Perinatal depression: A review

Maureen Sayres Van Niel1, Jennifer L Payne2

  • 1President, American Psychiatric Association Women's Caucus; Member, Steering Committee, US Dept of HHS Women's Preventive Services Initiative, WPSI, 2016-2019; Reproductive Psychiatrist and Private Consultant, Cambridge, MA maureen.vanniel@gmail.com.

Perinatal depression affects 10% to 20% of women in the United States during pregnancy, the postpartum period, or both, but it can be difficult to recognize. Identifying and treating this problem can reduce the alarming number of suicides among depressed perinatal women and the possible adverse effects of untreated maternal depression on their child's cognitive and behavioral development. In this review, we discuss the latest developments in screening, treatment, and prevention methods.

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