Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a common problem connected to pregnancy. Related previous data showed a prevalence of depressive symptoms between 8% and 51% and a prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder between 10% and 17%.

Find a correlation between Psychosocial Risk Factors and the develop of Mood Disorders during pregnancy and post-delivery.

Develop strategies of prevention and treatment of PPD.

A population of pregnants has been analyzed, proposing an anamnestic questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Hypomania checklist Symptoms (HCL-32), in two times: between the 35th and the 37th week of pregnancy and 2-3 days after the delivery.

We found that at the first survey were depressed (EPDS score >9) 21 women of 149 (14.1%) and hyperthymic (HCL score >14) 59 women of 149 (39.9%).We noticed that risk factors for depression were a complicated pregnancy (p=0.004), a conflicting relationship with the partner (p=0.009) and a permanence in Italy < 6 months (p< 0.001). An history of illnesses during the pregnancy (p=0.042) and previous psychological problems (p=0.049) were correlated to an hyperthymic state. At the second survey, data were confirmed: the incidence of depression was 17,4% (12 /69 women) and that of hyperthymia was 44% (30/69 women).

Our data confirm previous evidences about the incidence of PPD and the contribution of risk factors of the pregnancy in its pathogenesis; moreover, high scores at HCL can express an hyperthymic dimension peculiar of pregnancy, rather than a mood disorder, considering HCL as a dimensional assessment.