Perinatal depression and its health impact

What is perinatal depression?Perinatal depression is considered a specifier of major depressive disorder with onset during pregnancy or within weeks after the delivery, although commonly extended to the first year postpartum in both clinical and research settings. Perinatal depression affects as many as 10-20% of women giving birth worldwide. We use the term “women” in alignment with existing literature, although people may identify differently. Risk factors include history of mental ill-health, domestic violence, premenstrual disorders, unintended pregnancies, and low socioeconomic status. Although the pathophysiology is unclear, abnormal sensitivity to hormonal fluctuations, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and immunomodulation have been postulated as plausible underlying mechanisms. Like depression occurring outside of the perinatal period, perinatal depression constitutes a heterogenous condition, characterised by diverse symptom clusters and varying temporal trajectories. In contrast to the common belief that perinatal depression is self-resolving, many cases can last for months or even longer, particularly if…
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