Postpartum depression, suicidality, and mother-infant interactions

Abstract

To date, few studies have examined suicidality in women with postpartum depression. Reports of suicidal ideation in postpartum women have varied (Lindahl et al. Arch Womens Ment Health 8:77-87, 2005), and no known studies have examined the relationship between suicidality and mother-infant interactions. This study utilizes baseline data from a multi-method evaluation of a home-based psychotherapy for women with postpartum depression and their infants to examine the phenomenon of suicidality and its relationship to maternal mood, perceptions, and mother-infant interactions. Overall, women in this clinical sample (n = 32) had wide ranging levels of suicidal thinking. When divided into low and high groups, the mothers with high suicidality experienced greater mood disturbances, cognitive distortions, and severity of postpartum symptomotology. They also had lower maternal self-esteem, more negative perceptions of the mother-infant relationship, and greater parenting stress. During observer-rated mother-infant interactions, women with high suicidality were less sensitive and responsive to their infants' cues, and their infants demonstrated less positive affect and involvement with their mothers. Implications for clinical practice and future research directions are discussed.

Longer Previous Smoking Abstinence Relates to Successful Breastfeeding Initiation Among Underserved Smokers

“…in a prospective manner. Even though current CES-D scores were not associated with reported previous breastfeeding in our sample, studies have shown that depressive symptoms relate with smoking, influence infant care in general, [41][42][43][44] and may be an important factor in breastfeeding. 45 The association between previous smoking abstinence and success with breastfeeding in our study is a novel finding that points to the need to replicate and clarify this association.…”

Actualización en depresión postparto: el desafío permanente de optimizar su detección y abordaje

“…En contraste, la DPP consta de la sintomatología propia de cualquier episodio depresivo mayor y puede acompañarse de ideas obsesivas respecto del bienestar del recién nacido 15,16 . Puede presentarse ansiedad, pobre percepción del rol materno, y mayores alteraciones motoras o cognitivas en comparación con las depresiones no ligadas al postparto 17 . Lo anterior debe ocurrir la mayor parte del tiempo durante dos semanas, afectando el funcionamiento cotidiano y el cuidado del bebé 15,18 .…”

Trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms across the birth of a child: associations with toddler emotional development

“…For example, maternal depression has been associated with numerous deleterious impacts on the health and well-being of the mother such as an increased risk for suicidal ideation, lower maternal self-esteem, and greater parenting stress as well as negative developmental outcomes of the fetus and growing child (see Diego et al 2009;Field 1995;Field et al 2010;Luoma et al 2001;O'Hara 2009;Paris et al 2009). Even mild levels of maternal depression have been shown to impact psychosocial functioning and parenting in ways similar to chronic or higher levels of depression (Fleming et al 1988;Goodman and Tully 2009;Weinberg et al 2001).…”