Psychiatry regarding pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing is changing rapidly. In this paper, the meaning of the paradigm shift from postnantal to perinatal depression along with the changing treatment are discussed. Since the late 20 century, several large-scale epidemiological surveys on the incidence and outcomes of postnatal depression have concluded not only that postpartum depression is likely to occur at a high frequency, such as 10-15%, but that the subsequent maternal mortality rate as the number of deaths from suicide is higher than deaths due to obstetric medical conditions. Additionally, evidence of the negative impact of a mother's depression on the physical and mental development of children has been accumulated as well. Several studies regarding depression during pregnancy, such as on the relatively high frequency of prenatal depression or negative consequence of interrupted pharmacological treatment, should also be highlighted. These movements seemed to reflect the change in special attributes of depressive disorders and bipolar disorders, in that the term perinatal onset came to be preferred instead of postnatal, used in DSM-IV. Comprehensive treatment guidelines for depression applicable for all women with the potential for pregnancy, delivery, and lactation are needed as the next step.
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