Is This Postpartum Depression?

Asking Three Questions May Help Identify Postpartum Depression

Nov 24, 2008

It may turn out that diagnosing postpartum depression is not as difficult as previously thought. New research shows that 3 questions may identify PPD in some mothers.

Nearly 80% of new mothers experience some degree of postpartum mood disorder. Most experts believe that there are many inter-related causes of postpartum depression that can include hormonal drops, most notably in estrogen, in the first days after birth. A lack of social support and a history of past depression can play a role in making it more likely for mothers to have postpartum depression.

Severity of Postpartum Mood Disorders

The range of symptoms can vary from mild and temporary mood swings or "baby blues" in the first 2 weeks after birth to more moderate levels of postpartum depression that last for months. Some of these symptoms are more chronic in nature and consist of obsessive-compulsive disorders, anxiety disorders and even panic attacks. A classic sign of postpartum anxiety disorders or OCD behaviors associated with postpartum mood disorders is that symptoms do not recede over time and often get worse.

At the top range in severity is postpartum psychosis which occurs in only 1 out of every 1,000 mothers. Experts have identified risk factors for PPD and even various ways to treat postpartum depression. Yet sometimes identifying PPD symptoms or differentiating between normal postpartum adjustment and postpartum depression or anxiety is challenging.

Identifying Postpartum Depression

A research study in the September 2008 issue of Pediatrics could be a breakthrough in identifying mothers who are struggling with any form of PPD. The study found that there were three questions that, when asked of mothers, were able to identify postpartum depression apart from specifically pinpointing its severity. The Denver study consisted of 199 adolescents and younger mothers from ages 14-26.

The PPD Screening Tool Statements

The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale was used in this study and the following questions were used as a subset of this test. New mothers were asked to answer "Yes, most of the time," "Yes, some of the time," "Not very often" or "No, never" to the following statements:

Researchers found that these three questions helped them identify 16% more mothers who were experiencing postpartum depression as compared to administering the entire Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. Experts advise that a complete diagnostic interview be given to the mother following the use of the above 3 questions as a screening tool.

What to do if You Think You have Postpartum Depression

If you are a new mother and suspect you may have postpartum depression, contact your primary care provider. Your obstetrician, family doctor or certified nurse-midwife can guide you in various treatment options for postpartum depression, including prescribing an initial dose of antidepressants if needed. Your dosages will need to be monitored after that by a mental health professional who can prescribe medications such as a psychiatrist.

What Treatments Options are Available for Postpartum Depression?

There are many treatments available for postpartum depression including light therapy, massage, diet changes (including omega 3 fatty acids and more carbohydrates), acupuncture, estrogen therapy/patch and various herbal remedies. Many women assume that taking anti-depressants is the only viable treatment option for postpartum depression, however if your symptoms are mild, ask your care provider about some of these other options to see what might be right for you.

The copyright of the article Is This Postpartum Depression? in Postpartum Health is owned by Brenda Lane. Permission to republish Is This Postpartum Depression? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.