A commentary published in the latest edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) draws attention to "Postpartum Depression: A Major Public Health Problem."

Here's an excerpt from the commentary's intro:

Postpartum psychiatric disorders, particularly depression, have received increasing attention in the United States for several reasons.

Coupled with entry of the newborn into the family, postpartum depression affects crucial infant and adult developmental processes. The disruption to the early mother-infant relationship contributes to short- and long-term adverse child outcomes. The negative effects of maternal depression on children include an increased risk of impaired mental and motor development, difficult temperament, poor self-regulation, low self-esteem, and behavior problems.