What Type of Therapy is Best for Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression is a mental health condition that occurs after giving birth. Symptoms of postpartum depression can include mood swings, irritability, fatigue, frequent crying, guilt, anxiety, and difficulty caring for one’s baby or oneself. The condition can arise anywhere from a week to a year after giving birth.¹ Severe postpartum depression can also lead to postpartum psychosis, which is a much rarer and more serious condition that requires immediate intervention.² 

Luckily, there are effective postpartum depression treatments available, including therapy and medication. Here we’ll focus on the best therapeutic approaches for treating postpartum depression. 

How Common is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression is quite common. According to the CDC, in the United States, one in eight new mothers report experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression in the year after giving birth.³ In Western countries more generally, PPD rates vary from 10 to 15 percent in the first year after birth.⁴ In addition, a systematic review of 47 studies in 18 low and lower-middle income countries found that the prevalence in these regions is 18.6 percent.⁵ This data may not be the most reliable, however, as there is a lack of rigorous systemic data on overall rates of postpartum depression.⁶ 

Causes of Postpartum Depression

It’s impossible to point to one particular factor as the primary cause of postpartum depression. However, hormonal changes after birth can contribute significantly, particularly the decreases in estrogen and progesterone as well as thyroid hormones. Sleep deprivation, anxiety about caring for a newborn baby, and issues with self-image and identity can also increase one’s chances of developing postpartum depression.⁷ 

How Long Does Postpartum Depression Typically Last?

There is no average length of time that postpartum depression normally lasts, but a review of studies on the topic indicates that the condition tends to improve as time passes, and often resolves after three to six months.⁸ However, this review also showed that postpartum depression could last for several years following birth, especially without treatment.⁹ Seeking out postpartum depression resources such as therapy and medication as soon as possible can help to reduce the duration of the condition.¹⁰ 

Can I Avoid Becoming Depressed Postpartum?

There are many risk factors for postpartum depression. While some of these risk factors, such as family history or personal mental health history, are outside of your control, others are controllable. Additional circumstances that can contribute to a new parent developing postpartum depression include:¹¹ 

• History of depression or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) before pregnancy
• Family history of mood disorders such as postpartum depression
• Feeling ambivalent about the pregnancy
• Being young at the time of pregnancy
• Having other children
• Experiencing stressful circumstances such as financial challenges or lack of social support
• Living alone
• Relationship conflict, such as disagreements with a spouse

To the extent that the above risk factors are within your control, there are ways to reduce the chances of developing postpartum depression by minimizing these risk factors. 

How to Cope with Postpartum Depression

Those who are dealing with postpartum depression have several options available for treatment. 

A meta-analysis of ten randomized controlled trials found that psychological interventions such as therapy significantly reduced the number of women who develop postpartum depression.¹² Types of therapy to consider include: 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This is a well-studied treatment for major depression, which suggests that it should also work well for postpartum depression.¹³ It has also been said that research on the topic is limited and somewhat mixed in its results, supporting CBT as a helpful treatment without suggesting that it is specifically beneficial for postpartum depression compared to other treatments.¹⁴ 

• Interpersonal therapy (IPT): This is a time-limited depression treatment that spends about 12 to 20 weeks focusing on the link between interpersonal problem areas and mood, seeking to address specific problems in the patient’s life to build healthier relationships and stronger social supports.¹⁵ As a form of postpartum depression therapy, IPT is backed by several studies, including one large-scale randomized controlled trial. In this trial, women who received IPT had a significant decrease in their postpartum depression symptoms compared to the control group.¹⁶ 

Another option for postpartum depression is prescription medication, which can be used on its own or in combination with therapy. Medication options include antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications and must be prescribed by a qualified medical professional.¹⁷ 

New parents who live in Florida and are seeking psychotherapy, medication management, and other treatment options for postpartum depression should reach out to Inlight Psychiatry and Therapy today.