Is perinatal depression familial?

Psychiatric emergencies during pregnancy and puerperium in low - And middle-income countries

Pregnancy and puerperium are critical points in women's health, and various psychiatric emergencies may worsen or manifest (for the first time) during this period. In the presence of a psychiatric emergency, the pregnancy and puerperium outcomes may be compromised. In addition to the mother being at risk, the health of the fetus and the newborn may also be compromised if the psychiatric emergency is not managed appropriately. Early detection and collaborative approaches between mental health practitioners and obstetricians are of utmost importance in women who are at risk and those living with psychiatric illnesses during pregnancy and puerperium. Practitioners should also ensure that women with impaired capacity due to psychiatric disease are treated in a non-judgmental and respectful manner, even if their autonomies have been overridden.

Perinatal Depression and Risk of Suicidal Behavior

Importance

Suicidal ideation is common among women with perinatal depression (PND). However, prospective data are limited on the risk, particularly long-term risk, of suicidal behavior (suicide attempt and completed suicide) among women with perinatal depression.

Objective

To examine the association between PND and risk of short- and long-term suicidal behavior.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A nationwide population-matched cohort study was conducted in Sweden including 86 551 women with PND from 2001 to 2017 and 865 510 unaffected women individually matched on age and calendar year at delivery. Sibling comparison was used to account for familial confounding. Data were analyzed from January 2022 to November 2023.

Exposure

PND was identified through depression diagnosis or filled prescriptions of antidepressants from pregnancy to 1 year post partum in registers.

Main Outcomes and Measures

All women were followed up for the first event of suicidal behavior recorded in registers. Hazard ratios (HR) of suicidal behavior were estimated using time-to-event analysis.

Results

Women with PND (86 551 participants) received a diagnosis at a mean (SD) age of 30.67 (5.23) years. During a median (IQR) follow-up of 6.91 (3.62-10.88) years, 3604 events of suicidal behavior (incidence rate [IR], 5.62 per 1000 person-years) were identified among women with PND and 6445 (IR, 1.01 per 1000 person-years) among population-unaffected women. Women with PND had an elevated risk of suicidal behavior when compared with matched unaffected women (HR, 3.15; 95% CI, 2.97-3.35). Comparable, albeit somewhat attenuated, associations were yielded when comparing PND women with their PND-free sisters (HR, 2.75; 95% CI, 2.10-3.61). In the population-matched cohort, the association was greater for postnatal depression and among women without a history of psychiatric disorders. The excess risk was pronounced during the first year after diagnosis (HR, 7.20; 95% CI, 6.07-8.54), yet remained statistically significant during 5 to 18 years of follow-up (HR, 2.34; 95% CI, 2.12-2.57).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this nationwide cohort study, women with PND were at an increased risk of suicidal behavior, particularly within the first year after diagnosis with persistent risk elevations throughout the 18 years of follow-up, highlighting the need for vigilant clinical monitoring of this vulnerable group.

Multiple pregnancy as a potential risk factor for postpartum depression: The Japan Environment and Children's Study

BACKGROUND

Postpartum depression (PPD) results in adverse consequences for both mother and infant. However, the association between multiple pregnancy and PPD is unknown because of the difference in the estimated prevalence rate of PPD based on country, ethnicity, and study type. Thus, this study aimed to determine whether Japanese women with multiple pregnancy were at a high risk of developing PPD at 1 and 6 months postpartum.

METHODS

In this nationwide prospective cohort study (the Japan Environment and Children's Study), conducted between January 2011 and March 2014, 77,419 pregnant women were enrolled. PPD was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) 1 and 6 months postpartum. A score of ≥13 points implied "positive" for PPD. Multiple logistic regression analyses estimated the association between multiple pregnancy and PPD risk.

RESULTS

Overall, 77,419 pregnancies (singleton, n = 76,738; twins, n = 676; triplets, n = 5) were included; 3.6 % and 2.9 % of pregnant women had PPD at 1 and 6 months postpartum, respectively. Compared with singleton pregnancy, multiple pregnancy was not associated with PPD at 1 month, but at 6 months postpartum (adjusted odd ratios: 0.968 [95 % confidence interval {CI}, 0.633-1.481] and 1.554 [95 % CI, 1.046-2.308], respectively).

LIMITATIONS

1) Some potential PPD risk factors could not be evaluated, 2) PPD was not diagnosed by psychiatrists, and 3) depressive symptoms at 6 months postpartum were considered PPD; however, definitions may vary.

CONCLUSIONS

Japanese women with multiple pregnancy may be regarded as a target group for follow-up and postpartum depression screening for at least 6 months during the initial postpartum period.

Increased depressive-like behaviour of postpartum Flinders sensitive and resistant line rats is reversed by a predictable postpartum stressor

During the peripartum period, women are at an increased risk to develop perinatal distress, presenting as symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. Yet, due to practical and ethical restrictions, our understanding of this condition remains limited. Animal studies that focus on the neuropsychiatric mechanisms associated with the postpartum period, often ignore the genetical predisposition factor. We therefore investigated whether pregnancy could alter the bio-behavioural profile of the Flinders sensitive and resistant line rats, and whether these effects are exacerbated by a postpartum stressor. Postpartum dams were compared to nulliparous controls in behavioural tests, analysing depressive- and anxiety-like behaviours. Next, postpartum dams were subjected to a maternal separation and early weaning (MSEW) regimen, with their behaviour and serotonergic and noradrenergic concentrations compared to rats not separated from their pups. Regardless of strain, pregnancy decreased time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze and hippocampal serotonin concentrations. Time spent immobile in the forced swim test was also increased, with a significant effect in the FRL and a strong trend in the FSL rats. MSEW reversed these behaviours in both strains and increased social interaction with a male counterpart in the FSL rats, without influencing hippocampal or cortical serotonin or norepinephrine. Taken together, these results suggest that pregnancy influences postpartum behaviour, in a strain-dependent manner. Contrary to what we expected, MSEW overall decreased depressive- and anxiety-like behaviours, with strain specific differences, indicating that a chronic, predictable stressor may not necessarily adversely affect postpartum behaviour.

The association between pregnancy intention, fertility treatment use, and postpartum depression

RATIONALE

Understanding whether postpartum depressive (PPD) symptoms vary by pregnancy intention and use of fertility treatments has implications for reproductive health policies and practices.

OBJECTIVE

The first aim of this study was to determine whether PPD symptoms differ between women who had unintended pregnancies, women who conceived spontaneously and were unsure about their pregnancy intention, women who used fertility treatments to conceive, and women who conceived spontaneously and intentionally. The second aim was to determine whether PPD symptoms differed based on the fertility treatment used to conceive (fertility drugs only, medicated insemination, or assisted reproductive technology [ART]).

METHODS

Data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (2012-2019), a cross-sectional survey administered to women throughout the U.S. who have recently given birth, was used to carry out our aims.

RESULTS

For the first aim (unweighted N = 243,677), compared to women who had spontaneous, intended pregnancies, women who had unintended pregnancies (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.26-1.39, p < 0.01) and those with spontaneous pregnancies who were unsure about their intention (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.23-1.38, p < 0.01) had higher odds of elevated PPD symptoms, adjusting for a range of covariates. Women who conceived with fertility treatments did not have higher odds of elevated PPD symptoms (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.84-1.10, p = 0.61). For the second aim (unweighted N = 2,210), compared to those in the ART group, those who conceived using only fertility enhancing drugs had greater odds of developing elevated PPD symptoms (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.24-3.24, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that giving birth to an unintended pregnancy in the U.S. increases risk of elevated PPD symptoms. While overall women who conceive with the use of fertility treatments are not at increased risk of experiencing elevated PPD symptoms, there may be variability in risk based on the specific fertility treatments used.

