The psychosocial consequences of PPD have been found
to extend beyond the effects on the mother, making early
detection and treatment of this disorder imperative not
only for care of the mother, but also for adequate care of
the baby. Researchers have found that maternal depression
places the child at increased risk for attachment
diffi culties, impaired mental and motor development,
emotional and behavioral dysregulation, low self-esteem,
and poor health outcomes.
Weissman and colleagues (2006) found a correlation not
only between the mother’s and child’s mental health, but
between treatment for the mother and mental health
outcomes for the child. When mothers were successfully
treated, outcomes improved for the child. This study
illustrates the importance of early identification and
secondary prevention of postpartum depression.