1.0 INTRODUCTION
The exact definition of postpartum period has been very vague. Certain clinicians consider the time from birth to the return of reproductive organs to normalcy as the period of postpartum, while others consider postpartum period to be the time between the fourth stage of labor and the postpartum recovery year (1). It can also be considered as three distinct yet continuous phases. Between six and twelve hours post delivery which is the acute phase, between two and six weeks which is the subacute phase and the delayed phase which lasts till six months after birth(2). This period of progression into motherhood is a major milestone in a woman’s life (1). Concurrently, women are also at risk of developing numerous medical and psychiatric illnesses. Three main …show more content…
Even in DSM-V it is a specifier - with peripartum onset, like in DSM-IV (6). In ICD-10 it is classified as mental disorders associated with puerperium which specifies an onset of symptoms within six weeks postpartum (7).
3.01 TIME FRAME
The commencement of depression has been found to be the highest within three months after delivery when compared to the rest of the nine months (3, 8). Mothers seeking outpatient consultations and those getting admitted for a psychiatric condition were significantly higher from birth through three months (9, 10). Studies have raised questions regarding this and international.in the 4th edition of DSM (1994), depression of postpartum onset was mentioned, but as a specifier and not a separate entity (5).
3.0 DEFINITION
DSM-V defines PPD as major depressive illness occurring within four weeks postpartum. Even in DSM-V it is a specifier - with peripartum onset, like in DSM-IV (6). In ICD-10 it is classified as mental disorders associated with puerperium which specifies an onset of symptoms within six weeks postpartum (7).
3.01 TIME