During pregnancy, rates of major depressive
episodes, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM - IV), range from 10 - 17 % 1 - 3 with significant variability among estimates.4 Additionally, one meta - analysis estimated that postpartum major or minor depression
occurs in as many as 19.2 % of women with the more narrowly defined major depression estimated to
occur in 7.1 % of new mothers.4 Antenatal depression
occurs in similar rates as in the postpartum period, rates which are not significantly different from rates in non-pregnant or postpartum women.