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Postpartum Depression Disorder

The term Postpartum Depression describes the range of physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that many new mothers experience following the delivery of their babies. Symptoms of this condition can range from mild to severe. A new mother's depression may be a mild, brief bout of "baby blues"; or she may suffer from postpartum depression, a much more serious condition. In some cases, new mothers may have postpartum psychosis, a relatively rare but severe and incapacitating illness. 		 
   

Symptoms

The mildest and most frequent form of Post Postpartum Depression is commonly referred to as the “Baby Blues” and is occurs in 40 to 85 percent of deliveries. Symptoms arise spontaneously during the first ten days postpartum, and tend to peak around 3 to 5 days. Although symptoms are distressing, they are transient and are resolved within 24 to 72 hours. Typical symptoms are depressed mood, anxiety, excessive worry, irritability, confusion, crying spells, sleep and appetite disturbances and lack of feeling for the baby.

The onset of postpartum depression frequently begins within 4 weeks after delivery but can occur several months later. Symptoms must be present for at least 2 weeks and must affect the mother’s ability to function in order to be so diagnosed. Postpartum Depression occurs in 10 to 15 percent of all deliveries and in 26 to 32 percent of adolescent deliveries. The majority of patients still suffer from symptoms 6 months after onset and when untreated up to 25 percent of patients are depressed one year later.

Events that predispose a woman to postpartum depression are:

  • Previous episode of postpartum depression. One incidence of postpartum depression may increase the risk of reoccurrence by up to 70 percent.
  • Depression unrelated to pregnancy. A prior episode of depression may increase the risk by up to 30 percent.
  • Severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
  • Stressful marital, family, vocational or financial conditions
  • Ambivalent feeling about the pregnancy or the pregnancy is unwanted.
  • Symptoms reported for postpartum depression are:
  • Depressed mood for most of the day and nearly every day
  • Loss of interest in activities that were previously experienced as pleasurable
  • Hopelessness and despair
  • Thoughts of suicide and or infanticide
  • Fears of harming the baby
  • No concern or over concern for the baby
  • Feeling of inadequacy, guilt and worthlessness
  • Poor concentration and impaired memory
  • Bizarre and strange thoughts
  • Hallucinations
  • Nightmares
  • Panic attacks
  • Agitated or lethargic
Postpartum or puerperal psychosis occurs in at a rate of 1-2 out every 1000 deliveries. Symptoms usually occur within the first 4 weeks postpartum but can manifest anytime up to the 90 days after delivery. It is characterized by a rapid and severe onset. Women with this disorder are severely impaired and suffer from delusions and hallucinations and are at risk for suicide and/or infanticide.

Symptoms manifested are:

  • Refusal to eat
  • Frantic energy and activity
  • Incoherence
  • Loss of memory and extreme confusion
  • Bizarre hallucinations
  • Irrational and suspicious behavior

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