California, February 3, 2009: According to U.S. researchers, evaluating levels of pCRH (placental corticotrophin-releasing hormone) midway during pregnancy can help in determining a woman’s risk of postnatal depression.
For the study purposes, 100 women were taken into account. Levels of pCRH were tested in these women who were 25 weeks pregnant. This was useful in anticipating three quarters of those women who developed “baby blues”.
Blood samples were collected from expecting mothers at two medical centres in California at 15, 19, 25, 31 and 37 weeks of pregnancy. Any probable indicators of depression were evaluated during the last four pregnancy visits and almost after every 8.7 weeks during post-pregnancy period.
It was found that 16 women developed postnatal depression symptoms. In addition, it was also discovered that future probability of depression can be measured more accurately if depressive symptoms in the middle of pregnancy are considered.
Researchers believe if this test is confirmed to be effective in a large-scale study, it can be used to determine postnatal depression risks.
Earlier also there have been studies which have devloped into understanding the hormonal behavior during pregnancy. But this is the first-of-its kind study which focuses on the connection between depression and pCRH levels.
Around 10-15 percent of women suffer from postnatal depression. There are many factors that contribute to the same. These include a stressful lifestyle, lack of a strong social support system, low self-esteem and anxiety during pregnancy etc.
The levels of pCRH rise to high levels during pregnancy and this in turn increases the production of cortisol. This helps the body in coping up with stress.
But after delivery, pCRH levels come down significantly and so the cortisol production also suffers. Researchers believe that women possessing high pCRH levels show a more dramatic dip.
The current study findings have been published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Depression, pCRH and other correlates
I read a lot of articles on depression, and a lot of blogs just repeat the same material over and over, but this is pretty new to me.
I guess what I'm wondering is, considering omega-3 and specifically eicosapentaenoic acid helps with depression, as does vitamin d (chole calciferol)... What kind of effect does it have on pCRH levels? If both have the potential to help with postnatal depression, do they also help pCRH fall more rapidly than, if say, a person was deficient in essential fatty acids (which is common in Western diet) or Vitamin D.
Vitamin D deficiency is also pretty common, particularly among vulnerable populations: the obese, the aged, individuals with a high skin melanin content. Maybe this is next up on the researchers plate!
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