We often see women with postpartum depression (PPD) who are also experiencing problems with breastfeeding.  Several different questions arise. Are these women depressed because they are having problems with breastfeeding? Or does their depression and/or [...]
 The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is the instrument most commonly used to identify depression in postpartum women.  Traditionally, a cut-off score of 13 is used to distinguish depressed from nondepressed women.  Because depression [...]
For those of you in the Boston area, the Massachusetts PPD Commission is offering a free screening of the documentary "Dark Side of the Full Moon" at the State House Room 428 on the 4th [...]
Something is happening. Â The issue of perinatal depression is spending a lot of time in the media spotlight these days. Â But rather than focusing on the risks of medications used during pregnancy (the usual headline [...]
![By Vera Kratochvil [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](https://womensmentalhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Mother_Kissing_Baby-320x202.jpg)
Yesterday the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a final recommendation statement on Screening for Depression in Adults. The Task Force recommends that clinicians screen ALL ADULTS for depression and notes that the evidence [...]
Infertility and its treatment are enormously stressful. Previous studies have shown that women undergoing infertility treatment are more vulnerable to clinically significant anxiety and depressive symptoms. But what happens when the desired outcome is achieved? [...]
As a field we have focused primarily on the detection of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders; however, one should be aware of the growing body of literature that suggests that certain interventions may actually decrease [...]
Although new mothers describe breastfeeding as a meaningful and fulfilling aspect of caring for their infants, breastfeeding is also a common source of stress and anxiety. Breastfeeding self-efficacy or BSE refers to a mother’s confidence [...]
For decades, researchers have postulated a connection between breastfeeding and postpartum depression (PPD). However, the research examining the association between postpartum depression and breastfeeding has been somewhat difficult to interpret. Â While many believe that breastfeeding [...]
About ten years ago, we ran a collaborative project with our obstetrics department here at MGH where we screened all new mothers for postpartum depression. Â The screening went well. Â Nearly all the women completed the [...]
