Also known as postnatal depression, postpartum depression (PPD) is a kind of major depression that affects women after childbirth. It also affects men, but comparatively in less number.
It is considered as treatable in most parts of the globe. Studies show that the prevalence rate is from 5% to 25%. However those studies were methodologically different and hence the actual occurrence rate is unclear.
Maternity blues is a condition that is suffered by 70 to 80 per cent of women after childbirth. This condition often gets misunderstood as postpartum depression due to its symptoms that are somewhat similar to PPD. However, maternity blues are just a mild and transitory form of moodiness.
Causes of Postpartum Depression:
Not all causes of PPD is known. However, several of them have been identified. They are:
- Unplanned/unwanted pregnancy
- Childcare stress
- Single parent
- History of previous depression
- Low socioeconomic status
- Los self esteem
- Low social support
- Prenatal depression during pregnancy
- Infant temperament problems
- Prenatal anxiety
- Maternity blues
- Poor marital relationship
- Life stress
Diagnosis of Postpartum Depression:
Except it’s distinguishing from the maternity blues, postpartum depression is diagnosed on the same criterion as major depression. To differentiate PPD from the baby (or maternity) blues, it is observed whether the symptoms are present one month postpartum. If they are, postpartum is identified.
Treatment of Postpartum Depression:
Treatment methods for postpartum depression are almost the same as the treatment methods for general clinical depression. They include:
- Medication
- Dietary supplements
- Augmentor drugs
- Psychotherapy
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation
- Vagus nerve stimulation
- Electroconvulsive therapy
- Light therapy
- Meditation
- Exercise
- Archaic methods
- Deep brain stimulation
If the cause of PPD gets identified, doctors aim the treatment at it. |
