PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Dobie, Sharon A.
AU  - Walker, Edward A.
TI  - Depression After Childbirth
AID  - 10.3122/jabfm.5.3.303
DP  - 1992 May 01
TA  - The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Practice
PG  - 303--311
VI  - 5
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/5/3/303.short
4100  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/5/3/303.full
SO  - J Am Board Fam Med1992 May 01; 5
AB  - Background and Methods: Depression following childbirth is an illness occurring in 10 to 20 percent of women in the year postpartum. Researchers have debated whether postpartum depression is a different illness from depression at other times. We critically review the literature on postpartum depression, as distinguished from postpartum blues and psychosis. Results: Problems with definition, study design, and the validity of the diagnosis have hampered investigation. Studies do not clearly distinguish postpartum depression from major depression occurring at other times. Conclusions: Depression after childbirth is probably the same illness as depression at other times. It is not known whether biological and psychological factors unique to the puerperium alter the expression of the illness. Nonetheless, physicians caring for women and infants should learn to screen for, diagnose, and treat depression in women after childbirth.