I have to do a project for a disease and I was wondering if post-partum depression would be considered a pathological disease?

Yes, I believe it would qualify.

This is not really the kind of disease they are looking for.

For pathophysiology it would be better to use something more along the lines of asthma; diabetes; crohn's disease, etc.

PPD is usually temporary. In patho class they are looking for something more long term, and many times permanent.

I know but somebody used hyphochondria and they let her I guess I'll just ask the teacher later on when I see her =)

Or I can just use depression and mention it in there..

Heck, if they let her use that, then it sounds like anything is game. I just went for something more serious and debilitating when I went through this.

PPD does have it's patho, no doubt, but it is more transient in nature.

Ok, off to bed now. LOL

I asked the teacher she went for it! Is it wrong that I want to use it so I can use cute pictures of babies instead of disgusting pictures? =)

Not wrong at all.

If you need help, let me know. This is part of what I do for a living.

Well this teacher is really easy going and as long as she sees we are attempting to try hard in class she will give us an A (also depending on our midterm and finals) which these are mostly adiministrative classes and they are SO BORING when we get to clinicals different teachers different story

I have about a week and a half I just have to type 4 pages and make a poster.. most fun I've had yet in this school lol and thank you if I need help I will definitely be bothering you for it ^_^

Is there much of a difference between postpartum and other depressions? How do these women (usually) feel toward their babies? Are they only depressed about the baby or is it just generally towards their whole life?

And what is the difference between postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis?

Here is a good article you might want to read

Differences Between Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Psychosis (http://www.alegent.com/Body.cfm?id=2555)

My friend had postpartum depression (I think). She sought help (she called an ambulance one night because she was alone with her baby and was having suicidal thoughts.) and eventually The emt called DSS on her and they released her from the hospital the next day and took her baby away that very day Because they thought she was a danger to herself as well as the baby. That pushed her over the edge and she committed suicide.. . Do you think this is because of postpartum depression or some other mental problem she could have had. Before that she had called me because she was upset about her boyfriend cheating on her and we don't live in the richest part of the united states there's a lot of gang violence and things like that where we are from so she had depression before she even got pregnant. I guess I'm asking is postpartum depression known for causing women to commit suicide?

For the purpose of this class take the advice of a road weary old physiological pscyhologist and choose another condition for your project. One that is definable by physiologic mechanisms. Nonetheless, in response to your question:

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is properly and authoritatively classed as pathology by virtue of inclusion in the DSM-IV-TR; ICD-10, etal. It is not however identifiable by or traceable to a specific physical benchmark or systemic dysfunction. Rather the indications are behavioral.

One camp holds to the hormonal theory, although hormone therapy has proved ineffective in treating PPD. The other camp asserts that it is a sub-category of Major Depression distinguished by time of onset. That view currently prevails (see DSM-IV-TR). That means that it is a mental disease which brings it into the shadowy realm of psychopathology. It is therefore theorized to be attributable to an assumed, but unsubstantiated, neurochemical imbalance.

To further complicate the issue PPD isn't usually treated in accord with the treatment recommendations contained in the DSM. Practitioners are likely to think in the terms of the former theory but treat in accord with the latter.

PPD is a very serious illness. Etiology unknown. There is no demonstrable causal relationship to any physiologic substrata.

If you are intrigued with the brain and behavior you might try one of the organic syndromes, neurodegenerative disorders i.e. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's. The pathophysiology is observable, progressive and measurable.

LATE NOTE:
DSM = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, Text Revised, American Psychiatric Association (2000)
ICD = International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Edition, World Health Organization (1994)

I completely agree with Dr. Bill here. I understand you have a great/nice teacher, but he/she won't be with you when you are practicing in the real world.

To help your patients better you need to know how a disease manifests itself in the human body along with how they affect other bodily functions.

Yes, your teacher may be an easy A, but she is not doing her students justice if you don't learn the mechanics of diseases in the proper fashion.

Now here is an additive for your project:

Dads Get Postpartum Depression Too (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MensHealth/dads-postpartum-depression-study-finds/story?id=10677065&page=3)

This should be interpreted in the context of "shadowy realm of psychopathology" noted foregoing. Now we're lacking even gender specificity in, of all things, PPD.

I worship the hallowed ground upon which Sigmund trod.