Characteristics and treatment of women with antenatal and postpartum depression

Abstract

Objective: Investigations of the efficacy of treatment for non-psychotic pregnancy-related mood disorders are scarce. Thus, a prospective, longitudinal study of six months duration, involving ninety-six index cases and forty-five healthy women as a reference group, was implemented to determine the response of mood, parenting stress and dyadic adjustment to an eclectic management.

Method: In this naturalistic study, the index cases were offered treatment consistent with their symptoms, context, and level of compliance. All women received individual psychotherapy combining strategies from Interpersonal and Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy and/or Marital Interventions and Pharmacology. Rating scales (Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Child Stress Inventory) scored monthly, were used to measure the response to treatment over time.

Results: Depressive symptoms are generally alleviated by the second to third month of treatment. Dyadic discord accentuated by traditional sex role expectations and child care stress exacerbated by low self-esteem persisted throughout the trial at levels significantly different from the untreated reference group.

Conclusions: Short-term interventions are cost-effective for the relief of mood disorders. However, creative solutions, during an era of economic restraints, are required to extend treatment sufficiently to address couple conflicts and facilitate the transition to parenthood for index cases.