Subsyndromal depressive symptoms and major depression in postpartum women.

This study documents differences in the psychosocial functioning of women three months postpartum with subclinical depression, major depression prior to the birth of the baby, major depression both pre- and post-birth, and no depression. An understanding of these differences may have implications for intervention insofar as maternal depression places at risk not only the mother's functioning but her infant's development, as well.