Abstract | BACKGROUND:
Postpartum depression is a common complication of childbirth, affecting approximately 13% of women. A hormonal aetiology has long been hypothesised due to the sudden and substantial fluctuations in concentrations of steroid hormones associated with pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period. There is also convincing evidence that oestrogens, progestins, and related compounds have important central nervous system activity at physiological concentrations. OBJECTIVES: SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched The Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register (June 2004), the Cochrane Depression Anxiety and Neurosis Group trials register (July 2004), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (July 2004), MEDLINE (1966 to 2004), EMBASE (1980 to 2004), and CINAHL (1982 to 2004). We scanned secondary references and contacted experts in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA: All published and unpublished randomised controlled trials comparing an oestrogen and progestin intervention with a placebo or usual antepartum, intrapartum, or postpartum care among pregnant women or new mothers recruited within the first year postpartum. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors participated in the evaluation of methodological quality, data extraction, and data analysis. Results are presented using relative risk for categorical data and weighted mean difference for continuous data. MAIN RESULTS: Two trials, involving 229 women, met the selection criteria. Norethisterone enanthate, a synthetic progestogen, administered within 48 hours of delivery was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing postpartum depression. Oestrogen therapy was associated with a greater improvement in depression scores than placebo among women with severe depression. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | Cindy-Lee Dennis, Lori E Ross, Andrew Herxheimer |
Journal | The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
(Cochrane Database Syst Rev)
Issue 4
Pg. CD001690
(Oct 08 2008)
ISSN: 1469-493X [Electronic] England |
PMID | 18843619
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review, Systematic Review)
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Chemical References |
- Estrogens
- Progestins
- norethindrone enanthate
- Norethindrone
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Topics |
- Depression, Postpartum
(drug therapy, prevention & control)
- Estrogens
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Female
- Humans
- Norethindrone
(adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)
- Progestins
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
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