The May 19, 2010 edition of the Journal of American Medical Association will include research from Dr. James F. Paulson, Ph.D of Eastern Virginia Medical School examining the rates of Paternal Prenatal and Postnatal depression and it’s correlation with Maternal Depression.
After researching 43 studies involving over 28,000 participants fitting their parameters, Dr. James F. Paulson and associate researcher Sharnail D. Bazemore, MS, drew the conclusion that more than 1 in 10 new dads struggle with depression within 3 to 6 months of becoming a father. Interestingly, Paulson and Bazemore included studies examining depression in fathers as early as the first trimester of a pregnancy of a partner. The studies spanned from 1980 to 2009, nearly 20 years of research.
Prenatal and Postnatal Depression was determined to be present in 10% of the cases studied. Postnatal depression spiked between a 3-6 month period and seemed to correlate with a maternal experience of Postnatal Depression
Other mentions of this research across the web today include:
Joel Schwartzberg @ Huffington Post : Postpartum Depression in Men: One Dad’s Story
Joanne Silberner with NPR: Study Finds Dads Suffer Postpartum Depression, Too (There will also be an on-air version tonight on the program All Things Considered. Audio will be available at 7pm ET or shortly thereafter)
Megan Brooks with Reuters: Dads get postpartum depression too: study
Good Morning America Segment via ABC: Postpartum Depression for New Fathers
Depression in men surrounding pregnancy and infancy is rarely discussed. But if the numbers for this research proves to be right, the rate at which these dads are struggling is higher than those of women with depression. While the basis may not be biological as recent research with maternal depression is proving, there is indeed something going on with new dads that needs further exploring.
Perhaps most notable of this research is that Dr. Paulson is an associate professor in Pediatrics. I applaud Dr. Paulson for recognizing the importance of Parental Depression in the lives of our children and hope more pediatric specialists including practitioners and researchers alike would become more involved in helping parents struggling with depression heal.
If you or a new father you love may be struggling with depression during the pregnancy of or the birth of your child, there is help. Dr. William Courtenay runs the Postpartum Men website. There you can find information on symptoms, resources, and a message board to connect with other struggling dads. There is no shame in speaking up. You owe it to yourself, to your child, to your family. You are not alone.
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May 19, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Speaking up for depressed Dads | My Postpartum Voice
[…] I ask is that you link back here and not pass my stuff off as your own. Postpartum Dads ProjectMore than 1 in 10 new dads struggle with depression says new JAMA study May 18, 2010Have you read your postpartum wife’s mind lately? April 28, 2010A fresh perspective […]
May 20, 2010 at 1:20 am
Joe Beckman
Thank you for posting this. As a new dad, I feel like I struggled with this but couldn’t put my finger on what was wrong with me. I’m great with kids, and always have been. My wife and I timed the pregnancy out to a tee, and I still was completely overwhelmed. 4 months into it, I remember breaking down and telling my wife that I wanted my old life back, and panicking about the fact that I didn’t love this baby as much as everyone told me I should.
Crazy, because now she’s three, and I do love her more then anything. There’s just so much to be said about this and other transitional issues for new dads, and I applaud you for taking the time and energy to tackle this subject.
I’ve started the conversation here in Minneapolis with the company/website that I have founded. Our goal is to be a resource and support network for dads and to provide them with events that allow them to get out with their kids one on one, and connect with other dads. So far, so good. Keep fighting the good fight!
May 20, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Lauren
Joe,
Thanks for commenting! It’s so nice to know there are dads out there working to support other dads.
I started getting active in supporting families with their postpartum struggles after my own issues. I had severe Postpartum OCD/Depression twice and my husband also struggled with depression after the birth of our second daughter. He too is great with kids and always has been.
Please let me know more about your organization @ ppdacceptance(@)gmail.com so I can add it as a resource here.
Warmest,
Lauren