European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 17, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                New insights into depression by Daniel Goleman new York times new research findings from Europe Little noted in America contradict widespread beliefs about the risks of depression that women face after childbirth Hysterectomy and menopause. Serious depression is far less common after these events than has been believed the new research suggests while the risks of depression after a Mastectomy Are higher than is commonly realized. The studies which were reviewed in the the american journal of psychiatry bring to Light new data about women s psychiatric difficulties connected with reproduction. Quot its of crucial importance that women their families and their physicians realize what the real risks Are Quot said Paula Clayton chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Minnesota medical school an expert on depression. Quot there is the risk of not recognizing potential danger to an infant in a severely depressed Mother on one hand and the risk of worrying needlessly about facing menopause or a Hysterectomy on the  Many of the new studies were reported in european medical journals which Are rarely seen by american physicians or mental health professionals said or. Robert 0. Pasnau who wrote the review article with or. Michael j. Gitlin. Both Are psychiatrists at the University of California at los Angeles medical school. While it is possible that cultural differences May make the findings less applicable in the United states the countries from which they were drawn have cultures that Are very similar to americans. A Many recent significant studies from the world literature have been Little noticed in America a Pasnau said. Quot and there a surprisingly Little research being published on these problems in America these  however some of the findings have been corroborated by american studies. One widespread belief among health professionals in America is that women who have hysterectomies Are especially vulnerable to depression afterwards. The european studies suggest that belief is a myth. Quot the risk of depression after a Hysterectomy is no greater than for other major operations a Pasnau said. Indeed recent studies have found that women who were depressed before a Hysterectomy often recover from the depression after the operation. Or. David Gath a British psychiatrist studied 156 women who had hysterectomies unrelated to cancer. Most had the operation to Stop bleeding or pain most commonly caused by noncancerous growths. Six months after the operation the rates of anxiety and depression among the women were just half what they had been before surgery. The rates themselves were not Given. Earlier studies which seemed to show higher rates of depression in women after hysterectomies primarily involved cancer patients. Newer studies have shown that the depression was related to having cancer not to the Hysterectomy. Quot if you eliminate those women who have cancer you find Many women experience great Relief after a Hysterectomy especially when it stops bleeding and other discomfort Quot Pasnau said. Quot the most frequent psychiatric diagnosis in cancer patients is a depression related to the cancer it has Little or nothing to do with a the risk of depression after a Hysterectomy is no greater than for other major  or. Robert s. Pasnau  and git in said Quot a diagnosis of cancer is very frightening the depression can be the fear of recurrence or of  likewise Pasnau said depression associated with childbirth is exaggerated. Earlier studies had estimated the risk of such depression after childbirth at Between 8 percent and 15 percent. But those studies did not compare new mothers with women of similar age who had not gone through childbirth. A 1988 British study that included such a comparison group found that there was no higher rate of moderate depression among the new mothers. Moreover a series of British studies done in the 1980s found that depression within a year of giving birth was More strongly related to marital conflicts and other setbacks like the death of a loved one than to motherhood. Pasnau s review of studies concluded that a period of Quot the blues Quot is common among women in the first week or two after birth. The problem typically begins after the elation of giving birth fades and is marked by crying spells mood swings sadness confusion sleeplessness and anxiety. Quot most women have a Day or a stretch of several hours of fearfulness and unexplainable sadness during the joyous first week after a birth a said Clayton. Quot it s quite Normal probably a temporary hormonal shift a unlike the More serious depressions however the postpartum blues pass quickly she added. Quot if the feelings do not pass in a week or two women should seek treatment because if the depression worsens it can interfere with their ability to care for the  another common misconception Pasnau said is that women who go through menopause Are particularly vulnerable to depression. While most health professionals no longer believe this the belief is still common among the Public. Quot the old idea of a change of life emotional crisis in women is a myth Quot Pasnau said. Quot women going through menopause Are no More Likely to suffer depression than Are women of other Ages nor than men for that Mailer Quot while there is an increase in depression and suicide among men and women aged 60 and older he said studies that have examined the timing of menopause and rates of depression find no connection. The most systematic such study was done in Sweden in 1985 the possibility that menopausal depression was a myth was suggested in the 1970s by or. George Winokur at the University of Iowa and or. Myrna Weissman then at Yale. It was confirmed in a 1986 British study that found a Rise in the rate of depression among women aged 45 to 49, compared with women of other Ages but the Rise in depression was strongest among women who had not yet reached menopause. On the other hand women who undergo mastectomies Are highly vulnerable to psychiatric difficulties after surgery Pasnau said. In a study he published in the american journal of psychiatry in january 1985, a Quarter of the 63 women studied reported suicidal thoughts within a year after the operation. The article did not say whether any actually committed suicide. Having reconstructive breast surgery however significantly reduced the emotional distress in the women the sooner they had the reconstruction the less distress they suffered. The greatest problem is a feeling of the loss of femininity Quot Pasnau said. Quot those who had the reconstruction right away never had to mourn that  women who were treated for breast cancer with Lumpectomy a less Radical form of surgery plus radiation fared much better a year later in terms of sexual relationships and feelings of attractiveness according to findings reported in the current Issue of the journal psychosomatics. In a Lumpectomy Only the tumor is removed rather than the entire breast leaving fewer physical scars. A 3a�il Mill try to Lopolo tue Ito. 1 a Lula Pixi Wip aft oci4iiixu.s. Page 4 a  id by Alpaa Zigulis 14-11 a cup Tala Canadian a Ltd nil . Puga a thes a types dip he a rat any. In. . Hints at economic retaliation if Moscow Steps up pressure in Lithuania a. Fri rim a a at no Law Quot Mimi Hern of  ulme Llu Loki Shiuli if a nuke us Lipil i i lib-l1� t.  uni Wii Nitle in it i Mill a Lull run Kari t m Ltd  by flubs it to Irb the Uhri 4llh us i a Liu la a i Quot i Fin in Luici if ill or t a  Iii i St fire in Mait Hue Anui. 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A Quot in a to a re a in Nof la of ,bihn4l�ii Franl big a a Imi Biu m in Libia Wim  every Day can make a world of difference in your life in a world that never takes a Day to rest every Day can make a world of difference. A Day can mean the difference Between a Campaign and a Victory. A budget and a budget Cut. A revolutionary idea and a revolution. The stars and stripes has All the news it takes to keep you on top of the world s events. And a subscription to the stars and stripes can assure you that you ii never fall a Day behind. Call one of our circulation offices today listing on Page 11 for your subscription to the stars and stripes. Or write to the Slars and stripes attn sales promotion Apo 09211 the stars and stripes a we can make a world of difference in your life. Every Day. Tuesday april 17, 1990 the stars and stripes