Postpartum Depression (PPD) encompasses several mood disorders
that follow childbirth. Postpartum depression (PPD) affects
10-15% of all new mothers, but may be as high as 35% in certain demographic groups.1 One study found that 19.2% of new mothers were diagnosed with major or minor depression
within the first three months postpartum, 7.1% specifically with major depression.2 In another study of 214 women, 86 reported
high levels of depressive symptoms (40.2%), but only 25 (11.7%) were actually diagnosed as being depressed.3 Another survey revealed that one-third of women scoring within a depressive
range at eight months postpartum were still depressed 12-18 months later, but only 15% sought help or were referred to a mental health professional.4 PPD is underdiagnosed and remains the most common complication of childbirth and the most common perinatal psychiatric disorder, with women at greatest risk during their first postpartum year (45-65% of ever-depressed women).1