Post-partum depression and the effect of nomifensine treatment

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in certain hormonal and biochemical parameters in post-partum depressed women and age and status matched post-partum, non-depressed controls and study the effect of 6 weeks treatment with nomifensine on these parameters in the depressed group. The parameters examined were: plasma oestradiol, progesterone and prolactin concentrations, platelet 3H-serotonin uptake and alpha-2adrenoceptor density and lymphocyte beta-adrenoceptor densities. There was a significant decrease in platelet serotonin uptake rate in the depressed pre-treatment group as compared to controls. Six weeks treatment with nomifensine normalized the rate of uptake in the depressed group. Lymphocyte beta-adrenoceptor density was increased in the untreated depressed group as compared to the control group. This difference was also eliminated by 6 weeks of nomifensine treatment. Both plasma prolactin levels and platelet alpha-adrenoceptor density were decreased in the depressed group following 6 weeks treatment with nomifensine. There was no difference between the untreated depressed and control groups in any of the other parameters studied.