Postpartum depression associated with COVID-19 lockdownTwice as many mothers with babies 6 months or younger reported postpartum depression during the first UK COVID-19–related lockdown, according to a Frontiers in Psychology study yesterday.University College London (UCL) researchers surveyed 162 London mothers in May and June 2020 (about 1.5 to 3 months into the lockdown) and found that 47.5% met the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) criteria (11 points or higher).
That compares with previous research that found a prepandemic baseline of 23% in European mothers.Mothers discussed four major themes surrounding lockdown: appreciation for the bonding time the nuclear family had, the burden of constant mothering, the inadequacy of