Cyclothymic and anxious affective temperament in perinatal depression: findings from an exploratory cross-sectional study

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Introduction: The perinatal period represents a vulnerable period in which women may experience high psychic distress due to psychological, biological and social changes. The prevalence of perinatal depression (PND) is estimated around 15%-20% during pregnancy and 16%-18% after childbirth. Although several risk factors have been investigated in the PND development, few studies explored the role of affective temperaments, well known to exert a role in any mood disorders. The aim of our study was to explore which is the most represented affective temperamental profile in PND as well as which is its role in the development and severity of depressive symptoms during perinatal period. Methods: All pregnant women admitted at the Perinatal Mental Health Outpatient Service, Unit of Clinical Psychiatry, University Hospital of Marche, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy, between April 2021 and July 2025, were screened for PND through Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a semi-structured clinical interview (SCID-5-CV). Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego (TEMPS-M) was administered to all pregnant women. Results: The PND prevalence was 33.1%. PND was significantly associated with higher cyclothymic (B = 0.356, p = 0.001) and anxious TEMPS-M scores (B = 0.247, p = 0.026) and a positive psychiatric history (B = 5.245, p < 0.001) (R = 0.6, R2 = 0.36, F(3,129) = 24.189, p < 0.001). Logistic regression indicated that cyclothymic (Exp(B)=1.118, p=0.008), hyperthymic (Exp(B)=0.911, p=0.049), anxious temperaments (Exp(B)=1.109, p=0.029), presence of medical comorbidities (Exp(B)=0.224, p=0.003) and psychiatric history (Exp(B)=5.144, p=0.001) were independent predictors of PND. Discussion: Affective temperaments, particularly cyclothymic and anxious profiles, and prior psychiatric history are predictors of perinatal depression. Incorporating temperament assessment alongside standard screening tools such as the EPDS may improve early identification of women at risk, supporting tailored preventive and therapeutic strategies.

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