The findings of the study were reported in the International Journal of Eating Disorders and were based on evaluations of 1,100 women who had given birth to one or more children.  Dr. Suzanne Masseo and her colleagues at the university found that "baby blues," and postpartum depression were higher among women with eating disorders.



As a matter of fact, reports a recent article in Reuters Health, bulimia nervosa raised the odds of postpartum depression by more than three times while binge-eating disorder raised the odds more than twofold.

The risk for women with eating disorders, notes the study, are equally as high as or higher than the risk for women who have had a history of major depressive disorder during other periods of their lives. 

The study also indicated that women who are “perfectionists” also have similar problems with postpartum depression.  They also found that the “baby blues” correlated with concern over mistakes and doubts about one's abilities. 

"These findings suggest that, among individuals who reported symptoms of postpartum depression...the severity of these symptoms may be accounted for by specific aspects of perfectionism, primarily concern over making mistakes."

The study suggests that doctors should be diligent about questioning their patients as to the presence of binge eating disorders, past or present, and should gauge the levels of the pregnant patient as far as perfectionist tendencies are concerned.