Classification of perinatal affective disorders

Perinatal depression includes depressive episodes that can occur during pregnancy and last up to the first year after childbirth.

This condition is characterized by a persistently depressed mood, loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyable, feelings of worthlessness, irritability, significant changes in sleep and appetite, and difficulties bonding with the baby.

Unlike the baby blues, whose symptoms are mild and transient, perinatal depression has more intense and prolonged symptoms that significantly interfere with the mother's daily functioning, newborn care, and affect child development and family stability.

Generalized anxiety

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in the perinatal context is characterized by excessive, persistent, and difficult-to-control concerns about one's own well-being or that of the baby.

Mothers with GAD experience constant restlessness, muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and sleep disturbances that exceed normal concerns during pregnancy and postpartum.

These women often have difficulty enjoying motherhood due to constant fear that something negative may happen to them or their baby.

Panic disorder

Panic disorder during the perinatal period is defined by the onset of unexpected and recurrent episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as palpitations, difficulty breathing, dizziness, or loss of control.

During pregnancy and postpartum, these attacks can be especially distressing, causing insecurity about the ability to care for the baby properly and affecting the mother's overall well-being. This disorder can lead to social isolation and avoidance of situations that mothers perceive as triggers for crises.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Perinatal OCD manifests as recurrent, intrusive, and disturbing obsessive thoughts, usually centered on fears related to causing unintentional harm to the baby or an inability to protect them.

Mothers may experience compulsions in the form of repetitive rituals, such as constantly checking on the baby, repeatedly washing objects to prevent infection, or excessively seeking medical information.

These symptoms cause intense emotional distress and significantly impair quality of life, and may also affect the mother's relationship with her family.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Perinatal PTSD can occur after traumatic experiences related to pregnancy or childbirth, such as severe medical complications, perinatal loss, or premature birth.

Affected mothers relive the trauma in the form of r