Lower allopregnanolone during pregnancy predicts postpartum depression: An exploratory study
Lauren M Osborne1, Fiona Gispen1, Abanti Sanyal1
1Women's Mood Disorders Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States.
Psychoneuroendocrinology
|March 10, 2017
Summary
Higher levels of allopregnanolone (ALLO) during pregnancy significantly reduce the risk of postpartum depression (PPD). This neurosteroid may play a crucial role in preventing PPD in women with a history of mood disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neurobiology
- Reproductive Psychiatry
- Perinatal Mental Health
Background:
- Evidence on progesterone and its metabolites in perinatal mood disorders is inconsistent.
- Mood and anxiety disorders can affect women during and after pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between progesterone and allopregnanolone levels during pregnancy and the risk of postpartum depression.
- To explore the role of specific neurosteroids in the development of postpartum depression in at-risk women.
Main Methods:
- Measured second and third trimester (T2 and T3) progesterone (PROG) and allopregnanolone (ALLO) levels using ELISA.
- Assessed postpartum depression (PPD) via clinician interview based on DSM-IV criteria.
- Employed multivariate and logistic regression with general linear mixed effect models for analysis.
Main Results:
- An increase of 1 ng/mL in T2 ALLO was associated with a 63% reduction in PPD risk (95% CI 13% to 84%, p=0.022), after adjustment.
- This finding suggests a significant protective effect of allopregnanolone against postpartum depression.
Conclusions:
- Pregnancy allopregnanolone levels are linked to a reduced risk of developing postpartum depression.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm the relationship between pregnancy ALLO and PPD.
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