Cohort study, 1991
What causes postpartum blues (mood changes in the week after giving birth)?
A woman's depression history, ability to adjust socially, stressful life events, and estrogen levels after birth all predicted postpartum blues. This suggests postpartum blues is linked to mood disorders, not just hormone changes.
What they did
182 pregnant women were followed from the second trimester through 9 weeks after delivery. During pregnancy, researchers assessed depression history, stress, and social adjustment. They measured hormone levels (progesterone, prolactin, estradiol, estriol, and cortisol) several times during late pregnancy and after birth. After delivery, they assessed postpartum blues.
What they found
Personal and family history of depression, social adjustment, stressful life events, and levels of free and total estriol all predicted postpartum blues.
What it means for you
Postpartum blues involves both psychological factors (depression history, stress, social adjustment) and specific hormone changes (estrogen levels). The study was large and tracked women over time, making it fairly strong evidence. However, hormone levels were only measured at certain timepoints, which limits what we know about hormone patterns.
182
women followed
second trimester
start of follow-up
week 9
end of postpartum follow-up
About the study
- Original title
- Prospective study of postpartum blues. Biologic and psychosocial factors
- Authors
- O'Hara MW, Schlechte JA, Lewis DA et al.
- Journal
- Archives of general psychiatry
- Year
- 1991
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 182
- What was tested
- None (prospective observational study)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1991.01810330025004
Topics
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