الفهرس 
Introduction And RationaleOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Postpartum blues Up to 85percent of postpartum women develop mild mood changes. Symptoms typically peak on the fifth postpartum day and resolve within two weeks. Providing support and encouraging adequate rest for women with postpartum blues are suggested, pharmacotherapy not suggested unless the patient fails to improve.
Postpartum depression is not considered a separate diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; instead a ”postpartum onset specifier” is used for episodes of mood disorders that arise within four weeks postpartum. Postpartum depression affects approximately 10-15% percent of women, which is similar to the prevalence in nonpregnant women.
A personal history of depression (prior to pregnancy, antepartum or postpartum) is the major risk factor. No hormonal factor has emerged consistently as the causative agent. Postpartum depression can have adverse effects on the mother-child relationship, child development, marital relationship, and mental health of the woman’s partner.
Postpartum depression increases the woman’s risk for development of future episodes of major depression, both puerperal and nonpuerperal. Asking postpartum women about their mood is recommended. Psychosocial therapy is suggested as the initial approach to treatment of mild-to-moderate symptoms of postpartum depression.
In more severe illness, pharmacotherapy is recommended. Psychosocial therapy is suggested as an adjunctive treatment in these cases In women with a history of postpartum depression, resuming pharmacotherapy is suggested immediately after delivery with the same agent that successfully treated her previous episode. In other woman at increased risk for postpartum depression, we suggest initiating treatment upon identifying even mild postpartum mood changes.
Family physician and General Practitioners (GPs) are key primary care professionals engaged with mothers during the postnatal period. Primary care physicians can effectively screen, diagnose, and manage postpartum depression when given the right tools and education, new research shows.