Rebroadcast: Birth Trauma or Postpartum Depression? Understanding the Difference Matters, Conversation with Dr. Sharon Dekel

Current statistics suggest that postpartum depression is one of the most common complications of pregnancy in the US, estimated at between 1 in 10 and 1 and 5 women--and this estimate is mostly based on the response to survey responses.

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is the most widely used screening tool for postpartum depression (PPD), recommended by ACOG, USPSTF, and PSI for universal screening at the 1-12 week postpartum visit, and is an imperfect tool to catch all cases.

Contrast that to childbirth related PTSD--which is believed to be nearly as common, and for which no standardized screening tool exists.

It's important to distinguish one from the other because the treatment is different for PPD and CB-PTSD.

Dr. Dekel shares why the distinction is important and ways we might use to catch CB-PTSD early.