|Articles|April 1, 2004

Identifying perinatal depression--sooner is better

Depression does occur in pregnant women and not just in those with preexisting mood symptoms. Knowing how to detect the disorder and when to refer is important because you may be the only physician these patients see during the perinatal period.

 

PERINATAL DEPRESSION

Identifying perinatal depression—sooner is better

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Choose article section... Far-reaching effects of depressive illness Depressive symptoms affect one in four gravidas Clinical course of postpartum-onset depression Overlap between pregnancy and depression Risk factors for perinatal depression How maternal depression affects the fetus Screening for depression during pregnancy Effects of psychotropic drugs during pregnancy Drug therapy during lactation Alternatives to drug therapy Conclusions Key points Medicolegal perspective on perinatal depression

By Megan V. Smith, MPH, Wendy Lee Brunetto, MPH, and Kimberly A. Yonkers, MD

Depression does occur in pregnant women and not just those with preexisting mood symptoms. Knowing how to detect the disorder and when to refer is important because you may be the only physician these patients see during the perinatal period.

Unfortunately there are still some clinicians and patients who believe that pregnant women don't suffer from severe depression. But roughly one in four women will have depressive symptoms during pregnancy—and perhaps worst of all, a mother with depression doesn't suffer alone. Her decreased ability to function and her poorer quality of life can harm her offspring as well.

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