Familial risk of postpartum depression

OBJECTIVE

Many psychiatric diseases have a strong familial aggregation, but it is unknown whether postpartum depression (PPD) without prior psychiatric history aggregates in families.

METHODS

Based on Danish national registers, we constructed a cohort with information on 848,544 singleton deliveries (1996-2017). Women with an episode of PPD were defined as having used antidepressant medication and/or had a hospital contact for depression within 6 months after delivery. Those with psychiatric history prior to the delivery were excluded. We estimated relative risk (RR) of PPD, comparing women with female relatives with and without PPD history, respectively.

RESULTS

Overall, women with a PPD history in female blood relatives had themselves a higher risk of PPD (RR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.16-2.34). Having the first-degree female relative with PPD history was associated with a more than 2.5 times (RR = 2.65, 95% CI 1.79-3.91) increased risk of PPD. However, having the second/third-degree female relative and/or a female non-blood relative with PPD history did not increase the woman's own risk of PPD (RR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.26-1.28, RR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.83-1.44).

CONCLUSION

Postpartum depression aggregates in families with no other psychiatric history, but the findings do not support a strong genetic trait as a major cause. Other possible mechanisms are shared environment and/or health-seeking behavior in close relationships.

Family History of Psychiatric Disorders as a Risk Factor for Maternal Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance

Current evidence on the association between family history of psychiatric disorders and postpartum depression is inconsistent; family studies have identified familial risk of postpartum depression, whereas systematic reviews and umbrella reviews, compiling all risk factors for postpartum depression, often have not.

Objective

To investigate the association between family history of psychiatric disorders and risk of developing postpartum depression within 12 months post partum.

Data Sources

Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO in September 2021 and updated in March 2022, accompanied by citation and reference search.

Study Selection

Studies eligible for inclusion comprised peer-reviewed cohort and case-control studies reporting an odds ratio (OR) or sufficient data to calculate one for the association between family history of any psychiatric disorder and postpartum depression. Study selection was made by 2 independent reviewers: title and abstract screening followed by full-text screening.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Reporting was performed using the MOOSE checklist. Two reviewers independently extracted predefined information and assessed included studies for risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data were pooled in a meta-analysis using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was investigated with meta-regression, subgroup, and sensitivity analyses. Publication bias was investigated using a funnel plot, and GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) was used to evaluate the overall certainty of the findings.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the pooled association between family history of psychiatric disorders and postpartum depression.

Results

A total of 26 studies were included, containing information on 100 877 women. Meta-analysis showed an increased OR of developing postpartum depression when mothers had a family history of psychiatric disorders (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.67-2.59; I2 = 57.14%) corresponding to a risk ratio of 1.79 (95% CI, 1.52-2.09), assuming a 15% postpartum depression prevalence in the general population. Subgroup, sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses were in line with the primary analysis. The overall certainty of evidence was deemed as moderate according to GRADE.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, there was moderate certainty of evidence for an almost 2-fold higher risk of developing postpartum depression among mothers who have a family history of any psychiatric disorder compared with mothers without.

Family history of psychiatric disorders as a risk factor for maternal postpartum depression: a systematic review protocol

BACKGROUND

Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common postpartum psychiatric disorder, affecting 11-15% of new mothers, and initiatives towards early identification and treatment are essential due to detrimental consequences. Family history of psychiatric disorders is a risk factor for developing psychiatric episodes outside the postpartum period, but evidence of the association between familial risk and PPD is not clear. Hence, the objective of this systematic review is to summarize the current literature on the association between family history of psychiatric disorders and PPD.

METHODS

This protocol has been developed and reported according to the PRISMA-P guidelines for systematic reviews. A comprehensive literature search will be conducted in PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO from inception of the databases, supplemented with citation tracking and reference screening of the included studies. Two independent authors will examine all retrieved articles for inclusion in two steps: title/abstract screening and full-text screening. Eligible studies are case-control and cohort studies reporting a risk estimate for the association between family history of psychiatric disorders and PPD. Studies will be assessed for risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The association between family psychiatry and PPD will be combined in a meta-analysis using a restricted maximum likelihood method (REML). Heterogeneity will be quantified using I² and investigated through meta-regression, subgroup and sensitivity analyses, and publication bias will be evaluated via visual inspection of a funnel plot. The overall strength and quality of the findings will be evaluated using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach. If meta-analysis is not possible, data will be synthesized narratively in text and tables.

DISCUSSION

This systematic review will be the first to summarize current knowledge and present an overall estimate for the association between family history of psychiatric disorders and PPD. Evaluation of psychiatric family history as a PPD risk factor is essential to assist early identification of women at high risk of PPD in routine perinatal care.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO ID: 277998 (registered 10th of September 2021).

Risk factors associated with postpartum depressive symptoms: A multinational study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between maternal age, parity, gestational number (singleton vs twin), newborn gender and self-reported postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) in a large multinational sample using survey data from a digital telephone application.

METHODS

Women using the Flo app answered a survey (available in 10 languages) from January 2018 to April 2020. A survey question asking about emotional state was used to determine the presence of PDS. Chi-squared statistics were used to compare groups. A weighted mean prevalence was calculated based upon the socioeconomic status and reproductive population of each country in 2020.

RESULTS

Over a million women from 138 countries participated. Of all respondents, 9.4% endorsed PDS. The weighted mean prevalence of PDS was 11%. We found that PDS decreased with advancing age. First-time mothers reported higher rates of PDS. Twin births were associated with a higher symptom burden than singleton births and mothers of twins in the oldest age group reported the greatest burden. We did not find a clinically significant difference in rates of PDS between mothers of singleton girls and boys.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine risk factors for postpartum symptoms using the same survey across a large international population. These results can further research and clinical aims to identify and treat maternal depression more effectively.

LIMITATIONS

Data was aggregated, thereby limiting analysis of individual associations. The survey was self-report and not diagnostic for postpartum depression. Generalizability of risks of postpartum depression should be approached with caution.

Parental Prenatal Symptoms of Depression and Offspring Symptoms of ADHD: A Genetically Informed Intergenerational Study

Objective: The primary aim of the present study was to separate the direct effect of maternal prenatal depression on offspring ADHD from the passive transmission of genetic liability. Method: A children-of-twins and siblings design including 17,070 extended-family units participating in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study was used. Self-ratings were obtained from parents using the Symptom Checklist during pregnancy. Maternal ratings using Conner's Parent Rating Scale were obtained when the children were 5 years of age. Results: Genetic influences were important for explaining similarity between parents and offspring. There was also evidence for a maternal effect after accounting for genetic transmission (m = 0.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.02, 0.09]). Conclusion: Our results were consistent with hypotheses suggesting that maternal prenatal depression influences symptoms of ADHD in offspring. However, the effect was weak and a substantial portion of the association could be accounted for by shared genetic influences.

Clinical characteristics of bipolar disorders with postpartum depressive onset

BACKGROUND

Postpartum period is associated with an increased risk of bipolar disorder diagnosis and relapse, mainly major depressive episode. Onset during this period might be associated with specific characteristics.

AIM

To compare the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of parous women presenting with bipolar disorder and an index depressive episode occurring during or outside the postpartum period.

