Depression and postpartum disorders

Abstract

In the first part of this chapter, an overview of prevalence and burden of depression in women across the lifespan will be presented, as well as biopsychosocial etiological theories and a brief review of service use and treatment issues. The second part of the chapter will focus specifically on prevalence, clinical, and health care use issues related to depression occurring around the time of childbearing. Pregnant and postpartum women with depression represent an underserved group that, because of the healthcare service use issues, holds promise for improved detection, prevention, and treatment efforts that may improve health and functioning outcomes for women and their families. © 2010 Springer-Verlag New York.