Abstract

BRUM, Evanisa Helena Maio de. Postpartum depression: discussing the temporal criterion for the diagnosis. Cad. Pós-Grad. Distúrb. Desenvolv. [online]. 2017, vol.17, n.2, pp. 92-100. ISSN 1519-0307.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/cadernosdisturbios.v17n2p92-100.

Postpartum Depression (PPD) has been considered a public health issue due to its high prevalence, its difficult diagnosis and its impact on child's development. Thus, this study aims to discuss the temporal criterion for the diagnosis through a qualitative research with critical literature's review. This discussion is based on the absence of consensus about the ideal moment to perform the diagnosis, whether in the postpartum period or in the peripartum or how long after the delivery the depression may still be related to it. The official manuals present a short time to the occurrence of the diagnosis. The ICD-10 claims to be up to 6 weeks after the delivery; the DSM-V, in its turn, claims to be from gestation up to 4 weeks after delivery. On the other hand, most scientific articles present a different timeframe which extends from the gestation up to 1 year after delivery. Thus, the official manuals, which guide the clinical practice, do not reflect the advances achieved in scientific researches disclosed in the area, it is therefore suggested that the practitioners consider expanding the temporal criterion of the diagnosis up to 1 year after delivery.

Keywords : Postpartum depression; depression; diagnosis; screening; peripartum.

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