What is postpartum depression? Introducing authoritative knowledge to you

Postpartum depression, a mental illness, is becoming more and more well-known. The so-called postpartum depression refers to a series of abnormal psychological changes in women after giving birth due to various complex factors. This is an unhealthy mental state.

1. What is postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is the most common type of mental disorder in women. It is a series of physical, emotional, and psychological changes caused by sex hormones, social roles, and psychological changes after women give birth. Typical postpartum depression occurs within 6 weeks after delivery and can last throughout the entire postpartum period, and some even last until the child goes to school. The incidence of postpartum depression is between 15% and 30%. Postpartum depression usually develops within 6 weeks and can recover on its own in 3 to 6 months, but severe cases may last for 1 to 2 years. The recurrence rate is 20% to 30% in the next pregnancy.

2. Causes of postpartum depression

1. Perfectionist personality

Because perfectionist women have unrealistic expectations of postpartum motherhood and are reluctant to seek help when they encounter difficulties, they may have difficulty adjusting to being a new mother. And if husbands rarely help take care of children or women lack their husbands' emotional support, they will feel tremendous pressure.

2. Severe mood swings during pregnancy

Severe mood swings during pregnancy, such as moving, the death of a loved one, or war, can make pregnant women more susceptible to postpartum depression. Many cases have shown that most women already show signs of postpartum depression during pregnancy, and many of them will continue to experience worsening depression after childbirth.

3. Impact of endocrine changes

During the process of pregnancy and childbirth, the endocrine environment in the body undergoes great changes, especially within 24 hours after delivery. The drastic changes in hormone levels in the body are the biological basis for the occurrence of postpartum depression. Studies have found that the release of placental steroids reaches its highest level before delivery, and patients appear to be in a good mood; when the secretion of placental steroids suddenly decreases after delivery, patients appear depressed.

4. Genetic factors

The incidence of postpartum depression is high among mothers with a family history of mental illness, especially those with a family history of depression, which suggests that family genetics may affect a woman's susceptibility to depression and her personality.

5. Physical illness becomes a triggering factor

Mothers with physical illness or disability may develop postpartum depression, especially infection or fever, which may have a certain impact on the onset of postpartum depression. In addition, the susceptibility of central nervous system function and the influence of emotion and motor information processing and regulation system (such as dopamine) may be related to the occurrence of postpartum depression.

3. Diagnosis of postpartum depression

There is no unified diagnosis standard for postpartum depression. The most commonly used standard is the one formulated by the American Psychiatry in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Standards of Mental Disorders" (1994): 5 or more of the following symptoms must be present, and 1 or 2 of them must exist and last for more than 2 weeks. The patient feels distressed or the patient's social function has been seriously affected. Symptoms include:

1. Depression.

2. Marked lack of interest or pleasure in all or most activities.

3. Significant weight loss or gain.

4. Insomnia or excessive sleep.

5. Psychomotor excitement or retardation.

6. Fatigue or weakness.

7. Feeling that everything is meaningless or guilty.

8. Decreased thinking ability or lack of concentration.

9. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.