(January 15, 2009 - Insidermedicine) Postnatal depression can be effectively managed through psychological counseling, according to two studies published in the British Medical Journal.

Here are some facts about postpartum depression:

•    Up to 20% of new mothers experience postpartum depression

•     It is natural for many new mothers to experience "baby blues", which often go away before long. However, some women may experience a deep and ongoing depression.

•    Women with this condition suffer despondency, tearfulness, feelings of inadequacy, guilt, anxiety, irritability and fatigue.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield randomized over 4,000 mothers to be given one of two types of psychotherapy from health visitors after their babies were born or usual care. Those who received either type of therapy had fewer symptoms of depression both six and 12 months after giving birth. Among the women who had symptoms of depression at six weeks after giving birth, those who received therapy were 40% less likely to still have these symptoms at six months.

In a second study from the University of Toronto, over 700 mothers who were identified as being at high risk for postnatal depression received either usual care or usual care plus the support of a volunteer mother who had also experienced postnatal depression. The women who received this support had half the risk of developing postnatal depression 12 weeks after giving birth, compared with those who did not.

Today's research highlights several effective psychological approaches to managing postnatal depression, which may be more appealing than medication for many mothers.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.