Post-partum depression

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Post-partum depression

Alternative Names:

Depression - postpartum

Symptoms:

Most of the symptoms are the same as in major depression. In addition to mood fluctuations, the woman becomes preoccupied with the infant's well-being. The intensity of this varies -- the preoccupation may become delusional. Women who are depressed may feel withdrawn and unconnected to their baby, and can even feel as if they might harm the baby.

The presence of severe or delusional thoughts about the infant are symptoms that need immediate attention. These can be accompanied by psychotic "command hallucinations" to kill the infant or delusions that the infant is possessed.

Signs and tests:

There is no single test to diagnose post-partum depression. Sometimes depression following pregnancy can be related to other medical conditions. Hypothyroidism, for example, causes symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and depression. Women with post-partum depression should have a blood test to screen for low thyroid hormones. This condition is easily treated with supplemental hormone. Another clue to this condition can be weight gain or failure to lose weight after pregnancy, despite breast-feeding the baby.

Since post-partum depression is so common, questionnaire screening tests are available. Women with any of the risk factors, or with symptoms of depression, should consider taking such a test to determine if they need treatment.

Review Date: 10/16/2004
Reviewed By: Updates to specific sections made by Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by John Goldenring, M.D., MPH, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA, and Angela Smyth, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Reviews provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (11/12/2003).

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