UNASSIGNED: Perinatal mental health issues affect approximately 10% of women in high-income countries and 30% in low- or middle-income countries. This review aims to determine the prevalence of perinatal depression among mothers and fathers in Pakistan and identify associated risk factors.
UNASSIGNED: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. We included quantitative studies on the prevalence or incidence of maternal and paternal perinatal depression, including antenatal or postnatal depression in Pakistan, with or without associated risk factors. We performed an electronic search, dual-title/abstract and full-text screening, and data extraction. Analysis was conducted on Revman and JBI SUMARI software. The quality of the included studies was assessed with the NHLBI tool. This review updated a previously published review that included 43 studies, with the last search date of 31st May 2019, now extended to literature published up to June 30, 2023.
UNASSIGNED: Consistent with the previous review, our analysis of 61 studies indicated a pooled prevalence of 37% (95% confidence interval (CI): 30.6-43.6) for maternal antenatal depression. Postnatal depression at different time points, revealed rates of 34.2% (95% CI: 22.7-46.7), 40.9% (95% CI: 0-97.4), and 43.1% (95% CI: 24.4-62.9) at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. Paternal postnatal depression was observed at 40.5% (95% CI: 14.9-69) based on two studies. Risk factors for maternal perinatal depression include multiparity, contraceptive failure, inadequate antenatal care, pregnancy-induced hypertension, previous psychiatric illness, passive smoking, drug abuse, low socio-economic status, marital problems, family hardships, recent bereavement, housing difficulties, food insecurity, husband\'s illiteracy, his unemployment, and being blamed for child disability.
UNASSIGNED: The findings reveal a high prevalence of perinatal depression among mothers with very limited evidence of fathers residing in Pakistan, emphasising the need for prospective studies addressing mental health challenges.
UNASSIGNED: This review is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023442581).

BACKGROUND: Antenatal depression is the most prevalent pregnancy-associated mental health disorder. Previous studies have identified several risk factors for antenatal depression, including partner support. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many relationship dynamics changed. This study examined the extent to which relationship factors had an impact on antenatal depression in comparison with other well-researched factors in the context of the pandemic.
METHODS: A secondary analysis was conducted using data from the P3 Cohort in Calgary, a longitudinal cohort study based in Alberta, Canada. Pregnant people (n = 872) completed self-report questionnaires and validated scales about sociodemographic, psychological, and relationship characteristics. Antenatal depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Logistic regression was used to assess the impact of reported characteristics on antenatal depression. Tests of model fit were used to examine whether the inclusion of variables related to relationship quality improved model fit after accounting for other known risk factors.
RESULTS: Overall, 18.23% of participants experienced antenatal depression. Relationship factors including relationship unhappiness (OR = 1.98 [95% CI: 1.06-3.69]), having an upsetting partner (OR = 2.00 [95% CI: 1.17-3.40]), and having a lower quality of relationships with close friends and family (OR = 1.76 [95% CI: 1.14-2.73]) were associated with antenatal depression; however, inclusion of these relationship factors did not improve model fit after accounting for other known predictors.
CONCLUSIONS: Overall, relationship factors were not associated with antenatal depression during the pandemic after accounting for other known risk factors. Stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic may have overshadowed the impact of relationship factors, or relationship factors may have contributed to higher levels of stress and anxiety more generally within our sample.

BACKGROUND: Evidence regarding metabolic alterations associated with maternal antenatal depression (AD) is limited, and their role as potential biomarkers improving the prediction of AD and adverse child birth, neurodevelopmental, and mental health outcomes remains unexplored.
METHODS: In a cohort of 331 mother-child dyads, we studied associations between AD (history of medical register diagnoses and/or Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale score during pregnancy≥20) and 95 metabolic measures analyzed three times during pregnancy. We tested whether the AD-related metabolic measures increased variance explained in AD over its risk factors, and in child birth, neurodevelopmental, and mental health outcomes over AD. We replicated the findings in a cohort of 416 mother-child dyads.
