A systematic review investigating if genetic or epigenetic markers are associated with postnatal depression

•Postnatal depression is a complex mental illness that can affect women after childbirth and have lifelong consequences for her baby.•Methods that would assist in identifying women at greater risk of postnatal depression would increase early detection rates.•Women with PND appear to be epigenetically sensitive to physiological changes of childbirth or to environmental factors conferred by genotype.•Measuring interaction of epigenetic, genetic, hormonal and environmental factors may improve accuracy of antenatal screening for risk of PND.