Abstract | BACKGROUND:
Postnatal depression, with a prevalence of at least 10%, is probably the most common complication of the puerperium. A deficiency or imbalance of sex hormones has repeatedly been suggested as a cause. OBJECTIVES: SEARCH STRATEGY: The register of clinical trials maintained and updated by the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group. SELECTION CRITERIA: All trials were considered in which pregnant or postpartum women (up to 18 months) were randomised to receive postpartum oestrogen or progestogen or placebo for the treatment or prevention of postnatal depression. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two published randomised placebo controlled trials were identified for inclusion in the analyses for this review. One study was excluded. MAIN RESULTS: Depot norethisterone enanthate given within 48 hours of delivery and lasting 8-12 weeks was associated with significantly higher postpartum depression scores than placebo. Oestrogen therapy in severely depressed women was associated with a greater improvement in depression scores than placebo. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | T A Lawrie, A Herxheimer, K Dalton |
Journal | The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
(Cochrane Database Syst Rev)
Issue 2
Pg. CD001690
( 2000)
ISSN: 1469-493X [Electronic] England |
PMID | 10796270
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review, Systematic Review)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Depression, Postpartum
(drug therapy)
- Estrogens
(therapeutic use)
- Female
- Humans
- Progestins
(therapeutic use)
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