RESULTS: Elastic net regression identified 15 metabolic measures that collectively explained 25% (p<0.0001) of variance in AD, including amino and fatty acids, glucose, inflammation, and lipids. These metabolic measures increased the variance explained in AD over its risk factors (32.3%,p<0.0001 vs. 12.6%,p=0.004), and in child gestational age (9.0%,p<0.0001 vs. 0.7%, p=0.34), birth weight(9.0%,p=0.03 vs. 0.7%, p=0.33), developmental milestones at the age of 2.3-5.7 years(21.0%,p=0.002 vs. 11.6%,p<0.001) and any mental or behavioral disorder by the age of 13.1-16.8 years(25.2%,p=0.03 vs. 5.0%,p=0.11) over AD, child sex and age. These findings replicated in the independent cohort.
CONCLUSIONS: AD is associated with alterations in 15 metabolic measures, which collectively improve the prediction of AD over its risk factors, and birth, neurodevelopmental and mental health outcomes of the child over AD. These metabolic measures may become biomarkers identifying at-risk mothers and children for personalized interventions.

BACKGROUND: Evidence exists that maternal antenatal depression may have adverse impacts on perinatal outcomes. However, the results of those studies are inconsistent and mainly focus on maternal depressive symptoms in the second or third trimester.
METHODS: This prospective cohort study used a sub-sample of participants from the Sino-Canadian Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative trial. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to screen for depressive symptoms in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. Infant growth indicator measurements were conducted in the first year of life. Logistic regression, Spearman correlation analyses and Generalized estimation equation (GEE) models were used to test the hypotheses.
RESULTS: 2053 participants were recruited in this study, 326 of whom had at least one EPDS score ≥ 10 during pregnancy. A higher EPDS score in the first (aOR=1.053, 95 % CI: 1.004-1.103) or in the second trimester (aOR=1.060, 95 % CI: 1.007-1.115) was associated with greater risk of macrosomia. A higher EPDS score in the third trimester was associated with higher risks of preterm birth (aOR=1.079, 95 % CI: 1.006-1.157) and the infant being small for gestational age (aOR=1.097, 95 % CI: 1.015-1.185). GEE models showed that a greater EPDS score in the third trimester was associated with higher infant subscapular skinfold thickness (adjusted β=0.026, 95 % CI: 0.003-0.050).
CONCLUSIONS: Maternal depressive symptoms in different trimesters were differentially associated with infant weight and growth parameters at birth and postnatally. The present study further highlights the importance of depression screening in all trimesters of pregnancy, including the first trimester.

This study examined the associations between maternal depression and oxytocin in pregnancy, caregiving sensitivity and adult attachment style, and infant temperament. One hundred and six women recruited from a public hospital antenatal clinic in Australia, and their infants completed assessments at three time points (Time 1: pregnancy; Time 2: 3-month postpartum; Time 3: 12-month postpartum). Mothers completed self-report questionnaires assessing maternal depression symptom severity at Time 1-3, adult attachment style at Time 2, and infant temperament at Time 3. At Time 1, they also provided a blood sample to assess peripheral oxytocin levels, and at Time 2, participated in a parent-child interaction session, which was later coded for caregiving behavior (sensitivity). Neither maternal depression nor lower levels of oxytocin during pregnancy predicted difficult infant temperament; rather, it was predicted by non-Caucasian ethnicity. When all other variables were free to vary, adult attachment avoidance mediated an association between maternal depression during pregnancy and difficult infant temperament. Results highlight the potential value of interventions focusing on adult attachment insecurity for pregnant women and raise questions about associations between culture/ethnicity and infant temperament.
