Antecedente de depresión, síntomas de estrés postraumático, apoyo social percibido: prediciendo la depresión posparto

Objective: Describe and analyze if the perceived social support moderates the relationship between depression history or post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and the development of symptoms of postpartum depression, prospectively evaluated. Method: Longitudinal design of three times: before partum (n = 458), one month (n = 458) and 3 months postpartum (n = 458). The version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the version of the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), and the version of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS) were used. Analysis of eight hierarchical multiple linear regression models. Results: A significant association was found between symptoms of post-traumatic stress and postpartum depression, in the three times measured. The perceived social support variable was found to be a significant protective factor for perinatal depression in times 1 and 2, and history of depression was significant in times 2 and 3. The results do not support the interaction hypothesis. Conclusions: Social support is a significant protective factor, which can reduce the symptoms of postpartum depression, nevertheless the significance decreases over time. However, social support fails to reverse the association of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms with symptoms of postpartum depression score.