Kids’ Docs To Look for Depression in Moms

When a mother is depressed, it can harm her child as well. So the nation’s largest group of children’s doctors is urging its members to screen new mothers for depression. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published the report in the journal Pediatrics. Depressed mothers may be less able to bond with their babies and more likely to neglect them, the AAP said. This can affect early brain development. Research shows that development delays are more likely in babies with depressed mothers. The AAP is asking pediatricians to use a brief questionnaire to screen for depression. If their answers showed they may be depressed, women would be referred to other services. The Associated Press wrote about the report October 25.