A new study finds that women with Avoidant PD, Dependent PD and Obsessive-Compulsive PD are at increased risk of Post-Partum Depression.

Research appearing in the August 2007 issue of Comprehensive Psychiatry revealed that women with Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders are more likely to experience post-partum major depression (PPMD).

Evaluating PPMD and Personality Disorders

Selcuk University researchers psychologically assessed 302 Turkish women who had recently given birth. The mothers were interviewed on the day their baby was born, and again, six weeks later. During the first face-to-face interview, study participants were screened for preexisting personality, mood and psychotic disorders. During the second interview, the women were evaluated only for major depression.

The psychological evaluations were accomplished using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (either SCID-I or SCID-II). These structured diagnostic assessments are based on criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the premier diagnostic reference used by psychologists.

Post-Partum Depression and Personality Disorders

Personality Disorders at First Assessment

The first assessment revealed that thirty nine of the study participants (~13%) had at least one personality disorder. Six percent had Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD), 3% Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD), and 3% Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder(OCPD). Histrionic PD, and Borderline PD were uncommon, and none of the women met criteria for any other type of personality disorder (Schizotypal, Schizoid, Antisocial, Narcissistic, Paranoid).

Post-Partum Depression at Second Assessment

From the second interview, six weeks later, nineteen of the study participants (~6%) were assessed as having post-partum onset major depression (PPMD). No significant relationship was found between PPMD and age, educational level, employment status, planned or unplanned pregnancy, history of abortion, gestational complications, term of delivery, type of delivery, sex of the baby or mother's breast-feeding.

Post-Partum Depression and Primiparous Women

The incidence of post-partum depression was significantly higher in women who had given birth to their first child (primiparous women). The incidence rate of PPMD was 10.2% among primiparous and only 3.1% among multiparous women.

PPMD and Personality Disorders Conclusion

Study participants with preexisting Avoidant PD, Dependent PD, or Obsessive-Compulsive PD were more likely to have post-partum major depression six weeks after delivery than were women who did not have these types of personality disorders.

Previous Research on Depression and Personality Disorders

Earlier studies have shown an association between personality disorders and major depression (Brieger 2003, Farabaugh 2004) More specifically, Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders were the axis II diagnoses most commonly associated with depression (Farabaugh 2004, Rossi 2001).

Although this new study on PPMD had a relatively small sample size, the data provides more specific information on the relationship between personality disorders and PPMD, and may help in the early identification and treatment of women who are at increased risk of developing post-partum depression (Akmana 2007).

More Information on Personality Disorders

There are numerous on-line and in print resources with additional information on personality disorders, including: Psychology Prof Online, The Mayo Clinic: Mental Health Center and the article Personality Disorders: Brief Summary of the Ten Disorders of Personality.

This article summarizes one scientific study of the possible relationship between post-partum depression and personality disorders. The contents of this article are not meant to be used for diagnosis and are not a substitute for professional help and counseling.

Additional Mood and Personality Disorder Sources

Akmana, C., Uguz, F. and Kayaa, N. (2007) Postpartum-onset major depression is associated with personality disorders. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 48,4.

Brieger, P., Ehrt U. and Marneros, A (2003) Frequency of comorbid personality disorders in bipolar and unipolar affective disorders, Compr Psychiatry, 44.

Farabaugh, A., Mischoulon, D., Fava, M., Guyker, W., and Alpert, J. (2004) The overlap between personality disorders and major depressive disorder (MDD), Ann Clin Psychiatry, 16.

Rossi, A. et al. (2001) Personality disorders in bipolar and depressive disorders, J Affect Disord, 65.