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Preventing recurrence of postpartum depression by regulating sleep
Verinder Sharma1,2,3, Katherine M Sharkey4, Laura Palagini5
1Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics
|July 18, 2023
Summary
Postpartum depression prevention is challenging due to disorder heterogeneity. Managing sleep disturbances may be more effective than antidepressants for preventing postpartum depression in at-risk women.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Psychiatry
- Mood Disorders
- Preventive Psychiatry
Background:
- Women face a high risk of recurrent depression postpartum.
- Postpartum depression (PPD) is theoretically preventable due to known triggers and a defined risk period.
- Existing prophylactic drug studies show mixed results, potentially due to PPD heterogeneity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review medication and psychotherapy studies for preventing depression in women with major depressive or bipolar disorder.
- To explore the potential of sleep management as a PPD prevention strategy.
Main Methods:
- Review of controlled medication studies for PPD prevention.
- Review of psychotherapeutic studies for PPD prevention.
- Evaluation of sleep management as a PPD prevention strategy.
Main Results:
- Contradictory findings in prophylactic drug studies for PPD prevention.
- Lack of studies on psychotherapy efficacy for PPD prevention in women with pre-existing mood disorders.
- Sleep disturbance identified as a common, early symptom of peripartum psychiatric disorders.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the patient's mood disorder history is crucial for effective PPD prevention.
- Targeting sleep disturbances may offer a more effective PPD prevention strategy than traditional antidepressants for some individuals.
- Further research is needed on psychotherapy's role in PPD prevention for women with major depressive or bipolar disorder.
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