Perinatal distress (depression or anxiety) and DSM-5: a wish-list

摘要

There are two specific points that I consider would improve the current diagnostic structure for perinatal mood disorders when the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 is published in 2013. In addition, there are two general points that I consider would improve the whole of DSM, therefore including diagnoses in the perinatal period. Currently, depression must occur within 4 weeks of the birth for the postpartum onset specifier to apply [1]. However, no rationale or empirical evidence is provided for this specific onset time. From a research perspective, very few, if any, studies use this definition - most studies generally consider the depression to be 'postnatal depression' if it has occurred within 6 months or even 1 year postpartum. Boyd et al. are an example of a group who question the adequacy of this current 4-week specifier [2].