An Estimation of the Association of Postpartum Depression with Mizaj (Temperament) in Postnatal Women: A Cross-sectional Study

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major public health problem similar to the depression at other times. It is frequently seen in postnatal women of all cultures including the developed (10%–15%) and the developing countries (11%–48%). The Unani and modern fiction mutually proposes the role of pregnancy and childbirth in the development of this psychiatric disorder. Moreover, the former system also suggests the role of mizaj (temperament) in the development of this disarray.
To study the association of PPD with the mizaj (temperament) of postnatal women at their 6 weeks of delivery in a tertiary hospital of New Delhi.
A total of 231 postnatal women were interviewed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at their 6 weeks of delivery. The mizaj (temperament) of each participant was measured with the assistance of Ajnas-e-Ashra.
Twenty-eight out of 231 postnatal women scored 10 on the EPDS. PPD was seen in women of all 4 temperaments, but on comparing the 2 groups (depressed and nondepressed) on the basis of mizaj of women, no statistically significant association was seen (P value > 0.05). Therefore, the result suggested no significant association of PPD with the temperament of postnatal women.
PPD is the common mental disarray that can be seen in women of all temperaments. Thus, screening of PPD should be taken into account among all women as the routine practice so that the hazards of PPD can be prevented.