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NURSES WHO UNDERSTAND THE PREVALENCE, SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS, AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ANTENATAL DEPRESSION (AD) CAN PLAY A VALUABLE ROLE IN IDENTIFYING AD AND PREVENTING THE SEQUELAE IN PREGNANT WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
ABSTRACT
About 20 per cent of pregnant women experience antenatal depression (AD), which not only has deleterious effects on the woman and her baby but also increases the risk of developing postpartum depression. Nurses who understand the prevalence, signs and symptoms, and risk factors associated with AD can help to identify it and prevent the sequelae.
The signs and symptoms of depression in pregnancy do not differ from depression at any other time. However, AD may go undiagnosed because of a focus on maternal and fetal well-being and the attribution of complaints to the physical and hormonal changes associated with pregnancy. Risk factors include history of depression, lack of partner, marital difficulties, lack of social support, poverty, family violence, increased life stress, substance abuse, history of previous abortions, unplanned pregnancy, ambivalence toward the pregnancy and anxiety about the fetus.
Most of the standard treatments for depression can be used in pregnant women, with the exception of some anti-depressant medications. Supportive therapies - exercise, adequate nutrition, adequate sleep, and support from family and friends-are also indicated.
Screening of women with known risk factors is crucial, but the authors suggest that the high overall prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy indicates a need for universal screening.
KEYWORDS: antenatal depression, depression in pregnancy maternal and child health
Pregnancy Is expected to be a joyous time, full of anticipation and preparation for the new baby. Unfortunately, for about 20 per cent of pregnant women, pregnancy is a time of depression (Marcus, Flynn, Blow, & Barry, 2003). Antenatal depression (AD) is a significant disease that has potentially deleterious effects on the woman and her baby. In addition, women with AD have a 6.5-fold increased risk of the more widely known postpartum depression (Heron et al., 2004). Of the 10 to 15 per cent of women who get postpartum depression, up to 0.2 per cent will develop postpartum psychosis, a serious illness associated with suicide, infanticide and homicide (Gates, 2003).To prevent such sequelae, it is important that AD be identified and treated.
The signs and...