Postnatal Depression and Its Consequences in Public Health (original) (raw)
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Postnatal depression: a review of the literature
2010
Non-psychotic Postnatal Depression (PND) is the most common complication of childbirth. Commonly misconstrued as the "baby blues", PND is, in fact, just as serious as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). PND affects 13%-15% of all mothers; ifuntreated, it can lead to Postnatal Psychosis, a much more severe illness that has lead to suicide and child abuse. Despite the similarities between Major Depressive Disorder and PND, the disorders are different in many aspects. Symptoms of PND are directly related to the new child and to the demands of motherhood. Unlike PND, MDD is classified specifically in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (APA, 2000). The lack of proper classification of PND may be responsible for the lack of proper education on the topic. Risk factors include socio-demographic, socioeconomic, psychiatric, biological and personal factors. Perceived social support, the level of satisfaction with familial relationships and beliefs about motherhood are all also likely to correlate with the severity of symptoms. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the. Beck Depression Scale and the Postnatal Depressive Symptom Survey are all used the most in screening for depressive symptoms specific to the birth of a child. However sensitive, the tests used have limitations due to their original design not being specified for the postpartum period. Treatment is currently being modified for PND clients. There are different factors associated with Postnatal Depression that are not found among the more commonly known form of depression and treatment must focus on those specific factors. Treatment has been found to be successful in most cases and it is imperative to further research in order to develop more successful treatment. In an attempt to increase the awareness of Postnatal Depression, the literature review emphasizes on risk factors associated with PND as well as the screening tools and treatment options. Non-psychotic Postnatal Depression (PND) is the most common complication of childbirth. Over the last decade or so, there have been rising concerns for Postnatal Depression. In 2005 the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill mandating doctors and midwives to educate their patients about Postnatal Depression (Blum, L.D., 2007). Although PND is commonly misconstrued as the "baby blues", it is, in fact, as serious as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD; Abrams & Curran, 2007). The distinguishing characteristics between PND and the "baby blues" are the timing of onset
Postnatal depression - myth and reality: maternal depression before and after the birth of a child
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2000
Much has been written about postnatal depression as a clinical condition. There is some evidence to suggest that a substantial proportion of women who give birth experience a depression in the postnatal period. This paper reports the results of a longitudinal study of the mental health of a large sample of women who were in the early stages of pregnancy at entry to the study. Each participant was assessed for symptoms of depression at the first clinic visit (entry to the study), and reassessed at various intervals--at 3-5 days, at 6 months, and again at 5 years after the birth of the child--using the DSSI-D (Delusions-Symptoms-States Inventory). Retrospective recall questions indicate that shortly after the birth the majority of women experienced some depressed mood. Of those who experienced depressed mood, the data suggest that the symptoms were not severe, nor did these symptoms generally continue beyond a few weeks. The longitudinal data indicate that levels of depression in our sample are highest either at the first clinic visit or at the 5-year follow-up. Rates of depression at the 6-month follow-up are relatively low by comparison. While most mothers experience periods of depressed mood after the birth of their baby, these periods are generally of short duration and of lesser intensity than a major depression. Mothers appear to experience increasing levels of symptoms of depression as their child grows up. Many of the "cases" of depression experienced at the 5-year follow-up represent a recurrence of a previous experience of depression.
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION: IMPACT ON THE LONG-TERM MENTAL HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND CHILDREN (Atena Editora)
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION: IMPACT ON THE LONG-TERM MENTAL HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND CHILDREN (Atena Editora), 2023
INTRODUCTION: Postpartum depression is a disorder that can affect a mother's ability to care for her child, as well as harm the emotional relationship and communication between mother and baby. Studies indicate that PPD can have an impact on the psychological and behavioral development of children. Despite being a public health problem, there is little evidence that focuses on the long-term impacts and consequences of PPD on the mental health of mothers and their children. GOAL: To describe, from a literature review, the main repercussions of PPD on the long-term mental health of mothers and children. METHOD: This is an integrative review study. The guiding question is: What is the mother-child relationship like during the process of growth and development after a break in the bond caused by depression? The descriptors used were: “postpartum depression”, “mother-child relationship” and “mental health”. The searches were carried out in the virtual health library, the inclusion criteria were articles in Spanish and Portuguese from the last 10 years. RESULTS: A total of 10 articles were found, 07 were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Studies show that PPD is capable of affecting children's cognition and psychosocial development. Furthermore, maternal rejection negatively influences the bond, since the relationship is based on interest, in which the child is interested in the mother, as he believes that she is the source of his satisfaction in relation to his physiological needs. CONCLUSION: PPD is an important public health problem that affects the mental health of mothers and children in the long term, and can have consequences on the mother-child relationship, including the breakdown of the bond and maternal rejection, which can negatively affect development and growth. of children. It is essential that PPD is identified and treated early to minimize its effects on the mental health of mothers and children.
