Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Relationship Between Sleep Deprivation And Postpartum Depression, Janet Wagner

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Postpartum depression was thought to be an important component of maternity blues and was the factor explored in this study. Sleep was hypothesized as a factor affecting either the occurrence or severity of postpartum depression. Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between sleep deprivation and postpartum depression.

Twenty patients were interviewed one to three weeks prior to their expected dates of delivery. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Depression scale was administered during the interview and each patient kept a record of her hours of sleep during the following week. Each patient again kept a record …