METHODS

Using the multicenter cohort FACE-BD (FondaMental Academic Centers of Expertise for Bipolar Disorders), we considered all women who started their BD with a major depressive episode and have at least one child. We compared two groups depending on the onset: in or outside the postpartum period.

RESULTS

Among the 759 women who started BD with a major depressive episode, 93 (12.2%) had a postpartum onset, and 666 (87.8%) had not. Women who started BD in the postpartum period with a major depressive episode have a more stable family life, more children, an older age at onset, more Bipolar 2 disorder, less history of suicide attempts, less depressive episodes and more mood stabilizer treatments as compared to those who started with a major depressive episode outside the postpartum period. The multivariable logistic regression showed that women with an onset in the postpartum period had significantly more children, less lifetime depressive episodes and a lower rate of history of suicide attempts as compared to women with an onset outside the postpartum period.

DISCUSSION

Our results suggest that women starting their BD with postpartum depression have a more favorable course of BD, especially less history of suicide attempt and less lifetime depressive episodes.

Steroid Hormone Sensitivity in Reproductive Mood Disorders: On the Role of the GABAA Receptor Complex and Stress During Hormonal Transitions

Women worldwide are two to three times more likely to suffer from depression in their lifetime than are men. Female risk for depressive symptoms is particularly high during the reproductive years between menarche and menopause. The term “Reproductive Mood Disorders” refers to depressive disorders triggered by hormonal fluctuations during reproductive transitions including the perimenarchal phase, the pre-menstrual phase, pregnancy, the peripartum period and the perimenopausal transition.

Here we focus on reproductive mood disorders manifesting in adult life. We propose a research agenda that draws together several reproductive mood disorders and investigates which genetic, endocrinological, neural, and psychosocial factors can explain depressive symptoms during phases of hormonal transitions in women. Based on current research it is assumed that some women experience an increased sensitivity to not only fluctuations in reproductive steroids (estrogen and progesterone), but also stress-related steroids. We integrate both dynamics into the concept of “steroid hormone sensitivity,” expanding on the concept of “reproductive hormone sensitivity.” We suggest that a differential response of the stress steroid system including corticosteroids, neurosteroids, like allopregnanolone and the GABA-A Receptor complex, as well as a differential (epi)genetic risk in serotonergic and GABAergic signaling, are moderators or mediators between changes in the reproductive steroid system and the physiological, affective, and cognitive outcomes manifesting in reproductive mood disorders. We point to the lack of research on the role of psychosocial factors in increasing a woman's stress level and at some point also the sensitivity of her stress steroid system within the etiology of Reproductive Mood Disorders.

Drawing together the evidence on various reproductive mood disorders we seek to present a basis for the development of more effective pharmacological, social, and psychological treatment interventions and prevention strategies for women susceptible to these disorders. This could pave the way for new research as well as medical and psychological teaching and practice- such as a new type of Practice for Gynecological Psychoneuroendocrinology- with the aim of working on and ultimately offering more integrative forms of support not yet available to women suffering from depression during hormonal transitions. In medical history women have been left alone with this integrative challenge.

Postpartum Depression: Current Status and Possible Identification Using Biomarkers

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious health issue that can affect about 15% of the female population within after giving birth. It often conveys significant negative consequences to the offsprings. The symptoms and risk factors are somewhat similar to those found in non-postpartum depression. The main difference resides in the fact that PPD is triggered by postpartum specific factors, including especially biological changes in the hormone levels. Patients are usually diagnosed using a questionnaire onsite or in a clinic. Treatment of PPD often involves psychotherapy and antidepressant medications. In recent years, there have been more researches on the identification of biological markers for PPD. In this review, we will focus on the current research status of PPD, with an emphasis on the recent progress made on the identification of PPD biomarkers.

Prevalence of postpartum depression at the clinic for obstetrics and gynecology in Kosovo teaching hospital: Demographic, obstetric and psychosocial risk factors

INTRODUCTION

Postpartum depression affects 10 up to 15 % of women of childbearing age in industrialized countries and presents significant public health problem which leads to short and long-term consequences for mother, child and her family. However, social determinants, including poverty, gender stereotypes, domestic violence, gender discrimination and cultural differences make this medical issue more problematic in less developed countries. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors of postpartum depression at the Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology in Pristina, Kosovo (a tertiary referral center).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective observational cohort study was conducted from June 2019 to October 2019 at the Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology in Pristina, Kosovo. A total of 247 delivery women were screened for postpartum depression at 6 weeks following delivery using the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Socio-demographic, obstetric and psychologic factors were tested as predictors of PPD using bivariate or multivariate logistic regression analysis (Logit model). Odds ratio (OR) with 95 % confidence intervals were calculated for each risk factor. The p values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The prevalence of PPD at the Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology in Kosovo teaching hospital was 21 % at 6 weeks following childbirth. The bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis identified four predictor variables for postpartum depression: pregnancy complications (OR 1.057; 95 % CI; 1.002-1.114 and P = 0.040); fear of childbirth (OR 1.121; 95 % CI; 1.057-1.190 and P = 0.00016); prenatal depression or anxiety (OR 1.088; 95 % CI; 1.032-1.147 and P = 0.0018); poor marital relation (OR 1.085, 95 % CI; 1.002-1.174 and P = 0.044). No statistically significant association was found between the postpartum depression (PPD) and maternal age, education, employment, family type, smoking, previous abortion, parity, household income, social support, child gender, birthweight, and breast feeding.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of postpartum depression in our setting and its known adverse effects on woman, infant and her family implies an urgent need for evidence-based interventions. Such interventions are needed to promote knowledge of perinatal mental illness and improve maternal mental health in particular in less developed countries. Future efforts should address early identification of high-risk women, assessment of risk factor during the antenatal period, early postpartum depression screening and timely therapeutic approaches, to improve social and psychological functioning of the woman.

The peripartum human brain: Current understanding and future perspectives

The peripartum period offers a unique opportunity to improve our understanding of how dramatic fluctuations in endogenous ovarian hormones affect the human brain and behavior. This notwithstanding, peripartum depression remains an underdiagnosed and undertreated disorder. Here, we review recent neuroimaging findings with respect to the neuroplastic changes in the maternal brain during pregnancy and the postpartum period. We seek to provide an overview of multimodal neuroimaging designs of current peripartum depression models of hormone withdrawal, changes in monoaminergic signaling, and maladaptive neuroplasticity, which likely lead to the development of a condition that puts the lives of mother and infant at risk. We discuss the need to effectively integrate the available information on psychosocial and neurobiological risk factors contributing to individual vulnerability. Finally, we propose a systematic approach to neuroimaging the peripartum brain that acknowledges important co-morbidities and variation in disease onset.

Polygenic prediction of the risk of perinatal depressive symptoms

BACKGROUND

Perinatal depression carries adverse effects on maternal health and child development, but genetic underpinnings remain unclear. We investigated the polygenic risk of perinatal depressive symptoms.

METHODS

About 742 women from the prospective Prediction and Prevention of Pre-eclampsia and Intrauterine Growth Restriction cohort were genotyped and completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale 14 times during the prenatal period and twice up to 12 months postpartum. Polygenic risk scores for major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and cross-disorder were calculated using multiple p-value thresholds.

RESULTS

Polygenic risk scores for major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and cross-disorder, but not bipolar disorder, were associated with higher prenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms (0.8%-1% increase per one standard deviation increase in polygenic risk scores). Prenatal depressive symptoms accounted for and mediated the associations between the polygenic risk scores and postpartum depressive symptoms (effect size proportions-mediated: 52.2%-88.0%). Further, the polygenic risk scores were associated with 1.24-1.45-fold odds to belong to the group displaying consistently high compared with consistently low depressive symptoms through out the prenatal and postpartum periods.

