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

Jerry Guintivano1, Karen T Putnam1, Patrick F Sullivan1,2,3

  • 1a Department of Psychiatry , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.

International Review of Psychiatry (Abingdon, England)
|February 28, 2019
PubMed

Insights

The International Postpartum Depression: Action towards Causes and Treatment (PACT) Consortium is investigating the genetic basis of postpartum depression (PPD). This global effort aims to improve diagnosis and treatment for women experiencing perinatal mood disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal Psychiatry
  • Genetics
  • Psychiatric Epidemiology

Background:

  • Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant mood disorder affecting women after childbirth.
  • Understanding the genetic underpinnings of PPD is crucial for improving diagnostic and treatment strategies.
  • Existing research often lacks the large sample sizes needed for robust genetic analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish an international perinatal psychiatry consortium (PACT) for large-scale investigations.
  • To identify clinical subtypes of PPD contributing to diagnostic heterogeneity.
  • To elucidate the genetic basis of PPD through a genome-wide association study.

Main Methods:

  • Collaborative team science approach involving 19 institutions across seven continents.
  • Recruitment of a large cohort of participants for PPD research.
  • Utilizing a mobile app (PPD ACT) for participant identification and data collection.
  • Partnership with the Major Depressive Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium for genetic analysis.

Main Results:

  • Recruited 17,912 participants to date.
  • Identified 11,344 participants via the PPD ACT mobile app.
  • Confirmed 8,432 PPD cases within the study cohort.
  • Initiated the first large-scale genome-wide association study for PPD.

Conclusions:

  • The PACT Consortium is generating a large dataset to enable statistically rigorous investigation of PPD.
  • Identifying PPD subtypes and genetic factors will enhance diagnostic accuracy.
  • The ultimate goal is to improve the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of perinatal mood disorders.

Keywords:
PACT ConsortiumPerinatal psychiatrygeneticspostpartum depressionsymptom heterogeneity

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