HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Suggest Treatment For Postpartum Depression

Posted on Mon, 27 Jul 2015

Question: Hi, my wife delivered a baby on 17 XXXXXXX .. I think she is going through postpartum depression, I want your recommendation as far as psychiatric consultation is concerned.
Please guide

Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
please describe symptoms,treatment depends on severity

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us.

Congratulations for being father.
Your wife delivered before 18 days.

Postpartum depression and post partum psychosis are common occurrence. Postpartum depression is now recognized as Depression in postpartum and can occur up to 4 months after delivery. Many of the episodes are self-limited and required only supportive care.
First line treatment is psychotherapy. Interpersonal therapy (IPT) and short-term cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are choice of psychotherapies. It is done by professional psychologist/psychiatrist.
When severity is more pharmacotherapy is indicated.
Sometime we need to check that it is not post partum psychosis.

- Let me know her symptoms with details: Onset, frequency, type of symptoms

- Is it her first delivery or in past such episode is there?

- Does she have any history of psychiatric illness?

- Is there family history of psychiatric illness?

- How is she taking care of baby?

I will be happy to help you further after your response.

Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (13 hours later)

1. Onset : 9 days after delivery, she is at her native in Karad.
2. Frequency : she finds is has this bouts of depression every two days.
3. Syptoms : she has negative thoughts, about herself & about hurting the baby. She was very exited about the delivery. Now she feels the bonding between her & the baby is not thst strong.
She gets depressed knowing she is a positive & how can she have these thoughts.
4. This is her first delivery.
5. No, in her family there is no history of mental illness.
6. She does not have any history, but she used to be depressed in 2012, when she was working as an Air hostess in kingfisher Airlines and the airline stoppped operating. Them we got married, she moved in with me & she was happy as ever, jovial, enthusiastic, adventourous, social et
c

Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
probably it is postpartum psychotic disorder, consult local psychiatrist

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for information.

Onset within 9 days of delivery, past history of depression due to loss of job, thoughts about hurting the baby and lack of bonding with baby suggest possibility of post partum psychosis.
If diagnosis can be confirmed she needs low dose anti psychotic medicine like olanzapine with anti depressant for short duration.
I suggest consulting psychiatrist as soon as possible for early recovery.

If she is at Karad you can see names of psychiatrist in below link.

http://www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/Psychiatrists-in-Satara/L18941S35

If she is at XXXXXXX you can search psychiatrist near to you with below link.

http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/Psychiatrists-in-Chennai/L18865S35

Other option is you can ask your family doctor or her treating gynecologist to refer her to local psychiatrist.

It is treatable condition and she can be better with professional treatment.

Hope this answers your concern.

Feel free to discuss further.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar