Postpartum Depression in Adolescents - Research Paper Example

Download file to see previous pages But the degree of harm that ranges from self care deficit to death is something that should not be ignored. The early detection of postpartum depression is very important to have needed medical attention before it can pose harm to the mother, the child and to the whole family. Beck Depression Inventory is one of the tools used today to detect depression to further diagnose and be treated. Key words: depression, postpartum depression, Beck Depression Inventory Postpartum Depression People are sometimes plagued with situations, such as having too many stressors that make them feel odd, down and low. This could be a symptom of depression that most people might be experiencing on different levels and situations. Depression can be described differently by every person but the idea is basically the same. It as a term used to describe the feeling of being sad and depressed for weeks or months accompanied by feelings of hopelessness, lack of energy, and taking little or no pleasure in things that used to give pleasure before. A person who is depressed is said to feel completely unmotivated to do just about anything. The worst case scenario can intercede with a person’s normal activities of daily living such as bathing, eating, and socializing with other people (Grohol, 2012, para. 1). Depression is said to be prevalent among women, occurring twice compared to the number of cases in men. By the age of 15, females are twice as likely to have experienced a major depressive episode as males according to the National Institute for Mental Health (“Depression in Women,” 2012, para. 1). This can be accounted to the major hormonal changes that occur during adolescence. Another type of depression that is solely related to women, which will be further discussed in the context of this paper, is known as the post partum depression. Post partum depression is a kind of depression experienced by women after childbirth with an onset of 1-3 weeks after delivery, but according to studies can even extend up to 6 weeks (Rebar, 2005; Stowe et al., 2005, p. 525). Women during this experience feel strong feelings of sadness, anxiety or despair that they have trouble coping with their daily tasks (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2011, p.1). It is considered as the most common complication of childbearing that occurs in one of every eight women after delivery (Wisner et al., 2002, p. 194) For women, the rate of postpartum depression was estimated at nearly 24%, according to the new analysis of the Journal of the American Medical Association although some studies show that some 10.4% of total recorded number of fathers also experience depression during the postpartum period (Wang, 2012, para. 5). Postpartum depression if undiagnosed can lead to even more serious complications. It can negatively affect infants emotionally, socially, and even cognitively. Severe adverse outcomes also include increased risk of marital disruption and divorce, child abuse and neglect, and even maternal suicide or infanticide. Children of depressed mothers may experience insecurity, low self-esteem, and even decreased intellectual skills (Breese McCoy, 2011, p. 128). Thus, the need for screening is an important matter to detect early who is at risk so early treatment can be given. Furthermore, postpartum ...Download file to see next pagesRead More