Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Among the United States' population, depression has become a common and costly burden.According to a report by the World Health Organization (2001), depression has been identified as one of the leading causes of disability in the U.S., accounting for the greatest number of years lived with disability among all diseases.In addition to the debilitating nature of this disease, it has been estimated that depression costs the U.S. between $30 billion and $50 billion annually due to lost productivity costs and direct medical expenses (Gjerdingen & Yawn, 2007).This growing public health issue affects nearly one in ten U.S. adults (CDC); women are at a more elevated risk for depression than their male counterparts, with rates as high as 25 percent (Gjerdingen & Yawn, 2007).Women within their first year of childbirth are especially susceptible to depressive episodes.Gjerdingen and Yawn (2007) report up to 20 percent of new mothers suffer from depression sometime during the postpartum course, making postpartum depression the most common medical problem women face after delivery.Postpartum depression is considered a major depressive disorder.It is distinct from a condition referred to as the "baby blues", which is a short-lasting state of anxiety or sadness experienced by up to 80 percent of women shortly after giving birth (Collingwood, 2010).In comparison to the "baby blues", symptoms of postpartum depression are more severe and persist for a longer duration of time.Criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, (DSM-IV) for postpartum depression requires the woman to have five or more of the following symptoms for at least two weeks: psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue, insomnia or hypersomnia, changes in appetite, decreased concentration, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and suicidality.In addition, the
Authors: Christin Stiffler, Lindsey Krueger
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W152339514