LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Postpartum Depression: Childbirth
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Postpartum depression is not much different than major depression, except that it strikes shortly after childbirth. Major depression is a serious medical illness affecting about five percent of the adult population in a given year. Unlike normal emotional experiences of sadness, loss, or passing moods, major depression is persistent and can significantly interfere with a person's thoughts, behavior, mood, and physical health. Among all medical illnesses, major depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and many other developed countries.
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Postpartum depressions can range from transient "blues" following childbirth to severe, incapacitating, psychotic depressions. Studies suggest that women who experience depression after childbirth very often have had prior depressive episodes. However, for most women, postpartum depressions are transient, with no adverse consequences.
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Group psychotherapy, involving the participation of other women who are experiencing a postpartum mood disorder, has ... been found to improve depression by reducing the feelings of isolation that many women feel in the early months after childbirth. It is important to know that if you are breastfeeding, it may not be necessary to stop while taking antidepressants. Be sure to consult with your doctor about medication options that are appropriate for your particular circumstances.
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Postnatal depression (... called [P]ostpartum depression and referred throughout this article by the acronym PPD) is a form of clinical depression which can affect women, and less frequently men, after childbirth. Studies report prevalence rates among women from 5% to 25%, but methodological differences among the studies make the actual prevalence rate unclear.[1]
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Overall, it is widely accepted that the treatment for postpartum depression can be greatly enhanced by preventative efforts. In a recent prenatal prevention study, the following strategies were seen as successful in reducing the incidence of emotional upheaval following childbirth:
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