Postpartum Depression and Analysis of Treatments and Health Determinant

The objective of this paper is to develop a thorough understanding of treatments available for mothers with postpartum depression and formulate a research question that can provide for future direction. Postpartum depression is universally recognized as a serious condition affecting 10-15% of women within a year of birth (O’Hara & Swain, 1992). The high prevalence of postpartum depression among mothers makes this an issue worth exploring the type of treatments available. A set of physical and psychological symptoms are associated with this condition that greatly increase the detriment of postpartum depression. These symptoms can be ranked on several designed scales by health care professionals. It is important to understand that even with a high prevalence rate of postpartum depression among women many cases go untreated. (Buist, Barnett, Milgrom, Pope, Condon, Ellwood, Boyce, Austin & Hayes, 2002). An analysis of five studies will introduce the available treatments and the possibility that social support in combination with personal physical maintenance maybe the best treatment for women with minor or moderate postpartum depression. In the first study Gjerdingen (2002) investigates the various treatments but particularly the pharmacological treatments. Gjerdingen (2002) stresses the importance of administered treatment based on severity of diagnosis, such that healthcare professionals appropriately identify the state of wellbeing of the patient and appropriately respond. As presented in the article, the US Preventive Services Task Force strongly recommends screening for depression to be done through clinical services that have systems insuring proper diagnosis and appropriate interventions. Gjerdingen (2002... ...eme will also be covered in the remainder of the studies and will be used when formulating the final research question. In trying to determine the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling Milgrom, Negri, Gemmill, McNeil, Martin (2005) discuss the influence of the health care system questioning the efficiency and accuracy of transferable skills. It was determined that personal counselling was easier for professions to obtain the skills versus group CBT. This raises the question will transferability of skills among health care professionals affect the completion and result of treatment? In addition, many intervention studies are lacking formal clinical diagnosis and validated clinical measures of depressive symptoms. As a result this makes the replication of studies difficult and therefore the correct transferability of skills would be lacking.