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Saturday 20 April 2024

Peer Reviewed

Psychological medicine

Dealing with the patient with postnatal depression

Philip M Boyce

Recent articles on:
Postpartum depression

Maternal depression: postnatal or perinatal?

Dealing with the patient with postnatal depression

Recent articles on:
Depression

Study supports aripiprazole augmentation for treatment-resistant depression in older adults

The impact of depression on diabetes – an inextricable relationship

Depression: a major challenge of the menopause transition

Esketamine: a nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression

Managing depression using a clinical practice guideline approach

Abstract

Psychoeducation, non-directive counselling and psychological and pharmacological treatments may all be involved in managing this common disorder.

Key Points

Remember

Postnatal depression is a common disorder, affecting 10 to 15% of women in the first six months after childbirth.
It is frequently unrecognised and untreated, despite there being effective treatments for it.
Postnatal depression is not a ‘unique’ type of depression; its symptoms are no different from the symptoms of depression occurring at other times in the life cycle, although there may be more anxiety symptoms than usually found in major depression, especially worry about the baby. Symptoms of panic commonly accompany postnatal depression, with some women reaching the threshold for panic disorder.