Perinatal depression

Perinatal depression (PND) refers to major depressive episodes that occur during pregnancy (antenatal depression) or in the weeks following childbirth (postpartum depression). It affects up to 10% of individuals during the perinatal period and carries significant societal costs, including risks to the parent, infant, and family—including preterm delivery, poor birth outcomes, reduced postnatal quality of life, and increased risk of suicide. Despite its prevalence, PND is substantially underdiagnosed: studies indicate that approximately 50% of antenatal depression cases and 69% of postnatal PND cases go undetected, with only 9% and 6% respectively receiving appropriate treatment. Barriers to diagnosis include stigma, reluctance to disclose psychological symptoms, inconsistent application of screening protocols, and lack of accessible mental health resources. Standard screening tools include the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and structured clinical interviews such as the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview.