A descriptive study of postpartum depression
Related Experiment Videos
Perspectives in Psychiatric Care
|July 1, 1995
Problem:
Postpartum depression.
Methods:
A prospective study of puerperal women (N = 102) was carried out to determine the incidence of postpartum depression. Measures of depression were collected via the BDI on women attending childbirth education classes in a large southeastern metropolitan area.
Findings:
Eight percent (n = 8) of the women reported emotional, behavioral, or cognitive symptoms suggestive of postpartum depression. Anecdotal data reflect that the incidence is probably higher.
Conclusions:
Further study using measures that test atypical depression and that include of qualitative measures to obtain subjective data are recommended.