تناولت هذه الدراسة الارتباطات بين اكتئاب الأمهات والأوكسيتوسين أثناء الحمل، وحساسية تقديم الرعاية وأسلوب تعلق البالغين، ومزاج الرضيع. أكملت مائة وست من السيدات من عيادة ما قبل الولادة في مستشفى عام وأطفالهن الرضع تقييمات في 3 نقاط زمنية (الوقت 1: الحمل؛ الوقت 2: 3 أشهر بعد الولادة؛ الوقت 3: 12 شهراً بعد الولادة). أكملت الأمهات استبيانات الإبلاغ الذاتي لتقييم شدة أعراض اكتئاب الأمهات في الوقت 1 و2 و3، وأسلوب تعلق البالغين في الوقت 2، ومزاج الرضع في الوقت 3. في الوقت 1، قدمت الأمهات أيضًا عينة دم لتقييم مستويات الأوكسيتوسين المحيطية، وفي الوقت 2، شاركن في جلسة تفاعل بين الوالدين والطفل والتي تم ترميزها لاحقاً لسلوك تقديم الرعاية (الحساسية). لم يتنبأ اكتئاب الأمهات ولا انخفاض مستويات الأوكسيتوسين أثناء الحمل بمزاج الرضيع الصعب، بل تنبأ به العرق غير القوقازي. عندما كانت جميع المتغيرات الأخرى حرة في التغيير، فإن تجنب التعلق لدى البالغين كان وسيطًا في العلاقة بين اكتئاب الأمهات أثناء الحمل ومزاج الرضيع الصعب. وتسلط النتائج الضوء على القيمة المحتملة للتدخلات التي تركز على عدم أمان تعلق البالغين لدى النساء الحوامل، وتثير تساؤلات حول الارتباطات بين الثقافة/العرق ومزاج الرضيع.
本研究考察了母亲孕期抑郁症与催产素水平、育儿敏感性和成人依恋风格以及婴儿气质之间的关系。研究对象为从一家公共医院产前诊所招募的106名女性及其婴儿, 这些母婴在三个时间点进行了评估(时间点1:怀孕期间;时间点2:产后3个月;时间点3:产后12个月)。母亲在时间点1、2和3完成了自我报告问卷, 以评估孕期抑郁症状的严重程度, 在时间点2评估成人依恋风格, 在时间点3评估婴儿气质。在时间点1时, 母亲还提供了血样以评估外周催产素水平, 在时间点2参与了亲子互动环节, 该环节之后被编码为育儿行为(敏感性)。结果显示, 孕期抑郁症或较低的催产素水平并不能预测难相处的婴儿气质, 相反, 非白种人族裔可以预测这一点。当所有其他变量自由变化时, 回避型成人依恋在孕期抑郁症与难相处的婴儿气质之间起到了中介作用。研究结果强调了针对孕妇的不安全感型成人依恋采取干预措施的潜在价值, 并提出了关于文化、种族与婴儿气质之间关系的问题。.
Cette étude a examiné les liens entre la dépression maternelle et l\'oxytocine durant la grossesse, la sensibilité de la personne prenant soin de l\'enfant, le style d\'attachement adulte et le tempérament du nourrisson. Cent six femmes recrutées dans une clinique prénatale d\'un hôpital public et leurs nourrissons ont rempli des évaluations à trois moments (Moment 1 : la grossesse; Moment 2 : 3 mois postpartum; Moment 3 12 mois postpartum). Les mères ont rempli des questionnaires d\'auto‐évaluation évaluant la sévérité du symptôme de dépression maternelle aux Moments 1, 2, et 3, le style d\'attachement adulte au Moment 2, et le tempérament du nourrisson au Moment 3. Au Moment 1 elles ont aussi donné un échantillon de sang afin d’évaluer les niveaux périphériques d\'oxytocine, et au Moment 2 elles ont participé à une séance d\'interaction parent‐enfant qui fut plus tard codée pour le comportement de soin (sensibilité). Ni la dépression maternelle ni des niveaux plus bas d\'oxytocine durant la grossesse ont prédit un tempérament difficile du nourrisson. En fait ce dernier s\'est avéré prédit par une ethnicité non blanche. Lorsque toutes les autres variables étaient libres de varier le fait d’éviter l\'attachement adulte a servi de médiation dans le lien entre la dépression maternelle durant la grossesse et le tempérament difficile du nourrisson. Les résultats mettent en lumière la valeur potentielle des interventions qui mettent l\'accent sur l\'insécurité de l\'attachement adulte pour les femmes enceintes et soulèvent des questions quant aux liens entre la culture/l\'ethnicité et le tempérament du nourrisson.
