ABSTRACT
Pregnancy was thought to be a time of clinical well-being, however now it has been recognized that depression and other mood disorders can occur in the antepartum period just like they can occur in the postpartum period. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders are mood and anxiety disorders that occur during pregnancy or up until one year postpartum. In additional to neurotransmitter influence, biological underpinnings of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder are affected by dramatic shifts in neuroendocrine hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Genetics and family history of mental illness are risk factors for mood and anxiety disorders in the general population as well as perinatal population. The particular dyads that become pertinent in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders include the mother–infant dyad and mother–partner dyad. Postpartum blues manifests with a dysphoric mood, anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite, crying, irritability, fatigue and emotional lability immediately following birth. A major depressive disorder negatively affects mood, motivation, energy and cognition.
