Women’s History Month: A focus on women’s health
Postpartum depression is more
common than you might think
New mothers may experience
a range of emotions
shortly after giving birth -
from overwhelming joy to
extreme sadness.
Emotions can affect anyone during pregnancy
and after giving birth, and just like
the onset of emotions do not discriminate,
neither does postpartum depression (PPD),
which can affect any woman, regardless of
her age, ethnicity, marital status or income.
PPD is one of the most common medical
complications of pregnancy or childbirth.
Approximately 1 in 8 mothers in the
U.S. report experiencing symptoms of
PPD each year, equating to over 500,000
women. While it is common for new
mothers to experience a wide range of
emotions shortly after giving birth, persistent
sad, anxious or “empty” mood, irritability,
and feelings of guilt, worthlessness,
hopelessness or helplessness could be
symptoms of PPD.
The exact cause of PPD is unknown.
Hormonal changes that occur during and
after pregnancy and life stress can contribute
to PPD. Women with a history of
depression have an increased risk of developing
PPD.
Recognizing PPD can be challenging as
some new moms may think they have the
“baby blues,” which are often characterized
by mild symptoms including mood changes,
feelings of worry, tearfulness, irritability
and sleep difficulties that typically last for a
few days or one to two weeks, and do not
impact a mother’s ability to care for herself
or her family. While PPD persists often
with more severe symptoms, it can impact
not only the mother but can often extend to
children and a partner.
Signs and symptoms
of PPD include:
• persistent sad mood
• loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies
and activities
• difficulty sleeping
• abnormal appetite
• weight changes
• irritability
• feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• difficulty concentrating, remembering
or making decisions
• aches or pains without clear physical
cause
• trouble bonding with the new baby
• persistent doubts about the ability to
care for the baby
• thoughts about death, suicide or harming
oneself or the baby
If you know a mom who seems to be struggling
during pregnancy or after childbirth, do
not ignore it and hope their symptoms subside;
help them get in touch with a doctor
right away - she could have PPD, a medical
condition that if left untreated, can have serious
health effects on both the mom and baby.
Despite its prevalence, it is estimated that
approximately 50% of PPD cases may go
undiagnosed. This may be due to a lack of
awareness of the warning signs, ability to
differentiate between PPD and the “baby
blues” or because some mothers are embarrassed
and do not seek treatment for fear
of being judged by their family or friends.
With limited pharmaceutical options
available for postpartum depression,
new treatments are currently being studied.
The SKYLARK study, initiated by Sage
Therapeutics Inc., is evaluating the efficacy
and safety of an investigational oral medication
in women with severe PPD. An investigational
medication is a medication that is being
tested to determine if it is safe and effective for
a specific condition or group of people.
The SKYLARK study is seeking moms
experiencing symptoms of PPD for participation
in the clinical trial. New mothers
who are interested and eligible to participate
will receive close monitoring of their
postpartum depression symptoms by qualified
study nurses and clinicians, under the
guidance of the study doctor. Participants
will also receive study-related medical care
and the assigned investigational oral medication
at no cost.
To learn more about postpartum depression,
read about the SKYLARK study, or
take a screening questionnaire, please visit
www.skylarkppdstudy.com.
— Courtesy of BPT
20 March 10, 2022 Schneps Media
/www.skylarkppdstudy.com
/www.skylarkppdstudy.com
