Partner status and partner mental health and the risk of postpartum depression

Although the association between partner status and postpartum depression (PPD) is well studied, less is known about how a partner’s psychiatric history affects PPD risk in partnered mothers. Here, using maternal PPD screenings merged with Danish registers from 149,383 childbirths, we examined the influence of partner status and partner mental health on PPD risk. Exposures were partner status and partner psychiatric history, and outcomes were PPD (positive screening) and severe PPD (antidepressants or diagnosis). In total, 14.7% were unpartnered mothers, with a higher risk of PPD (absolute risk (AR) 8.9% versus 7.0%; relative risk (RR) 1.11 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–1.16)) and severe PPD (AR 1.1% versus 0.9%; RR 0.99 (95% CI 0.86–1.14)) compared with partnered mothers. Among partnered mothers, 19.7% had partners with psychiatric history. Recent psychiatric history increased the risk of PPD (AR 8.3%; RR 1.10 (95% CI 1.02–1.18)) and severe PPD (AR 1.5%; RR 1.42 (95% CI 1.18–1.69)), compared with no psychiatric history. We show that unpartnered mothers face a slightly increased PPD risk, while recent partner psychiatric episodes markedly increase risk in partnered mothers.