Clinical
Corner Ð Post-partum Depression
SATURDAY,
July 14 (Health Scout News) -- It takes a rare and shocking event like the
recent case of the Texas mother who killed five of her children to put
postpartum depression in the headlines. But experts say the condition affects
about 10 to 15 percent of women following childbirth.
Although
cases of mothers harming their children are very rare, postpartum depression
can be very serious, with such symptoms as sleep deprivation, anxiety and
hopelessness leading to everything from social withdrawal to suicide.
It's
the sleep deprivation, caused by the round-the-clock demands
of a newborn, that is one of the biggest contributing factors to the
problem, says Heather Flynn, a clinical psychologist and research scientist
at the University of Michigan's department of psychiatry.
"Getting
enough sleep is thought among researchers to be key right now for prevention of
postpartum depression," she says. "In fact, there are some clinical
programs for postpartum depression for women in Canada in which they actually
have child care for women so they can sleep after delivery at least five or six
hours a night. And so far they're showing positive results in terms of
preventing postpartum depression."
The
lack of sleep that new mothers face is also believed to play a major role in a
much more common and fleeting form of postpartum depression.
"About
80 percent of women experience something that we call 'the postpartum blues',
which usually resolves within one to two weeks," Flynn says. "That
has actually been more linked to the hormonal changes women go through
following childbirth."
"But
postpartum depression is something that can last much longer," she adds.
So
how does a woman know if she's suffering from something more serious than the
"postpartum blues?"
"There
is a list of particular diagnostic criteria for postpartum depression,"
Flynn says. "If you have any combination of the symptoms for nearly every
day for two weeks or more, that's when we consider it to be entering into the
realm of clinical depression or major depressive disorder. And that's when
people should seek treatment."
The
good news is that most cases can be successfully treated with a combination of
psychotherapy, lifestyle changes, family support and anti-depressant
medications, says Jeremy Kisch, senior director for
clinical education at the National Mental Health Association.
"There
are a number of effective interventions, so a person should be aware and
vigilant and be ready to take corrective action if necessary," he adds.
"That means being alert to the risks. And if you notice early on that
you're becoming depressed, there is treatment... There's no reason that it has
to reach a point of calamity or tragedy."
What
To Do
Flynn
says the following are the diagnostic criteria for clinical postpartum
depression:
Women
who experience a combination of these symptoms should see their doctor for
treatment options.
To
learn more about postpartum depression, visit the National Institutes of Health,
or InteliHealth.