MOST OF us experience feelings of sadness and unhappiness at one point or another for a short period of time. True clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended time.
WHAT IS PRE-PARTUM DEPRESSION AND HOW PREVALENT IS IT IN JAMAICA?
Maternal depression during pregnancy has been studied less than post-partum depression. However, a recent study conducted by the Department of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of the West Indies, shows that pre-natal depression seems to be as common during pregnancy as after delivery. In fact, studies also show that the rate of pre-natal depression is between five per cent and 26 per cent in Jamaican women.
WHAT IS POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION AND HOW PREVALENT IS IT IN JAMAICA?
Post-partum depression can happen anytime within the first year after childbirth. Although the exact number of women with depression during this time is unknown, the prevalence rate has been found to be between seven per cent and 30 per cent in Jamaican women.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS OF PRE-PARTUM DEPRESSION?
Feeling restless or irritable
Feeling sad, hopeless and overwhelmed
Crying a lot
Having no energy
Eating too little or too much
Sleeping too little or too much
Trouble focusing, remembering, or making decisions
Feeling worthless and guilty
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
Withdrawal from friends and family
Having headaches, chest pains, heart palpitations or hyperventilation
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS OF POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION?
Post-partum depression is characterised by a persistent change in baseline mood for a period of at least two weeks. According to DSM III classification, at least four of the following symptoms must each have been present nearly everyday throughout the period.
i) poor appetite, significantly increased appetite
ii) Insomnia/hypersomnia
iii) psychomotor agitation or retardation
iv) loss of energy /fatigue
v) Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
vi) feelings of worthlessness
vii) being afraid of hurting the baby or oneself and not having any interest in the baby.
