Skip to main content
×
×
Home

Current considerations of the effects of untreated maternal perinatal depression and the National Perinatal Depression Initiative

  • P. Hall (a1)
Abstract

Postnatal and antenatal depression present significant public health concerns. Current opinion on the use of these terms is noted. Previous research findings demonstrate that detrimental effects of untreated maternal depression/anxiety are potentially severe and impact on the whole family; longer-term effects on child development are described. Australia has responded to such overwhelming empirical evidence by the implementation of the National Perinatal Depression Initiative. Key objectives and a brief overview of the work in progress of this Initiative are offered.

Copyright
Corresponding author
*Address for correspondence: Dr P. Hall, Mental Health Unit, SA Health, PO Box 287, Rundle Mall, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia. (Email Pauline.Hall@health.sa.gov.au)
References
Hide All
1.O'Hara, MW, Swain, AM. Rates and risks of postpartum depression: a meta-analysis. Int Rev Psychiatr. 1996; 8, 3754.
2.Bennett, HA, Einarson, A, Taddio, A, Koren, G, Einarson, TR. Prevalence of depression during pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2004; 103, 698709.
3.Glover, V, O'Connor, T. Effects of antenatal stress and anxiety: implications for development and psychiatry. Br J Psychiatr. 2002; 180, 389391.
4.Hay, D, Pawlby, S, Waters, S, Sharp, D. Antepartum and postpartum exposure to maternal depression: different effects on different adolescent outcomes. J Child Psychol Psychiatr. 2008; 49, 10791088.
5.Yonkers, KA. New recommendations managing depression during pregnancy. Physicians Weekly, January 11, 2010, no. 2, 2010. Accessed on-line at http://www.physiciansweekly.com/pw02_10.html.
6.Alder, J, Fink, N, Bitzer, J, Hosli, I, Holzgrove, W. Depression and anxiety during pregnancy: a risk factor for obstetrics, fetal and neonatal outcome? A critical review of the literature. J Matern Fetal Med. 2007; 20, 189209.
7.Grant, KA, McMahon, C, Austin, M-P, et al. Maternal prenatal anxiety and infants’ cortisol responses to the still-face procedure. Dev Psychobiol. 2009; 51, 625637.
8.Austin, M-P, Hadzi-Pavlovic, D, Leader, L, Saint, K, Parker, G. Maternal trait anxiety, depression and life event stress in pregnancy: relationships with infant temperament. Early Hum Dev. 2005; 81, 183190.
9.O'Connor, TG, Heron, J, Glover, V, Alspac Study Team. Antenatal anxiety predicts child behavioural/emotional problems independently of postnatal depression. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatr. 2002; 41, 14701477.
10.O'Connor, T, Heron, J, Golding, J, Glover, V. Maternal antenatal anxiety and behavioural/emotional problems in children: a test of a programming hypothesis. J Child Psychol Psychiatr. 2003; 44, 10251036.
11.Van den Berg, BRH, Marcoen, A. High maternal antenatal anxiety is related to ADHD symptoms externalizing problems and anxiety in 8 and 9 year olds. Child Dev. 2004; 75, 10851097.
12.Van den Bergh, BRH, Mennes, M, Oosterlaan, J, et al. High antenatal maternal anxiety is related to impulsivity during performance on cognitive tasks in 14- and 15-year-olds. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2005; 29, 259269.
13.Murray, L. The impact of postnatal depression on infant development. J Child Psychol Psychiatr. 1992; 33, 543561.
14.Martins, C, Gaffan, EA. Effects of early maternal depression on patterns of infant–mother attachment: a meta-analytic investigation. J Child Psychol Psychiatr. 2000; 41, 737746.
15.Moehler, E, Brunner, R, Wiebel, A, Reck, C, Resch, F. Maternal depressive symptoms in the postnatal period are associated with long-term impairment of mother–child bonding. Arch Women's Ment Health. 2006; 9, 273278.
16.Deave, T, Heron, J, Evans, J, Emond, A. The impact of maternal depression in pregnancy on early child development. BJOG. 2008; 115, 10431051.
17.Austin, M-P, Kildea, S, Sullivan, E. Maternal mortality and psychiatric morbidity in the perinatal period: challenges and opportunities for prevention in the Australian setting. Med J Aust. 2007; 186, 364367.
18.Goodman, JH. Paternal postpartum depression, its relationship to maternal postpartum depression, and implications for family health. J Adv Nurs. 2004; 45, 2635.
19.Areias, ME, Kumar, R, Barros, H, Figueiredo, E. Correlates of postnatal depression in mothers and fathers. Br J Psychiatr. 1996; 169, 3641.
20.Ballard, C, Davies, R. Postnatal depression in fathers. Int Rev Psychiatr. 1996; 8, 6572.
21.Ramchandani, P, Psychogiou, L. Paternal psychiatric disorders and children's psychosocial development. Lancet. 2009; 374, 646653.
22.Beyondblue. Clinical Practice Guidelines for Depression and Related Disorders – Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder and Puerperal Psychosis – in the Perinatal Period. A Guideline for Primary Care Health Professionals, 2011. beyondblue: The National Depression Initiative, Melbourne.
23.Cox, JL, Holden, JM, Sagovsky, R. Detection of postnatal depression: development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Br J Psychiatr. 1987; 150, 782786.
Recommend this journal

Email your librarian or administrator to recommend adding this journal to your organisation's collection.

Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
  • ISSN: 2040-1744
  • EISSN: 2040-1752
  • URL: /core/journals/journal-of-developmental-origins-of-health-and-disease
Please enter your name
Please enter a valid email address
Who would you like to send this to? *
×

Keywords:

Metrics

Full text views

Total number of HTML views: 12
Total number of PDF views: 46 *
Loading metrics...

Abstract views

Total abstract views: 213 *
Loading metrics...

* Views captured on Cambridge Core between September 2016 - 12th June 2018. This data will be updated every 24 hours.