The many faces of postpartum depression.
OBJECTIVE
To provide a profile of women suffering from major postpartum depression as assessed by the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS).


METHODS
A secondary analysis conducted on a portion of the data collected from an earlier psychometric testing of the PDSS.


METHODS
Private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area of a marriage and family therapist specializing in perinatal mood disorders.


METHODS
One hundred thirty-three women who were diagnosed with major postpartum depression.


METHODS
Each mother completed the PDSS followed by a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) diagnostic interview.


METHODS
Seven dimensions of postpartum depression: sleeping/eating disturbances, anxiety/insecurity, emotional lability, mental confusion, loss of self, guilt/shame, and suicidal thoughts as measured by the PDSS.


RESULTS
Scores on all seven dimensions of the PDSS were elevated. The three top dimensions were emotional lability, mental confusion, and anxiety/insecurity. The mean total PDSS score of 120 was well beyond the recommended cutoff score of 80 for a positive screen for major postpartum depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians who come in contact with new mothers need to be alert to the range of possible symptoms that postpartum depressed mothers may experience so that these women are not left to suffer in silence.
Beck
Cheryl Tatano
CT
University of Connecticut, School of Nursing, 231 Glenbrook Road, Storrs, CT 06269-2026, USA. cheryl.beck@uconn.edu
Indman
Pec
P
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003221:Confusion / Q000209:etiology; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012495:San Francisco; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012752:Shame; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires