Advice is needed to prevent depression among new mothers at risk

WASHINGTON (AP) – Doctors are already supposed to filter depression among new mothers to find those who need prompt care. Now, they are also asked to identify women at risk because the tips could prevent depression from getting settled.

According to the American Working Group on Prevention Services, up to one in seven women suffers from what is called perinatal depression, depression during or after pregnancy or after childbirth. More serious than "baby blues," mothers may experience intense sadness, anxiety, and lack of value, exhausted by their energy and unable to bond with their baby. In severe cases, they may think of hurting themselves or their baby.

The task force on Tuesday issued a new recommendation that doctors should not wait until women are already depressed to act.

It has been proven that two types of counseling can help women at risk of serious mood disorder, whether they are pregnant or have given birth in the past year. Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches people how to handle negative thoughts, while interpersonal therapy focuses on improving the relationship problems that contribute to depression. The advice can be done one-to-one or in a group.

How to know who is at risk? The task force found many risk factors, including previous depression or depression in the family; physical or badual abuse; an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy and demographic factors such as low income or early pregnancy.

The recommendation was published in the journal of the American Medical Association.

An accompanying editorial warns that most women will not have easy access to specialists and may need options such as advice via a smartphone. And health care providers will need to act quickly if counseling does not help and if depression hits.

Despite the difficulties, the recommendations "have the potential to improve many lives," wrote Dr. Marlene Freeman, a psychiatrist at Mbadachusetts General Hospital, who did not participate in the task force.

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