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2007/06/08
Based on earlier reporting by Health Day News
In one large study, 10 percent of fathers reported symptoms
Awareness of postpartum depression has increased in recent years.
Still hidden, though, are the identities of new fathers who have suffered in silence.
Almost as many men as women suffer from this type of depression, according to researchers who examined data from more than 5,000 two-parent families. In all, about 14 percent of mothers and 10 percent of fathers showed signs of moderate or severe postpartum depression, according to the study, first reported in the August 2006 issue of the journal Pediatrics.
"The long-standing belief of many people, including physicians, has been that postpartum depression is due to hormone changes in women that take place after childbirth," said study leader James F. Paulson of the Eastern Virginia Medical School. "Obviously, fathers wouldn't be susceptible to changes of this nature and, probably because of this, haven't been a focus of study."
But now experts are understanding that depression can spring not from hormonal changes, but any major life change. And that would account for the effects of life with a newborn on the mental health of fathers.
Postpartum depression can begin anytime after childbirth and can last up to a year. Symptoms often mirror those of any clinical depression, such as sadness, fatigue and hopelessness. A sufferer may experience drastic changes in mood and appetite, excessive preoccupation with a child's health, or intrusive thoughts of harming the baby.
For the study, parents completed questionnaires and were interviewed to determine whether they showed symptoms of depression. Researchers also probed parent-child interactions, such as reading, telling stories, and singing songs -- acts considered critically important for positive child development.
Depression in either parent was associated with reduced interaction, Paulson noted, and "fathers with greater levels of depression interacted with their child less."
Postpartum paternal depression typically isn't on clinicians' radar and men often have less contact with health-care providers than women do. Men may be reluctant to seek help.
Experts argue, however, that if a woman if identified as depressed during the postpartum period, it would be helpful to ask the father how he is doing and to also screen him for depression.