Risk factors for postpartum depression

Postpartum depression has become an increasingly urgent problem of modern medicine and psychology. This condition is a mental disorder that causes emotional, behavioral, and physical changes associated with the postpartum period. Despite the presence of a wide range of signs, the diagnosis of postpartum depression remains challenging for specialists. A woman experiencing this type of depression may find it difficult to realize her condition on her own and seek help. However, even if properly diagnosed, the fact of having postpartum depression can be a negative experience for a woman. Young mothers often feel fear or shame in front of family members and the society and hide their diagnosis. This creates additional barriers to getting the necessary help and support. This review aimed to identify and analyze risk factors of depressive disorders in women in the postpartum period and investigate some manifestations of postpartum depression. The scientific databases CyberLeninkа, eLibrary, and PubMed were used. The articles were searched for the following keywords: “postpartum period,” “depressive disorder,” “postpartum depression,” “postpartum depression and risk factors,” and “development of depressive disorders in the postpartum period.” The study included articles published over the past 5 years. After sampling by annotations and keywords, 53 articles were analyzed: 6 Russian and 47 English speakers. The risk factors described in modern domestic and foreign literature were analyzed and were classified as unmodified and modifiable, which was further characterized as modifiable by the mother and/or her family and modifiable only by healthcare.