Postpartum PTSD
Post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness that some people develop following a traumatic experience. Not everyone develops PTSD but it can be highly distressing for those who do. Though anyone can be susceptible to PTSD, women are twice as likely than men to develop it. Regardless of gender, PTSD symptoms can vary from person to person.
Women in particular may experience PTSD symptoms uniquely, including being more likely to:
* Startle more easily than men
* Express fear differently from men and exhibit fight-and - flight responses more often than men
* Feel more distractible and experience emotional distress and numbness
* Avoid reminders of traumatic incidents
* Experience depression and anxiety.
Women in particular may experience PTSD symptoms uniquely, including being more likely to:
* Startle more easily than men
* Express fear differently from men and exhibit fight-and - flight responses more often than men
* Feel more distractible and experience emotional distress and numbness
* Avoid reminders of traumatic incidents
* Experience depression and anxiety.
Postpartum PTSD affects about 8 million women worldwide, annually, according to the National Institute of Health. Symptoms of fear and guilt sometimes appear months after your baby is born.
Signs appear within a month after a birth that is traumatic to a new mom or baby in some significant way, often due to things like an unplanned cesarean section, the baby being taken to the neonatal intensive care unit, a forcep birth or vacuum extraction, other medical complications, or lack of support from health care professionals during birth.
While it is important that new mothers who have symptoms of postpartum PTSD, get treatment, the condition often goes undiagnosed. A new study, Massachusetts General Hospital and Bar-Ilan University is attempting to remedy this. The research team used a low-cost form of artificial intelligence that any OB/GYN could theoretically use to improve diagnostic.
Signs appear within a month after a birth that is traumatic to a new mom or baby in some significant way, often due to things like an unplanned cesarean section, the baby being taken to the neonatal intensive care unit, a forcep birth or vacuum extraction, other medical complications, or lack of support from health care professionals during birth.
While it is important that new mothers who have symptoms of postpartum PTSD, get treatment, the condition often goes undiagnosed. A new study, Massachusetts General Hospital and Bar-Ilan University is attempting to remedy this. The research team used a low-cost form of artificial intelligence that any OB/GYN could theoretically use to improve diagnostic.
For the study nearly 1,300 women were asked to write 30 words about heir birth experience, focusing in the most traumatic parts. An AI model made to understand human language then analysed the pattern of words and speech of the women, used identifying mental illnesses through the nuances of their language and the context of their sentences. The researchers would then input the responses and the data would tell them if the data was representatives of PTSD or not.
The Open AI scored 75% to 80% specificity/accuracy rate in diagnosing the women in the group surveyed with postpartum PTSD. The researchers believe that this technology could easily fit into the routine OB/GYN care with the hope that quick intervention could help- at-risk women.
The Open AI scored 75% to 80% specificity/accuracy rate in diagnosing the women in the group surveyed with postpartum PTSD. The researchers believe that this technology could easily fit into the routine OB/GYN care with the hope that quick intervention could help- at-risk women.
Other symptoms of PTSD
* Trouble sleeping
* Feel "on alert" all the time
* Have panic attacks
* Feel increasingly depressed.
Treatment
Medication and/or therapy is key.
Counseling is also helpful.
Credit: WebMD
* Trouble sleeping
* Feel "on alert" all the time
* Have panic attacks
* Feel increasingly depressed.
Treatment
Medication and/or therapy is key.
Counseling is also helpful.
Credit: WebMD