The humanistic burden of postpartum depression: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Objective: Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common medical complication of childbirth. PPD can be disabling, with potential negative effects on maternal health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) as well as on children and partners. The objective of this study was to systematically review and summarize recently published literature describing the humanistic burden of PPD on affected women, their children, and partners. Methods: Databases including Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO, as well as conference proceedings were searched for keywords related to PPD. Searches were initially conducted in February 2017 and restricted to the prior 5 years for databases and the prior 2 years for conference proceedings. Searches were updated in February 2018. Two researchers independently reviewed 1154 unique records according to pre-defined inclusion and exclusion screening criteria. Results: Forty-eight studies were identified; over 40 studies assessed the effects of PPD on children of affected mothers, with many demonstrating a negative association with elements of parenting and childhood development. Furthermore, five studies that evaluated the effects of PPD symptoms on partners suggested that certain aspects of their relationships were negatively affected. Partners of affected women also experienced greater levels of their own stress, anxiety, and depression compared with partners of women without PPD symptoms. Despite limited data on HRQoL among women with PPD symptoms (four studies), a negative impact on physical and mental sub-scales was observed. Conclusions: Findings suggest that PPD symptoms have a substantial humanistic burden on affected mothers as well as on their children and partners.

Development of neuroactive steroids for the treatment of postpartum depression

“…Additionally, common PPD symptoms present as persistent sadness, anxiety, irritability, feelings of guilt, loss of interest, fatigue, trouble bonding with the baby, persistent doubts about the ability to care for the baby, or suicidal thoughts 6 . The impact of PPD can also extend to the entire family, including children, because several studies have implicated PPD as negative factor affecting the cognitive and emotional outcomes of infants 7,8 . Impairments in the quality of caregiving, mother‐infant interaction and attachment have also been identified as contributing factors to the burden of disease 9,10 …”

Sense of Coherence Mediates the Links between Job Status Prior to Birth and Postpartum Depression: A Structured Equation Modeling Approach

“…Postpartum depression affects the woman and her family and can have adverse effects on the cognitive and emotional development of the newly born child [ 7 , 8 ]. The time of onset varies between women [ 9 ] and, for many, the symptoms last a relatively short period of three to six months and they recover with no recurrence of symptoms [ 10 ].…”

Associations between commonly used patient-reported outcome tools in postpartum depression clinical practice and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression

“…Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the most common medical complications during and after pregnancy, resulting in a substantial health-related quality of life burden for mothers, children, and partners (Callaghan et al 2010; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2018; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2019; De Sisto et al 2014;Ko et al 2017;Martin et al 2019;Moore Simas et al 2019;Roberts et al 2013;Vismara et al 2016). In the USA, an estimated 11.5% of new mothers experience symptoms of PPD, with global estimates of 17.7% (Hahn-Holbrook et al 2017;Ko et al 2017).…”