Talking to other new mothers can almost halve women's risk of suffering from
post-natal depression, a new study shows.
The research could help to explain why many women find attending mother and
toddler groups beneficial.
Researchers found that women at a high risk of developing the condition,
which can include a severe form of depression known as postpartum psychosis,
were 46 per cent less likely to suffer symptoms if they talked to other
recent mothers.
Another study also found that health visitors could be trained to
effectively help patients with the condition.
About one in 10 new mothers in Britain are thought to suffer from post-natal
depression, although that figure could be much higher as the illness often
goes undiagnosed.
Although antidepressants have been shown to be effective in combating the
condition, some mothers are unsure about taking the drugs, especially when
they are breastfeeding.
Researchers identified 701 women at high risk of developing the condition,
from 21,000 new mothers.
They offered half of the group the opportunity to talk with other recent
mothers who had suffered from post-natal depression on the telephone, while
the other half received standard care.
Dr Cindy-Lee Dennis, from the University of Toronto, which carried out the
research, said: "These trials add to the growing evidence that post-natal
depression can be effectively treated and possibly prevented. Despite this
research, post-natal depression is still undetected or untreated in many
women."
The other study, by the University of Huddersfield, involved more than 4,000
mothers across England, who were treated by health visitors trained to look
out for symptoms and offer advice.
The findings show that mothers in the latter group were 40 per cent less
likely to still have post-natal depression after six months than those who
received standard health visitor care.
Source : BMJ Online.
