Postpartum Mood Disorders and Thyroid Autoimmunity

Abstract

Because of the rapid emotional and endocrine changes in the postpartum period (1), postpartum mood disorders represent the most frequent form of maternal psychiatric morbidity (2-4). Postpartum mood disorders vary from a mild form of transient depression (maternity blues) to fullblown postpartum depression and severe psychosis Postpartum depression affects 10-30% of women within 1 year after delivery (7), and its risk is measurable already at 3 (8) or 7 days (2) postpartum. This risk predicts depression development in the following months (9, 10).