CONCLUSIONS

Polygenic risk scores for major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and cross-disorder in non-perinatal populations generalize to perinatal depressive symptoms and may afford to identify women for timely preventive interventions.

Neuroendocrine Effects of Lactation and Hormone-Gene-Environment Interactions

While correlational studies suggest that lactation may confer a certain level of protection from mental illness, this benefit is not uniformly expressed in all women who choose to breastfeed. We propose here that the neuroendocrine "resetting" induced by lactation may predispose toward positive affect states in a subset of hormone-sensitive mothers, with hormone-gene and hormone-environment interactions determining the ultimate psychological outcome. We find evidence to suggest that higher secretion of prolactin/oxytocin as well as lower secretion of vasopression/androgens in lactating mothers may protect against postpartum depression and anxiety, decrease levels of irritability, and optimize stress responses. On the other hand, while the abrupt withdrawal of estradiol/progesterone in the immediate postpartum period tends to be associated with adverse psychological outcomes, the chronic suppression of estrogens/progestogens induced by lactation may have antidepressant and anxiolytic effects over time. Finally, the hypo-cortisolemic state seen in lactating mothers appears to be associated with improved stress reactivity and circadian rhythms. We also discuss hormone-gene and hormone-environment interactions likely to modulate any potential psychological benefits related to lactation and focus on those factors that are either easy to screen for or known to be modifiable. In sum, neuroendocrine alterations induced by lactation may play a key role in determining reproductive psychiatric risk in a subset of hormone-sensitive women. Using these neuroendocrine factors as an individualized index of risk can help in devising targeted programs to support these women in pursuing lactation or, for those not able or willing, accessing psychological interventions in a timely manner.

Genetic risk scores for major psychiatric disorders and the risk of postpartum psychiatric disorders

Postpartum psychiatric disorders are heritable, but how genetic liability varies by other significant risk factors is unknown. We aimed to (1) estimate associations of genetic risk scores (GRS) for major depression (MD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (SCZ) with postpartum psychiatric disorders, (2) examine differences by prior psychiatric history, and (3) compare genetic and familial risk of postpartum psychiatric disorders. We conducted a nested case-control study based on Danish population-based registers of all women in the iPSYCH2012 cohort who had given birth before December 31, 2015 (n = 8850). Cases were women with a diagnosed psychiatric disorder or a filled psychotropic prescription within one year after delivery (n = 5829 cases, 3021 controls). Association analyses were conducted between GRS calculated from Psychiatric Genomics Consortium discovery meta-analyses for MD, BD, and SCZ and case-control status of a postpartum psychiatric disorder. Parental psychiatric history was associated with postpartum psychiatric disorders among women with previous psychiatric history (OR, 1.14; 95% CI 1.02-1.28) but not without psychiatric history (OR, 1.08; 95% CI: 0.81-1.43). GRS for MD was associated with an increased risk of postpartum psychiatric disorders in both women with (OR, 1.44; 95% CI: 1.19-1.74) and without (OR, 1.88; 95% CI: 1.26-2.81) personal psychiatric history. SCZ GRS was only minimally associated with postpartum disorders and BD GRS was not. Results suggest GRS of lifetime psychiatric illness can be applied to the postpartum period, which may provide clues about distinct environmental or genetic elements of postpartum psychiatric disorders and ultimately help identify vulnerable groups.

Stress-related genetic polymorphisms in association with peripartum depression symptoms and stress hormones: A longitudinal population-based study

Individual differences in the response of the stress system to hormonal changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period render some women susceptible to developing depression. The present study sought to investigate peripartum depression and stress hormones in relation to stress-related genotypes. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to assess peripartum depressive symptoms in a sample of 1629 women, followed from pregnancy week seventeen to six months postpartum. Genotypes of ninety-four haplotype-tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in sixteen genes of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis pathway were analyzed and data on psychosocial and demographic factors was collected. In sub-studies, salivary cortisol awakening response in gestational week 35-39, salivary evening cortisol levels in gestational week 36 and postpartum week 6, and blood cortisol and cortisone levels in gestational week 35-39 were analyzed. SNP-set kernel association tests were performed at the gene-level, considering psychosocial and demographic factors, followed by post-hoc analyses of SNPs of significant genes. Statistically significant findings at the 0.05 p-level included SNPs in the hydroxysteroid 11-beta dehydrogenase 1 (HSD11B1) gene in relation to self-rated depression scores in postpartum week six among all participants, and serpin family A member 6 (SERPINA6) gene at the same time-point among women with de novo onset of postpartum depression. SNPs in these genes also associated with stress hormone levels during pregnancy. The present study adds knowledge to the neurobiological basis of peripartum depression by systematically assessing SNPs in stress-regulatory genes and stress-hormone levels in a population-based sample of women.

The international postpartum depression: action towards causes and treatment (PACT) consortium

The International Postpartum depression: Action towards Causes and Treatment (PACT) Consortium was founded with the overarching goal of creating an international perinatal psychiatry consortium to conduct novel investigations with large sample sizes to understand the genetic signature of perinatal mood disorders. PACT uses a collaborative and team science approach that includes investigators across 19 institutions and seven continents. The large sample sizes allow for statistically rigorous analyses to investigate perinatal psychiatric disorders, with an initial focus on postpartum depression (PPD). Our current aims are to identify clinical sub-types of PPD that contribute diagnostic heterogeneity, and to elucidate the genetic basis of PPD by conducting the first large genome-wide association study of PPD. To accomplish the latter aim, we are partnering with the Major Depressive Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. To date, our consortium members have recruited 17,912 participants and 11,344 participants have been identified using the PPD ACT mobile app, of which 8,432 are PPD cases. Ultimately, we hope this approach will improve detection, diagnosis, and treatment of women who suffer from perinatal psychiatric disorders.

Toward a framework for best practices and research guidelines for perinatal depression research

This review article highlights the current state of perinatal depression (PND) research including established standards of care and innovative research in progress. PND can have a significant adverse impact on mother, child, and family; however, to date, wide-scale identification, prevention, and treatment have been limited. PND is heterogenous in presentation with likely multifactorial etiologies for each woman. Challenges in PND research are discussed including a need for universal tools, standardized measures, benchmarks, and best practices. Current examples are reviewed that highlight approaches to novel treatment paradigms and interventions. This includes reviewing epidemiologic studies in PND research, examining the biological underpinnings of PND, and discussing examples from this field and other fields currently developing translational research that spans from bench to bedside. Current and future challenges and opportunities in developing best practices for the treatment of PND are outlined. We also discuss the use of the NIMH Research Domain Criteria approach for PND research and provide recommendations for future directions in PND research collaboration. In conclusion, greater precision in perinatal psychiatry can be possible in the future with the development of guidelines and best practices that build on current work and apply innovative and collaborative approaches of scientists, providers, patients, community members, and government officials.

Pathophysiological mechanisms implicated in postpartum depression

This review aims to summarize the diverse proposed pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to postpartum depression, highlighting both clinical and basic science research findings. The risk factors for developing postpartum depression are discussed, which may provide insight into potential neurobiological underpinnings. The evidence supporting a role for neuroendocrine changes, neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter alterations, circuit dysfunction, and the involvement of genetics and epigenetics in the pathophysiology of postpartum depression are discussed. This review integrates clinical and preclinical findings and highlights the diversity in the patient population, in which numerous pathophysiological changes may contribute to this disorder. Finally, we attempt to integrate these findings to understand how diverse neurobiological changes may contribute to a common pathological phenotype. This review is meant to serve as a comprehensive resource reviewing the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms underlying postpartum depression.

