The rates and severity of postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety symptoms in females seeking PPD treatment have deteriorated during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

This study focused on studying the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on depression, anxiety, and bonding between mother and infant in women receiving treatment for PPD.

A comparison of baseline data compiled in 2 separate randomized controlled trials of a psychoeducational intervention for PPD, one before coronavirus (March 2019 to March 2020) and one during the coronavirus outbreak (April to October 2020) was done.

The eligible patients were aged >18 years with an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score of ≥ 10. Their infants were less than 1-year old. Anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7]), mother-infant bonding (Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire [PBQ]), and PPD (EPDS) were constantly evaluated and dichotomized at the clinical cutoffs.

Out of a total of 603 study participants (n=305 before-COVID-19 and n=298 during COVID-19), the mothers registered during the COVID-19 outbreak witnessed more symptoms of PPD and anxiety. Women displayed 65% greater odds of clinically relevant depression symptoms and 46% greater odds of clinically significant anxiety symptoms in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Treatment-seeking mothers were found to consistently maintain good relationships with their infants since no considerable differences in mother-infant bonding were noted.

Higher rates of anxiety were noted in women with postpartum depression during COVID times. It thus becomes crucial to safely recognize and manage PPD to lessen the potential adverse effects on mothers and their families in the long run.