Paternity blues

Shouldering the burden ... postnatal depression affects up to 10 per cent of new fathers.
Photo: Tamara Voninski

October 18, 2007 - 1:33PM

Up to 10 per cent of first-time fathers suffer postnatal depression but in most cases their symptoms go untreated, a university researcher says.

University of Adelaide PhD student and researcher Karina Bria wants to recruit new fathers to study the impact of depression.

She said existing research in Australia revealed many men experienced anxiety and depression when they become fathers for the first time, but more support was given to new mothers.

``Men's experiences of their transition to fatherhood have not been a major focus for investigation in Australia or overseas, despite between five and 10 per cent experiencing depression, anxiety, stress and psychological distress,'' she said.

Ms Bria plans to interview men suffering from postnatal depression, particularly to determine if it improves or worsens over the first six months.
Her study will also examine the impact of depression on a first-time father's ability to bond with their child and the long-term affects on the father and his family.

``I want to develop a gender specific screening questionnaire that primary health care professionals can use to detect symptoms of postnatal depression in fathers,'' Ms Bria said.

AAP

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