Screen New Moms for Postpartum Depression, says American Academy of Pediatrics

Mood changes after giving birth is thought to affect up to 80% of new mothers not only due to hormonal changes, but also because of sleep deprivation and the sudden onset of new and critical responsibilities. However, up to a fourth of women may also experience something more serious – postpartum depression – and the American Academy of Pediatrics stresses to its member pediatricians to begin screening moms at new baby well checks to prevent a host of problems.

Recognize Signs and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression Early

Rates of depression among pregnant and postpartum women are estimated to be between 5 and 25% with the incidence of major depression in the first year after birth being between 1 and almost 7%. According to Marian F. Earls MD and colleagues from the AAP Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, this means that more than 400,000 infants are born annually to depressed mothers.
Read: Maternal Affection Provides Lifetime Benefits
Depression in new mothers can cause problems such as delay in maternal-child bonding and an environment that can lead to cognitive and social development problems (ie: behavior problems, anxiety and mood disorders) as early as two months. “The processes for early brain development – neuronal migration, synapse formation and pruning – are responsive to and directed by environment as well as genetics,” write the authors in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics.
Maternal depression can also lead to inappropriate medical care, impaired attention to health and safety concerns, discontinuation of breastfeeding, and most seriously, child abuse and neglect says the committee.
Read: Postpartum Depression is Real for Fathers Too
Although pediatricians may currently lack training to identify postpartum depression, the committee feels that screenings are feasible and can be successful as it may identify at-risk mothers sooner. Infants are seen more often in the first month after birth by a healthcare professional than are postpartum women. In general, babies are seen at 1 week, 2 weeks and one month after birth by a pediatrician, while women usually wait until 6 weeks after giving birth for a follow-up by an obstetrician/gynecologist.
There are also obstacles to be overcome, such as time pressure, inadequate reimbursement, and the need for postpartum screening tools. Pediatricians would also not treat patients under the new model but would provide referrals to mental health professionals, the committee stresses.
Read: Postpartum Depression is Part of Mental Health Awareness
Women and their partners should be on the lookout for the symptoms of postpartum depression, which include loss of appetite, insomnia, intense irritability and anger, feelings of shame or guilt, and withdrawal from family and friends. Women who suffer from postpartum depression should recognize that she is not alone, not at fault, and that the situation will improve. She should seek help as soon as possible from a qualified mental health professional.

Recognizing the dangers of anti-depressant drugs

According to the FDA several recent scientific publications suggest the possibility of an increased risk of suicidal behavior for people who are being treated with antidepressant medications. This concern lead the FDA to mandate black box warning labels on all antidepressant drugs disclosing the increased risks of suicidal thinking and behavior, known as suicidality. It has now very important to begin recognizing the dangers of anti-depressant drugs.
The purpose of SSRI drugs is to prevent serotonin from being reabsorbed. Serotonin, also known as the “happy drug”, is thought to be contrived of chemicals that our body creates to keep our spirits up. One of the major problems with the use of SSRI drugs is that they can result in serotonin syndrome. This syndrome is caused by over stimulation of the neurons associated with serotonin, which can lead to changes in mental status, restlessness, abnormal body movement, tremors, high fevers, and agitation which may lead to suicide.
SSRI drugs have gone through tedious testing under the care of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); however, the testing of new drugs is not done by the FDA, it is actually the pharmaceutical company that supports, funds, and carries out the drugs testing. The FDA relies on the pharmaceutical company's validity of research, which then results in an approval by the FDA.
Recognizing the dangers of anti-depressant drugs can be important for those taking such medications. Some side effects can include, nausea, constipation or diarrhea, heart palpitations, loss of appetite, loss or gain of weight, memory impairment, blurred vision, headaches, confusion, burning and tingling in extremities, muscle twitching, dry mouth, dizzy, chills, fatigue, mood swings, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, impulsive behaviors, suicidal thoughts and completed suicide.
There is much debate on the placebo effect and antidepressants. Through a Freedom of Information Act request, two psychologists obtained 47 studies used by the FDA for approval of the six antidepressants prescribed most widely. Overall, antidepressant pills worked only 18% better than placebos.
It is important that people considering a medication approach to treating symptoms of depression to do research before deciding to take a certain medication and recognizing the dangers of anti-depressant drugs. Patients should have a list of questions to ask their doctors before agreeing to medications. More and more people are recognizing alternative treatments for mild to moderate depression can be helpful and do not carry high risk factors or side effects.
SSRI’s can be good for some people. Many have reported “gaining their lives back again” after being on SSRI’s such as Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft. What is important to remember is people considering a medical approach to their depression should pay attention to the dangers of anti-depressant drugs.