Released May 5, 2008

URBANA, Ill. -- Although doctors are now required to screen pregnant women and new mothers for perinatal depression, many obstetricians and gynecologists are unaware of the new law and know little about the disorder, said speakers at a forum on maternal depression held in Champaign recently.

"Family members are often the first persons to notice that the new mother is not herself," said Dr. Sarah Young of Champaign's Christie Clinic.

Others on the panel included State Senator Mike Frerichs; Liz Glassgow of the Champaign County Mental Health Center; Professor Teresa Ostler of the University of Illinois School of Social Work; Carol Baxter of the Children's Mental Health Partnership; and Mary Fitzpatrick Howarth, a mother who has battled perinatal depression.

The event was sponsored by the U of I's Family Resiliency Center, Crisis Nursery, Champaign County Mental Health Center, Junior League of Champaign-Urbana, United Way of Champaign County, Voices for Illinois Children, and the Champaign County Mental Health (708) Board.

"There are identifiable risk factors for this illness, including a history of depression and anxiety, a lack of social support, marital problems, an unwanted or difficult pregnancy, and a stillbirth or miscarriage that has not been adequately grieved," said Ostler.

There is also an excellent screening tool for physicians called the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, she said.

But a lack of screening isn't the only way our health-care system fails to address the issue, she added. "Although Medicaid pays for perinatal depression screening, private health insurers do not."

As Howarth described the progression of her illness, she highlighted warning signs and identified flaws in the medical community's response to the problem. Although her family was concerned and supportive, 12 weeks went by before she received medical attention and medication for the disorder, and eventually she was hospitalized.

"There's a stigma attached to postpartum depression. After all, this is supposed to be the happiest time of a woman's life. The biggest obstacle to getting treatment is shame," Howarth said.

When the disorder is caught and treated early, it is less likely to become severe, Glassgow said.

Early identification and treatment of the disorder is also important for the baby, she added. "A depressed mother is likely to have less eye contact, be less playful, and engage in less cognitive interaction with her baby. There's a mirror effect here, and a depressed mother can lead to a depressed infant."

For those reasons, perinatal depression can interfere with attachment and bonding, affect school readiness, and can lead to behavior problems as the child matures, Glassgow noted.

Social and group support, medical intervention, and psychotherapy are important for the mother's recovery, said Baxter. She called for increased awareness and support from social-service agencies and health-care providers.

"At a training session I attended last week, we were told that when this topic is addressed in childbirth classes, very few expectant parents attend. But they had a waiting list for the session that discussed preparing your dog for the new baby," she said.

That lack of interest is particularly unfortunate because a mother's insight into her illness is one of the biggest protective factors against it, Ostler said.

"If you think a friend may have perinatal depression, don't normalize it, saying 'Oh, I had that, too' or write it off as the baby blues. You can help by bringing meals, doing housework, and even modeling how you care for your own baby. The most important thing, though, is to encourage your friend to get medical help," she said.

Brenda Koester of the U of I's Family Resiliency Center is encouraged by the commitment of local groups in addressing this problem. An ongoing group will be meeting to talk about how to address the needs and opportunities identified at the forum. For more information on the group or on perinatal depression, she urged mothers and families to visit the Family Resiliency Center's Web site: http://www.frc.uiuc.edu/PerinatalDepression.htm.

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http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news4387.html

Contacts: Phyllis Picklesimer, (217) 244-2827, p-pickle@uiuc.edu

Brenda Koester, (217) 244-6486, bkoester@uiuc.edu