Does Spousal Deployment Affect Risk for Depression During Pregnancy or Postpartum in Military Wives?

Lack of social support raises risk for postpartum depression. Pregnant or postpartum women who have partners in the military can experience additional stress because of impending or current deployment to, or imminent return from, combat or other danger zones. Researchers at an army medical center examined whether spousal deployment status affected women's risk for postpartum depression. Screening with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was administered at initial prenatal visits, at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation, and at 6 to 8 weeks postpartum to 3956 women who obtained obstetric care at an army medical center; scores ≥14 indicate excess risk for depression. Women also reported their spouses' deployment status (preparing to deploy, deploy…