fMRI and Endocrinological Studies of Depression and Anxiety Following the Birth or Adoption of a Child Towards a Model of Feminist Science
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Abstract
This paper reviews selected literature between 2000 and 2015 on efforts, through fMRIs and endocrinological studies, to ascertain the causes of depression and anxiety following the birth or adoption of a child and to improve treatment. Typically, only the brains of postpartum women have been studied to determine whether depression and anxiety after the birth or adoption of a child can be associated with changes in the brain. Similarly, endocrinology studies have been limited to women who have recently given birth, and sometimes result in sexist stereotypes about both the causes and impacts of postpartum depression and anxiety, which may compound barriers to recovery. Studying only postpartum women’s brains and attempting to isolate a cause particular to women’s hormones contributes to damaging stereotypes of women, is likely to discourage men from seeking help, and to date does not seem to be productive in leading to effective treatment. Further, the lack of attention to social factors may result in less effective treatment. To improve diagnosis and treatment and to move towards a more equitable model of science, diagnosis of postpartum depression should examine the role of social factors, include others experiencing parental depression besides postpartum women as subjects, and avoid essentialist conclusions.
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