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A Cry for Help: Postpartum Depression
Having a new baby can be the happiest time in a woman's life. However, many women are plagued with sadness, anxiety, or depression rather than joy. Some new mothers are so severely affected that thoughts of murder or suicide run through their minds. In very rare instances (2 of 3,000 deliveries), the new mother makes these thoughts a reality (Dix 1985). The anxiety, depression and disastrous thoughts are symptoms of a disease called postpartum depression (PPD). PPD is a debilitating reaction to childbirth. Historically, PPD sufferers faced lack of understanding and treatment. Now that PPD is recognized as a disease with physical and psychological symptoms, prevention, support groups and drug therapy can be utilized.
PPD was first noted by Hippocrates in the fourth century B.C. In the Third Book of Epidemics, Hippocrates described a woman who gave birth to twins, experienced insomnia, became comatose, then died within seventeen days (Dix 1985). Two theories resulted from this case. The first was that suppressed blood discharge went to the head; the second, that blood collected at the breasts indicated madness. Both of these absurd theories were eventually disproved.
It was not until the nineteenth century that two French researchers made contributions to PPD research. Esquirol, author of Des Maladies Mentales, studied ninety-two cases in his hospital. He felt PPD was caused by heredity and suggested careful nursing, tepid baths, purgatives and high doses of opium as antidotes. His research was continued by Louis Victor. In 1858 Victor wrote Traite de la Folie des Femmes Enceintes in which the disease "postpartum psychosis" was first named. More researchers became involved and interested in PPD. In the 1940s E.A. Strecker wrote, "There is no such thing as postpartum depression (or psychosis). These women were afflicted by schizophrenia, mania or other affective disorders" (Dix 1985). This theory became accepted because of Strecker's reputation. During this time PPD victims were again ignored and mistreated. Women were afraid and ashamed of being labeled "crazy."
In 1980 when...