ARE FIRST TIME FATHERS AT RISK FOR PATERNAL POSTPARTAL NON – PSYCHOTIC DEPRESSION?

Abstract

Background: First time fathers experience depression that often remains undiagnosed resulting in limited management. Objective: Explore the risk for puerperal non-psychotic depression among new fathers at four- five months of paternal puerperal period. Design: Exploratory study. Setting: Private Maternity Hospitals, Bangalore. Participants: A total of n=129 low risk first time fathers who were accompanying their wives and infants to  the paediatric/ postnatal/immunization clinics. Tool: The 10-questions Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) with the cut off score at 9. Results: The results revealed that most likely the first time fathers are particularly at risk for mild to  moderate depression as the mean EPDS score was 10.86 + 3.01, (cut off score 9) ranging from 7-12 and with none reporting EPDS scores 12 and above. Majority 59% had EPDS score above 10 and 41% of them had a EPDS score below 9 and none reporting with the thought of self harming at four-five months of paternal puerperal period. Vast majority of first time fathers generally reported that the responsibilities of taking care of their children and wives had changed their life styles/ roles and feel scared, terrified/worried, angry/irritable of their heavy responsibilities. Socio demographic characteristics were not correlated with risk for depression. Conclusions: Routinely assessing men's mental health in the perinatal period would lead to identification of treatable problems that would otherwise go undetected to prevent spiraling downwards.