Findings

Article 1

Article 2

January 2012

The Feeling in Pregnancy and Motherhood Study (FIP)

Initial findings from the FIP study will be published in the March 2012 Canadian Psychiatric Journal (http://publications.cpa-apc.org/browse/documents/2 )

In summary:

• We did 3 assessments with 649 women in early pregnancy at 17.4 weeks (Time 1), 30.6 weeks (Time 2) and at 4.2 weeks postpartum (Time 3), 586 women completed all three assessments
  • 70% were aged 25-34
  • 83% were Caucasian
  • 66% had completed post-secondary education
  • 90% were married or common-law
  • 77% had planned their pregnancy
• How many women had symptoms of probable major depression?
  • Time 1-14.1% of women
  • Time 2- 10.4% of women
  • Time 3 -8.1% of women
• 12% of women were in treatment for depression when they entered the study , while 22% of women were engaged in treatment over the whole study
  • More women used counseling as treatment for depression instead of using medication in pregnancy, but more chose medications after the baby was born
  • Counseling decreased symptoms of depression throughout pregnancy into postpartum
• Depression decreased over pregnancy and into the postpartum
  • The decrease in depressive symptoms was significant in women who either received counselling or took medications
  • Mood in women who were not depressed at Time 1 or Time 2 improved from pregnancy to postpartum
  • Women who were depressed and not treated had worsening depression over time
• Women who were depressed in pregnancy were at a greater risk of being depressed after the baby was born
  • Of the women who were depressed in early pregnancy, 21% were depressed postpartum.
  • Of the women who were depressed in late pregnancy, 27% were depressed in the postpartum
• Factors that may put women at an increased risk for depression include:
  • young age, stress, less social support, a history of depression prior to pregnancy, and alcohol use

 
As other articles are published, we will summarize the findings for you!

The FIP study is continuing to collect data on women and their children at ages 3 and 5. If you have not yet participated in this ongoing data collection and wish to do so, please contact Angela Bowen at angela.bowen@usask.ca