The Prevalence of Maternal Depression and Anxiety Beyond 1 Year Postpartum: A Systematic Review

Maternal depression and anxiety occurring beyond the 1-year postpartum period can lead to significant suffering for both mother and child. This study aimed to systematically review and synthesize studies reporting the prevalence and incidence of maternal depression and anxiety beyond 1 year post-childbirth. A systematic literature review of the PsycINFO, Medline, and Embase databases identified studies reporting on the prevalence and/or incidence of depression and/or anxiety among mothers between 1 and 12 years post-childbirth. The quality of the included studies was assessed. Findings were synthesized qualitatively. Twenty-one studies were identified that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All studies reported the prevalence of depression, with 31 estimates ranging from 6.6