Post Partum Depression Leads to Suicidal Thoughts
Posted on February 11, 2010Post partum depression has been identified as a real and potentially life-threatening mental condition that can impact a new mother generally after the birth of a child. It does not have to be a first child for the woman and there is no guarantee on whether or not a woman will have to deal with this or for how long. An estimated 19 percent of new mothers suffer from post partum.
For some mothers, this level of depression leads to thoughts of suicide. Science Daily recently posted a release covering the findings of a two-year study by Ruth Paris, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice at Boston University’s School of Social Work, Rendelle E. Bolton, a graduate student at the BU School of Social Work and M. Katherine Weinberg, Ph.D., a psychologist and an infant development specialist.
Researchers found that in situations where the woman is contemplating taking her own life, the mother-infant relationship and development is a negative experience. She has greater mood disturbances, cognitive distortions, low maternal self-esteem, negative perceptions of her effectiveness as a new parent and noticeably less responsiveness to her infant’s cues.
In a study of 32 new mothers, 53 percent, or 17 of the mothers, made up the high suicidal group. Women within this group were experiencing more sleep and eating problems as well as greater severity in overall struggles that can be attributed to postpartum depression.
Those women in the suicidal group had poorer self esteem and felt they were less prepared for mothering. As a result, these women expected a poor relationship with their infants.
At the same time, the infants of suicidal mothers exhibited less positive behavior in the form of fewer smiles and more fussing. According to the study, "Infants of highly suicidal mothers were somewhat more passive and less engaged in the interactions.”
"These mothers… were also feeling more anxious, emotionally labile, mentally confused, had experienced a greater loss of self and felt greater guilt about their experience.”
