The Impact of Partner Support in the Treatment of Postpartum Depression

Abstract

Objective: To determine the impact ofpartner support in the treatment ofmothers suffering from postpartum depression (PPD).Method: Patients underwent a comprehensive psychiatric assessment and were enrolled in the study only ifthey met the DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder with postpartum onset. Patients with PPD (n = 29) were assigned randomly to 2 is a complex and challenging disorder that often takes a woman and her family by surprise. At a time normally marked by joy and happiness, the onset of depression can cause devastation and dissension in a woman's life. The consequences of depression during the postpartum period are considerably more deleterious than at another time because a woman faces the added responsibility of caring for her newborn infant. The demands of infant care alone are new and require time for adjustment. For a woman suffering from PPO, the whole experience ofmotherhood becomes overwhelming (1,2).PPO can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Superimposed on the typical symptoms of depression are such conditions as intruding thoughts ofharming the baby (3), psychotic depression that may lead tragically to infanticide (4), and pervasive thoughts of suicide (5). The prevalence of depression during the postpartum period is estimated to be between 10% and 28% (6-10). Typically, depressive symptoms appear within the first 6 postpartum weeks, and, in 60% of the cases, they represent the woman's first episode of depression.After the birth, the husband or partner also goes throughan adjustment period. For some couples, a baby strengthens the relationship, which leads to a supportive milieu for the infant's growth. The partner's role becomes even more crucial ifthe mother is afflicted with a major mood disorder. A stable marital relationship helps new parents adapt to the competing demands of marriage, infant, and family. In contrast, studies have shown that a poor marital relationship is the most consistent psychosocial predictor of PPO (11,12), and a review of antenatal psychosocial risk factors and adverse postpartum outcomes revealed that PPO was most strongly associated with poor marital adjustment, recent life stressors, and antepartum depression (10).Many women experience a great deal of stress in attempting to handle both maternal and marital roles (13,14). The presence of depression in the mother can cause significant complications in both marital and family relationships (15). In addition, a troubled environment can heighten existing depression during the postpartum period (16). In one study,researchers investigated 71 pregnant women to identify the influence of marital adjustment on maternal depressive symptoms (16). The participants were followed at 6,9, and 12 months postpartum. Results support the notion that a disruption in the marital relationship is a predictor ofmatemal PPD. Further, it was found that major psychosocial stresses occurred in postpartum marital adjustment when partners were not supportive and were not involved in child-rearing (11,17).Women who have hist...

Promoting infant well‐being in the context of maternal depression by supporting the father

“…Conversely, fathers' positive involvement with infants when mothers are depressed has been shown to improve treatment outcomes for mothers with depression (Misri, Kostaras, Fox, & Kostaras, 2000) and to reduce behavior problems in later childhood (Chang, Halpern, & Kaufman, 2007;Mezulis, Hyde, & Clark, 2004). While interventions successfully targeting mother-infant relationships which include fathers are described in the literature (Heinicke et al, 1999;Olds, Sadler, & Kitzman, 2007) and calls for the inclusion of fathers in research and clinical interventions are advanced (Fitzgerald, Mann, & Barrat, 1999), the processes involved, for example, in fathers' support of a distressed mother and his interactions with his infant in the context of maternal depression, remain unexplored.…”

Screening and Prevention of Postnatal Depression

“…This may influence the relationship between the parents. Misri et al (2000) showed that partners' support reduced depressive symptoms among postpartum women. According to Misri et al (2000), it is important to realize that the father is important for the child when the mother has postnatal depression.…”

The Effectiveness of Various Postpartum Depression Treatments and the Impact of Antidepressant Drugs on Nursing Infants

“…Women whose partners had participated in several psychotherapy sessions had lower Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scores at the final assessment (which occurred 10 weeks after the first session) than those whose partners had not participated (8.6 vs 14.7, respectively). 86 Group therapy for mothers with postpartum depression has demonstrated mixed results: 2 studies found a benefit, 83,85 and 1 did not. 84 These inconsistent outcomes may have resulted from differences in the structure and/or content of the group therapy sessions.…”