Quality of Sleep in Third-Trimester Pregnancy and Non-Psychotic 
Postpartum Depression

Jelena Stojanov^1,2, Olivera Žikić^2,3, Miodrag Stanković^2,3

 

¹Special Hospital for Psychiatric Disorders "Gornja Toponica", Niš, Serbia
²University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Niš, Serbia
³University Clinical Center Niš, Center of Mental Health Protection, Niš, Serbia

 

 SUMMARY

 

Introduction/Aim. Quality of sleep (QoS) in the third-trimester of pregnancy has been suggested as a potential risk factor for the onset of non-psychotic postpartum depression (NPPD). The aim of the paper was to investigate whether the quality of sleep in the third-trimester of pregnancy is a risk factor for non-psychotic postpartum depression (NPPD) in women without a diagnosed psychiatric disorder.
Method. In the third-trimester of pregnancy, 218 pregnant women completed a questionnaire constructed for research purposes as well as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Four weeks after childbirth, the participants filled in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and received structured interview diagnoses.
Results. High risk for NPPD (score on EPDS ≥ 13) was found in 21 (9.63%) participants. Higher rates on the EPDS were noticed in single, unemployed, housewives, women who were getting little social support, women who were dissatisfied with their annual household income and with unwanted pregnancy (p < 0.05). Social support and QoS were positively related to NPPD, whereas annual household income and marital satisfaction were negatively related to NPPD. The third-trimester QoS was related to NPPD symptoms, and the correlation was statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Conclusion. Poor third-trimester QoS is a risk factor for NPPD.

 Keywords: quality of sleep, non-psychotic postpartum depression, risk factors

 

Corresponding author:

Jelena Stojanov

e-mail:  jelena.a.86.ja@gmail.com