U. S. researchers have said that pediatricians and doctors who treat low-income urban new mothers are advised to be alert to spot postpartum depression.

56 percent of low-income urban mothers met the criteria of a major or minor depressive disorder at some point between two weeks and 14 months after giving birth, said the study, published in the journal Pediatrics.

Dr. Linda Chaudron of University of Rochester Medical Center in New York and study leader said in a statement," This is an unexpected, very high proportion to meet diagnostic criteria for depression. This may be a group at high risk for depression."

198 mothers of 18 years of age or older whose children were no older than 14 months were given diagnostic interviews by Chaudron and colleagues at a Rochester outpatient pediatric clinic for well-baby visits.

The accuracy of three depression screening tools physicians routinely use were also tested by the researchers and it was concluded the tools are highly accurate but cutoff scores may need to be altered to identify depression more accurately among low-income urban mothers. (With Input from Agencies)