Postpartum Depression in High-Risk Pregnancies: Findings from a Telepsychiatry-Based Longitudinal Follow-Up
Journal of Clinical Medicine, cilt.15, sa.14, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 15 Sayı: 14
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.3390/jcm15145405
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Clinical Medicine
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, EMBASE, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: fetal anomaly, high-risk pregnancy, longitudinal study, postpartum depression, social support, telepsychiatry
- Kocaeli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background/Objectives: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant public health issue, particularly in high-risk pregnancies where medical complexities increase maternal vulnerability. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PPD in a high-risk parturient population and to explore factors associated with PPD using a telepsychiatry-based longitudinal follow-up model. Methods: This longitudinal pilot study followed 58 women who met high-risk pregnancy criteria at a university hospital in Turkey. Initial assessments were conducted face-to-face within 72 h post-delivery, followed by telepsychiatric evaluations at the first and second months postpartum. PPD was diagnosed via structured clinical interviews based on DSM-5 criteria, supplemented by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with PPD. Results: The cumulative prevalence of PPD during the first two postpartum months was 32.7%: 13 participants (22.4%) were diagnosed at month 1, and 6 additional new-onset cases (10.3%) were identified at month 2. In the exploratory multivariable logistic regression model, low marital satisfaction (OR = 26.13, p = 0.005), lower postpartum MSPSS total scores (OR = 0.90, p < 0.001), the presence of a fetal anomaly (OR = 15.10, p = 0.043), and a lower spousal education level (OR = 17.19, p = 0.014) were associated with PPD. However, these estimates should be interpreted cautiously because of the limited number of PPD events and wide confidence intervals. Notably, comorbid medical conditions and stressful life events during pregnancy did not remain significant in the final model. Conclusions: The observed PPD prevalence in this selected high-risk cohort was higher than previously reported general-population estimates. Psychosocial factors, particularly marital satisfaction and perceived social support, showed strong associations with PPD in this pilot cohort. A fetal anomaly may also represent an important clinical risk marker, but this finding requires confirmation in larger samples. A telepsychiatry-based follow-up model appears feasible for postpartum mental health assessment in this vulnerable group and may help support the early identification of PPD.