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 Researchers examined results from depression screenings done for
parents during more than 9,500 visits to pediatrics clinics with
their children. Overall, 4.4 percent of fathers and five percent of
mothers screened positive for depression.
"The fact that so many new dads are experiencing this is significant
because depression can have serious consequences if left untreated,"
said lead study author Erika Cheng, a pediatrics researcher at the
Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis.
"We know that dads who are depressed are less engaged with their
kids, which can lead to cognitive and behavioral problems," Cheng
said by email. "Dads who experience symptoms of depression - which
include sadness, irritability, agitation, and anger - shouldn't hide
their feelings, because professional help is available."
Roughly one in four mothers experience depression at some point
during pregnancy or while their children are young, Cheng and
colleagues note in JAMA Pediatrics. While many women may be screened
during prenatal visits or checkups after birth, men may not
necessarily have the same access to screening.
Because parental depression can have lasting physical and mental
health affects for young children, the American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends that all parents - both mothers and fathers -
get screened for depression during well-baby and well-child
checkups.
As the study highlights, one problem with this approach is that
fathers often aren't the parent taking kids to the doctor.
Fathers were present at more than 2,900 visits, or about 31 percent
of the time, the study found. They were less likely to come to these
checkups when children were older, black or poor.
Out of 806 visits when fathers completed depression screening
questionnaires, 36 men screened positive for depression. This was
roughly equivalent to the proportion of mothers who screened
positive.
But out of all the parents evaluated, fathers comprised just 12
percent of the people who screened positive for depression.
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This suggests that many fathers are going undiagnosed and untreated
for depression, the study authors conclude.
One limitation of the study is that it was done at just five
pediatrics clinics in Indianapolis, and it's possible screening
results might be different elsewhere.
It's also possible that not all people who screened positive for
symptoms of depression would ultimately be diagnosed with the mental
health disorder, said Karen Wynter, a researcher in nursing and
midwifery at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. Fathers also
might not report the same symptoms as mothers, Wynter, who wasn't
involved in the study, said by email.
"Men may be less likely than women to report tearfulness, for
example, but more likely to report irritability, anger, risky
alcohol use or changed work habits," Wynter said. "These may be
indicators that men are not coping so well with the adjustment to a
new life with a baby."
Still, the results suggest that screening parents during children's
checkups may help spot symptoms of depression in fathers who
otherwise might not get assessed or treated, said Dr. Craig
Garfield, a pediatrics researcher at Northwestern University and
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
"Children thrive when parents thrive," Garfield, who wasn't involved
in the study, said by email.
"Almost all new parents are tired, but if a dad (or a mom) is
continually feeling blue, unable to enjoy the things they usually
enjoy or are feeling abnormally stressed, they can start by talking
to their child's doctor," Garfield advised. "By letting the doctor
know how they are feeling, that new dad may find the help and
resources to get him through the transition to parenthood, and be
the best dad he can be for his child."
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2JMuxfL JAMA Pediatrics, online July 23, 2018.
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