Many pregnant patients are concerned about the risk of developing postpartum depression. Thus, a commonly asked question is: “How common is postpartum depression?” A new study reported in Medscape, titled “Prevalence of Self-Reported Postpartum Depressive Symptoms -- 17 States, 2004-2005,” issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 11, 2008, attempts to answer this question. The results of the study showed that self-reported postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) were surprisingly high. “…During 2004-2005, the prevalence of self-reported PDS in 17 states ranged from 11.7% in Maine to 20.4% in New Mexico.” In addition to determining the overall rate of postpartum depression, the study also pinpointed five major risk factors associated with the development of postpartum depression. “PDS was significantly associated with five possible risk factors in all or nearly all of the 17 states…using tobacco during the last 3 months of pregnancy, physical abuse before or during pregnancy, partner-related stress during pregnancy, traumatic stress during pregnancy, and financial stress during pregnancy.” The results of this study show that postpartum depression is a common affliction and that there are five important risk factors that may greatly increase the chances of developing the disorder.
The Bottom Line: Postpartum depression is a common disorder and five risk factors greatly increase the changes of developing this disorder.
Suggested Reading:
- This Isn't What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression by Karen Kleiman and Valerie Raskin
- The Mother-to-Mother Postpartum Depression Support Book by Sandra Poulin
- Overcoming Postpartum Depression and Anxiety by Linda Sebastian
Dr. Tanya Korkosz
Dr. Jeffrey Speller
Psychopharmacology Associates of New England