37223 Postpartum Depression

Course overview

Discussion about postpartum depression, including the differences between the "baby blues" and postpartum depression, risk factors, screening tools, treatment, management strategies, and why identification and treatment is important for women and families. There is also a discussion about how implicit bias may impact healthcare. Postpartum depression is a serious mental illness that involves the brain and affects behavior and physical health. It affects one in nine new mothers. Postpartum depression is both understudied and underdiagnosed, and has negative implications on the mother, as well as adverse effects on infant behavioral, emotional, and cognitive development. Maternal postpartum depression has many direct and indirect negative effects on the development of a child, including lower quality of the home environment and decreased maternal sensitivity and caregiving. It is important to screen for, detect, and treat depression in the postnatal period as early as possible to avoid harmful consequences.