August 2009
Dear Colleague,
Dominating the news this week is the sickening case of a Texas mom who killed her infant son after struggling with what has been variously reported as PPD, postpartum psychosis, and schizophrenia. Otty Sanchez's family says she did undergo counseling and was 'in and out of the psychiatric ward' but she refused to take medication for her illness postpartum. Psychosis stemming from or exacerbated by childbirth is exceedingly rare, and very few women who suffer from it commit infanticide; this disorder should not be confused with postpartum depression.
To learn more about postpartum psychosis and how it is diagnosed and treated, please view Dr. Katherine Wisner's presentation, Postpartum Psychosis, and Postpartum Psychosis and Infanticide presented by Dr. Margaret Spinelli.
Medical Updates 
Fragmented maternal sleep is more strongly correlated with depressive symptoms than infant temperament at three months postpartum.
Goyal D, Gay C, Lee K. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2009 Aug;12(4):229-37. Epub 2009 Apr 25
Although a fussy child can contribute to sleep difficulties in new mothers, lack of sleep itself was found to be more predictive of PPD than infant temperament.
Effects of home-based exercise on fatigue in postpartum depressed women: who is more likely to benefit and why?
Dritsa M, Dupuis G, Lowensteyn I, Da Costa D. J Psychosom Res. 2009 Aug;67(2):159-63. Epub 2009 Mar 5.
This study sought to identify moderators to tailor exercise intervention for various subgroups of women with PPD.
Outcome results of a psycho-educational intervention in pregnancy to prevent PPD: A randomized control trial.
Lara MA, Navarro C, Navarrete L. J Affect Disord. 2009 Jul 10. [Epub ahead of print]
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an antenatal psycho-educational intervention to prevent postpartum depression in Mexican women.
View More»
In The News 
An Open Letter to Time Magazine About Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Progress, July 13, 2009
Katherine Stone, of the PPD blog Postpartum Progress, has written a response to the misinformation in a recent Time magazine article about the controversy surrounding the MOTHERS Act.
Should All Mothers Be Screened for Postpartum Depression?
Time.com, July 12, 2009
Time magazine explores both sides of the MOTHERS Act debate.
Poor Sleep Is Independently Associated With Depression In Postpartum Women
Science Daily.com, July 2, 2009
A new study suggests postpartum depression may further worsen quality of sleep in new moms, and poor sleep should be viewed as a symptom of PPD.
View More»
Events Calendar 
Postpartum Support International's 23rd Annual Conference
When: August 4-7
Where: Los Angeles, CA
New Jersey's 10th Annual Perinatal Health Disparities Conference: Improving Mental Health among Black Women, Children & Families
When: September 22
Where: Newark, NJ
Unmasking Postpartum Depression
When: September 29-October 1
Where: Regina, SK, Canada
Med Ed Resources 
Marcé Society
The principal aim of the society is to promote, facilitate and communicate about research into all aspects of the mental health of women, their infants, and their partners around the time of childbirth.
Postpartum Progress
Promoting progress in treatment and comfort among sufferers of postpartum mood disorders, this blog is written by a woman diagnosed with postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder after the birth of her son.
Beyond Postpartum
An Atlanta mom shares her personal experience with postpartum depression and links to articles, blogs, and other media that focus on PPD.
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