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The Hormonal Environment of Postnatal Depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Brian Harris ,
Sandra Johns ,
Hedi Fung ,
Roger Thomas ,
Richard Walker ,
Graham Read  and
Diana Riad-Fahmy
Brian Harris*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff
Sandra Johns
Affiliation:
Cefn Coed Hospital, Swansea
Hedi Fung
Affiliation:
King's College Hospital Group, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS
Roger Thomas
Affiliation:
Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff
Richard Walker
Affiliation:
Tenovus Institute, University of Wales College of Medicine
Graham Read
Affiliation:
Tenovus Institute, University of Wales College of Medicine
Diana Riad-Fahmy
Affiliation:
Tenovus Institute, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

The incidence of postnatal depression is high, and dramatic changes in steroid hormones and prolactin occur in the postpartum period. In an attempt to correlate these events, 147 mothers, six to eight weeks after delivery of a healthy infant, completed standard psychological tests, including the Edinburgh, Montgomery-åsberg, and Raskin scales. They also provided matched samples of plasma for assay of cortisol, oestradiol, progesterone and prolactin, and saliva for assay of cortisol and progesterone. All steroid concentrations were within the appropriate normal ranges. Of the mothers, 14.9% were depressed on all three scales. Significant correlations were seen between depression ratings and salivary progesterone and prolactin. In bottle-feeders, salivary progesterone was positively associated with depression, whereas in breast-feeders it was negatively associated. Plasma prolactin levels were inappropriately low in depressed breast-feeders. These data indicate that differing therapies may be appropriate for depression in breast- and bottle-feeders.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 154 , Issue 5 , May 1989 , pp. 660 - 667
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1989 

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