May 19, 2010(USA TODAY) -- Just as many new fathers as mothers develop postpartum depression, and about one in 10 parents have the condition, a new study says.
Both women and their doctors have become more aware of the risks of postpartum depression, as well as the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment. There has been much less research on how men cope with the stress of fatherhood, even though the mental health of both parents is crucial to the well-being of their children, says study author James Paulson, a child psychologist at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk.
Children of depressed fathers have more emotional and behavioral problems than other kids at age 3 and more psychiatric disorders by age 7, Paulson says.
Overall, 14% of American men develop depression, either during their partner's pregnancies or in the first year after delivery, according to the study, published today in The Journal of the American Medical Association. About 8% of fathers in other countries develop the problem, the analysis shows.
The problem seems to peak when babies are 3 to 6 months old.
"It's quite shocking," says neuropsychiatrist Louann Brizendine, a professor at the University of California-San Francisco and author of The Male Brain, who wasn't involved in the study. "What doctors need to be alerted to is that they're treating a family unit."
Mothers and fathers share many of the same stresses. Research shows that any healthy adult who goes without good sleep for a month is liable to become depressed, says psychotherapist Will Courtenay of Berkeley, Calif., who specializes in men's health.
The hormonal changes that follow childbirth can trigger depression in men and women alike, Brizendine says. After delivery, estrogen and progesterone levels fall sharply in women, and testosterone levels plummet in men. Both changes are associated with depression, she says.
But men face unique pressures, Courtenay says. Although fathers today are more involved in rearing children than ever, they often lack the broad social networks enjoyed by mothers, who are more likely to find consolation by sharing stories and strategies with friends.
Men typically turn to their wives for support, Courtenay says. But women who are wrung out by the demands of their babies may have little left to give their husbands.
Doctors need to do a better job of reaching out to both parents, Paulson says. Depression in one spouse should be seen as a red flag, alerting doctors that the other parent is at high risk.
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