One in eight first-time fathers 'suffer depression while their partner is pregnant'

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Expectant fathers should be screened for depression, experts warn
Found 13% of first-time fathers experienced depressive symptoms
Antenatal 'baby blues' increases the risk of postnatal depression, they say

By Lizzie Parry For Dailymail.com

Published: 14:29 EST, 5 October 2015 | Updated: 16:08 EST, 5 October 2015

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Discovering you have a baby on the way brings with it a torrent of emotions.

For many parents-to-be a positive pregnancy test will be met with joy and excitement.

But for some, that joy can quickly be replaced with a wave of inexplicable sadness and trepidation.

While cases of the 'baby blues' are commonly recognised in mothers, a new study has added weight to the argument that men are at risk too.

Experts at McGill University in Canada say such is that risk to men, they advise screening expectant fathers to try and identify those most at risk.

Scientists at McGill University in Canada have warned that one in eight first-time expectant fathers are at risk of depressive symptoms during their partner's pregnancy (file image posed by model)

Their study marks the first to examine the prevalence of antenatal depression symptoms in Canadian men.

The findings reveal a 'significant number' - 13 per cent - of first-time fathers experience depression during their partner's pregnancy.

The discovery could have important clinical implications for depression screening and early prevention efforts, the researchers said.

Dr Deborah Da Costa, an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at McGill University, said: 'The mental health of men remains a neglected area of research and one that is not adequately addressed during the transition to parenthood.

'Highlighting these findings in Canada increases awareness in expectant parents, new parents, and importantly healthcare providers who are in contact with expectant couples during prenatal appointments.'

Researchers recruited 622 men in Quebec over a period of 18 months, to take part in their study.

Expectant fathers completed online questionnaires measuring various factors such as mood, physical activity, sleep quality, social support, marital adjustment, financial stress and demographics.

Expectant fathers completed questionnaires measuring various factors of their mood, and the findings revealed 13 per cent experienced elevated levels of depressive symptoms. The study warns antenatal depression in expectant fathers could signal an increased risk of postnatal depression too

They completed the questionnaires during their partner's third trimester.

Researchers found that 13.3 per cent of expectant fathers experienced elevated levels of depressive symptoms during their partner's pregnancy.

Most of the factors associated with depression in men were found to be modifiable, meaning that tools are available to help expectant fathers cope with their difficulties.

For the first time in this area, researchers also looked at sleep in relation to depression and found that men who were having difficulty sleeping were most at risk of depression.

Dr Da Costa said: 'These are important signals because some of these factors may worsen in postpartum; certainly sleep will be compromised in the first years.

'We know that antenatal depression is the strongest predictor for postnatal depression.

'So teaching fathers and screening for this early on, can be beneficial in terms of decreasing the risk or the continuation of depression postpartum.'

This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).