In dieser Studie wurden die Zusammenhänge zwischen Depressionen bei Müttern und Oxytocin in der Schwangerschaft, Sensibilität in der Fürsorge und Bindungsstil im Erwachsenenalter sowie dem Temperament des Säuglings untersucht. Einhundertsechs Frauen, die in einer öffentlichen Klinik für Schwangere rekrutiert wurden, und ihre Säuglinge wurden zu drei Zeitpunkten untersucht (Zeitpunkt 1: Schwangerschaft; Zeitpunkt 2: 3 Monate nach der Geburt; Zeitpunkt 3: 12 Monate nach der Geburt). Der Schweregrad der mütterlichen Depressionssymptome zu den Zeitpunkten 1, 2 und 3, der Bindungsstil der Mütter zum Zeitpunkt 2 und das Temperament des Säuglings zum Zeitpunkt 3 wurden durch Selbstauskunftsfragebögen der Mütter erfasst. Zum Zeitpunkt 1 gaben jene außerdem eine Blutprobe ab, um den peripheren Oxytocinspiegel zu bestimmen. Zum Zeitpunkt 2 nahmen sie zudem an einer Eltern‐Kind‐Interaktionssitzung teil, die später hinsichtlich des gezeigten Fürsorgeverhaltens (Sensitivität) bewertet wurde. Weder mütterliche Depressionen noch niedrigere Oxytocinspiegel während der Schwangerschaft sagten ein schwieriges Temperament des Säuglings voraus; vielmehr erwies sich eine nicht‐weiße Ethnizität als Prädiktor. Wenn alle anderen Variablen frei variieren konnten, vermittelte Bindungsvermeidung im Erwachsenenalter einen Zusammenhang zwischen mütterlicher Depression während der Schwangerschaft und einem schwierigen Temperament des Säuglings. Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen den potenziellen Wert von Interventionen, die sich auf Bindungsunsicherheiten bei schwangeren Frauen konzentrieren und werfen Fragen zum Zusammenhang zwischen Kultur/Ethnizität und kindlichem Temperament auf.
本研究では、妊娠中の母親のうつ病とオキシトシンの関連性、養育中の感受性と成人の愛着スタイル、そして乳児の気質について検討した。公立病院の産科クリニックから募集した106名の女性とその乳児を対象に、3つの時点(第1時点:妊娠中、第2時点:産後3ヵ月、第3時点:産後12ヵ月)で評価を行った。母親は、第1、2、3時点で母親のうつ症状の重症度を、第2時点で大人の愛着スタイルを、第3時点で乳児の気質を評価する自己報告式の質問票に記入した。また、第1時点には末梢血オキシトシン濃度を評価するために血液サンプルを提供し、第2時点には、後に養育行動(感受性)についてコード化された親子相互作用セッションに参加した。妊娠中の母親のうつ病もオキシトシンレベルの低下も、気難しい乳児の気質を予測するものではなく、むしろ非白人の民族性によって予測された。他のすべての変数を自由に変化させた場合、成人の回避型愛着が妊娠中の母親のうつ病と乳児の難しい気質の関連性を媒介した。この結果は、妊婦に対する成人の愛着不安に焦点を当てた介入の潜在的価値を強調するものであり、文化・民族性と乳児の気質との関連についての疑問を提起している。.
Este estudio examinó las asociaciones entre depresión materna y oxitocina en el embarazo, la sensibilidad acerca de la prestación de cuidado y el estilo de afectividad adulta, así como el temperamento del infante. Ciento seis mujeres, reclutadas de la clínica antenatal de un hospital público, y sus infantes, completaron un instrumento evaluativo en 3 momentos (Momento 1: embarazo; Momento 2: 2‐3 meses después del parto; Momento 3: 12 meses después del parto). Las madres completaron cuestionarios de autoinforme en los que evaluaban la severidad de los síntomas de depresión materna en los Momentos 1, 2 y 3, el estilo de afectividad adulta al Momento 2, así como el temperamento del infante al Momento 3. Al Momento 1, ellas también aportaron una muestra de sangre para evaluar los niveles perimetrales de oxitocina, y al Momento 2, participaron en una sesión de interacción progenitor‐infante que luego fue codificada en cuanto al comportamiento de prestación de cuidado (sensibilidad). Ni la depresión materna ni los bajos niveles de oxitocina durante el embarazo predijeron el temperamento difícil del infante; más bien, eso lo predijo la etnicidad no caucásica. Cuando todas las otras variables estaban libres para variar, la evasión de la afectividad adulta sirvió de mediadora en una asociación entre depresión materna durante el embarazo y temperamento difícil del infante. Los resultados subrayan el valor potencial de intervenciones que se enfoquen en la inseguridad de la afectividad adulta para mujeres embarazadas y plantean preguntas acerca de las asociaciones entre cultura/etnicidad y el temperamento del infante.

