As many as 1 in every 7 women suffer from postpartum depression, a new study reports. The study, published in the JAMA Psychiatry, talked with 10,000 women who delivered infants at one obstetrical hospital in Pittsburgh. These women were asked to take part in a short telephone interview four to six weeks after they had their babies and some 22 percent of women showed signs of being depressed during that time.
While these numbers are only slightly higher than other studies findings, this study also conducted home visits for further evaluation and found that "20 percent [of mothers] had suicidal thoughts — these are thoughts of death, thoughts of wanting to die, not wanting to wake up, just escape," says University of Pittsburgh psychiatrist Dorothy Sit, one of the study's lead researchers.
"In fact, some patients with very severe symptoms had made the decision to take their lives," Sit explains.
The study recommends that all pregnant women and new mothers be screened for depression.
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