Objective: Research in the prevalence of and risk factors for suicidality in the postpartum is extremely limited. We present here data on the prevalence of and factors associated with suicidality from two postpartum samples.
Method: The first sample (SC) comprised 317 women consecutively screened for a trial of psychotherapy for postpartum depression. The second sample was a population-based (PB) sample of 386 women. We used the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to assess suicidality in the SC sample and the self-harm question of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI9) in the PB sample.
Results: According to the MINI and the BDI9, prevalence of high suicide risk was 5.7% and 11.1%, respectively, in the SC sample. Previous suicide attempts and a positive BDI were retained as predictors of suicidality. The BDI9 indicated suicidality in 8.3% of the 386 women in the PB sample; a positive BDI was retained in the multivariate analysis as a risk of suicidality.
Conclusion: Clinicians should enquire vigorously about suicidality in women presenting with depressive symptoms or previous suicide attempts in the postpartum.