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Depression among new mothers is often anticipated and evaluated, but new research suggests that such a condition can last well beyond the postpartum period. A recent Science Daily release suggests that this depression could become a chronic condition, although symptoms could improve with brief treatment.

This study, conducted by researchers at the Yale School of Medicine, was led by Carol C. Weitzman, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics. According to Weitzman, nearly one in five mothers of children age one and older reports moderate to severe depressive symptoms.

"This finding reinforces that depression in mothers is not restricted to the postpartum period, and in fact after the postpartum period as children get older, the prevalence of maternal depression may be higher," said Weitzman.

Depression in mothers has often been linked to health and developmental problems in children. Weitzman believes mothers who are depressed should be identified and treated in order to optimize the child’s health.

In this study, the research group asked 931 mothers to complete a 16-item measure of depression severity before a well-child visit in a clinic care for disadvantaged children.

According to results, 45 percent of mothers screened positive for depressive symptoms, 13 percent had moderate symptoms and 6 percent had severe symptoms. All mothers who received treatment showed improvement and children under the age of four whose mothers received cognitive behavioral therapy had fewer behavioral challenges.

"A depressed parent can have a significant effect on a child," said Weitzman. "Brief on-site treatment can help reduce symptoms of depression in a mother and may also improve her perspective about her child’s behavior."