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The biological underpinnings of perinatal depressive symptoms: A multi-systems approach

S Nazzari1, P Fearon2, F Rice3

  • 1Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Child Psychopathology Unit, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.

Journal of Affective Disorders
|July 16, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Perinatal depression is linked to stress and inflammation markers during pregnancy. Higher depressive symptoms correlated with elevated Interleukin-6 and altered cortisol patterns, but not postpartum.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal mental health
  • Psychoneuroimmunology
  • Stress physiology

Background:

  • Perinatal depression is common, yet its biological underpinnings, particularly stress and inflammatory system alterations, remain unclear.
  • Existing research on the association between depressive symptoms and stress/inflammatory responses is less coherent during the perinatal period.
  • This study investigates perinatal depressive symptoms in relation to multiple stress and inflammatory biomarkers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine cross-sectional and prospective associations between perinatal depressive symptoms and key stress and inflammatory biomarkers.
  • To assess these associations in late pregnancy and postpartum.
  • To explore the relationship between inflammation and stress markers in women with antenatal depressive symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • 110 healthy women were assessed in late pregnancy and 89 postpartum.
  • Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.
  • Serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-Reactive Protein (CRP), diurnal salivary cortisol, and diurnal salivary alpha amylase (sAA) were measured.

Main Results:

  • Higher depressive symptoms during pregnancy were associated with elevated IL-6 levels and altered diurnal cortisol patterns (lower morning levels, flatter slope).
  • No significant associations were found postpartum or with changes in biomarker levels from pre- to post-partum.
  • Preliminary evidence suggests a positive association between inflammation and stress markers in women with higher antenatal depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Findings highlight the need for a multi-systems approach to understand the biological basis of perinatal depression.
  • Stress-immune interactions are a promising area for future research into perinatal mood disorders.
  • Integrated assessment of stress and inflammatory biomarkers offers insights into perinatal depression.
Abstract

Keywords:
Alpha-amylaseCortisolDepressionInflammationPostpartumPregnancy

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