Supervisors info:
Εμμανουήλ Ζουμάκης, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Σοφία Καλανταρίδου, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Χαράλαμπος Χρέλιας, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Postpartum depression is a common disease that can endanger the life of the mother and the newborn. In general, depression has been a concern for Western cultures for many centuries as its impact on developed societies is large and can affect all the groups. It has been found that 10-15% of women will experience postpartum depression in the first year after birth. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is published in its fifth edition, defines the criteria that a person must meet in order to suffer from depression.
Causes of depression include genetic prediposition, extrinsic factors, neurological causes, psychosocial stressors, various physical ailments, metabolic and biochemical changes. Symptoms of depression are depressed feelings and physical disorders, such as insomnia or hyperspace, anorexia, constipation, dry mouth, psyhomotor retardation, disordered appearance, and other non-specific symptoms. Even in some cases patients present with delusional ideas or hallucinations as well as suicidal ideation or attempt to commit suicide.
Treatment of depression is based on medication, psychotherapy and electro-spasm therapy (ECT) and phototherapy are also used. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the treatment of choice and interpersonal psychotherapy is the prefferd form of psychotherapy for postpartum depression. There are many usefull tools for assessing postpartum depression and the most important of these is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).
Nursing interventions are designed to educate the women and her environment about the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression, its recognition, the treatment to be followed (e.g. psychotropic drugs and side effects), the care provided, so that nurses have a supportive role in dealing depression. Providing preventive guidance is paramount, as discussing and participating in group programs provides the pregnant woman with all the information necessary for chidbirth and maternity, thereby reducing her anxiety.
The care provided should focus on both the mother and the family as a whole. Her mother and partner are those who provide support and guidance in order to adapt to the new reality. Finally, it is necessary for nurses and other health professionals to intervene in episodes of violence towards themselves and/or others.
Keywords:
Pregnancy, Puerperium, Depression, Anxiety disordes
