Is postpartum depression harmful

Answer 1

Post-partum depression is a serious mental illness, and should be treated as such. Like major depression, most cases are mild to moderate in severity and can typically be handled with antidepressant medication, and changes in routine (good rest, exercise, and healthy diet), and/or behavioral therapy. If these cases are left untreated, there is an increased risk of infant neglect, poor mother/infant bonding, and recurrence of the mother's depression in the future. These are all harmful to both the mother and the infant. Unlike older children, infant lives may be at risk because they are so helpless - they are less likely to survive neglect. As far as consequences for the mother, depression tends to have a recurrent course - if left untreated it could presist and worsen or it may seem to get better for a while, but then come back later. By contrast, for people who are treated and actually have the depression "cured" - with complete resolution of all symptoms - the chances of recurrence are greatly reduced. If the depression persists or recurrs, children of mothers (or fathers) with a mental illness like major depression are also more likely to suffer from mental illnesses themselves later in childhood and into adulthood. And of course we've all heard of the rare but terrible consequences of severe post-partum depression.... The bottom line - if a mother cannot take care of herself properly and is feeling seriously out of balance for an extended period of time, then both she and her infant (or child) will suffer for it.