American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 200, Issue 4 , Pages 357-364, April 2009

Postpartum depression

  • Teri Pearlstein, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints: Teri Pearlstein, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Director, Women's Behavioral Health Program, Women and Infants Hospital, 101 Dudley St, Providence, RI, 02905
    • ,
  • Margaret Howard, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI
    • Day Hospital Program, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI
    • ,
  • Amy Salisbury, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics and Fetal Behavior Studies, Brown Center for Children, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI
    • ,
  • Caron Zlotnick, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI
    • Women's Behavioral Health Program, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI

Received 27 August 2008; received in revised form 30 October 2008; accepted 17 November 2008.

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects up to 15% of mothers. Recent research has identified several psychosocial and biologic risk factors for PPD. The negative short-term and long-term effects on child development are well-established. PPD is under recognized and under treated. The obstetrician and pediatrician can serve important roles in screening for and treating PPD. Treatment options include psychotherapy and antidepressant medication. Obstacles to compliance with treatment recommendations include access to psychotherapists and concerns of breastfeeding mothers about exposure of the infant to antidepressant medication. Further research is needed to examine systematically the short-term and long-term effect of medication exposure through breastmilk on infant and child development.

Key words: antidepressant, postnatal depression, postpartum depression, psychotherapy, treatment

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 Authorship and contribution to the manuscript is limited to the 4 authors indicated. There was no outside funding or technical assistance with the production of this article.

PII: S0002-9378(08)02271-0

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2008.11.033

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 200, Issue 4 , Pages 357-364, April 2009

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