Plasma oxytocin concentration during pregnancy is associated with development of postpartum depression

Skrundz, Marta; Bolten, Margarete; Nast, Irina; Hellhammer, Dirk H.; Meinlschmidt, Gunther

doi:10.1038/npp.2011.74

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Plasma oxytocin concentration during pregnancy is associated with development of postpartum depression
Authors:	Skrundz, Marta Bolten, Margarete Nast, Irina Hellhammer, Dirk H. Meinlschmidt, Gunther
DOI:	10.1038/npp.2011.74
Published in:	Neuropsychopharmacology
Volume(Issue):	36
Issue:	9
Page(s):	1886
Pages to:	1893
Issue Date:	Aug-2011
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Springer
ISSN:	1740-634X 0893-133X
Language:	English
Subjects:	Adult; Biomarkers; Depression, Postpartum; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Oxytocin; Predictive Value of Tests; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors
Subject (DDC):	615: Pharmacology and therapeutics 618: Gynecology, obstetrics and midwifery
Abstract:	Postpartum depression (PPD) affects up to 19% of all women after parturition. The non-apeptide oxytocin (OXT) is involved in adjustment to pregnancy, maternal behavior, and bonding. Our aim was to examine the possible association between plasma OXT during pregnancy and the development of PPD symptoms. A total of 74 healthy, pregnant women were included in this prospective study. During the third trimester of pregnancy and within 2 weeks after parturition, PPD symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Blood samples for plasma OXT assessment were collected in the third trimester. Following the literature, participants with postpartum EPDS scores of 10 or more were regarded as being at risk for PPD development (rPPD group). In a logistic regression analysis, plasma OXT was included as a potential predictor for being at risk for PPD. Results were controlled for prepartal EPDS score, sociodemographic and birth-outcome variables. Plasma OXT concentration in mid-pregnancy significantly predicted PPD symptoms at 2 weeks postpartum. Compared with the no-risk-for-PPD group, the rPPD group was characterized by lower plasma OXT concentrations. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show an association between prepartal plasma OXT concentration and postpartal symptoms of PPD in humans. Assuming a causal relationship, enhancing OXT release during pregnancy could serve as a potential target in prepartum PPD prevention, and help to minimize adverse effects of PPD on the mother-child relationship.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/14573
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Physiotherapy (IPT)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

Files in This Item:

There are no files associated with this item.

Show full item record

Skrundz, M., Bolten, M., