OVERVIEW OF THE THEORIES OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

Abstract

Protecting mother and child health is a matter of great medical and social importance and calls for special attention to the quality of perinatal care. The necessity of studies of pregnant women psychosomatic state is defined by contemporary obstetrics goals: preventing complications during pregnancy and childbirth and reducing the frequency of behavioral problems after birth.Since ancient times postnatal period is associated with changes in female mental and emotional state. Childbirth is considered a stress factor and could affect significantly the mental balance of woman in child-birth.In the postnatal period mothers endure physiological and mental changes and many of them are vulnerable to different emotional symptoms \12 including anxiety, depression and psychosis. The most common mental and emotional problem is postnatal depression. While postpartal emotional disbalance is usually benign and controllable, postnatal depression and postnatal psychosis cause considerable amount of stress and dysfunction. Postpartal depression is an issue of social and health significance and often can seriously deteriorate the quality of life not only of the mother, but as well as the family. With untreated depressive disorders there is a risk of recurrent illness and they are associated with long term cognitive, emotional and behavioral disorders in children. In the prevention of postpartal mental disorders is important to raise awareness of health professionals so that these conditions can be recognized early and treated in due course.Until now this complex disorder has not been studied well enough and there have been different theories about what is causing it. According to some authors before deciding on treatment options an evaluation has to be made of the theoretical reasons for the occurrence of PPD.Introducing health professionals working with women during the prenatal and postnatal period with the theoretical formulations of the problem can help them in developing strategies for prevention and treatment to prevent the disorder and to reduce the consequences.