Evaluating a hierarchical structural model of psychopathology symptoms across pregnancy and the postpartum period.

ABSTRACT: Pregnancy and postpartum are times of increased risk for a variety of mental health problems. Historically, these symptoms have been conceptualized via ostensibly distinct, consensus-based diagnostic categories. However, applying an empirically based, dimensional approach to psychiatric classification may significantly advance understanding of common and specific risk factors during this highly dynamic period. In the present study, we used exploratory psychometric methods to examine the structure of psychopathology symptoms from the "bottom-up" or using symptom-level co-occurrence to derive common factors in a sample of individuals (N = 347) across earlier pregnancy (M = 17.4 weeks gestation), later pregnancy (M = 34.6 weeks gestation), and postpartum (M = 25.3

SUBMITTER: Brandes CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12646681 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature