Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that women experience depression about twice as frequently as men. However, there is a growing awareness that the incidence of depression in men is markedly underestimated because of diagnostic bias. Traditional masculinity norms might result in a lack of recognition, and barriers to treatment, of depression in men.
This article reviews the evidence for the specific occurrence of depression in men following the birth of a child as illustrated by the case of a 36 year old first-time father. It further reviews ideas on the etiology of postpartum depression in fathers, and its impact on the family, concluding with a review of treatment options. Finally, a detailed discussion of the attempts at case resolution is given. Unfortunately, though perhaps not unexpectedly, this case failed to return for a follow-up visit and did not respond to efforts to contact him by phone.
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