Postpartum Depression: An Overview

Occurring in about 12% of postpartum women, postpartum depression has been the focus of considerable research. Variables that have been correlated with postpartum depression range from biological causes, to lack of social support, to relationship with husband, to attributional styles, to psychodynamic explanations. There is a need for a more circumscribed operational definition of the syndrome and norming of depression measures. It is also important to assess each person individually and to design interventions that focus on particular contributive factors.