Tryptophan, cortisol and puerperal mood

Handley, S. L.; Dunn, T. L.; Waldron, G.; Baker, J. M.

doi:10.1192/bjp.136.5.498

Cited by 189Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumTryptophan and brain disordersStress Responses and Cortisol

Tryptophan, cortisol and puerperal mood

Handley, S. L., Dunn, T. L., Waldron, G., Baker, J. M.·1980·British Journal of Psychiatry

DOI 10.1192/bjp.136.5.498

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Abstract

Summary: Plasma Cortisol, free and total tryptophan were determined in 71 subjects on 8 occasions between 36 weeks gestation and 6 weeks post-partum. Affect was measured by rating scales and clinical interview. Twenty-eight subjects were judged to have experienced post-partum ‘blues'. Seasonal variation occurred in the incidence of ‘blues' and in Cortisol and free tryptophan levels. Puerperally-depressed mood was correlated with high Cortisol at 38 weeks irrespective of season. Free tryptophan was reduced in ‘blues' subjects but only at the time of year when free tryptophan was normally high. Total tryptophan was low antenatally; a rapid rise on days 1 and 2 post-partum was superimposed on a slower return to normal. This initial peak was clearly absent in 37 per cent of subjects. Its absence was significantly related to occurrence of post-partum ‘blues' and of complaints of depression in the ensuing 6 months. This finding is discussed in relation to the possible occurrence of an occult disturbance of tryptophan handling in subjects susceptible to depression.

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No established criteria for postpartum blues exist, although O'Hara et al. adapted Handley et al.'s work and proposed diagnostic criteria that yielded a 26% prevalence rate.
“Unfortunately, no established criteria for the blues exist, although O’Hara et al. [46] adapted the work of Handley et al. [48] and proposed diagnostic criteria that led to their determination of a 26% prevalence rate.”
From Perinatal mental illness: Definition, description and aetiology (2014) · cites this paper as [48]

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MethodResult
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MOOD CHANGES IN PUERPERIUM, AND PLASMA TRYPTOPHAN AND CORTISOL CONCENTRATIONS
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Authors: Handley, S. L., Dunn, T. L., Waldron, G., & Baker, J. M.
Affiliations: Aston University (GB)
Corresponding author: Waldron, G.
Baker, J. M.
Venue: British Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
Published: 1980-05
Volume: 136
Issue: 5
Pages: 498-508
ISSN: 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
1472-1465
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.136.5.498
OpenAlex: W2124566723
Cited by: 189
References: 51
Citations by year: 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
FWCI: 9.73
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 13787 d)
Locations: The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords: tryptophan, cortisol, postpartum blues, puerperal depression, postpartum mood, seasonal variation, plasma tryptophan, plasma cortisol, tryptophan metabolism, pregnancy, postpartum depression
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Depression, Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Pregnancy Trimester, Third, Puerperal Disorders, Seasons, Time Factors, Tryptophan, 11-Hydroxycorticosteroids

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Tryptophan, cortisol and puerperal mood

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