Download a PDF of the 2012 Annual Report - Black Dog Institute

PerinatalDepressionResearch Leader – Professor Marie-Paule Austin30In recent years, the term ‘postnatal’ depressionhas been replaced by the term ‘perinatal’ depressionto encompass the period from conception until 12months postpartum. This reflects a wider understandingof the natural history of this condition and its farreachingimpact on sufferers, their partners and othermembers of the family.Depression affects around 10 per cent ofwomen in the antenatal period and an increasingnumber of studies are finding links between significantdepression and anxiety during pregnancy, and adverseoutcomes for both mother and baby. Detectingdepression and anxiety during pregnancy creates anopportunity to intervene early and reduce the longertermimpact of these conditions.Research activity from 2012 includes:Detection and management of mooddisorders in the maternity setting – Researchersput together evidence-based guidelines about mooddisorders arising in the ‘perinatal’ period (fromconception to the first year after birth) arising in up to13 per cent of women and causing significant problemsto the adjustment of the mother, baby, partnerand wider family. The guidelines’ aim is to educatehealth professionals to be more confident about whenand how to intervene when they think a woman is sufferingfrom serious levels of depression or anxiety.Major depressive disorders in the perinatalperiod – This population-based study aimedto investigate hospital admission of major depressivedisorders during the perinatal period. Birth recordsfrom 1 July 2002 to 31 December 2004 in the NSWMidwives Data Collection were linked with recordsfor the same period from the NSW Admitted PatientsData Collection. Overall, risk of admission rosesignificantly across the entire first postpartum year andremained elevated up to 24 months postpartum. Thisstudy has significant implications for policy and serviceplanning for women with depressive disorders in theperinatal period.