Postpartum Depression Essays - Psychiatric Diagnosis, Psychiatry

Postpartum Depression Background also called postnatal depression, is a type of clinical depression which can affect both sexes after childbirth. About 0.5% to 60% of women experience postpartum depression. Usually begins between two weeks to a month after delivery. Signs and Symptoms Sadness Hopelessness Low self-esteem Guilt A feeling of being overwhelmed Sleep and eating disturbances Inability to be comforted Exhaustion Emptiness Inability to experience pleasure from activities usually found enjoyable Social withdrawal Low or no energy Becoming easily frustrated Feeling inadequate in taking care of the baby Decreased sex drive Occasional or frequent anxiety Risk Factors Income Rates of PPD have been shown to decrease as income increases. Women with fewer resources may be more likely to have an unintended or unwanted pregnancy Race African American mothers have been shown to have the highest risk of PPD at 25%, while Asians had the lowest at 11.5% American Indians, Caucasian and Hispanic women fell in between Sexual Orientation lesbian and bisexual biological mothers had significantly higher Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores than did the heterosexual women Diagnosis Experts diagnose PPD as depression with onset anytime within the first year after delivery. Feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness, nearly every day Loss of interest or pleasure in activities Weight loss or decreased appetite Changes in sleep patterns Feelings of restlessness Loss of energy Feelings of worthlessness or guilt Loss of concentration or increased indecisiveness Recurrent thoughts of death, with or without plans of suicide Andrea Yates Born July 2, 1964 in Hallsville, Texas Had severe PPD and Postpartum Psychosis Suffered from depression and bulimia Class valedictorian Captain of the swim team Officer in the National Honor Society The Yates Story After the birth of her 4th child, Andrea attempted suicide (June 1999) Second attempt a month later Becomes pregnant with 5th child (November 2000) Her father passed (March 2001) Waited for her husband to leave Drowned all five of her children (June 20, 2001) Was found not guilty by reason of insanity Works Cited https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbOKvZdLWbY https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postpartum_depression https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postpartum_psychosis