Postpartum Mental Health Disorders Clinical and Preventive Perspectives in a Biopsychosocial and Public Health Framework

Dr. Surabhi Katyal, Dr. R. Manohari Shivakumar, Dr. Shiv Kumar Gupta

Postpartum Mental Health; Postpartum Depression; Perinatal Psychiatry; Bipolar Relapse; Social Support; Socioeconomic Vulnerability; Sleep Disruption; Maternal Mental Health Screening; Preventive Psychiatry; Biopsychosocial Framework.

Postpartum mental health disorders (PMHDs) represent a significant and often underdiagnosed category of birth complications whose implications extend to offspring development, family stability, and long-term health. Neuroendocrine fluctuations, immune modulation, psychosocial stress, and chronic sleep deprivation collectively increase psychiatric susceptibility in the postpartum period. This study examines the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical progression, and preventive measures of postpartum depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar relapse, and postpartum psychosis using a retrospective multicentre cohort of 1,040 women evaluated within the first twelve weeks postpartum. Multivariate logistic regression identified prior psychiatric history (β=0.64, OR=3.52, p<0.001), low social support (β=0.56, OR=3.01, p<0.001), socioeconomic vulnerability (β=0.47, OR=2.59, p<0.01), obstetric complications (β=0.41, OR=2.03, p<0.01), and severe sleep disruption (β=0.38, OR=1.95, p<0.01) as key independent predictors of postpartum psychiatric morbidity (R²=0.90). Universal paediatric-integrated screening reduced untreated cases by 39% compared to obstetric-visit-only screening (p<0.001). Results reinforce that PMHDs are complex biopsychosocial disorders requiring structured early identification, interdisciplinary treatment, and policy-level reform.

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