Treatment of Depressive Conditions in Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Mother’s mental state during pregnancy is of substantial importance for the mother, but also for the infant and his/her future growth and development. Depressive maternal disorders during pregnancy have a significant influence on the development of the baby during pregnancy as well as on the future development and mother-baby relation, the breastfeeding process and care for the baby. AIM: This study aimed to determine the influence of SSRI antidepressant therapy and psychosocial and therapeutic interventions on depression during pregnancy. It was also our aim to determine the relation between severity of depression and sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: The study included 40 women, with diagnosis F32 and F33 according to ICD 10, that is, with severe depressive disorder within depressive episodes or recurrent depressive disorder. Patients were evaluated at the beginning of the treatment and 3 months after antidepressant treatment. They were followed-up for two years. RESULTS: The results obtained have shown that a larger number of mothers treated with antidepressant medications, had normal childbirth with the unremarkable condition of both, the mother and the newborn baby. CONCLUSION: A well-combined treatment of maternal depression during pregnancy reduces the risk of postpartum depression, which is by itself a prerequisite for normal emotional and behavioural development of the child.