Depression : The Common Cold Of Psychopathology

For most women the period of growing bellies and growing anticipations is a joyful and exciting time and for others this time may harbor doubt, fear, and depression. “As many as 1 out of 5 women have symptoms of depression during pregnancy. For some women, those symptoms are severe. In pregnancy, women who have been depressed before are at higher risk of depression than other women” (“Pregnancy complication: depression,” 2009). “Depression during pregnancy, or antepartum depression, is a mood disorder just like clinical depression. Mood disorders are biological illnesses that involve changes in brain chemistry. During

Depression during pregnancy impacts the emotional well-being between a mother and child, resulting in a lost connection between the two. It has been suggested that a lesser maternal attachment can be correlated with depression. Women lacking emotion in their relationships often suffer from depression (Haedt, A., & Keel, P., 2007). The deficit of an interpersonal maternal relationship can be linked back to the mother’s onset of depression during pregnancy. Symptoms of depression are known psychological factors that may contribute to higher rates of negative birth outcomes in women (Giurgescu, C., Engeland, C. G., & Templin, T. N. ,2015). This lack of emotion between a mother and her child can have ultimately negative effects on the child’s attachment and emotional well-being. Just as women with postpartum depression, it is difficult for women with depression during pregnancy to feel close to their offspring, which could lead to emotional or physical

Segre, A. R. (n.d.). Perinatal Depression: A Review of U.S. Legislation and Law. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3725295/

Postpartum psychiatric disorders, particularly depression, has become the most underdiagnosed complication in the United States. It can lead to increased costs of medical care, inappropriate medical care, child abuse and neglect, discontinuation of breastfeeding, and family dysfunction and adversely affects early brain development (Earls, 2010). Over 400,000 infants are born to mothers that are depressed. One of 7 new mothers (14.5%) experience depressive episodes that impair maternal role function. An episode of major or minor depression that occurs during pregnancy or the first 12 months after birth is called perinatal or postpartum depression (Wisner, Chambers & Sit, 2006). Mothers with postpartum depression experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that may make it difficult for them to complete daily care activities for themselves or for others (Postpartum Depression). The six stages of postpartum are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance and PTSD. These stages may affect any women regardless of age, race, ethnicity, or economic status. However only a physician can diagnose a woman with postpartum depression. It does not occur because of something a mother does or does not do, it’s a combination of physical and emotional factors. After childbirth, the levels of hormones in a woman’s body quickly drop; which may lead to chemical changes in her brain (Postpartum Depression). Unbalanced hormones may trigger mood swings.

The Center for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 20 people suffer from depression (2014). Although widely recognized and somewhat easy to diagnose, depression is an ignored and almost hidden, disease. In women, the statistics are especially grim for those who are pregnant or were recently pregnant. A great number of women suffer from postpartum depression; an illness which is often overlooked, misdiagnosed and untreated. Postpartum depression (PPD) has been defined as an emotional disorder that occurs in an estimated 10-15% of all women after childbirth (Liberto, 2010). Postpartum depression not only impacts the mother, but can cause long-term psychological challenges for the baby and create emotional turmoil for all family members.

Hogue, Carol J. R., et al. "The Association of Stillbirth with Depressive Symptoms 6-36 Months

Depression, in general, affects more than 340 million people around the world and is reported to be the highest cause of disability in high-income countries (Demissie). 15% to 85% of mothers can experience postpartum “blues” with postpartum depression rates between 11.7% and 20.4% in the United States alone (Ersek). This depression can occur at anytime from post-delivery up to one year (Ersek).

(Stewart, D.E., Robertson, E., Dennis, G.L., Grace, S.L. & Wallington, T. 2003) If we can prevent perinatal to avoid adverse effects on both the mother and child, there is evidence that preventive intentions are efficacious for perinatal depression. The research

In terms of public health and associated concern, in the recent years it has been observed that mental illness has major impact on pregnant women and postpartum period which has become a concern of public health lately. The aspect that associated with pregnancy of women and their mental health that has brought this topic in the forefront is the fact that mental health problems like depression and anxiety have the probability to impact women twice as compared to men. The severity of the situation seen from a global perspective, shows that depression is one of the major reasons of maternal mental illness during the childbearing age of women, which is approximately between the age group of 18 to 40 years. As a result of this to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) it contributes approximately 7% of the entire GBD for women of all age group (Leham, 2015).

