Postpartum Depression
Conclusion
Postpartum depression has a significant adverse impact, not just on the affected woman, but on her partner and the family as a whole. This is of special importance to the infant who is so dependent on the mother for its care. It is of great concern that follow-up studies of the children of mothers who have experienced postpartum depression reveal an enduring adverse impact on the child's socioemotional development. It appears that these adverse child outcomes are driven by disturbances in the mother-child relationship which begin in the early postpartum period. This highlights the importance of early detection and treatment by the primary care health team. It also suggests that efforts should be directed to the identification of high risk samples and to the development and evaluation of preventive interventions.
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PETER J. COOPER
LYNNE MURRAY
Additional topics
Marriage and Family EncyclopediaPregnancy & ParenthoodPostpartum Depression - The Nature Of Postpartum Depression, Epidemiology And Course, Etiology, Prediction, Detection, Impact On Family Life, Parenting, And Child Outcome