What is it?

Perinatal Mood Disorders are related to mood and anxiety symptoms that occur during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum

Disorders Related to Pregnancy

• Depression during pregnancy
• Pregnancy loss
• Infertility

Disorders Related to Postpartum

• Postpartum depression
• Postpartum anxiety
• Postpartum psychosis

Depression During Pregnancy

• Depression that occurs during pregnancy or within a year after delivery is called perinatal depression. Researchers believe that depression is one of the most common complications during and after pregnancy. Factors that may increase the likelihood of depression during or after pregnancy can include; history of depression or substance abuse, family history of mental illness, inadequate support from family and friends, anxiety about the fetus, problems with previous pregnancy or birth, marital or financial problems, and young age.

Pregnancy loss

• Experiencing miscarriage at any point in pregnancy can be a shocking and devastating event. Many women struggle with physical and emotional pain and grief that is powerful and overwhelming. Miscarriage can leave women feeling numb, helpless and isolated from others. Common reactions to miscarriage are sadness, anger, and guilt and depression.

Infertility

• Infertility occurs in 10-15% of couples of reproductive age. Investigation of the causes of infertility and treatment can bring on a “life crisis” that can tax a couple’s existing problem-solving resources, threaten achievement of life goals, and awaken unresolved past difficulties.

Postpartum Depression (PPD) & Postpartum Anxiety Disorders

• Postpartum anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder appear to be as common as postpartum depression and even coincide with depression. Perinatal anxiety symptoms can include the following: panic attacks, hyperventilation, excessive worry, restless sleep, and repeated thoughts or images of frightening things happening to the baby.

Postpartum Psychosis

• Another form of Postpartum Depression is Postpartum Psychosis. Postpartum Psychosis is a serious illness that can be severe and life threatening. The psychotic symptoms include delusions (thoughts that are not based in reality), hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren’t there) or disorganized thinking. Often mothers who develop postpartum psychosis are having a severe episode of a mood disorder, usually bipolar (manic-depression) disorder with psychotic features. It is essential for women to get evaluation and treatment immediately.