Postpartum depression, an autoimmune disease?

Medical conditions with known etiology and typical peripartal/postpartal disease exacerbations are now, without exception, considered autoimmune in etiology. Postpartum psychiatric conditions, and especially postpartum depression, currently, however, are still not understood in their etiology. This paper suggests that the typical postpartum flare pattern, and other clinical characteristics, point towards an autoimmune etiology for (postpartum) depression. The high prevalence of (postpartum) depression led to its designation as a major public health problem. A better understanding of etiology and pathophysiology would greatly advance the, currently still inaccurate, diagnosis of the condition, and improve approaches towards prevention and treatment. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.