Perinatal Distress in Fathers: Toward a Gender-Based Screening of Paternal Perinatal Depressive and Affective Disorders

Contemporary research has highlighted the need to assess perinatal distress using gender-specific tools for mothers and fathers . It is essential to develop new instruments to evaluate a broad range of depressive equivalents increasing the sensitivity and specificity of the screening . Currently, a diagnosis of Paternal Perinatal Affective Disorder (PPAD) may reflect a more integrated and inclusive perspective to evaluate men's mental health during the perinatal period. This approach may help in reducing sex disparities and mother-centered bias in the screening practice of the perinatal affective disorders. An appropriate screening of at-risk fathers should constitute an essential prerequisite for perinatal health services, given the impact of psychological distress on maternal health, family adaptation, and child development.