CONCLUSION
Paternal postpartum depression is a very real and
very serious problem for many new fathers and their
families. Men whose partners are depressed are at
greater risk and the disorder may be present in as
many as 25% of the population. Tools such as the
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the
Gotland Male Depression Scale have been used
by researchers from different countries to measure
paternal postpartum depression. Nurses can also
use these tools efficiently in a variety of different
practice settings as screening instruments.
Although the disorder is only now beginning to
be defined and measured, sufficient evidence exists
to warrant nurses’ attention and concern. Paternal
postpartum depression may be reflected in behaviors such as withdrawing, expressing irritation,
cynicism, drinking, using drugs, fighting, partner
violence and extra-marital affairs. New fathers
who are depressed may present with symptoms of
depression during their partner’s pregnancy and
throughout the first year postpartum. The presentation can be expected to be more insidious than
the sudden onset usually seen in maternal postpartum depression. An affect of anxiety or anger may
be more predominant than sadness.