Postnatal depression is common and affects 10-15% of postpartum women. While there are many studies on the depressive episode in the postnatal period, its association with the bipolar spectrum disorder is often go unrecognized and undiagnosed.
Objective: To study the rate of bipolar spectrum disorder in mothers presented with postpartum depression and its associated factors.
Method: This is a cross sectional study on the women who visited the postnatal clinic in University Malaya Medical Centre. Subjects who consented were asked to complete a short questionnaire looking at the socio-demographic details and asked to answer the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Mood Disorder questionnaire (MDQ) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) whish assess the perceived social support and mood disorder.
Result: A total of 93 women were recruited into the study. Independent t-test and stepwise regression analysis identified that unemployment and baby with health problem were the only associated factors for postnatal depression. 28.6% of the mother with possible postnatal depression (EPDS = 12) might have bipoar spectrum disorder (MDQ = 7).
Conclusion: Postnatal depression as part of bipolar spectrum disorder needed additional attention. Postnatal check with screening tools may help to identify mood disturbance in postpartum women
Study site: Postnatal clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia