Preconception paternal mental health history as predictor of antenatal depression in pregnant women

Abstract Background Depression occurring during the perinatal period (PND) could affect both future mother and father. PND may lead to several adverse physical and mental health outcomes for the whole family. Several psychopathological determinants have been identified, even though few studies inves...

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Main Authors: Laura Orsolini, Imran Gokcen Yılmaz-Karaman, Matteo Bottaro, Silvia Bellagamba, Giulia Francesconi, Umberto Volpe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Annals of General Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-025-00554-0
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author Laura Orsolini
Imran Gokcen Yılmaz-Karaman
Matteo Bottaro
Silvia Bellagamba
Giulia Francesconi
Umberto Volpe
author_facet Laura Orsolini
Imran Gokcen Yılmaz-Karaman
Matteo Bottaro
Silvia Bellagamba
Giulia Francesconi
Umberto Volpe
author_sort Laura Orsolini
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Depression occurring during the perinatal period (PND) could affect both future mother and father. PND may lead to several adverse physical and mental health outcomes for the whole family. Several psychopathological determinants have been identified, even though few studies investigated the role of paternal mental health in the onset of maternal perinatal depression (MPND). Hence, a retrospective cohort study was carried out in order to investigate the relationship between paternal mental health and the occurrence of antenatal maternal depression as well as identifying potential sociodemographic, clinical and obstetrical predictors in the development of MPND. Methods All pregnant women afferent to the Perinatal Mental Health Outpatient Service of the Unit of Clinical Psychiatry at the University Hospital of Marche, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy, between April 2021 to February 2022, were consecutively recruited and longitudinally screened for antenatal depression. The sample was divided in two groups, based on the screening by using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) for PND. A stepwise binary logistic regression analysis was performed in order to evaluate the predictors associated with the presence of antenatal depression (vs. the absence of antenatal depression). Results A total of 106 participants among all 460 screened from April 2021 to February 2022, were retrospectively included. In our sample, a prevalence of 13.2% in antenatal depression was found. The binary logistic regression model showed that the higher maternal age (OR = 1.320; p = 0.005), gestational comorbidity (OR = 10.931; p = 0.010), pregnant women’s (OR = 19.001; p = 0,001) and their partner’s positive history (OR = 16.536; p = 0.004) for mental disorder significantly predicted the presence of antenatal depression in our sample. Conclusions Our study suggests the need to investigate the pre-existing psychopathology of the pregnant woman’s partner as a potential risk factor for MPND, particularly for antenatal depression. Overall, a better understanding and investigation of all potential risk and/or protective factors for the onset and/or maintenance and/or worsening of MPND could help clinicians in early identifying treatment strategies to improve maternal mental health as well as future father’s mental health.
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spelling doaj-art-113f08ccc4324128a25e643f93bef0352025-08-20T03:41:42ZengBMCAnnals of General Psychiatry1744-859X2025-03-012411810.1186/s12991-025-00554-0Preconception paternal mental health history as predictor of antenatal depression in pregnant womenLaura Orsolini0Imran Gokcen Yılmaz-Karaman1Matteo Bottaro2Silvia Bellagamba3Giulia Francesconi4Umberto Volpe5Unit of Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Neurosciences/DIMSC, Polytechnic University of MarcheDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Eskişehir Osmangazi UniversityUnit of Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Neurosciences/DIMSC, Polytechnic University of MarcheUnit of Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Neurosciences/DIMSC, Polytechnic University of MarcheUnit of Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Neurosciences/DIMSC, Polytechnic University of MarcheUnit of Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Neurosciences/DIMSC, Polytechnic University of MarcheAbstract Background Depression occurring during the perinatal period (PND) could affect both future mother and father. PND may lead to several adverse physical and mental health outcomes for the whole family. Several psychopathological determinants have been identified, even though few studies investigated the role of paternal mental health in the onset of maternal perinatal depression (MPND). Hence, a retrospective cohort study was carried out in order to investigate the relationship between paternal mental health and the occurrence of antenatal maternal depression as well as identifying potential sociodemographic, clinical and obstetrical predictors in the development of MPND. Methods All pregnant women afferent to the Perinatal Mental Health Outpatient Service of the Unit of Clinical Psychiatry at the University Hospital of Marche, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy, between April 2021 to February 2022, were consecutively recruited and longitudinally screened for antenatal depression. The sample was divided in two groups, based on the screening by using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) for PND. A stepwise binary logistic regression analysis was performed in order to evaluate the predictors associated with the presence of antenatal depression (vs. the absence of antenatal depression). Results A total of 106 participants among all 460 screened from April 2021 to February 2022, were retrospectively included. In our sample, a prevalence of 13.2% in antenatal depression was found. The binary logistic regression model showed that the higher maternal age (OR = 1.320; p = 0.005), gestational comorbidity (OR = 10.931; p = 0.010), pregnant women’s (OR = 19.001; p = 0,001) and their partner’s positive history (OR = 16.536; p = 0.004) for mental disorder significantly predicted the presence of antenatal depression in our sample. Conclusions Our study suggests the need to investigate the pre-existing psychopathology of the pregnant woman’s partner as a potential risk factor for MPND, particularly for antenatal depression. Overall, a better understanding and investigation of all potential risk and/or protective factors for the onset and/or maintenance and/or worsening of MPND could help clinicians in early identifying treatment strategies to improve maternal mental health as well as future father’s mental health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-025-00554-0Antenatal depressionPaternal mental healthPeripartum depressionPostpartum depressionPregnancy
spellingShingle Laura Orsolini
Imran Gokcen Yılmaz-Karaman
Matteo Bottaro
Silvia Bellagamba
Giulia Francesconi
Umberto Volpe
Preconception paternal mental health history as predictor of antenatal depression in pregnant women
Annals of General Psychiatry
Antenatal depression
Paternal mental health
Peripartum depression
Postpartum depression
Pregnancy
title Preconception paternal mental health history as predictor of antenatal depression in pregnant women
title_full Preconception paternal mental health history as predictor of antenatal depression in pregnant women
title_fullStr Preconception paternal mental health history as predictor of antenatal depression in pregnant women
title_full_unstemmed Preconception paternal mental health history as predictor of antenatal depression in pregnant women
title_short Preconception paternal mental health history as predictor of antenatal depression in pregnant women
title_sort preconception paternal mental health history as predictor of antenatal depression in pregnant women
topic Antenatal depression
Paternal mental health
Peripartum depression
Postpartum depression
Pregnancy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-025-00554-0
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