An overview of the Perinatal Mood Disorders Initiative

Perinatal mood disorders are potentially devastating conditions that affect women during pregnancy and after childbirth. It is estimated that 8 to 15% of women suffer from a clinically significant postpartum mood disorder; this number increases to 28% for women living in poverty. Perinatal mood disorders may be classified into three groups:

• The (postpartum) blues or “baby blues”: a common and less severe form of postpartum depression that affects 80% of women and usually occurs very soon after birth and goes away in a couple of weeks
• Postpartum depression: a severe form of depression occurring during the first year of infant’s life; treatable but may not resolve without treatment; onset occurs within six months to a year postpartum
• Postpartum psychosis: the most extreme form of perinatal mental illness affecting 0.16% of women and occurring within a few weeks of childbirth; constitutes a medical emergency

Perinatal mood disorders are under-diagnosed and under-treated. Some estimates suggest that 50% of women suffering from perinatal depression remain undiagnosed and untreated when routine screening is not practiced by their health care providers. Screening is fast, affordable and highly effective.

To download free screening tools, click here

Symptoms of perinatal depression include:

• Depressed mood, tearfulness
• Guilt
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Anxiety or nervousness
• Feelings of being overwhelmed
• Irritability
• Weight gain or loss
• Low energy
• Sleep or appetite disturbances
• Loss of concentration
• Hopelessness
• Thoughts of harming self or infant

Perinatal mood disorders are treatable through a variety of means, including social support, interpersonal therapy, medication or a combination of these. If left untreated, maternal depression may have adverse effects on both the woman and her infant.

Consequences of untreated depression for the woman include:

• Late or no prenatal care or follow through on healthcare recommendations
• Decreased responsive to infant cues
• Strained relationship with partner
• Increased risk of future episodes of depression
• Increased risk of self injury/suicide

Consequences of untreated depression for the infant include:

• Poor weight gain
• Feeding problems
• Sleep problems
• Poor maternal-infant emotional attachment
• Behavior problems/hyperactivity later in infant’s life
• Risk of depression later in infant’s life
• Hygiene and safety may be neglected
• Physical harm to infant

For more information on perinatal mood disorders, click here.

The Perinatal Foundation has made a multi-year commitment of programmatic and financial resources to address the issue of perinatal mood disorders. The goal of that effort, entitled the Perinatal Mood Disorders Initiative, is to build awareness, promote screening and effective interventions, and support potential research and model projects to meet identified needs. The initiative, which began in 2002, has several phases:

I. Public Awareness Campaign, 2002-2003
II. Best Practices Symposium, June 10, 2003
III. Blueprint for Action--2004 (click here to view)
IV. Regional Conferences, 2004-2005
V. Collaborative Projects and Field Research--ongoing

Program Initiative Phases

Perinatal Depression Resources

Perinatal Mood Disorders and the Workplace