Psychodynamics of postpartum depression.

Abstract

Although there are numerous articles and books about postpartum depression, few are psychoanalytically informed, and the psychodynamics of women suffering from postpartum depression are overlooked in most of these publications. Psychoanalytic reports concerning postpartum depression are few, but clinical experience and the literature suggest that a triad of three common, specific emotional conflicts is typical of many women who develop postpartum depression. For simplicity, these are dependency conflicts, anger conflicts, and motherhood conflicts. The dependency conflicts typically have a counterdependent form, the conflicts over anger characteristically include a great deal of guilt and inhibition, and there are often problematic identifications with the woman's own mother (and father) with associated conflicts about motherhood. The frequent counterdependent attitude tends to limit participation in extensive psychotherapy, contributing to the paucity of psychoanalytic contributions on this subject.

Influence of socio-economic factors on emotional changes during the postnatal period

“…Krzyżanowska-Zbucka [15] included psychosocial factors, such as lone motherhood and bad relationships in the family, into the group of risk factors for postpartum depression, similar to Jaeschke et al [13] and IwanowiczPalus et al [18], suggested careful observation of women who declared they would bring up their child alone. Snow [4] and Rokach [2] observed that a bad marriage constitutes a risk factor for the prevalence of mental disorders during the postpartum period, which was also stressed by Blum [37]. However, Reroń et al [17], did not indicate marital status as a factor that could affect the prevalence of depressive disorders.…”

“…Chrzan-Dętkoś et al [19], showed that women who received care from their mothers during childhood had lower EPDS scores. Similarly, Blum [37] noted that women who demonstrated symptoms of postpartum depression were more likely to negatively assess the quality of care exercised over them by their mothers. Blum also pointed out that lack of adequate paternal care during childhood can have a similar effect on the prevalence of depressive disorders after giving birth.…”

Systematic empirical investigation of vulnerability to postpartum depression from a psychodynamic perspective: Commentary on issues raised by Blum (2007).

“…In contrast to Blum's assertion, a theoretically derived extensive empirical psychoanalytic database exists which confirms and extends Blum's analysis of the core dynamics involved in this disorder. This recent research derives primarily from the comprehensive theoretical framework proposed by Blatt (1974Blatt ( , 2004Blatt ( , 2006Blatt ( , 2008 on the psychodynamics of depression that are part of a broad theory of normal and pathological personality development which Blum (2007), in his otherwise thorough search of the literature, seems to have overlooked. The authors close with reflections on how psychoanalysis and psychodynamically inspired research might increasingly influence mainstream clinical practice and research.…”

O Comportamento Parental de Companheiros de Mulheres com Depressão Pós-Parto

“…De facto, tal como afirma Blum (2007), o nascimento de um filho e a emergência da parentalidade são eventos que implicam uma reactivação do vivido de perda dos objectos primitivos, principalmente quando no passado não foram elaborados, transformando-se em manifestações directas e indirectas em relação ao filho. Este acordar das vivencias e conflitos anteriores acontece com ambos os pais e determina a forma como se adaptam ao bebé.…”