Depressive Symptom Trajectories in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Longitudinal Study From Northern Vietnam (VALID II)

This study explored depressive symptoms across pregnancy and the postpartum period among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Vietnam. One hundred ninety-five women were recruited from 2 health care facilities in the Thai Binh Province, Northern Vietnam. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 3 time points: before GDM diagnosis (24-28 weeks), at 36 weeks' gestation, and 12 weeks postpartum. Mixed-effects linear models guided by a directed acyclic graph were used to examine associations. The EPDS scores remained stable during pregnancy but were significantly lower postpartum than at prediagnosis (mean difference [MD] = -2.94; 95% CI, -3.59 to -2.29) and 36 weeks' gestation (MD = -3.16; 95% CI, -3.72 to -2.61). Differences in EPDS trajectories were observed across sociodemographic characteristics, with women who were not living with their showing the greatest reductions in EPDS scores. Maternal mental health in GDM follows a nonlinear trajectory. Integrated GDM care should include mental health screening and social support.