Expanding the Postpartum Depression Construct Using a Social Work Paradigm

Abstract

This paper describes and evaluates current definitions and models of postpartum depression. Research on prevalence, risk and resiliency factors is reviewed. A more comprehensive approach to postpartum mood disorders is proposed. The “Model Assessing Maternal Adjustment” (MAMA) is based on the biopsychosocial approach of social work and can be utilized for both client self-assessment and clinical assessments by professionals across various disciplines. The MAMA approach moves beyond sole focus on depressive symptoms to include anxiety symptoms and bipolar disorders and lengthens the time frame to include the pregnancy through the first year postpartum.