Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder that affects women shortly after the birth of their newborn. Prevalent symptoms include sadness, anxiety, fatigue, and lack of interest in activities that used to be pleasurable. Severe cases may include suicide ideation. While the pathogenesis and treatment methods are similar to major depressive disorder (MDD), it is not until recently that individual research has been performed to further understand PPD and its origins as well as efficacy of treatments on mothers with their wavering biology.
Risk factors that are statistically significant in contributing to a higher risk of PPD include biological and genetic predispositions, environmental factors such as demographics, and most importantly, the mother’s previous mental history. Clinicians suggest treatment methods depending on the severity of the case and the mother’s lifestyle. Psychotherapy is the first-line treatment recommended to mothers with mild to moderate PPD; this is also a favorable choice for mothers breastfeeding as all antidepressants can secrete into breast milk. Antidepressants fall under several classifications, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) being the optimal choice as they produce less side effects compared to the others. Mothers with a previous mental history or severe PPD are immediately recommended antidepressants as the therapy of choice. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), while controversial, has become a more prominent option for mothers with severe PPD or for patients who simply want results sooner.
Meta-analyses performed explore the origin of PPD and compare treatments currently in place. Similar confounding variables arise time and time again in these studies; region, local demographics, and self-report surveys make it difficult to apply data from one city, much less another country, to another. Studies with a large population of people of color or areas where seeking mental health counseling is looked down upon show large numbers of subjects dropping out of studies midway. The accuracy of data from self-report surveys is also questionable. As research continues to find more effective treatments and better comprehend the biological aspect of PPD, an increased understanding of current studies may aid in the management of PPD.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/41765 |
| Date | 04 December 2020 |
| Creators | Wong, Jessica H. |
| Contributors | Soghomonian, Jean-Jacques R., Levy, Simon |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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