Perspective of Postpartum Depression Treatment in Iran

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major public health problem and is considered as a risk factor for the mother, her baby, and their family (1, 2). In Iran, PPD manifests itself mainly with somatization of depressivesymptomsand feelings of guilt (3). The incidence of this disorder is about 15% worldwide (4, 5). The prevalence of PPD ranges from 19% - 43% in Iran (6, 7). Several factors contribute to this disorder, including physical, biological, psychological, obstetric/ pediatric, socio-demographic, and cultural factors (5). There is a concern thatmanyPPD patients remain undiagnosed, hence untreated or undertreated, particularly in developing countries such as Iran (1). It is estimated that about 50 percent of women who experience PPD are remained undiagnosed (5).