3. 3
Introduction
• Postpartum blues:
- Onset during the first few weeks after delivery.
- Characterized by mood lability, tearfulness, anxiety or irritability.
- Function not impaired.
*If symptoms of depression persist for longer than two weeks, the patient should be
evaluated to rule out a more serious disorder.
4. 4
• Postpartum depression
- Onset is over the first two to three postpartum months but may occur
at any point after delivery.
- The symptoms include depressed mood, anhedonia, feelings of guilt,
feelings of worthlessness or incompetence, fatigue, sleep disturbance,
change in appetite, poor concentration and suicidal thoughts.
- Function impaired.
5. 5
• Postpartum psychosis
- Onset of symptoms as early as the first 48 to 72 hours after delivery.
- The earliest signs are restlessness, irritability and insomnia in
addition to a rapidly shifting depressed or elevated mood,
disorientation or confusion and disorganized behaviour.
- Delusion are common and often about the infant.
- Auditory hallucinations that instruct the mother to harm herself or
her infant may also occur.
- Function impaired.
6. Triggering factors & Who is susceptible?
• Hormonal changes
• Life stressors: e.g. economy burden, family problems, relationship
problem, unprepared to handle new responsibility.
• Previous episode of postpartum psychiatric disorders
• Depression during pregnancy
• History of depression or bipolar disorder
6
7. 7
REFERENCES
1. Neel Burton. Psychiatry 2nd Edition.
2. Royal College of Psychiatrists,
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk
3. The Massachusetts General Hospital Centre
for Women’s Mental Health,
http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/
4. Mental Health America,
http://www.nmha.org/
Editor's Notes
Postpartum-after childbirth up to 6 weeks
Postpartum blues: 50 to 85%
Postpartum depression: PPD is estimated to occur in approximately 10 to 20% of new mothers.
Screening: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
It is a rare event that occurs in approximately 1 to 2 per 1000 women after childbirth = 0.1 – 0.2 %
