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Hormonal aspects of postpartum depression
M T Abou-Saleh1, R Ghubash, L Karim
1Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Psychoneuroendocrinology
|November 5, 1998
Summary
Postpartum women exhibit altered hormone levels, with lower prolactin and higher progesterone linked to depression. Breastfeeding and previous depression history also impact hormonal profiles and mood.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Psychiatry
- Perinatal Mental Health
Background:
- Postpartum hormonal shifts are significant.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for perinatal mental health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate hormonal differences in pregnant, postpartum, and non-gravid women.
- To correlate specific hormone levels with postpartum depression (PPD) and its predictors.
Main Methods:
- Collected plasma samples for cortisol, prolactin, oestrogen, progesterone, thyroxine, and TSH.
- Assessed 62 postpartum women for depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Present State Examination (PSE).
Main Results:
- Postpartum women showed higher cortisol, prolactin, thyroxine, and oestrogen than controls.
- Depressed postpartum women had lower prolactin and higher progesterone levels.
- Higher thyroxine correlated with concurrent depression severity; higher progesterone and lower prolactin predicted later depression.
Conclusions:
- Hormonal profiles, particularly prolactin and progesterone, are associated with postpartum depression.
- Breastfeeding is linked to lower depression scores and higher prolactin.
- Previous depression history is associated with higher depression scores and altered TSH/prolactin levels.