Impact, Diagnosis, Phenomenology, and Biology

This section provides summaries of the epidemiology, phenomenology, nosology, and the suspected biological substrates of the depressive disorders. It particularly emphasizes the historical evolution of the pertinent diagnostic constructs and the prognostic import both of the various diagnostic groupings and of the individual symptoms and symptom clusters.

Familiality of Psychiatric Disorders and Risk of Postpartum Psychiatric Episodes: A Population-Based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

Postpartum psychiatric disorders are common and morbid complications of pregnancy. The authors sought to evaluate how family history of psychiatric disorders is associated with postpartum psychiatric disorders in proband mothers with and without a prior psychiatric history by assessing degree of relationship, type of disorder, and sex of family members.

METHOD

The authors linked Danish birth and psychiatric treatment registers to evaluate familial risk of postpartum psychiatric episodes in a national population-based cohort. Probands were first-time mothers who were born in Denmark in 1970 or later and who gave birth after age 15 and before Dec. 31, 2012 (N=362,462). The primary exposure was a diagnosed psychiatric disorder in a relative. Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratio of postpartum psychiatric disorders in proband mothers.

RESULTS

The relative risk of psychiatric disorders in the postpartum period was elevated when first-degree family members had a psychiatric disorder (hazard ratio=1.45, 95% CI=1.28-1.65) and highest when proband mothers had a first-degree family member with bipolar disorder (hazard ratio=2.86, 95% CI=1.88-4.35). Associations were stronger among proband mothers with no previous psychiatric history. There were no notable differences by sex of the family member.

CONCLUSIONS

Family history of psychiatric disorders, especially bipolar disorder, is an important risk factor for postpartum psychiatric disorders. To assist in identification of women at risk for postpartum psychiatric disorders, questions related to female and male first-degree relatives with bipolar disorder are of the highest importance and should be added to routine clinical screening guidelines to improve prediction of risk.

The comparison of socioeconomic status, perceived social support and mental status in women of reproductive age experiencing and not experiencing domestic violence in Iran

BACKGROUND

Given the significant health effects of domestic violence against women, the present study was conducted in 2016, in Tehran, Iran in order to compare the socioeconomic status, perceived social support and mental status in women of reproductive age experiencing and not experiencing domestic violence.

METHODS

This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 women. The data collection tools used included questionnaires: demographic information, Socioeconomic, Beck's Depression, Spielberger's Anxiety, Cohen's Perceived Stress, Sarason's Perceived Social Support and WHO's Domestic Violence Inventory.

RESULTS

The results showed that 43.2% of women said they had experienced at least one case of domestic violence, among which 16.4%, 15% and 36.6% of women had experienced physical, sexual and emotional-verbal types of violence, respectively. The mean age (p less than 0.001) and educational level (p=0/018) of violated women and their spouses (p less than 0.001) were lower than those of non-violated women. Furthermore, violated women experienced lower socioeconomic status (p less than 0.05), higher perceived stress (p less than 0.008), higher depression (p less than 0.001), and higher overt anxiety (0.002. They also perceived lower levels of social support (p less than 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The issue of domestic violence was rather prevalent in the participants of the present study, particularly the younger, less educated and more socioeconomically deprived communities and families.

Reproductive Affective Disorders: a Review of the Genetic Evidence for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and Postpartum Depression

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this study is to review and summarize the literature exploring the genetic basis for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and postpartum depression (PPD).

RECENT FINDINGS

There is more evidence for a genetic basis for PPD than for PMDD, but only when PPD is defined as beginning in the immediate postpartum time period. Familial, genome-wide linkage and association studies, and candidate gene studies, most in the past 10 years, have examined the genetic etiology of reproductive affective disorders, including PMDD and PPD. The most commonly studied genes include SERT, COMT, MAOA, BDNF, and ESR1 and 2. This qualitative review of the recent literature finds limited evidence so far for the genetic basis for PMDD, with both familial and candidate gene studies having negative or conflicting results. Evidence is stronger for the genetic basis for PPD, with positive associations found in family studies and in several genes associated with major depression as well as genes involved in estrogen signaling but only when PPD onset is shortly after delivery. Epigenetic biomarkers on genes responsive to estrogen have also been found to predict PPD. Our findings underscore the need for additional studies with larger samples, as well as the crucial importance of timing in the definition of PPD for genetic studies.

Associations between a polymorphism in the hydroxysteroid (11-beta) dehydrogenase 1 gene, neuroticism and postpartum depression

BACKGROUND

This study examined the association between a single nucleotide polymorphism in the hydroxysteroid (11-beta) dehydrogenase 1 gene and neuroticism, as well as the possible mediatory role of neuroticism in the association between the polymorphism and postpartum depressive symptoms.

METHODS

769 women received questionnaires containing the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at six weeks postpartum and demographic data at pregnancy week 17 and 32 and at six weeks postpartum, as well as the Swedish universities Scales of Personality at pregnancy week 32.

RESULTS

Linear regression models showed an association between the GG genotype and depressive symptoms. When neuroticism was introduced in the model, it was associated with EPDS score, whereas the association between the GG genotype and EPDS became borderline significant. A path analysis showed that neuroticism had a mediatory role in the association between the polymorphism and EPDS score.

LIMITATIONS

The use of the EPDS, which is a self-reporting instrument.

CONCLUSIONS

Neuroticism was associated with the polymorphism and had a mediatory role in the association between the polymorphism and postpartum depression. This finding elucidates the genetic background of neuroticism and postpartum depression.

MID-PREGNANCY CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE LEVELS IN ASSOCIATION WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS

BACKGROUND

Peripartum depression is a common cause of pregnancy- and postpartum-related morbidity. The production of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the placenta alters the profile of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis hormones and may be associated with postpartum depression. The purpose of this study was to assess, in nondepressed pregnant women, the possible association between CRH levels in pregnancy and depressive symptoms postpartum.

METHODS

A questionnaire containing demographic data and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was filled in gestational weeks 17 and 32, and 6 week postpartum. Blood samples were collected in week 17 for assessment of CRH. A logistic regression model was constructed, using postpartum EPDS score as the dependent variable and log-transformed CRH levels as the independent variable. Confounding factors were included in the model. Subanalyses after exclusion of study subjects with preterm birth, newborns small for gestational age (SGA), and women on corticosteroids were performed.

RESULTS

Five hundred thirty-five women without depressive symptoms during pregnancy were included. Logistic regression showed an association between high CRH levels in gestational week 17 and postpartum depressive symptoms, before and after controlling for several confounders (unadjusted OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.01-1.22; adjusted OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.02-1.26; per 0.1 unit increase in log CRH). Exclusion of women with preterm birth and newborns SGA as well as women who used inhalation corticosteroids during pregnancy did not alter the results.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests an association between high CRH levels in gestational week 17 and the development of postpartum depressive symptoms, among women without depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

Recent Advances and Controversies in Peripartum Depression

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to update readers on recent controversies and findings on the underlying biology and clinical management of peripartum depression.

RECENT FINDINGS

Topics discussed include the discovery and replication of two epigenetic biomarkers of peripartum depression, two well controlled studies that do NOT find associations between in utero antidepressant exposure and cardiac defects and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and ongoing controversy on whether antidepressant use during pregnancy prevents peripartum depression and whether or not hormonal treatments have a place in the management of postpartum depression.

