LAUSR

Most research on maternal mental health focuses on the perinatal period and does not extend beyond 12 months postpartum. However, emerging evidence suggests that for some women (30%–50%), psychological symptoms may persist beyond the first year postpartum or even emerge later increasing the risk of chronic mood and anxiety symptoms. Despite the high prevalence rates and devastating maternal‐child consequences, studies examining maternal depression, anxiety, and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) beyond the first year postpartum are rare and our understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms is incomplete. Inflammatory processes are thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of depression, anxiety, & PTSD outside of the postpartum period. Therefore, the purpose of the current investigation was to examine the relationship between depression, anxiety, and PTSD two to three years post‐delivery, and transcriptional control pathways relevant to inflammatory and antiviral processes.