Postpartum Mood Disorders: A Case Study

Postpartum mood disorders can be defined as a mental health disorder occurring within the first year of giving birth and can happen to any woman, regardless of age or number of pregnancies (Josefson, 2007). Postpartum depression occurs in approximately 13% of postpartum mothers, but nearly half of women go undiagnosed (Gale and Harlow, 2003). Unfortunately, the postpartum period is a time of risk for mood disturbances. Many women are adjusting to life as a new mother, and the new demands that this calls for, as well as, adjusting to new hormone levels and changes within her body. There are three diverse levels of postpartum mood disorders: postpartum blues, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Postpartum blues is the mildest form and postpartum psychosis is …show more content…
Most women will experience at least one of the three. (Jones, 2001). There is a huge and negative stigma associated with postpartum mood disorders; however, with proper education on the topic and with accurate diagnosis this can be removed and women can receive the proper support needed to get through this period of depression. Before describing each level of postpartum mood disorders, it is important to understand the probable causes and how they can be used in predicting the probability of depression in each individual woman. According to Angela Miller (2012), support, whether it be emotional, financial, or physical, is a key determinant in whether a pregnant woman is likely to experience some form a postpartum depression. Sepression (Miller, pg. 307). Miller and her associates performed a case study to assess their predictions on the matter and to establish a viable way to find at risk women prior to the onset of depression. Miller studied a large group of women aged 18-45 at the Emory Women’s Mental health program. Most partakers had histories of mood and/or anxiety disorders (Miller,