What is Postpartum Depression (PPD)?
Postpartum depression, or PPD, is a type of depression that affects women after they give birth. About 13% of women experience PPD in the first year after childbirth, and it can develop any time up to a year after the baby is born. Postpartum depression has deleterious effects on a woman's relationships, her functional status, and her ability to care for her infant. The reduction of PPD is a US priority healthcare need and a major public health concern.
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In Focus
Events Calendar: November 2008
Women's Mood Disorders SymposiumWhen: NOVEMBER 1
Where: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Postpartum Depression Foundation Benefit
When: NOVEMBER 6
Where: Chicago History Museum, Chicago IL
National Perinatal Association 2008 Conference
When: NOVEMBER 19 - NOVEMBER 21
Where: Loma Linda, CA
» Click here to view more.
Patient Brochure
Our
patient brochure, which is available in PDF format in both English and Spanish,
has helpful information about the signs and symptoms of postpartum
depression, and what mothers can do if they need help. Feel free
to download or print them out, and share them with friends and family.
This brochure was developed with the support of NIMH and is available
as a free resource to download, print, and distribute for noncommercial
use. The brochure must be used as is; no changes may be made to the
copy or design.
Download:
» English
Version | » Spanish Version
Medical Updates
A new, female-specific irritability rating scale.
Born L, Koren G, Lin E, Steiner M.
J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2008 Jul;33(4):344-54.
This research attempted to develop a new scale to measure irritability in women related to menstruation, menopause, and in the perinatal period.
Severity of acute pain after childbirth, but not type of delivery, predicts persistent pain and postpartum depression.
Eisenach JC, Pan PH, Smiley R, Lavand'homme P, Landau R, Houle TT.
Pain. 2008 Nov 15;140(1):87-94. Epub 2008 Sep 24.
Women who with acute, persistent postpartum pain were found to have a greater risk for postpartum depression than mothers with only mild postpartum pain, regardless of whether they had a cesarean or vaginal delivery.
Web-based education for postpartum depression: conceptual development and impact.
Wisner KL, Logsdon MC, Shanahan BR.
Arch Womens Ment Health. 2008 Sep 11. [Epub ahead of print]
Katherine Wisner and M. Cynthia Logsdon's just-published analysis of the utility of MedEdPPD.org as a tool to engage, screen, diagnose, treat, and refer women with PPD.
» Click here to view more.
In The News
WebMD 2008 Health Heros
WebMD.com, November 11, 2008
The third annual WebMD Health Heroes Awards honor four Americans who face health issues with the vision and drive to inspire others to action.
Depression in Early Pregnancy Can Double Risk for Preterm Delivery
Medscape.com, October 27, 2008
This CME/CE activity covers information from newly published research showing that women who experience depressive symptoms early in their pregnancy have a much increased risk for preterm delivery.
Postnatal depression 'in the genes'
Guardian.co.uk, November 2, 2008
A new study suggests that a recessive gene may be the cause of postpartum psychosis.
» Click here to view more.
Emergency Assessment
What is a postpartum psychiatric emergency?
Click here to view more.
First Thursday
During our First Thursday teleconference series our expert faculty presented on PPD topics ranging from the latest in
screening and treatment methods to the epidemiology of postpartum psychosis. You can view these archived presentations
online or download them as podcasts or vodcasts and listen at your convenience.
» Click here for more information.
FREE Monthly eZine
Don't have time to go online
to search for the most recent updates? Sign up for our FREE monthly MedEd PPD eZine - our 1-page
summary E-mail.
The MedEd PPD eZine will keep you up-to-date on what's new and relevant.
» To access previous newsletters, click here.
Legislation News
We Need Your Help Now!
We Must Speak Out in Full Support of Postpartum Depression (PPD) Legislation NOW.You may have heard the complaints on the internet lately; asking readers to block passage of legislation to help new mothers and their families cope with postpartum depression. The House and Senate both have legislation - H.R. 20 and S. 1375 - that some mistakenly believe is a conspiracy to push new mothers to take medication.
Tell that to the more than 800,000 women who will develop a diagnosable postpartum mood disorder this year! This does not include the 7.5% of women who will develop major depression during pregnancy.
How disappointing! Those who are speaking out against the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act obviously know little to nothing about this legislation. Some are even saying that Melanie Blocker-Stokes, who took her own life after suffering this illness, was simply just sad. This could not be farther from the truth! Ask her mother, Carol Blocker, who has dedicated her life to the passage of this protective legislation named in honor of her daughter.
This legislation does NOT recommend drugs, require drugs, or endorse drugs. What it does is:
- Encourage the Department of Health and Human Services to expand the research into the causes of postpartum conditions and find treatments.
- Establish a national public awareness campaign to increase awareness and knowledge of PPD and psychosis.
- Make grants available for programs that develop and offer essential services to women with PPD.
One Person Can Make a Difference.
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Last Updated: 11/17/2008 10:33:48 AM