Experts unveil new treatment for MEN with postpartum depression

Researchers have urged struggling new fathers to seek specialist mental health care in the weeks after the birth of their child, in a bid to prevent postnatal depression in men.

For years there has been debate over whether men can also suffer from the condition, with around one in ten new mothers known to suffer from it.

But researchers in Canada and Pakistan found that men “also experience significant emotional distress” and “need support.”

In a study of more than 350 new fathers, they found that father-child group therapy reduced symptoms in more than 70 percent of those with the condition.

Fathers with postpartum depression also saw a decrease in their risk of lashing out at their partners.

Dr. Ishrat Husain, lead author of the study and senior scientist at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, said: ‘Men’s mental health, and especially postpartum depression in fathers, remains a stigmatized and under-researched area.

“Historically, the focus has rightly been on maternal health during pregnancy and postpartum.

‘However, we are learning that men also experience significant emotional challenges as they adapt to new parental roles and need support.’

Globally, it is estimated that approximately 10 percent of fathers suffer from PND.

But in countries like Pakistan, where more traditional gender roles are present, the figures can be as high as 23.5 percent, researchers said.

In the study, the scientists assessed the mental health of 357 new fathers in the country.

They were randomly assigned standard care or a four-month “Learning Through Play Plus Dads” program.

In the latter case, new fathers were given calendars detailing the child’s developmental stages and activities to encourage parent-child involvement.

They also attended twelve group sessions led by community health workers and psychologists.

These sessions combined cognitive behavioral therapy to help manage depressive symptoms with life skills training in topics such as time management and emotional regulation.

The sessions took place weekly for the first two months, then biweekly.

Writing in the diary JAMA PsychiatryResearchers said the intervention led to a ‘complete remission of depressive symptoms in more than 70 percent of fathers with PND over four months’.

Fathers who completed the program also showed improvements in their well-being and improved relationships with their children and partners.

In addition, they reported lower scores on a measure of ‘perpetrator intimate partner violence’ at the end of the treatment period compared to those who received treatment as usual.

Causes of postpartum depression intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that usually begin two to three days after birth and can last for months.

Postpartum depression causes intense feelings of sadness, anxiety and exhaustion that usually begin two to three days after birth and can last for months

Other symptoms include insomnia, loss of appetite, intense irritability and problems bonding with the baby.

In rare cases, an extreme condition called postpartum psychosis can develop, which is accompanied by hallucinations and delusions.

Existing treatment includes talk therapy or traditional antidepressants, but these can take weeks to work.

Dr. Husain said: ‘We noticed that as a father’s depressive symptoms improved, social support for both the father and the family improved.

‘This suggests that when people receive training and education about their mental health, they are more able and willing to seek support from their network of friends, family members and colleagues.’

He added: ‘Stigma, cultural beliefs and high demand for mental health care often stop fathers from seeking the help they need.

“Programs like Learning Through Play Plus Dads can be transformative for men in their transition to parenthood by introducing accessible support and educational services that provide a safe space to process emotions.”