SUMMARY

Peripartum depression, or depression during and/or immediately following pregnancy is a unique psychiatric illness that not only may have unique biological underpinnings but demands unique and thoughtful approaches to management due to the developing neonate. A number of controversies exist in this area ranging from the recent terminology change in psychiatry's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual from "postpartum" to "peripartum" depression, to the safety of antidepressant use during pregnancy, to whether or not antidepressants prevent or decrease peripartum depression. Research in this area is growing and a number of exciting developments have occurred including the identification of two epigenetic biomarkers of peripartum depression that may eventually lead to early identification and intervention, the potential for hormonal treatments and the recommendation for and early institution of universal screening for peripartum depression. These topics are explored and put into context from a clinical management perspective.

Clinical features of and risk factors for major depression with history of postpartum episodes in Han Chinese women: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

We sought to investigate the clinical features of and risk factors for recurrent major depression (MD) with history of postpartum episodes (PPD) in Han Chinese women and the differences between first-onset postpartum MD (MD that has its first lifetime depressive episode in the postpartum period) and first-onset non-postpartum MD (MD with history of PPD and has its first lifetime depressive episode in a period other than postpartum).

METHODS

Data were derived from the China, Oxford and Virginia Commonwealth University Experimental Research on Genetic Epidemiology (CONVERGE) study (N=6017 cases) and analyzed in two steps. We first examined the clinical features of and risk factors for MD patients with (N=981) or without (N=4410) a history of PPD. We then compared the differences between first-onset postpartum MD (N=583) and first-onset non-postpartum MD (N=398) in those with a history of PPD. Linear, logistic and multinomial logistic models were employed to measure the associations.

RESULTS

A history of PPD was associated with more guilt feelings, greater psychiatric comorbidity, higher neuroticism, earlier onset and more chronicity (OR 0.2-2.8). Severe premenstrual symptoms (PMS) and more childbirths increased the risk of PPD, as did a family history of MD, childhood sexual abuse, stressful life events and lack of social support (OR 1.1-1.3). In the MD with history of PPD subsample, first-onset postpartum MD was associated with fewer recurrent major depressive episodes, less psychiatric comorbidity, lower neuroticism, less severe PMS and fewer disagreements with their husbands (OR 0.5-0.8), but more childbirths (OR 1.2).

LIMITATIONS

Data were obtained retrospectively through interview and recall bias may have affected the results.

CONCLUSIONS

MD with history of PPD in Han Chinese women is typically chronic and severe, with particular risk factors including severe PMS and more childbirths. First-onset postpartum MD and first-onset non-postpartum MD can be partly differentiated by their clinical features and risk factors, but are not clearly distinctive.

Psychiatric consultation to the postpartum mother

The immediate postpartum period is a time of acute vulnerability to mental illness, which presents unique challenges for the psychiatric consultant. Because the postpartum hospital stay is typically brief, the consultant must have a working knowledge of postpartum physiology and the myriad forms of mental illness that may emerge in this vulnerable time, in order to quickly make a diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan. This review aims to characterize the most common reasons for postpartum consultation, review postpartum physiology and psychiatric conditions, and propose an evidence-based, practical approach to treatment. A literature search using the terms "postpartum," "obstetric," "consultation," and "psychiatry" yielded six studies that identified reasons for psychiatric consultation to the obstetrics and gynecology services. These studies informed the structure of the article such that we review the most common reasons for consultation and how to approach each issue. The most common reason for consultation is past psychiatric history, often in the absence of current symptoms. For each clinical situation, including depression, adverse birth events, and psychosis, we present a differential diagnosis, as well as risk factors, clinical signs, and recommended treatment.

Postpartum depression: A systematic review of the genetics involved

Postpartum depression is one of the most prevalent psychopathologies. Its prevalence is estimated to be between 10% and 15%. Despite its multifactorial etiology, it is known that genetics play an important role in the genesis of this disorder. This paper reviews epidemiological evidence supporting the role of genetics in postpartum depression (PPD). The main objectives of this review are to determine which genes and polymorphisms are associated with PPD and discuss how this association may occur. In addition, this paper explores whether these genes are somehow related to or even the same as those linked to Major Depression (MD). To identify gaps in the current knowledge that require investigation, a systematic review was conducted in the electronic databases PubMed, LILACS and SciELO using the index terms “postpartum depression” and “genetics”. Literature searches for articles in peer-reviewed journals were made until April 2014. PPD was indexed 56 times with genetics. The inclusion criteria were articles in Portuguese, Spanish or English that were available by institutional means or sent by authors upon request; this search resulted in 20 papers. Genes and polymorphisms traditionally related to MD, which are those involved in the serotonin, catecholamine, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and tryptophan metabolism, have been the most studied, and some have been related to PPD. The results are conflicting and some depend on epigenetics, which makes the data incipient. Further studies are required to determine the genes that are involved in PPD and establish the nature of the relationship between these genes and PPD.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function during perinatal depression

Abnormal function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is an important pathological finding in pregnant women exhibiting major depressive disorder. They show high levels of cortisol pro-inflammatory cytokines, hypothalamic-pituitary peptide hormones and catecholamines, along with low dehydroepiandrosterone levels in plasma. During pregnancy, the TH2 balance together with the immune system and placental factors play crucial roles in the development of the fetal allograft to full term. These factors, when altered, may generate a persistent dysfunction of the HPA axis that may lead to an overt transfer of cortisol and toxicity to the fetus at the expense of reduced activity of placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2. Epigenetic modifications also may contribute to the dysregulation of the HPA axis. Affective disorders in pregnant women should be taken seriously, and therapies focused on preventing the deleterious effects of stressors should be implemented to promote the welfare of both mother and baby.

The Influence of genetic factors on peripartum depression: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

This systematic review aimed to explore the potential influence of genetic factors on the symptoms of peripartum depression and to critically analyze the methodologies employed by the examined studies.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature indexed prior to July 2014 identified 200 articles. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 39 papers were included.

RESULTS

The papers predominantly featured a molecular genetic approach (n=35), and the majority examined polymorphisms (n=27). Most studies used samples of Caucasians living in high income countries. The results suggest that the influence of genetic factors become more consistent when methodological variations among the studies are considered. Environmental stressors are also important variables that influence the relationship between genetic factors and peripartum depressive states. In addition, differences in the influence of genetic factors were observed depending upon the precise time point during pregnancy or the postpartum period that was examined in the studies. The late stages of pregnancy and the early postpartum period were times of greater genetic vulnerability.

LIMITATIONS

This study was limited by the small number of papers reviewed and by the lack of information regarding whether the effects of genetics on peripartum depression are specific to certain ethnicities and/or stressors.

CONCLUSIONS

Genetic studies of perinatal depression reinforce a pathophysiological role of the hormonal changes inherent in the childbirth period. However, the distinction between depressive episodes that begin during pregnancy from those that begin during the postpartum period can still be useful to improve our understanding of the physiopathology of depressive disorders.