UNASSIGNED: Although the association between a history of infertility treatment and perinatal depression has been investigated, most research has been cross-sectional and has not used diagnostic assessment tools.
UNASSIGNED: This study investigates longitudinally the association between a history of infertility treatment and perinatal depression using WHO-Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 (WHO-CIDI 3.0) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).
UNASSIGNED: This study used data (N = 2,435) from the control group of a randomised controlled trial on a sample of pregnant women. Survival analysis was used to examine the influence of infertility treatment on perinatal depressive disorder evaluated by WHO-CIDI 3.0. The EPDS scores at four time points (T1 [baseline]: 14 ± 2 weeks gestation, T2: 32 weeks gestation, T3: 1 week postpartum, T4: 3 months postpartum) were analysed using generalised mixed model analysis.
UNASSIGNED: The risk of experiencing a major depressive episode evaluated by WHO-CIDI 3.0 did not significantly differ between women conceiving through infertility treatment and those conceiving spontaneously (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.64, p = 0.109). The longitudinal analysis demonstrated that EPDS scores significantly increased at T3 and T4 among women conceiving through infertility treatment compared with those conceiving spontaneously (adjusted estimates of fixed effect from T1 to T3: 1.17, p < 0.01; from T1 to T4: 0.71, p = 0.022).
UNASSIGNED: Women conceiving through infertility treatment were not found to have a higher risk of diagnosable perinatal depressive disorder than those conceiving naturally. However, a history of infertility treatment can marginally increase sub-clinical postpartum depressive symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal depression may result in adverse outcomes for both the mother and the offspring. However, few studies have focused on the screening of pregnant women at a higher risk for antenatal depression in the first trimester. The present study aimed to assess the effect of lifestyle and family relationships on antenatal depression in the first trimester in a large Chinese population.
METHODS: Cross-sectional population data were obtained from a real-world cross-sectional survey conducted in Shenzhen, China from 2020 to 2024. The data on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, and family relationships were obtained using self-reported questionnaires. Antenatal depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), with a score of ≥13 indicating the presence of probable antenatal depression. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify the risk factors of antenatal depression.
RESULTS: A total of 42,363 pregnant women in the first trimester were recruited in the cross-sectional survey, among whom 3107 (7.3 %) had probable antenatal depression. We found (1) age < 25 years, (2) low or moderate economic status, (3) smoking, (4) partner smoking, (5) alcohol use, (6) lack of physical exercise, (7) poor or moderate living environment, (8) low or moderate marital happiness, and (9) never talking about problems were associated with antenatal depression. However, level of education, employment status, partner alcohol use, and living alone were not significantly related to antenatal depression in the first trimester.
CONCLUSIONS: The cross-sectional design and the use of self-report measures must be considered while interpreting the results.
CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that the prevalence of antenatal depression in the first trimester was 7.3 %. Public health prevention efforts aimed at reducing the prevalence of antenatal depression are recommended. Early identification of women at a higher risk in early pregnancy is necessary for preventing antenatal depression and improving quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal depression is a significant public health issue affecting pregnant women both globally and in China. Using data from a mobile app-based screening programme, this study explored the prevalence and factors associated with antenatal depressive symptoms across different trimesters in Shenzhen.
METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women who gave birth in any hospital in Shenzhen between July 2021 and May 2022 and underwent depression screening using an official maternal and infant health mobile app at least once during pregnancy. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with cut-off scores of 5 and 10 for mild and high level of symptoms, respectively. The prevalence for each trimester was determined by calculating the proportion of women scoring 5 or higher. A variety of sociodemographic, obstetric, psychological, and lifestyle factors were assessed for their association with depressive symptoms. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify significant predictors.
