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Onset criteria for postpartum depression (PPD) vary: The DSM-IV designates the window for PPD as within 4 weeks after delivery, whereas the ICD-10 extends this window to 6 weeks. Investigators in Atlanta evaluated the timing of depression onset in 209 women who were referred with presumptive diagnoses of PPD. Women were included if they presented during the first postpartum year, fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for major depression, were not taking psychotropic medications, and could identify clearly when their current major depressive episode began.
PPD onset was prenatal in 11.5% of women, within the first 6 postpartum weeks ("early") in 66.5%, and between 6 weeks and 1 year postpartum ("late") in 22.0%. Although most of those who reported onset…