Depression in New Mothers: Causes, Consequences, and Treatment Alternatives »

Kathleen A. Kendall-Tackett is a health psychologist and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Texas Tech University School of Medicine in Amarillo, Texas. Dr. Kendall-Tackett is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association in the Divisions of Health and Trauma Psychology, and is Associate Editor of the journal Psychological Trauma. She is also the author of more than 220 journal articles, book chapters and other publications, and author or editor of 19 books in the fields of trauma, women’s health, depression, and breastfeeding.

Depression is the number one cause of maternal death in developed countries and results in adverse health outcomes for both mother and child. It is vital, therefore, that health professionals are ready and able to help those women that suffer from perinatal and postpartum depression (PPD).

This book provides a comprehensive approach to treating PPD in an easy-to-use format. It reviews the research and brings together the evidence-base for understanding the causes and for assessing the different treatment options, including those that are safe for use with breastfeeding mothers. It incorporates a new psychoneuroimmunology framework for understanding postpartum depression and includes chapters on:

• negative birth experiences


• infant characteristics


• psychosocial factors


• antidepressant medication


• therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy


• herbal medicine and alternative therapies


• suicide and infanticide.

Invaluable in treating the mothers who come to you for help, this helpful guide dispels the myths that hinder effective treatment and presents up-to-date information on the impact of maternal depression on the health of the mother, as well as the health and well-being of the infant.

List of figures and tables

Pt. I Overview 1

1 Depression in new mothers: myths vs. reality 3

2 Why depression is harmful for mothers and babies 16

3 Depression and breastfeeding 29

4 Assessment of postpartum depression 36

Pt. II Causes 49

5 The psychoneuroimmunology of postpartum depression 51

6 Negative birth experiences 67

7 Infant characteristics and depression in their mothers 79

8 Psychological risk factors 91

9 Social risk factors 104

Pt. III Treatment 119

10 Alternative and complementary therapies I: Omega-3s, SAM-e, and exercise 121

11 Alternative and complementary therapies II: bright light therapy, herbs, and combined modalities 132

12 Community interventions and psychotherapy 142

13 Antidepressants in pregnant and breastfeeding women 153

14 Postpartum depression and psychosis: one woman's story 165

Epilog: some final thoughts 178

References 180

Index 209