Abstract
The link between depression, obesity, and fertility status is poorly understood among Latina women. The Patient Health Questionnaire
9 (PHQ-9) is routinely administered in the Diabetes and Obesity in Reproductive Age women Clinic. We describe median PHQ-9
score and PHQ-9 score ≥10 [indicative of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)] by fertility status. Of the 76 eligible new patients
seen between June 2008 and 2009, 18.4% (n = 14) had PHQ-9 scores indicative of MDD. Infertile women had marginally significantly
higher PHQ-9 scores than non-infertile women (p = 0.08). 26.5% of infertile women and 12.2% of non-infertile women had a PHQ-9 score indicative of MDD (p = 0.14). Number of previous births was inversely correlated with PHQ-9 score (R = −0.34, p = 0.002), those with no previous births had higher PHQ-9 scores (p = 0.001) and were more likely to have a PHQ-9 score indicative of MDD than those with previous births (28.6 vs. 9.8%, p = 0.04). Among non-infertile women, postpartum women had significantly lower PHQ-9 scores than non-postpartum women (p = 0.002). 4.6% of postpartum women and 21.1% of non-postpartum women had a PHQ-9 indicative of MDD (p = 0.19). Further investigation is needed to determine if reproductive success is protective against MDD among overweight
and obese urban Latinas. Overall, depression is common among overweight and obese reproductive-age Latinas and thus routine
screening is recommended.
9 (PHQ-9) is routinely administered in the Diabetes and Obesity in Reproductive Age women Clinic. We describe median PHQ-9
score and PHQ-9 score ≥10 [indicative of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)] by fertility status. Of the 76 eligible new patients
seen between June 2008 and 2009, 18.4% (n = 14) had PHQ-9 scores indicative of MDD. Infertile women had marginally significantly
higher PHQ-9 scores than non-infertile women (p = 0.08). 26.5% of infertile women and 12.2% of non-infertile women had a PHQ-9 score indicative of MDD (p = 0.14). Number of previous births was inversely correlated with PHQ-9 score (R = −0.34, p = 0.002), those with no previous births had higher PHQ-9 scores (p = 0.001) and were more likely to have a PHQ-9 score indicative of MDD than those with previous births (28.6 vs. 9.8%, p = 0.04). Among non-infertile women, postpartum women had significantly lower PHQ-9 scores than non-postpartum women (p = 0.002). 4.6% of postpartum women and 21.1% of non-postpartum women had a PHQ-9 indicative of MDD (p = 0.19). Further investigation is needed to determine if reproductive success is protective against MDD among overweight
and obese urban Latinas. Overall, depression is common among overweight and obese reproductive-age Latinas and thus routine
screening is recommended.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-5
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-012-9591-9
- Authors
- Penina Segall-Gutierrez, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2020 Zonal Ave Room 220, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Courtney S. Berman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2020 Zonal Ave Room 220, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Neisha Opper, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2020 Zonal Ave Room 220, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Emily Dossett, Department of Psychiatry, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Kimberly Moore, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2020 Zonal Ave Room 220, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Courtney Martin, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
- Janet Pine, Department of Psychiatry, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912