Vast Majority of Postpartum Depression Not Treated, 1 in 7 Women at Risk for Psychiatric Disorder Following Delivery

Postpardum depression, a moderate to severe depression that occurs after a woman gives birth, usually lasts three months after delivery, and though the exact causes are unknown, a recent study shows that approximately one in seven mothers who give birth may be suffering from it.

Though the exact causes of Postpartum depression are unknown, risk factors can include alcohol, drug or tobacco abuse; having an unplanned pregnancy; having strange feelings regarding the pregnancy; being under the age of 20; having a close family member with depression, etc.  A bad relationship with a significant other or being single during the time of pregnancy can also spur the chances of the disorder developing.

"The vast majority of postpartum women with depression are not identified or treated even though they are at higher risk for psychiatric disorders," lead author Dr. Katherine Wisner, director of Northwestern University's Asher Centre for Research and Treatment of Depression in Chicago, told the Telegraph.

"A lot of women do not understand what is happening to them. They think they're just stressed or they believe it is how having a baby is supposed to feel."

A study of 10,000 women who had given birth at an obstetrical hospital in Pittsburgh for depression were interviewed by telephone four to six weeks after labor.

"We asked them whether they had been able to laugh and see the funny side of things... (as well as their) ability to look forward with enjoyment to things, whether or not they're blaming themselves necessarily when things go wrong, feeling anxious or worried for no good reason, being scared or panicky for no good reason," study investigator Dorothy Sit, a University of Pittsburgh psychiatrist, told NPR.

About 1,400 women -- 14 percent -- were found to have positive signs for depression. The rates were similar to what was seen in other studies. Women who tested positive tended to be younger, African-American, publically insured, single and less well-educated.

The researchers then completed home visits with 826 of the people who tested positive and phone interviews with an additional 147 of them.

For the women with depression, 40.1 percent felt symptoms postpartum, 33.4 had them during pregnancy and 26.5 experienced them before getting pregnant. Most of the women had unipolar depressive disorders (68.5 percent), and 66.7 percent had comorbid anxiety disorders (meaning more than one disorders in addition to anxiety). Surprisingly, 22.6 percent had bipolar disorder, and 19.3 percent had thoughts of self harm or suicidal thoughts.

Researchers conclude that all pregnant women should be screened for depression to prevent the possibility of future problems. 

The  published study is published online in JAMA Psychiatry.