Postnatal Depression

This text documents the effects of postnatal depression upon families and children. It should appeal to midwives, psychologists and other childcare professionals, and should be a useful source of information for postnatal women and their families. Sections include: a consideration of the identification and treatment procedures available for postnatal depression; the development of childcare, indicating the most crucial factors that contribute to the emotional, social and intellectual development of children during the pre-school years; indication of clinical features of the illness which most affect the mother-child relationship and other social interactions; siblings in the family and the effects of a new baby in the household; research, discussion and conclusion of results; and availability of specialized units and treatments for postnatal depression, focusing primarily on the issue of parenting for families who are affected by postnatal depression.