PPD Risk Stratification

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 15% of birthing individuals, and represents one of the leading causes of death in the year postpartum. Previous work has demonstrated that structured psychotherapy (CBT & IPT-based) shows ~50% reduction in PPD incidence, while pharmacological interventions have not demonstrated efficacy in preventing PPD.. Furthermore, only approximately 20% of patients with PPD will receive treatment.

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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends preventive counseling for at-risk patients to prevent PPD,

but no validated clinical risk model exists at present to identify at-risk individuals before depression onset.

This study is a prospective, longitudinal cohort study utilizing data from the Penn Medicine Biobank.

 

We are developing a clinically interpretable PPD risk stratification model using multidimensional, interrelated

factors including psychiatric, exposomal, obstetric, genomic, and medical variables. This approach aims to

identify at-risk individuals before depression onset, enabling earlier interventions.