How to treat postpartum depression?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on December 07, 2024
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When postpartum depression occurs, it is first important to pay attention to women's mental health. Treatment can be approached psychologically, and additionally, medication and physical therapy may be options. Psychological therapy includes supportive psychological treatments, music therapy, and cognitive behavioral adjustments. The main purpose of psychological therapy, especially during acute depressive episodes, is to alleviate symptoms of depression to improve social issues. It is important that family members and husbands provide sufficient psychological support and ensure that the new mother feels secure. Additionally, diet should be considered; consuming foods rich in protein and vitamins can strengthen a woman's body and resistance, and regulate her physical condition. In severe cases, under the guidance of a doctor, medication can also be used for treatment.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Does postpartum depression require medication?

When suffering from postpartum depression, it can be treated with medication. This treatment method can help control negative emotions in new mothers. It can also alleviate some physical discomfort, reducing the damage caused by depression during treatment. However, breastfeeding should be suspended if medication is being taken. In addition to medication, psychological treatment is also necessary. Adjusting one's mental state is very important, as most cases of postpartum depression are caused by an unhealthy psychological foundation. (The use of medication should be conducted under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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Symptoms of depression

Patients with symptoms of depression often experience a persistent low mood throughout most of the day, along with a loss or decrease in interests and pleasure. They commonly experience fatigue, an increase in feelings of exhaustion, and more. Additionally, these patients may have poor concentration, low self-esteem, decreased self-confidence, a sense of worthlessness, self-blame, and a bleak outlook on life with no perceived future, including suicidal thoughts. There are also significant changes in their sleeping and eating habits. Therefore, if these symptoms persist for more than two weeks and adversely impact the patient’s work, studies, lifestyle, or social abilities, it should be considered indicative of depression. Thus, once diagnosed, systematic and standardized treatment should be administered to prevent the worsening of the condition.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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How to diagnose mild depression?

For the clinical examination of mild depression, it is first necessary to thoroughly understand the patient’s onset, development, evolution, and treatment of depression. Furthermore, detailed communication must be conducted with the patient concerning consciousness, sensations, perceptions, thinking, attention, emotional willpower, self-control, and other aspects. It is important to comprehend the patient's overall mental and psychological condition, then combine this with the results of corresponding scales or exclude other conditions through diagnostic auxiliary examinations to make a comprehensive judgment. Particularly, the content of the psychiatric examination for the patient is an important aspect in determining mild depression. By integrating the aforementioned information, it is often possible to clearly diagnose the symptoms of mild depression, which is very meaningful for the subsequent treatment.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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Symptoms of depression

The symptoms of depression almost always include persistent low mood throughout most of the day, and patients generally lack interest or pleasure in all activities. Patients may exhibit psychomotor agitation or retardation, and experience fatigue, weakness, and feelings of inadequacy. They may feel that their lives are worthless and meaningless, have feelings of self-reproach or guilt, and suffer from poor concentration and indecisiveness. Recurrent thoughts or behaviors of suicide may occur, and some patients may even make specific plans for suicide. Therefore, these are the primary symptoms of depression. Some patients may present primarily with physical symptoms, such as dizziness, headaches, palpitations, frequent or urgent urination, and gastrointestinal discomfort. It is important to conduct relevant examinations to avoid misdiagnosis.

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Written by Pang Ji Cheng
Psychiatry and Psychology
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What department do you see for depression?

Depression can be treated clinically by visiting either a psychiatric or psychological department. The main clinical manifestation is a persistent low mood, characterized by an inability to feel joy, gloominess, and typically significant mood variations. Cognitive processes tend to slow down, resulting in sluggish thinking, slow reactions, reduced volitional activities, a passive and listless approach to life, and a lack of hope for the future. Additionally, cognitive impairments such as decreased attention, diminished abstract thinking, learning, and judgment abilities may occur. Some patients may also exhibit physical symptoms, including sleep disturbances, decreased appetite, weight loss, physical pain, and anxiety-related disorders.