Buffalo State College

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Faculty News

Dr. Zittel-Palamara hosted a conference this spring on the topic of postpartum mood disorders..

 

Although most professionals are familiar to varying degrees of postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, postpartum mood disorders (PMD) actually refers to six different post-partum mood conditions including depression, anxiety, panic, posttraumatic stress, obsessive compulsive disorder, and psychosis.  Medical, mental health, and spiritual directors often do not receive adequate education to assess, diagnose, treat, offer support, or follow-up on these conditions, thereby impacting woman’s access to services.  Although there are numerous empirically based interventions for these conditions, availability of experts offering these interventions are scarce, also impacting access to care.  In addition, women may not realize symptoms, often do not discuss symptoms, and may desire assistance but not know who to talk to. When women do not receive care, not only do these women continue to exhibit symptoms up to two years postpartum, evidence shows untreated PMD can have short- and long-term detrimental effects on children, including cognitive, behavioral, language, and developmental delays.  This conference intends to provide critical educational material that can be applied to medical, men-tal health, and spiritual directors.  Topics of the conference include PMD in the general population; PMD in minority, low-income, immigrant, and refugee populations; medical and psychosocial intervention techniques; how fathers experience PMD, access to care issues and suggestions to address these issues; personal testimonies; and the development of research/resource programs.

 

The objective of the conference was to provide educational information on PMD to medical, mental health, spiritual directors and women in the community  in order to increase awareness, understanding, and access to care options for PMD.

 

Presentations and a panel discussion provided by prominent researchers, medical/mental health providers, and women who have experienced PMD  targeted three levels of PMD care needs, including:

· Women experiencing PMD

· Professionals treating women 

· Community strategies to increase access to care

The conference was very well received and Dr. Zittel-Palamara plans to continue this informative and highly needed resource.