Abstract:
Postnatal depression is a major public health concern, with a global prevalence estimated between 10% and
20%. Early identification and effective management of postnatal depression are essential for the mother's
mental health and the child's optimal development, reducing long-term associated risks. Analysis of the
specialized literature concerning the clinical characteristics of postnatal depression, as well as the identification
of appropriate and effective treatment options. The study involved a systematic literature review, selecting
relevant articles from databases : PubMed, Scopus, NCBI, and Web of Science. A total of 31 scientific articles
published in the last five years were analyzed, covering both theoretical aspects and clinical research on risk
factors, clinical manifestations, and therapeutic strategies. The analysis revealed that the main symptoms of
postnatal depression include persistent sadness, anhedonia, emotional lability, insomnia, chronic fatigue,
irritability, anxiety, sudden outbursts of anger, feelings of guilt, suicidal thoughts, fear of harming the child or
oneself, and a lack of interest in the infant. In mild forms of postnatal depression, brief psychological
interventions and psychotherapy are generally recommended, while in moderate to severe cases, first-line
treatment is pharmacological—preferably with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Electroconvulsive
therapy is indicated in treatment-resistant depression. Postnatal depression presents with a broad spectrum of
clinical manifestations, reflecting varying degrees of severity. Accurate identification of these forms allows for
optimized therapeutic strategies and individualized interventions tailored to the patient’s clinical needs.
