Depression and Pregnancy
Depression and Pregnancy
Audrey Luck
Psychology for Midwives
11/16/10
Depression and Pregnancy 2
For most women the period of growing bellies and growing anticipations is a joyful and exciting time and for others this time may harbor doubt, fear, and depression. “As many as 1 out of 5 women have symptoms of depression during pregnancy. For some women, those symptoms are severe. In pregnancy, women who have been depressed before are at higher risk of depression than other women” (“Pregnancy complication: depression,” 2009). “Depression during pregnancy, or antepartum depression, is a mood disorder just like clinical depression. Mood disorders are biological illnesses that involve changes in brain chemistry. During pregnancy, hormone changes can affect brain chemicals, which are directly related to depression and anxiety” (“Depression During Pregnancy,” 2008).
“Environmental factors, such as relational issues [history of depression and relationship difficulties], financial troubles, childhood sexual abuse (Klaus & Simkin 2004) and chronic illness [pregnancy complications and loss of pregnancy] can be contributing factors to the development or worsening of depression” (Sanders 2006). “Daily chronic stressors appear to be more powerful predictors of depression”. A study was done in Quebec in which the dependent variable, depressive symptomology, was measured using a validated revised form of the Beck Depression Inventory, commonly used during the perinatal period. The independent variables were women who were of both low and high socioeconomic status. “In this research, all indicators of depression in women of low socioeconomic status were elevated compared to other studies using the Beck Depression Inventory in the perinatal period”. The results showed that 49.6% of women from the low socioeconomic status suffered from depression where as only 20.0% of women from the higher socioeconomic status were depressed (Seguin, Potvin,
Audrey Luck
Psychology for Midwives
11/16/10
Depression and Pregnancy 2
For most women the period of growing bellies and growing anticipations is a joyful and exciting time and for others this time may harbor doubt, fear, and depression. “As many as 1 out of 5 women have symptoms of depression during pregnancy. For some women, those symptoms are severe. In pregnancy, women who have been depressed before are at higher risk of depression than other women” (“Pregnancy complication: depression,” 2009). “Depression during pregnancy, or antepartum depression, is a mood disorder just like clinical depression. Mood disorders are biological illnesses that involve changes in brain chemistry. During pregnancy, hormone changes can affect brain chemicals, which are directly related to depression and anxiety” (“Depression During Pregnancy,” 2008).
“Environmental factors, such as relational issues [history of depression and relationship difficulties], financial troubles, childhood sexual abuse (Klaus & Simkin 2004) and chronic illness [pregnancy complications and loss of pregnancy] can be contributing factors to the development or worsening of depression” (Sanders 2006). “Daily chronic stressors appear to be more powerful predictors of depression”. A study was done in Quebec in which the dependent variable, depressive symptomology, was measured using a validated revised form of the Beck Depression Inventory, commonly used during the perinatal period. The independent variables were women who were of both low and high socioeconomic status. “In this research, all indicators of depression in women of low socioeconomic status were elevated compared to other studies using the Beck Depression Inventory in the perinatal period”. The results showed that 49.6% of women from the low socioeconomic status suffered from depression where as only 20.0% of women from the higher socioeconomic status were depressed (Seguin, Potvin,
References: Depression during pregnancy. (2005, November). Retrieved from www.babycenter.com/0_depression-during-pregnancy_9179.bc Depression during pregnancy. (2008, October). Retrieved from www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/depressionduring pregnancy.html Epigee, . (2009). Discussing depression during pregnancy. Retrieved from http://www.epigee.org/pregnancy/depression.html Grote, N. (1987). Depression during pregnancy: a public health risk and what to do about it. Pregnancy complications: depression. (2009, September). Retrieved from www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/complications_depression.html Sanders, L. B. (2006). Assessing and managing women with depression: a midwifery prospective Seguin, L, Potvin, L, St.-Denis, M, & Loiselle, J. (1995). Chronic stressors, social support, and depression during pregnancy