RESULTS: A total of 110,584 pregnant women were included in the study, with an overall prevalence of depressive symptoms of 18.0% and a prevalence of high-level symptoms of 4.2%. Depressive symptoms were most prevalent in the first trimester (10.9%) and decreased in the second (6.2%) and third trimesters (6.3%). Only a small proportion (0.4%) of women showed persistent depressive symptoms across all trimesters. Anxiety symptoms in early pregnancy emerged as the most significant predictor of depressive symptoms. Other factors linked to an increased risk throughout pregnancy include lower marital satisfaction, living with parents-in-law, experience of negative life events, as well as drinking before and during pregnancy. Factors associated with a reduced risk throughout pregnancy include multiparity and daily physical activity.
CONCLUSIONS: This large-scale study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and factors associated with antenatal depressive symptoms in Shenzhen. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions for high-risk groups and the integration of mental health care into routine antenatal services. Continuous, dynamic monitoring of depressive symptoms for pregnant women and ensuring at-risk women receive comprehensive follow-up and appropriate psychological or psychiatric care are crucial for effectively addressing antenatal depression and improving maternal and infant health outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Inconsistent associations between antenatal depression and fetal birth weight were reported previously, and little is known about the dynamic changes and long-term cumulative effect of antenatal depression during pregnancy.
METHODS: Participants were from the Tongji-Huaxi-Shuangliu Birth Cohort. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in early, middle, and late pregnancy respectively. Trajectories of antenatal depression were assessed using the latent class mixed model. The percentage of days with depression (PDD) and frequency of antenatal depression were measured to assess the cumulative exposure. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations of antenatal depression with macrosomia and large for gestational age (LGA).
RESULTS: We identified four distinct trajectories, including the low stable group (n = 1,327, 27.99 %), the moderate stable group (n = 2,610, 55.05 %), the peak group (n = 407, 8.58 %), and the valley group (n = 397, 8.37 %). Compared with the low stable group, the valley group showed a higher risk of macrosomia (OR, 1.98; 95 % CI, 1.17, 3.38) and LGA (OR, 1.44; 95 % CI, 1.002, 2.09); the peak group showed a higher risk of LGA (OR, 1.52; 95 % CI, 1.07, 2.16), but the association was not significant for macrosomia (OR, 1.47; 95 % CI, 0.85, 2.55). Consistently, cumulative antenatal depression was also positively associated with the risks of macrosomia and LGA.
CONCLUSIONS: The antenatal depression was self-reported using a screening scale and information bias could not be ruled out.
CONCLUSIONS: Certain trajectories and cumulative exposure of antenatal depression were associated with higher risks of high birth weight.

UNASSIGNED: Perinatal depression and anxiety are public health concerns affecting approximately 1 in 10 women in Singapore, with clear evidence of association with various adverse outcomes in mother and child, including low birthweight, preterm birth and negative impact on infant neurodevelopment, temperament and behaviour. A workgroup was formed to develop recommendations to address the perinatal mental health needs of women with depression and anxiety. The approach was broad-based and aimed to incorporate holistic methods that would be readily applicable to the network of care providers supporting childbearing women.
UNASSIGNED: The Grading and Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Evidence to Decision framework was employed to draw these guidelines. Workgroup members-comprising experts in the field of perinatal mental health and obstetric medicine-deliberated on the public health needs of the target population, and reviewed literature published from 2001 to 2022 that were relevant to improve the well-being of women with depression and anxiety during the preconception and perinatal periods.
UNASSIGNED: A consensus meeting was held involving a wider professional network, including family physicians, paediatricians, psychiatrists, social services and the Health Promotion Board in Singapore.
UNASSIGNED: Ten consensus statements were developed, focusing on the overall aim of achieving optimal perinatal mental health for women with depression and anxiety. They relate to awareness and advice on preconception mental health, screening and assessment, optimising care and treatment. Special considerations were recommended for women who suffered severe maternal events, tailoring care for adolescents and women with special needs, and addressing infant mental health needs.