Women with past experiences of depression have a higher risk of antenatal and postpartum depression. Because antenatal depression can occur before postpartum, this is also an important aspect of the bonding process because it can dictate

There are times that one feels hopeless during a situational event, but usually this feeling passes. Depression can be situational or clinical. The severity of the depression can cause one to be suicidal, especially if one is diagnosed with clinical depression, or a bipolar disorder. In the research report, Epidemiology of Women and Depression, it states that it is more common for women than men to have depression, and hormonal changes can contribute to depression. Pregnancy can cause depression, but what about mothers who also have a depressive disorder? (Kessler). This paper will look at these concerns, and will look at the risks to the mother and child, as well as the pros and cons of taking antidepressants (ADs) during pregnancy.

About 8 to 15 percent of childbearing women experience post partum depression during the first year after childbirth, and poor depressed women experience depressive symptoms as high as 48% (Onunaku, 2005). Thirty-seven percent of low-income mothers with young children who have had a major depressive disorder do not receive any treatment, compared to twenty-five percent of their higher-income counterparts (Saxton, 2016). Maternal mental health affects their ability to care for themselves and nurture their children. Untreated mother’s depression adversely affects a child’s brain and socio-emotional development, academic achievement, and child’s long-term success. Living with a depressed mother shape the development of a child’s stress biology, leading to the child’s own risk of developing depression and other emotional disorders (Center On The Developing Child At Harvard

When a woman is pregnant it is extremely important that she is physically and emotionally healthy. Depression is a common psychiatric disorder among many people. Depression tends to have a social stigma attached to it, so many people tend to ignore the symptoms. It is important to get help if one is suffering from it. It affects about 1 in 8 women during their pregnancy. If a woman is pregnant and is suffering from depression it is extremely important that she gets help, because it can affect her baby. Therefore it is important to know what medications are available to help with depression. It is also important to know the side effects of the medications, because they could affect the fetus in the womb. There are a handful of

Depression have become a major problem in our society today. People who haven’t experience depression will not understand how it feel and what it can do to a person. Many people also doesn’t understand what depression is, or how it can related to suicidal ideation. In fact, studies have documented that the majority of young suicide victims had depression at the time of death and most suicide survivors were diagnosed with symptoms of clinical depression at the time of their attempt (Mojs, Biederman, Głowacka, Strzelecki, Ziemska, Samborski 2015). It can affect anyone, from young adolescents to college students to the elderly people. There are many reasons that can make someone have major depression. Such as financial problems, family problems, social problems, school, work, etc. These stressors in our daily life can cause anxiety which can increase our stress level significantly, which then can lead to depression. A research said that anxiety disorder have a high comorbidity with depression and that anxiety occur prior to the onset of depressive disorders in many individuals (Batterham, Christensen, Calear 2013). People who experience depression must find way to cope with depression and know how to get help in order to prevent suicidal ideation. The people surroundings, friends and family, must also find ways to recognize the symptoms of depression, and show understandings in order to help those suffering. This research project will help people understand more about

A mother who struggles with depression post-partum is likely to expose her baby to more harmful effects. Gerhardt (2015) states that the baby of a depressed mother can find it difficult to cope with or get over stress, or they may be more fearful (p. 21). These babies also may respond to others with depression themselves, as their mother may be neglectful in their care (Gerhardt, 2015, p. 36). One of the reasons for this is because of their cortisol levels, which can fluctuate situationally. However, in infants this can affect their development (Gerhardt, 2015, p. 83) as well as their immune system (Gerhardt, 2015, p. 118), and is evidence that a mother with depression can have a significant impact on her child well beyond when the depression occurs. Additionally, Gerhardt (2015) notes that, “When they grow up, these babies of depressed mothers are highly at risk of succumbing to depression themselves.” (p.