Postpartum Depression in Fathers: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Psychiatry
• Sociology

Background:

• Postpartum depression (PPD) is typically defined as a major depressive episode after childbirth, primarily studied in females.
• Paternal postpartum depression is gaining research attention, necessitating the identification of measurement tools, risk factors, and resilience sources.
• Traditional views often prioritize maternal mental health, potentially overlooking paternal PPD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify instruments for measuring paternal postpartum depression.
• To detect risk factors associated with paternal postpartum depression.
• To identify main sources of resilience in paternal postpartum depression.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted.
• The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) method guided the review process.
• Ten relevant articles were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale is widely used and validated for diagnosing PPD in both females and males.
• Male gender role stress emerged as the most significant risk factor for paternal postpartum depression.
• Findings suggest that societal and healthcare provider focus often remains primarily on mothers.

Conclusions:

• Paternal postpartum depression significantly impacts fathers, mothers, and newborns.
• There is an increasing need to include fathers in mental health programs.
• Enhanced support for fathers is essential for comprehensive postpartum care.