Clinical features and risk factors of postpartum depression: a literature review

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and risk factors for Postpartum Depression (PPD). Bibliographic review: PPD is a depressive disorder that occurs during pregnancy or in the first four weeks after delivery. Its origin is multifactorial, and its symptoms are sadness, anhedonia, crying spells and increased irritability, agitation or psychomotor retardation, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, decreased ability to concentrate and recurrent thoughts of death. Among the risk factors are individual, socioeconomic and behavioral characteristics of women, such as being young, multiparous, having a history of previous depression and/or a family history of depression. Final considerations: PPD occurs during pregnancy or in the first weeks postpartum and its risk factors include genetic factors, previous history of depression and exposure to violence, having physical and psychosocial consequences for the woman and her baby. In this context, adequate prenatal care is essential, in order to mitigate environmental risk factors and identify intrinsic factors in order to diagnose early and adequately treat the disorder with pharmacological treatment and therapy.