Medical researchers based at the Yale School of Medicine recently published a study showing that postpartum depression in mothers could develop into cases of clinical depression if untreated. The group focused upon was comprised of economically disadvantaged women, and researchers found that symptoms improved with effective therapy.
Depression a Common Condition
The study, led by Carol C. Weitzman, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics and in the Child Study Center at Yale School at Yale School of Medicine, found that postpartum depression among underserved women was a very common condition, with one in five mothers of children one and older showing moderate to severe symptoms of depression.
According to Weitzman, the findings show that depression is not limited to the postpartum period, but in fact may develop into higher incidents of clinical depression as the children grow older. Separate studies have established that depression can result from other conditions and diseases as well, including diabetes – though medical testing for physiological disorders such as diabetes was not undertaken in the study.
Study Methodology
In the study, 931 mothers who brought their children in for checkups were asked to complete a 16-item survey. Those whose responses indicated possible depressive symptoms were separately interviewed to verify depressive symptoms, then 71 of the noted group were assigned to either undergo cognitive behavioral therapy or case management.
The results showed that:
1· 45 percent of mothers were judged to have depressive symptoms
2· 26 percent showed mild symptoms
3· 13 percent displayed moderate symptoms
4· 6 percent had developed severe symptoms
5· Symptoms significantly improved for women who receive cognitive behavioral therapy, and less so for those under case management, though all showed some measure of improvement.
Benefit to Children
The study follow up indicated that children under the age of four whose mothers went though cognitive behavioral therapy were less likely to develop behavior problems. Children older than four did not show any major changes after their mothers received case management, which entailed communicating with a social worker and gaining access to referrals.
"A depressed parent can have a significant effect on a child," said Weitzman. "Brief on-site treatment can help reduce symptoms of depression in a mother and may also improve her perspective about her child's behavior."
The article written by Mike McGrath for healthtree.com, an online health information site that features information on severe depression
