<HTML>Actually, postpartum depression CAN recur after subsequent pregnancies. Remember the woman in TX who had a fifth kid after having SEVERE post-partum depression with the fourth and being advised NOT to have another kid. Of course she also had a controlling husband and other relatives who did not believe in ANY kind of psychiatric intervention. Chemicals would not have fixed any of that, though the placebo might at least have carried the impliction that someone else cared about her suffering. And yes drumming, tapping one's nails and other kinds of tics can be considered obsessive compulsive disorders and ARE sometimes treated with anti-depressants. I have no info about effectiveness rates, but I know this is NOT all pharma co hype. DoreneC In a message dated 8/8/2003 5:31:22 PM GMT Daylight Time, cbcox@ilstu.edu writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Post-partum or post-surgical depression (I think?) often or usually go away on their own, or even if they do require treatment, don't reoccur -- but sometimes they do become chronic. I've often wondered if (like piano-playing, migraine, drumming one's fingers, or poor posture) depression can become a habit (i.e., brain channels become established for it). </BLOCKQUOTE> </HTML>