There can be many causal factors leading to the condition known as postpartum depression (PPD), many of them difficult to pinpoint or quantify. Because it is a disease with no overt physical symptoms, such as a fever or rash, it often is overlooked or misdiagnosed. Often, a woman suffering from the condition never mentions the problems she is having, instead blaming herself for not being a better mother.

In reality, the causes of PPD can be either physical or psychological, being determined either by brain chemistry or the environment. In some cases, the two can combine to make the condition even worse. Also, one causal factor can exacerbate the other, creating a "snowball effect" that makes treatment even more complicated.

Physical Causes

In many ways, PPD is much like other types of depression. A hormonal imbalance causes neurotransmitters in the brain to malfunction and send the person into a funk that is difficult to handle or pull out of. In the case of pregnancy, where hormones already are swinging wildly, this can add to the problem. The condition is seen most acutely after childbirth but it also strikes women during pregnancy, at a time when using certain medications might be discouraged.

This is especially true for women who have a history of depression or a previous episode of PPD during an earlier pregnancy. In cases of a previous incidence of PPD, it is very likely to strike again. Also, for women who take medication for depression and stop using it after they become pregnant, the risk is elevated.

Stress and Anxiety

With all the pressures faced by a new mother, some degree of fatigue and "blues" is normal, but this can be made worse by unusual circumstances. If she is a single mother, or lacks strong support from the father or her family, the added stress can lead to the onset of PPD. This can occur even when there is no history of depression or earlier problems.

Added to the stress of motherhood, the onset of depression can make a woman feel that she is a bad parent. Some degree of anxiety is inescapable, but when it is compounded by extraordinary negative conditions in her surroundings, it can overpower her ability to cope. In these cases, the environmental factors can contribute to the physical factors and deepen the depression.

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