Postpartum depression (PPD), now termed perinatal depression by the DSM-5, is a common medical complication.

The majority of available data on the pathophisiology of PPD have been conducted recently. Most of them deal with endocrinological and immunological biomarkers, while only few biochemical/genetic biomarkers have been investigated.

Some robust associations with an increased risk of peripartum depression have been reported with HPA axis, hormonal changes, IL-6, vitamin D, fatty acid, BDNF.

Affective disorders in pregnant women has to be detected as soon as possible and treated with focused therapies in order to reduce the impact of PPD on offsprings.