The treatment of postpartum depression: minimizing infant exposures.
The first 3 postpartum months represent a high-risk period for psychiatric illnesses. This article reviews the prevalence and diagnostic criteria for postpartum illnesses, including the "maternal blues," postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis. Pharmacologic treatment of these disorders is often complicated by a patient's desire to breast-feed, yet there are no controlled trials of antidepressant treatment during lactation. Infant exposure and limitations to monitoring infant sera are reviewed. Lastly, a model and guide for reducing fetal and infant exposures is presented.
Newport
D Jeffrey
DJ
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Hostetter
Amy
A
Arnold
Angela
A
Stowe
Zachary N
ZN
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008895:Milk, Human; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D009626:Terminology as Topic