Parental Depression After Childbirth

AUTHOR: Rick Nauert, PhD

PUBLICATION NAME: Psych Central

PUBLICATION DATE: September 8, 2010

SUMMARY: A study in the UK suggests that many parents develop depression within the first year of their child's birth. More than thirty percent of mothers and around twenty percent of fathers were shown to experience an episode of depression, the biggest risk being within the one year time span after their child was born.

The depression rates were unsurprising, due to the stress associated with a baby - i.e; lack of sleep, more responsibility, and pressure on each of the parents. The rates could also be due to the continuation of anti-depressant use after taking a break during the pregnancy and nursing periods.

The authors add that “There is a well-established link between depression and social and economic deprivation both in the general population and among parents. This finding may reflect the stresses of poverty, unemployment, low employment grade and lower social support among people of lower socioeconomic status”.

Depression in mothers and fathers was identified with diagnostic codes and pharmacy record. All in all, 19,286 mothers surveyed had a total of 25,176 episodes of depression and 8,012 fathers had a total of 9,683 episodes of depression.

Based on the findings, researches have concluded that there should be awareness among clinicians of the risk factors of depression in parents and immediate detection of depression is crucial. Authors also say that in the future, other factors for depression should come into play during research, such as the couple's relationship and stressful life situations.

LINKS TO STUDY: none

ARTICLE: Parental Depression After Childbirth

SUBMITTED BY: Kimberly Truong