Subtypes of postpartum depressive symptoms and the association with subsequent psychiatric care: latent class analysis

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depressive symptoms can vary substantially and probably reflect distinct subtypes. Understanding specific symptom patterns may help identify those at risk for later psychiatric care. AIMS: We aimed to identify subtypes of postpartum depressive symptoms and examine their associations with subsequent psychiatric care. METHOD: We conducted a cohort study using Danish nationwide health registers linked to population-based Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores from 2015 to 2021. Latent class analysis of EPDS responses identified subtypes among women with clinically relevant symptoms (EPDS ≥11), using a maternal background population as a reference group (EPDS