The Pharmacist's Role in Managing Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a debilitating form of perinatal depression that is diagnosed after childbirth. Symptoms are more severe and enduring than those of the baby blues, which is a common and short-lived condition involving mild depressive symptoms. Clinical-practice guidelines recommend that psychotherapeutic measures be used first-line when possible; however, the severity of symptoms must be considered in selecting a treatment method, as the benefits of pharmacotherapy may outweigh the risks, especially in more severe cases of PPD. Two agents are currently approved specifically for the treatment of PPD. Through education and counseling services and therapeutic interventions, pharmacists are essential in ensuring that medications are used appropriately in perinatal and postpartum patients in both outpatient and hospital settings.