Postpartum Depression – Who Gets it?
Postpartum depression is defined as depression that develops within the first four weeks after childbirth and occurs in about 10% of women. Postpartum depression statistics have shown the following risk factors:
- a history of a mood disorder
- unwanted pregnancy
- unemployment of the mother
- lack of breast-feeding
- the mother as head of the household (source: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry)
Regarding other postpartum depression statistics, women who have had depression in the past have a 24% chance of developing postpartum depression. Depression during pregnancy increases the chances of developing postpartum depression to 35%.
Depression that develops for the first time during pregnancy is more likely to become bipolar disorder later on. Likewise, postpartum psychosis is usually a manisfestation of preexisting bipolar disorder.
Postpartum psychosis occurs infrequently in about 0.1-0.2% of women.
