Abstract
The transition to parenthood is considered to be a major life transition that can increase the vulnerability to parental depressive disorders, including paternal perinatal depression (PPND). Although it is known that many fathers experience anxiety and depression during the perinatal period, PPND is a recent diagnostic entity and there are not enough published studies on it. Accordingly, its prevalence and epidemiology are still not well defined, although the majority of studies agree that PPND is less frequent than maternal perinatal depression and postpartum depression. Nevertheless, PPND is different from maternal perinatal mental health disorders, usually, fathers have less severe symptoms, and mood alterations are often in comorbidity with other affective disorders. Despite the absence of DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and the fluctuation of prevalence rates, clinical symptoms have been defined. The main symptoms are mood alterations and anxiety, followed by behavioral disturbances and concerns about the progress of pregnancy and the child’s health. Moreover, PPND negatively impacts on family functioning, on couples’ relationships, and on family members’ well-being. The aim of this paper is to present an overview of the current understandings on PPND and the potential screening, prevention, and treatment options.
Highlights
Pregnancy and early parenting are major life transitions that increase the vulnerability to psychological distress and the onset or relapse of psychiatric disorders, mainly depression, for both parents [1,2]
Postpartum depression (PPD), with a global prevalence of approximately 17% [4], is recognized as a subtype of a major depressive disorder (MDD) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) [5], which assigned a “with postpartum onset” specifier to episodes of depression that occur within four weeks of delivering a child
This extension of the time period acknowledges the evidence that rates of maternal depression are higher during pregnancy than during the postpartum period, and that the majority of cases of PPD are preceded by depression during pregnancy, as shown by longitudinal studies [7]
Summary
Pregnancy and early parenting are major life transitions that increase the vulnerability to psychological distress and the onset or relapse of psychiatric disorders, mainly depression, for both parents [1,2]. An important update on the topic is that in DSM-5 [6] the specifier has changed for “with peripartum onset”, encompassing depressive episodes occurring during pregnancy, as well as in the four weeks following delivery. This extension of the time period acknowledges the evidence that rates of maternal depression are higher during pregnancy than during the postpartum period, and that the majority of cases of PPD are preceded by depression during pregnancy, as shown by longitudinal studies [7].
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