Post Partum Mental Illness

Mothers are hospitalized for severe mental disorders following childbirth more than fathers, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Hormonal changes, the demands of motherhood, and pre-existing risk factors contribute to the disorders. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, many women experience a fleeting period of sadness following childbirth. About 10% will develop postpartum depression, a form of major depression which can jeopardize the health and well-being of the mother and child. The risk of developing other serious mental disorders for the first time in women is higher in the two weeks after the birth of a first child. 20% of these mothers will require hospitalization. Researchers followed a group of more than 2 million Danish men and women for 12 years. In this group more than half a million women and men became parents for the first time. Nearly 1 in 1,000 women developed a severe mental disorder, as compared to one in 3,000 men. The risk for being hospitalized was greatest in first time mothers. The highest risk of psychiatric illness occurred within the first 3 weeks of having a baby. While parenthood does not protect fathers from developing mental disorders, new mothers are at a much higher risk for developing a serious mental condition. This is related to hormonal changes and the child-rearing demands placed on mothers. These data emphasize the importance of recognizing childbirth as a significant health factor in both men and women. It is important for patients and healthcare workers alike to keep in mind that early screening and rapid treatment can help prevent serious mood disorders.