What is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression is a clinical depressive episode that occurs at a rate of 12-13%; this is similar to the rate of depression in the general female population. While the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual -IV of the American Psychiatric Association states that postpartum-onset depression must start within 4 weeks of the birth of a baby, there is ample evidence suggesting that postpartum depression occurs between 1-12 months after delivery.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression:

Postpartum depression is characterized by many of the hallmarks of major depressive disorder, such as lack of joy/low mood, negative thoughts, and difficulty sleeping.  More specifically, women with postpartum depression tend to present with dark thoughts about themselves, excessive feelings of guilt and inadequacy, often thoughts that the baby would be better with a different mother.  Mother-child bonding is commonly impaired, often due to maternal feelings of numbness or disconnectedness with baby.  It is not uncommon to see a depressed mother breastfeed her baby while numbly looking away from the baby. Another common symptom of postpartum depression is anxiety, with difficulties sleeping, even when exhausted and when the baby is napping.  This leads to further sleep deprivation, depression and anxiety.  

Risks of Postpartum Depression:

Postpartum depression, if left untreated, can be one of the most severe depressions a woman can experience, with a higher-than-usual risk of hospitalization. With ongoing postpartum depression, negative parenting styles are more likely, and children are at risk of developing cognitive and language delays, and psychosocial and behavioral difficulties. Breastfeeding tends to be more problematic with depressed mothers, with babies having more trouble nursing and gaining weight.  

Postpartum depression increases the risk of suicide.  Rarely, very serious postpartum depression can involve dangerous thoughts towards the baby and others.  Clearly, it is important to treat postpartum depression as soon as possible before it worsens to severe levels that may require more intensive care.

Postpartum Depression Treatment:

The good news is that postpartum depression can be treated.  Both individual and group psychotherapy can be helpful in the treatment of postpartum depression, as can medication.  When therapy and medication are not enough, Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, is another option for the treatment of postpartum depression. TMS uses magnetic pulses from outside the head to produce an antidepressant response. TMS has been proven effective and is FDA-approved, and is an outpatient-based, non-invasive procedure prescribed by an experienced psychiatrist. Further, TMS has a milder side-effect profile than medications.  Recently published is a study on postpartum depression treatment with TMS, from the Washington University School of Medicine, called “Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treats Postpartum Depression, ” which you can read online (Garcia et al. Brain Stimulation. 2010 (3); 36-41).

For more information on the treatment of depression during pregnancy or postpartum depression in the Los Angeles area, contact West Coast TMS Institute at 818-855-1694.