Maternal ADHD and postpartum depression risk

According to a recent study, mothers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at an increased risk of postpartum depression (PPD).

Data has indicated rises in both ADHD diagnoses and self-reported depression symptoms. The increase in ADHD incidence has been especially noticeable in women of reproductive age.

An association of maternal ADHD with PPD and postpartum anxiety was found in a study from Sweden, but the greatest risks were found in women with a prior history of anxiety and depression diagnoses. Investigators from Epic Research conducted a study to determine how ADHD before pregnancy impacts PPD risk in women without a history of depression.

There were 15,488 pregnancies with maternal ADHD and 61,952 pregnancies without maternal ADHD included in the analysis. Participants from both groups were matched based on social vulnerability index, maternal race and ethnicity, maternal age at delivery, singleton or multiple birth, self-reported substance use measures, pre-pregnancy anxiety diagnosis, intimate partner violence, food scarcity, and stress.

Among women without a history of depression, those with ADHD had a 24% increased risk of developing PPD than those without ADHD. The rate of PPD diagnoses was 5.2% among mothers without an ADHD diagnosis compared to 6.4% among mothers with an ADHD diagnosis.

When reached for a comment, the Epic Research team said, “Its widely known that a prior history of depression or anxiety increases a person’s risk of experiencing postpartum depression, but this study highlights the importance of considering additional diagnoses when preparing for a patient’s perinatal care.”

Additionally, the Epic Research team said, “Screening for postpartum depression continues to be important for all mothers regardless of previous medical history.” Researchers also recommended additional research to understand the association between ADHD and PPD.

Reference

Maternal ADHD correlated with increased risk of postpartum depression. Epic Research. June 21, 2023. Accessed June 27, 2023. https://epicresearch.org/articles/maternal-adhd-correlated-with-increased-risk-of-postpartum-depression