Family history, not lack of medication use, is associated with the development of postpartum depression in a high-risk sample

We sought to determine clinical predictors of postpartum depression (PPD), including the role of medication, in a sample of women followed prospectively during and after pregnancy. Women with a history of mood disorder were recruited and evaluated during each trimester and 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postpartum. DSM-IV criteria for a major depressive episode were assessed by a psychiatric interview at each time point. Sixty-three women with major depression and 30 women with bipolar disorder entered the study and 75.4 % met DSM-IV criteria for a MDE during pregnancy, postpartum, or both. We modeled depression in a given time period (second trimester, third trimester, or 1 month postpartum) as a function of medication use during the preceding period (first, second, or third trimester). The odds of being depressed for those who did not use medication in the previous period was approximately 2.8 times that of those who used medication (OR 2.79, 95 % CI 1.38-5.66, p = 0.0048). Of 38 subjects who were psychiatrically well during the third trimester, 39.5 % (N = 15) met the criteria for a MDE by 4 weeks postpartum. In women who developed PPD, there was a high rate of a family history of PPD (53.3 %) compared to women who did not develop PPD (11.8 %, p = 0.02). While the use of psychiatric medications during pregnancy reduced the odds of being depressed overall, the use of psychiatric medications during pregnancy may not protect against PPD in women at high risk, particularly those with a family history of PPD.

The role of reproductive hormones in postpartum depression

Despite decades of research aimed at identifying the causes of postpartum depression (PPD), PPD remains common, and the causes are poorly understood. Many have attributed the onset of PPD to the rapid perinatal change in reproductive hormones. Although a number of human and nonhuman animal studies support the role of reproductive hormones in PPD, several studies have failed to detect an association between hormone concentrations and PPD. The purpose of this review is to examine the hypothesis that fluctuations in reproductive hormone levels during pregnancy and the postpartum period trigger PPD in susceptible women. We discuss and integrate the literature on animal models of PPD and human studies of reproductive hormones and PPD. We also discuss alternative biological models of PPD to demonstrate the potential for multiple PPD phenotypes and to describe the complex interplay of changing reproductive hormones and alterations in thyroid function, immune function, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, lactogenic hormones, and genetic expression that may contribute to affective dysfunction. There are 3 primary lines of inquiry that have addressed the role of reproductive hormones in PPD: nonhuman animal studies, correlational studies of postpartum hormone levels and mood symptoms, and hormone manipulation studies. Reproductive hormones influence virtually every biological system implicated in PPD, and a subgroup of women seem to be particularly sensitive to the effects of perinatal changes in hormone levels. We propose that these women constitute a "hormone-sensitive" PPD phenotype, which should be studied independent of other PPD phenotypes to identify underlying pathophysiology and develop novel treatment targets.

State and trait anxiety as a psychopathological phenomenon correlated with postpartum depression in a Romanian sample: a pilot study

The current study aimed to investigate the rate of postpartum depression and its correlation with both state and trait anxiety. A cross-sectional study was performed on 80 mothers monitored in the Ambulatory of "Bega" Obstetrics Clinic from Timisoara. The presence of depression was assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, using a cut-off ≥ 10. State anxiety was assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory and anchored visual analogue scales. Trait anxiety was dimensionally assessed using the Karolinska Scale of Personality (KSP). More than half of recruited mothers presented a global score significant for postpartum depression (N = 43, 53.8%). Both perspectives of anxiety, as a state (p < 0.001) and as personality traits (e.g. p = 0.003 for psychic anxiety), were significantly correlated with postpartum depression. Furthermore, the levels of worry related to self-perceived health status of both mother and infant were significant in mothers with postpartum depression. We can conclude that postpartum depression was a highly-frequent psychopathological phenomenon among mothers from this sample set. In addition, both state and trait anxiety were common co-occurring clinical features.

Systematic review of gamma-aminobutyric-acid inhibitory deficits across the reproductive life cycle

Deficiencies in the inhibitory functioning of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of depressive disorders. Reproductive life cycle events, including menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, are consistently associated with increased psychopathology, in particular mood disorders. Given that GABA-inhibitory activity may be modulated directly or indirectly by estrogen, progesterone, and their metabolites receptors, it has been hypothesized that GABA deficits may be evident during these reproductive periods. We aimed to compare GABA function among women during these "high-risk" reproductive periods to GABA function among women at other time periods. We conducted a systematic review of studies comparing women during reproductive life stages associated with depressive disorder risk (luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, perinatal period, and menopausal transition) to women at other time periods. The study outcome was GABA function. The review included 11 studies, 9 focused on the menstrual cycle, and 2 focused on the perinatal period. GABA-inhibitory function fluctuated across the menstrual cycle, with differing patterns in women with and without depressive disorders. GABA-inhibitory function was reduced in pregnancy and early postpartum compared to the nonpregnant state. Key limitations were the absence of studies evaluating the menopausal transition, and the heterogeneity of GABA outcome measures. GABA-inhibitory function fluctuates across the menstrual cycle and is reduced perinatally. This has potential implications for a role of GABAergically mediated interventions in the prevention and treatment of menstrual cycle-related and perinatal depressive disorders.

Genetic variants in the genes of the stress hormone signalling pathway and depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy

Purpose. The aim of this study was to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes of the stress hormone signaling pathway, specifically FKBP5, NR3C1, and CRHR1, are associated with depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy. Methods. The Franconian Maternal Health Evaluation Study (FRAMES) recruited healthy pregnant women prospectively for the assessment of maternal and fetal health including the assessment of depressiveness. The German version of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was completed at three time points in this prospective cohort study. Visit 1 was at study entry in the third trimester of the pregnancy, visit 2 was shortly after birth, and visit 3 was 6–8 months after birth. Germline DNA was collected from 361 pregnant women. Nine SNPs in the above mentioned genes were genotyped. After construction of haplotypes for each gene, a multifactorial linear mixed model was performed to analyse the depression values over time. Results. EPDS values were within expected ranges and comparable to previously published studies. Neither did the depression scores differ for comparisons among haplotypes at fixed time points nor did the change over time differ among haplotypes for the examined genes. No haplotype showed significant associations with depressive symptoms severity during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Conclusion. The analysed candidate haplotypes in FKBP5, NR3C1, and CRHR1 did not show an association with depression scores as assessed by EPDS in this cohort of healthy unselected pregnant women.

Association study of the estrogen receptor gene ESR1 with postpartum depression--a pilot study

Perinatal mood disorders, such as postpartum depression (PPD), are costly for society, with potentially serious consequences for mother and child. While multiple genes appear to play a role in PPD susceptibility, the contributions of specific genetic variations remain unclear. Previously implicated as a candidate gene, the estrogen receptor alpha gene (ESR1) is a key player in mediating hormonal differences during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This study addresses genetic factors in perinatal mood disorders, testing nine polymorphisms in ESR1. Two hundred fifty-seven postpartum women were screened for mood disorders, including 52 women with PPD and 32 without any symptoms of mood disorders. We detected a significant association for the upstream TA microsatellite repeat with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores (p = 0.007). The same variant was also associated with the occurrence of PPD. Separately, 11 candidate functional polymorphisms in 7 additional genes were genotyped to investigate gene-gene interaction with the ESR1 TA repeat, identifying a potential interaction with the serotonin transporter. Our results support a role for ESR1 in the etiology of PPD, possibly through the modulation of serotonin signaling. Our findings for ESR1 could have broad implications for other disorders and therapies that involve estrogens.