Postnatal depression--an examination of psychosocial factors
South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde, 1995
Postnatal depression (PND) has been underreported in South Africa. This retrospective study investigated factors which appear to predispose women to PND. Two groups, one consisting of women who suffered from PND and the other of women free of this complaint, provided information on a number of biological, psychological and social factors. In line with current opinion it was found that no single causative factor could be isolated but that a variety of factors may contribute to the problem. Among the factors which distinguished the two groups were the mothers' emotional health during pregnancy, complications after birth, marital relations, relationship with their own mothers, social support and preparation for motherhood. An alarming finding was that a large proportion of the PND sufferers had not known of the disorder's existence before their own diagnosis.
Understanding Postpartum Depression: A Comprehensive Review
International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 2024
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant mental health concern affecting women worldwide, with implications for maternal well-being and infant development. This article provides a comprehensive overview of PPD, including its prevalence, risk factors, and impact on maternal-infant health outcomes. The prevalence of PPD varies across different countries, with recent studies indicating rates ranging from 10% to 23% among new mothers. Younger maternal age, history of mental health issues, lack of social support, and stressful life events are among the identified risk factors for developing PPD. Untreated PPD can have detrimental effects on both maternal and infant health. Mothers experiencing PPD may struggle with bonding with their infants, leading to disrupted attachment and compromised emotional regulation in infants. Furthermore, untreated PPD is associated with adverse outcomes such as impaired cognitive development in infants and an increased risk of behavioral and emotional difficulties in children. Early detection and intervention are crucial in addressing PPD and mitigating its impact. Healthcare providers play a vital role in recognizing PPD symptoms and providing appropriate support and treatment options to affected mothers. Screening programs aimed at identifying at-risk women during prenatal and postnatal care can help in timely intervention and support. In conclusion, understanding the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of PPD is essential for promoting maternal mental health and ensuring optimal outcomes for both mothers and infants. Efforts to increase awareness, improve screening practices, and enhance support services are critical in addressing this significant public health issue.
Journal of Affective Disorders, 2010
Background: It has been suggested that there may be two groups of women with postnatal depression (PND)one who have a history of depression and whose depression is etiologically similar to depression experienced at other times of life, and another who develop depression de novo in the postnatal period and whose depression is uniquely 'postnatal'. The primary aim of this study was to clarify the role of negative attitudes (general and maternal-specific) for these proposed subtypes, whilst also considering the role of a range of other potentially relevant etiological factors. Methods: 157 postnatal women were classified into four groups: (i) 'recurrent depression', (ii) 'de novo PND', (iii) 'prior (but not current) depression', (iv) 'healthy control'. Groups were compared on known vulnerability and situational risk factors for depression including negative attitudes (general and maternal-specific), personality style vulnerability, relationship insecurity, low social support, stressful life events and difficult infant behaviour. Hierarchical regressions were conducted to examine the role of general and maternal-specific negative attitudes in mediating the relationship between previous depression and PND. Results: Women with recurrent depression had more personality vulnerability and maternalspecific negative attitudes than women with de novo PND, but there were no differences in general negative attitudes or relationship insecurity. Non-depressed women with a history of prior depression were characterized by elevated general depression vulnerability but lower maternal-specific negative attitudes. General negative attitudes mediated the relationship between previous depression and PND. Limitations: All participants had unsettled infants and the generalizability of results to general postpartum samples is not known. Conclusions: Although these results do not provide support for the proposed subtypes of PND, they highlight encouraging new avenues for cognitively based preventative interventions.
Postpartum depression: a case-control study
The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 2019
Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mild to severe mood disorder, starting at 6 weeks after birth and with an incidence of approximately 25% in Brazilian puerperae. Its occurrence induce significant aggravations to maternal and child health, however, its risk factors, although known, are little explored for the appropriate diagnosis. Purpose: To correlate PPD with anxiety, smoking, alcoholism, parity, type of birth, gestational and maternal age, identifying the possible risk factors that increase the probability of a puerpera developing a depressive episode. Materials and methods: A case-control study performed at the Alzir Bernardino Alves Infant and Maternity Hospital in the city of Vila Velha, Espirito Santo, Brazil. The sample consisted of 227 puerperae. The cutoff point for depression was defined as >10 points according to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and cutoff points for anxiety were defined as <33 points for low anxiety, between 33 and 49 for moderate anxiety and >49 for high anxiety according to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T). Results: 29.1% of the 227 interviewed puerperae presented PPD and were considered "cases", with the remaining being considered as "control". There was a positive correlation between PPD and anxiety. No significant correlation was observed for the other risk factors. Women with moderate anxiety presented 17.38 times more probability to develop depressive episodes, and puerperae with high anxiety presented 273 times more chance of developing PPD. Conclusions: Our results evidenced a high percentage of puerperae with PPD related to maternal anxiety, demonstrating the importance and the necessity of increasing care for women's mental health in the gestational and puerperal periods.