What are Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders?

Parenthood can be a confusing and challenging time. It is common for women to experience mild mood changes during or after childbirth. However, studies suggest 15% to 20% of women experience more significant symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. Although the term “postpartum depression” is most commonly used, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders can take on several forms that effect parents regardless of culture, race, age, sexual identification and socio-economic class.

Symptoms may appear any time during pregnancy and within the first year after childbirth. They include, but are not limited to, feelings of anger, sadness, irritability, guilt, lack of interest in the baby, trouble concentrating, thoughts of hopelessness, loss of control, panic attacks, shortness of breath, trauma flashbacks, obsessive compulsive behaviors and, in severe cases, thoughts of harming the baby or themselves.

Infertility, pregnancy loss and other traumatic events during the perinatal period can induce and intensify symptoms.

Research has shown that 10% of fathers experience some form of perinatal depression or anxiety disorder. Although cases are lower than that with women, men are far less likely to seek mental health care and often go untreated.

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders impact couples and their relationship. During the perinatal period, couples are often exhausted and overwhelmed. Lack of communication can prevent couples from understanding the effect perinatal mood and anxiety disorders have on a relationship. As a result, partners may become more critical, defensive, disrespectful and less intimate with each other.