Recent advances and controversies in Peripartum depression
Open accessAbstract
Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to update readers on recent controversies and findings on the underlying biology and clinical management of peripartum depression.Recent findings Topics discussed include the discovery and replication of two epigenetic biomarkers of peripartum depression, two well controlled studies that do NOT find associations between in utero antidepressant exposure and cardiac defects and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and ongoing controversy on whether antidepressant use during pregnancy prevents peripartum depression and whether or not hormonal treatments have a place in the management of postpartum depression.Summary Peripartum depression, or depression during and/or immediately following pregnancy is a unique psychiatric illness that not only may have unique biological underpinnings but demands unique and thoughtful approaches to management due to the developing neonate. A number of controversies exist in this area ranging from the recent terminology change in psychiatry's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual from "postpartum" to "peripartum" depression, to the safety of antidepressant use during pregnancy, to whether or not antidepressants prevent or decrease peripartum depression. Research in this area is growing and a number of exciting developments have occurred including the identification of two epigenetic biomarkers of peripartum depression that may eventually lead to early identification and intervention, the potential for hormonal treatments and the recommendation for and early institution of universal screening for peripartum depression. These topics are explored and put into context from a clinical management perspective.
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- Authors
- Payne, J. L.
- Affiliations
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Payne, Jennifer L.
- ORCID
- Payne, Jennifer L.
- Venue
- Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports
- Published
- 2016-07-01
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 250-256
- ISSN
- 2161-3303 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5158102
- OpenAlex
- W2464725948
- Cited by
- 6
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 0.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH104262, K23MH074799)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Pregnancy-related medical research
- Keywords
- perinatal depression, postpartum depression, epigenetic biomarkers, cardiac defects, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, antidepressant use during pregnancy, hormone therapy, depression screening, neonatal safety
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