Arlene M. Huysman - The Postpartum Effect: Deadly Depression in Mothers

Copyright 1998, 2003 by Arlene Huysman
1998 by Paul Goodnick
2003 by Paul Goodnick

First trade paperback edition January 2003.

Originally published in hardcover as A Mothers Tears: Understanding the Mood Swings that Follow Childbirth (Seven Stories Press, 1998). This edition has been expanded and fully updated.

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Excerpts from Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Ests, Ph.D., 1992, 1995. All performance, derivative, adaptation, musical, audio and recording, illustrative, theatrical, film, pictoral, reprint, electronic, and all other rights reserved. Reprinted by kind permission of the author, Dr. Ests, and Ballantine Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Huysman, Arlene M.
The postpartum effect : deadly depression in mothers / Arlene M.
Huysman ; foreword by Paul J. Goodnick. 1st trade pbk. ed.
p. cm.
Rev. ed. of: A mothers tears.
eISBN: 978-1-60980-289-9
1. Postpartum depression. I. Huysman, Arlene M. Mothers tears. II.
Title.
RG852 .H893 2003
618.76dc21 2002153756

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v3.1

To my dear husband, Pedro,
my wonderful children, Pam and Jamie,
their spouses, Steve and Betsy,
and
the very special Andrea Maxine

I WISH TO THANK the many who have contributed to and supported my efforts in this updated and revised publication of The Postpartum Effect (formerly A Mothers Tears). Their dedication to the dissemination and circulation of this invaluable material will benefit countless mothers, children, and families:

Dr. Paul Goodnick, a specialist in depression and mood disorders, applied his valuable time to writing the additional portion of the book. This important portion concerns the medical and hormonal methods by which postpartum depression can be treated. I thank him for this.

Dr. Paul Costa, a psychologist, a fine researcher, new to the field, but certainly dedicated to this project, who consumed untold hours and cups of coffee researching the material and assisting me.

Again, writer Laura Cerwinske proved to be a level head in the editing of hundreds of pieces of information, just as she did in the original publication.

A special thanks goes to Jane Honikman, who, for many years, has spearheaded the entire Postpartum Support International movement. Those women who are ill, in jail, or simply in the dark about what is happening to them have found a loyal friend in Jane. Her eye on the legislation regarding this illness and the actions being taken on a state by state basis was enormously helpful.

I would fall short if I did not acknowledge the many newspaper and magazine journalists who tell the story of postpartum depression and put faces to its terrible repercussions. Their work spurs me to continue spreading the word.

My wonderful husband Pedro Camacho who has saved me (and much of my material in the computer), again and again these many years. His love, support and dedication is unmatched.

This book is not intended to be scientifically definitive. Rather it is written to address the myths surrounding the postpartum period in a womans life and the perspectives of the legal and medical communities. My theories are born out of my many years of professional experience and from the knowledge I have gained as a clinical psychologist from my patients and colleagues.

Therefore it is important to acknowledge all who preceded me in the attempt to bring attention to the sufferings of new mothers. I have heavily relied on the work of writers and researchers in the field of postpartum depression, and manic-depression. These include Carol Dix, author of The New Mother Syndrome; Dr. James Alexander Hamilton and Patricia Neel Harberger, M.S., editors of Postpartum Psychiatric Illness: A Picture Puzzle; Dr. Carl S. Burak and Michele G. Remington, authors of The Cradle Will Fall; Dr. Mark S. Gold, author of The Good News About Depression; Drs. Kay Redfield Jamison and Frederick K. Goodwin for their book Manic-Depressive Illness, a bible of diagnosis and treatment; and Dr. Jamison for her book The Unquiet Mind; Deanne Tilton Durfee for her involvement in A Nations Shame: Fatal Child Abuse and Neglect in the United States; Drs. Steven J. Shea and Geoffrey R. McKee, researchers and forensic experts; Patty Duke and Gloria Hochman for A Brilliant Madness; and Ronald R. Fieve, M.D., for Moodswing. These works provided me a starting place for my own research and theory. In many cases I have quoted these professionals, sometimes to add my voice of agreement, and sometimes to disagree, but in all instances, to emphasize the importance of their writings.

I am grateful for my associations with so many fine clinicians: psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, marriage and family counselors, and clergy with whom I had the privilege to practice and share cases and who, in turn, shared their cases with me. These included Arnold L. Lieber, M.D, who reviewed my manuscript meticulously; the late Fransciso Bolea, M.D, my friend and former associate; Jan Maizler, LCSW, my associate for many years; Victoria Haefner, LCSW; Elona Kurosad, R.N., friend and associate; my courageous sister, Bernice Diamond; Rabbi Eugene Labovitz, friend and spiritual advisor; the many interns, and with me always in spirit are my mother and father, Anna and Max Weiss.

I wish to add a special note in acknowledgment of the late Gaston Magrinat, M.D., my first mentor. He gave me, along with countless others, the ability to recognize and treat manic-depression. He shared his knowledge and understanding of scientific tests, measurements, interview techniques, and lithium carbonate treatment, as well as an understanding of the essence of the disease and those who are prone to suffer from it. His contribution has proliferated through an ever increasing professional circle, saving multitudes of patients.

My sensitive and gifted children, Pam Koretsky and James Huysmanboth excellent clinicians in their own rightcheered me on, contributed research and opinions, and buoyed me up when my energies flagged.

For support at work I thank Zuen Cruz, my right hand; for support at home, Marta Santiago; and all those made it possible to complete the project. Ilyene Barsky contributed a most valuable and insightful chapter, Getting Help, for which I thank her tremendously.

Thanks to Laura Brown, who helped me inaugurate this project. Thanks also to Tom McCarthy for his patience and diligent, cogent editing; his kindness was most appreciated.

Finally to my publisher, Dan Simon, of Seven Stories Press who recognized the need for this book and who now makes it available to many more women, thank you. And I can never forget Shelby Brown-Coleman who, as my former agent, brought the book to Dan Simon.