Learning about other women's experiences can help ease the isolation often reported by those with PPD. In the form of peer support, it has also been proven to be effective in decreasing depressive symptoms in postpartum women (Dennis CL. Can J Psychiatry. 2003;48:115-124). There are a growing number of online resources produced by women with PPD and intended for their peers also struggling with this disorder. Yahoo.com recently reported on the community of bloggers who write candidly about their experiences with PPD. Our patient site, Mothers and Others, offers women's personal PPD stories in their own words, in both English and Spanish. Other Web sites that provide peer support and information are listed in the Web Resources section.
For those who need professional answers to their questions and concerns, Postpartum Support International (PSI) is offering free informational call-in sessions to women, friends, and families who may be suffering from/recovering from postpartum mood disorders or who would like confidential basic information about these illnesses. Call schedule and access codes can be found at PSI's Web site or by calling PSI's main office at 1-800-944-4773.
Screening for maternal depression in a low education population using a two item questionnaire.
Cutler CB, Legano LA, Dreyer BP, Fierman AH, Berkule SB, Lusskin SI, Tomopoulos S, Roth M, Mendelsohn AL.
Arch Womens Ment Health. 2007 Aug 22; [Epub ahead of print]
The objective of this study was to assess a two-question screening tool, the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), for identifying depressive symptomatology in economically disadvantaged mothers of children in pediatric settings, and to explore risk factors associated with a positive depression screen.
Morning light therapy for postpartum depression.
Corral M, Wardrop AA, Zhang H, Grewal AK, Patton S.
Arch Womens Ment Health. 2007 Aug 16; [Epub ahead of print]
Fifteen outpatient women with PPD were randomly assigned to bright light or dim red light and completed a 6-week trial and weekly assessments using self-report depression scales and clinician ratings of symptom course.
What does Chilean research tell us about postpartum depression (PPD)?
Jadresic E, Nguyen DN, Halbreich U.
J Affect Disord. 2007 Sep;102(1-3):237-43.
In Chile, where rapid social and life style changes are taking place, women and the more socially disadvantaged are more at risk of becoming depressed. A third of Chilean women have depressive and/or anxiety symptoms during midpregnancy, while prevalence figures both in the early and the late postpartum period increase up to 50% in most studies.
InTheNews
Postpartum Depression Blogs Help Moms
Yahoo.com, August 17, 2007
A growing community of bloggers share their postpartum experiences and resources with other women who find themselves in a scary, dangerous place following childbirth.
Repeated, extended deployments stressing US military families
International Herald Tribune.com, August 11, 2007
Frequent and extended troop deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan are stressing families at home. One study has found that pregnant women with deployed husbands have 2.8 times as much risk of developing postpartum depression as other pregnant women.
Review backs antidepressant effects of omega-3s
Scientific American.com, August 16, 2007
The results of a major review of published research suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may have antidepressant effects. Interest has been particularly strong in using omega-3s for treatment-resistant depression, childhood depression, and postpartum depression.
SSRIs and Pregnancy
When: September 6
Where: Teleconference
Lamaze International 2007 Annual Conference
When: September 6-9
Where: Phoenix, AZ
Beyond the Birth: Current Trends in Treating Perinatal and Postpartum Mood Disorders
When: September 21
Where: Bellevue, WA
ACOOG Fall Conference
When: September 25-29
Where: St. Louis, MO
MedEdResources
LactMed
LactMed, part of the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET®), is a database of drugs and other chemicals to which breastfeeding mothers may be exposed. It includes information on the levels of such substances in breast milk and infant blood, and the possible adverse effects in the nursing infant.
CenterWatch Clinical Trials Listing Service
This site contains a listing of industry-sponsored clinical trials that are actively recruiting patients. You can use this listing to search for clinical trials by therapeutic area and geographic region.
The Postpartum Resource Center of New York, Inc.
The Postpartum Resource Center of New York, Inc. is a self-help organization established to provide emotional support, educational information and healthcare and support group referrals to mothers suffering from prenatal and postpartum depression.
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