a previous history of psychiatric disorder that reported a lifetime suicidal ideation.

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Acknowledgments

The PND-ReScU staff includes Cristina Rambelli, MD, Daniele Ramacciotti, MD, Maria Sole Montagnani, MD, Sonia Cortopassi, MD, Valeria Camilleri, MD, Amparo Bettini, D.Psych., Serena Ricciardulli, D.Psych., Serena Luisi, D.Psych., and Caterina Cirri, D.Psych. This research was funded with a grant from the Italian Ministry of Health and with liberal grants from the “Istituto per la ricerca e la prevenzione della Depressione E dell'Ansia” (IDEA), the Stella Major Foundations (no-profit advocacy associations), and Pfizer Italia. The authors would like to thank all the women who participated, without whom this study would not have been possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100, Pisa, Italy

    Mauro Mauri, Annalisa Oppo, Chiara Borri & Susanna Banti

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

    Annalisa Oppo

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  1. Mauro Mauri
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  2. Annalisa Oppo
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  3. Chiara Borri
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  4. Susanna Banti
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Mauri, M., Oppo, A., Borri, C. et al. SUICIDALITY in the perinatal period: comparison of two self-report instruments. Results from PND-ReScU. Arch Womens Ment Health 15, 39–47 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-011-0246-y

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