Texas State And Postpartum Depression
Often referred to as "baby blues" or the "blues postpartum", postpartum depression is a type of depression (major depressive disorder) that affects some women after giving birth. The American Psychiatric Association classifies it as a type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders which also include postnatal anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other types of depression that occur in the first two years following childbirth.
A report by the National Institute of Mental Health states that approximately 10-15% of mothers experience this condition in the first year after giving birth. The risk is highest between the first and fifth weeks after delivery, particularly if it occurs around the fourth week. However, it is most common during the first three months. The condition can also become a long-term problem or even persist after time, along with other types of depression.
The American Psychiatric Association's fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) lists criteria for major depressive disorder in adults. A diagnosis must include one or more major depressive episodes lasting at least two weeks in those over age 18.
According to DSM-5, the symptoms must include either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities persistently, and represent a change from previous functioning. Additionally, the symptoms must not be due to the direct physiological effects of a substance(s) or a general medical condition.
Other prominent mental health organizations use similar definitions. For example, the ICD-10 defines postnatal depression as depression beginning within 4 weeks of childbirth (p. 212). It also lists "depressive episodes" as a possible feature of postnatal depression (p. 213).
The DSM-IV criteria for Major Depressive Disorder can be used for diagnosing MDD following childbirth as well.
Postpartum depression is much more common than people realize. As of 2013, over 6.8 million women were diagnosed with postpartum depression in the United States. If a woman experiences symptoms of postpartum depression, that does not necessarily mean she will be diagnosed with it. Over half of all women experience some type of postnatal symptoms that do not seem to be consistent with clinical diagnoses of PPD.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is considered to be one type of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Premenstrual syndrome symptoms include irritability, anxiety, and moodiness. PMDD symptoms are severe enough to interfere with a woman's daily functioning and she may experience severe depression. Unlike PMDD, a woman experiencing postpartum depression may not have any other symptoms of PMS.
In the DSM-5, postpartum depression is classified under "Major Depressive Disorder" in Chapter 6. Symptoms of Postpartum Major Depressive Disorder include persistent depressed mood that lasts for at least 2 weeks after childbirth and irritability or anger. This condition can lead to the development of anxiety disorders and further physical diseases, including hypertension and diabetes type two. The risk of most cancer types are increased by 40% post partum depression.
In some cases, postpartum depression can last longer than one year after childbirth . The condition may also have a significant impact on family members. Postpartum depression can cause sleeplessness, impulsive behavior, and other symptoms that are also common to anxiety disorders.
It is recommended that women who experience any postpartum symptoms be evaluated by a medical care provider for postpartum depression. This evaluation may be required for women with severe symptoms . In some cases this evaluation may mean hospitalization in order to ensure the safety of either mother or child. It is also important to seek treatment as soon as possible after delivery, because symptoms of postpartum depression tend to worsen over time if left untreated. This can lead to more serious issues and put both mother and child at higher risk for other problems.
Postpartum depression is diagnosed in the United States.
A diagnosis of postpartum depression in Canada is rare. There was a tendency to diagnose women with postpartum depression in the 1980s and 1990s, due to false expectations that they would suffer from it. This led to a bias against women who did not develop postpartum depression, as they were considered more likely to have serious psychopathology than those who did. However, this bias has been decreasing in the last few years.
In Australia, postnatal depression is not classed as an illness in its own right but rather as a complication of the conditions that previously led to it. In the Australian Psychological Society's diagnostic manual (APS), there is a category called "Pregnancy and childbirth" with sub categories on "Pregnancy" and "Postpartum". The Diagnostic Codes for this are: 600.0 Pregnancy and childbirth disorders (postnatal depression); 611.0 Prenatal and perinatal disorders; 610.0 Postpartum depression; 612.1 Stillbirths; 612.8 Neonatal distress; 613.4 Premature birth.
Postpartum depression has been the subject of several television shows and movies, including "A Cry in the Dark", "Juno", "Baby Blues", "She's Having a Baby" and "What's Up, Doc?". In addition, there are many memoirs written from both the patient's and doctor's perspective about this condition
and related issues.
Postpartum depression can be treated with medications and with psychotherapy. Hormone therapy is another treatment method that has been used to treat this condition.
The first antidepressant use is the most effective on a short term basis. Antidepressants have been proven to help reduce the symptoms of postpartum depression. The effect lasted up to six months after delivery.
In 2014, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Center for Medicine and the Media published a study about its effectiveness on established women with postpartum depression. In this study, 75% of women were successfully treated with antidepressants within thirty days after birth, and 70% were non-recovered at one year post partum.