Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression (PPD), also called postnatal depression, is a type of mood disorder that happens after childbirth, which can affect both sexes.
Symptoms may include extreme sadness, low energy, anxiety, crying episodes, and changes in sleeping or eating patterns.[1] PPD can also negatively affect the newborn child.[2][3]
While the exact cause of PPD is unknown, the cause is believed to be a combination of physical, emotional, genetic, and social factors.[4] These may include factors such as hormonal changes and sleep problems.[5] Risk factors include bipolar disorder, a family history of depression, psychological stress, problems during childbirth, lack of support, or a drug use disorder.[1]
Diagnosis is based on a person's symptoms.[3] While most women experience a short time of worry or unhappiness after delivery, postpartum depression should be seen when symptoms are severe and last over two weeks.[1]
Among those at risk, giving psychosocial support could prevent PPD.[6] This may include community support such as food, household chores, mother care, and friendship.[7] Treatment for PPD may include counseling or medications.[3] Types of counseling have been found to be useful in treating PPD.[3]
Postpartum depression affects roughly 8.9-10.1% of women in high income countries and 17.8-19.7% of women in low and middle income countries.[8] Postpartum depression commonly affects mothers who have had experienced stillbirth, live in urban areas, and are single mothers.[9] This mood disorder is seen to affect 1% to 26% of new fathers.[10]
Postpartum psychosis is a more severe form of postpartum mood disorder and happens in about 1 to 2 per 1,000 women following childbirth.[11] Postpartum psychosis is one of the leading causes of murder of children less than one year of age. It happens in about 8 per 100,000 births in the United States.[12]
