POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION: IMPACT ON THE LONG-TERM MENTAL HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND CHILDREN (Atena Editora)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Postpartum depression is a disorder that can affect a mother's ability to care for her child, as well as harm the emotional relationship and communication between mother and baby. Studies indicate that PPD can have an impact on the psychological and behavioral development of children. Despite being a public health problem, there is little evidence that focuses on the long-term impacts and consequences of PPD on the mental health of mothers and their children. GOAL: To describe, from a literature review, the main repercussions of PPD on the long-term mental health of mothers and children. METHOD: This is an integrative review study. The guiding question is: What is the mother-child relationship like during the process of growth and development after a break in the bond caused by depression? The descriptors used were: “postpartum depression”, “mother-child relationship” and “mental health”. The searches were carried out in the virtual health library, the inclusion criteria were articles in Spanish and Portuguese from the last 10 years. RESULTS: A total of 10 articles were found, 07 were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Studies show that PPD is capable of affecting children's cognition and psychosocial development. Furthermore, maternal rejection negatively influences the bond, since the relationship is based on interest, in which the child is interested in the mother, as he believes that she is the source of his satisfaction in relation to his physiological needs. CONCLUSION: PPD is an important public health problem that affects the mental health of mothers and children in the long term, and can have consequences on the mother-child relationship, including the breakdown of the bond and maternal rejection, which can negatively affect development and growth. of children. It is essential that PPD is identified and treated early to minimize its effects on the mental health of mothers and children.