Oxytocin and postpartum depression: delivering on what's known and what's not

The role of oxytocin in the treatment of postpartum depression has been a topic of growing interest. This subject carries important implications, given that postpartum depression can have detrimental effects on both the mother and her infant, with lifelong consequences for infant socioemotional and cognitive development. In recent years, oxytocin has received attention for its potential role in many neuropsychiatric conditions beyond its well-described functions in childbirth and lactation. In the present review, we present available data on the clinical characteristics and neuroendocrine foundations of postpartum depression. We outline current treatment modalities and their limitations, and proceed to evaluate the potential role of oxytocin in the treatment of postpartum depression. The aim of the present review is twofold: (a) to bring together evidence from animal and human research concerning the role of oxytocin in postpartum depression, and (b) to highlight areas that deserve further research in order to bring a fuller understanding of oxytocin's therapeutic potential. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin and Social Behav.

Association of glucocorticoid and type 1 corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors gene variants and risk for depression during pregnancy and post-partum

Women with postnatal depression (PND) appear to have abnormal hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis responses to stress, which might involve a genetic variability component. We investigated association of genetic variants in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR, NR3C1) and corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) genes with increased risk for PND. Two hundred pregnant women were recruited prospectively and PND risk was assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) during pregnancy and again 2-8 weeks post-natally (CW-GAPND study). The BclI and ER22/23EK single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the GR and the haplotype-tagged rs1876828, rs242939 and rs242941 SNPs of the CRHR1 associated with genetic risk to depressive disorders were genotyped. A cut-off score of 10 was used to detect increased risk of PND. Association analysis was carried out in 140 patients that completed the study protocol. The BclI and rs242939 SNPs were over-represented in women with postnatal EPDS score ≥10 with significant allele association (p = 0.011 and <0.001, respectively) and risk ratios of 2.9 (95% CI: 1.2-6.9) for BclI, 4.9 (2-12) for rs242939 and 5.48 (2.13-14.10) for both. The rs242939 SNP was also associated with increased EPDS values during pregnancy. Moreover, the G-G-T haplotype of the CRHR1 was significantly over-represented in patients with high EPDS scores, with risk ratio of 3.22 (95% CI: 1.91-5.42). This is the first evidence that specific SNPs of genes involved in 'stress' responses might contribute in the genetics of high-risk for depression during pregnancy and postpartum.

The long-term psychiatric and medical prognosis of perinatal mental illness

The perinatal period provides an important window into a woman's long-term health. Perinatal mental illness is a common condition conferring potential serious long-term psychiatric and medical consequences for the mother and family. It is known that childbirth acts as a powerful trigger for depressive episodes in some women, and that women with histories of a mood disorder are particularly vulnerable. Some evidence links perinatal mental illness with obstetrical complications and reduced lactation initiation and duration. Therefore, perinatal mental illness may be a marker for long-term risk, and may contribute directly to subsequent cardiometabolic disease through both neuroendocrine mechanisms and the effects of mental illness on health behaviours. In clinical practice, these associations underscore the importance of screening and treating women with perinatal mental illness to ensure best possible long-term outcomes. Early screening and treatment may both mitigate the primary disease process and reduce the risk of comorbid medical conditions.

Biological aspects of postpartum depression

In comparison with the vast epidemiological literature on postpartum depression (PPD), relatively few studies have examined the biological aspects of the disorder. However, research into the biological mechanisms of PPD is a challenging task, as normal pregnancy and the postpartum period cause adaptive endocrine changes, which would otherwise be considered pathological in nonpregnant women. This review focuses on the adaptive changes of childbearing and nursing, which ultimately may put women at increased risk of PPD. In light of the normal physiology, the authors also attempt to describe the current evidence of the biological changes associated with the development of depression in the postpartum period, including ovarian steroids, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the serotonergic neurotransmitter system, the thyroid system and inflammatory markers. In addition, current knowledge on candidate genes associated with PPD is reviewed.

Genetic variants in the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene (TPH2) and depression during and after pregnancy

BACKGROUND

A number of studies indicate that altered serotonergic transmission may be a risk factor for depression in the peripartum period. The aim of this study was to investigate whether genetic polymorphisms in the TPH2 gene, the gene product of which is the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin in the central nervous system, are associated with depressive symptoms in pregnancy and the postpartum period.

METHODS

In a cohort of 361 Caucasians, the severity of depression was assessed prospectively during pregnancy (third trimester) and the postpartum period (2-3 days and 6-8 months) using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TPH2 and SNPs that are known to be of functional relevance were genotyped. For each haplotype block or SNP, a multifactorial linear mixed model was performed to analyse the EPDS values over time.

RESULTS

The haplotype block in the promoter region of TPH2 showed significant associations with depression values during pregnancy and 6-8 months afterwards. Additionally, a haplotype block in intron 8 had an influence on depression values during pregnancy, but not after birth. There was a significant interaction between time and haplotypes and the severity of depression. The effect of TPH2 haplotypes on EPDS values was strongest during pregnancy and 6 months after birth, with a low depression rating in the first few days after delivery for all women.

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort, TPH2 haplotypes known to be of functional relevance were found to be associated with different EPDS values during and after pregnancy. These haplotypes were associated with depressive symptoms both before and after delivery and were thus not specific for postpartum-onset depression. This underlines the relevance of these functional polymorphisms for depression in general and the importance of longitudinal assessments in research on postpartum depression.

Diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of mood disorders in pregnant and postpartum women

Mood disorders disproportionately affect women across the lifespan. Mood disorders in pregnancy and the postpartum period are common and have profound implications for women and their children. These include obstetric and neonatal complications, impaired mother-infant interactions, and, at the extreme, maternal suicide and infanticide. Because obstetrician-gynecologists are often the first (and sometimes the only) point of contact for young women in the health care system, familiarity with the presentation and treatment of depressive illness in the perinatal period is imperative. The goal of this review is to synthesize essential information on depressive illness in the perinatal period with a focus on its most common and severe presentations, major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Accurate diagnosis of unipolar major depressive disorder from bipolar disorder can facilitate the selection of the best possible treatment alternatives. Counseling may be sufficient for perinatal women who have mild to moderate depression, but women who are severely depressed are likely to require antidepressant treatment. Women with bipolar disorder are at high risk for relapse if mood stabilizer medication is discontinued, and they are vulnerable to relapse near the time of delivery. Comanagement of their care with psychiatrists will increase their chances of avoiding a recurrence of illness.

Perfectionism dimensions in major postpartum depression

BACKGROUND

Although perfectionism from a multidimensional perspective has generally been associated with depressive illness, there are not many studies on its role in major depression in the postnatal period. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between perfectionism dimensions using the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) and major postpartum depression.

METHODS

One-hundred-twenty-two women with major postpartum depression (SCID-I; DSM-IV) and 115 healthy postpartum women were evaluated using the FMPS, an instrument for the assessment of six perfectionism dimensions: concern over mistakes, personal standards, parental expectations, parental criticism, doubt about actions and organisation. Other variables were also considered: neuroticism, psychiatric history, social support, life events and genotype combinations according to serotonin transporter expression (5-HTTLPR and Stin2 VNTR polymorphisms).

RESULTS

The prevalence of high-perfectionism was higher in major postpartum depression group than in control group (34% vs. 11%; p<0.001). Multivariate models confirmed high-perfectionism as an independent factor associated with major postpartum depression. Specifically, the high-concern over mistakes dimension increased over four-fold the odds of major depression in postpartum period. (OR=4.14; 95% CI=1.24-13.81) Neuroticism, personal psychiatric history and 5-HTT low-expressing genotypes at one of the loci were also identified as independent factors.

CONCLUSIONS

High-perfectionism, and particularly high-concern over mistakes is a personality dimension associated with major postpartum depression. The inclusion of perfectionism assessment, together with others factors, may be considered in order to improve the detection of women at risk of postpartum depression, in whom early intervention may be of benefit.