Prevenir a depressão pós-parto: uma análise ao conhecimento existente

Abstract

The Post-Natal Depression (PND) is a mood disorder that affects both the health of mother as the development of her son and has a social-family negative impact. The events of this clinical situation appear normally four weeks after childbearing, reaching higher values in the first six months, affecting almost one in every seven women. In this sense, we must know which interventions are more effective for preventing it.

Research question: For the prevention of Post-partum Depression, which interventions are more effective on the pre-natal period?

Methods: Synthesis of the results obtained from studies identified by using a methodology based upon the principles of systematic review of literature to select and identify quantitative and qualitative studies.

Data sources: published studies indexed to electronic research databases; published articles on Portuguese nursing research journals.

Results and synthesis of the data: Regarding the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 8 studies were identified, whose results were grouped around four axles: a) psychotherapeutic interventions, b) psychosocial interventions, c) interventions for the restructure of the services and d) other interventions. The results showed that there is no consensus regarding the most effective interventions for the prevention of this mood disorder.

Conclusion: Although there has been found specific interventions for the prevention of Postpartum Depression showing positive results, its recommendation should be cautious. The risks resulting from Postpartum Depression are widely known, but it needs to carry out further research on which interventions may reduce this disease successfully. The risks arising from post-natal depression are widely known, but the implementation of future research on interventions that may reduce this pathology is necessary.