Predictors of Postpartum Depression: A Comprehensive Review of the Last Decade of Evidence

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the most frequent complications of childbirth affecting ~500,000 women annually (prevalence 10% to 15%). Despite the documented adverse outcomes for mother and child, there remains a great need to develop prospective approaches to identify women at risk. This review examines some of the best-characterized molecular and clinical risk factors for PPD. We illustrate that this is a growing literature but there remains a lack of reliable molecular predictors for PPD. Current best predictors are clinical assessments for psychiatric history and adverse life events, highlighting the need for increased depression screening across the perinatal period.