Aims: This systematic review aims to determine the prevalence of combined parental depression during the prenatal period and first year post-partum

Published and unpublished observational studies (cohort and cross-sectional studies) were included in the investigation if they reported the prevalence of combined parental depression during pregnancy and/or the first year postpartum. Studies were considered if they were published between January 1980 and December 2011.

Parents aged 15 to 50 years old, who had a primary diagnosis of depressive disorder according to DSM or ICD criteria assessed by a clinical interview, or who scored as depressed on a validated questionnaire, during pregnancy or within 1 year of the birth of their child were included.

Outcome measures

1. Prevalence of combined parental depressive disorder according to DSM or ICD criteria

2. Prevalence of heightened risk of depression according to a validated questionnaire (e.g. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale or Beck Depression Inventory) simultaneously in both parents

Potential confounding variables:

Parental age/SES/eduction, study quality/calendar year/locality, measure of depression

As for ALSPAC data specifically, I would be interested in data on the number of couples assessed prenatally (at 18 weeks gestation), and postnatally (8 weeks and 8 months postpartum) in which both the mother and her partner scored more than 12 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Also, for reference, I would like to know the total number of couples assessed at these time points and numbers of mothers and partners individually scoring greater than 12 on the EPDS.