Emotional Depression During Pregnancy

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Abstract
Comparative study of the occurrence of the maternity blues and crying spells in a group of 1000 parturients and 500 non-parturients indicates that the blues were 3.5 times and crying spells 20 times more common in pregnant women. A psychiatric and biochemical etiology are considered. The former suggests that the basic conflict is a struggle in the conscious or subconscious mind between the feminine instinct of reproduction and the battle against it, usually due to vain and/or selfish reasons. The latter suggests that a close link exists between biochemical and emotional changes as illustrated by investigation with mescaline, LSD-25, promazine and chloropromazine. Furthermore, it suggests a possible relationship between the emotional depression syndrome during pregnancy and innate biochemical metabolic changes of pregnancy. No relationship exists between the "maternity blues" syndrome and true post partum psychoses. Study of 100 parturients, who were forewarned of the possible occurrence of the "maternity blues" did not reveal any decrease in their incidence. However, 80% of the unprepared parturients expressed concern regarding emotional changes and this was practically completely eliminated in the prepared group. Prenatal instruction should include discussion and forewarning of these emotional changes stressing their innocuous nature and eventual disappearance.

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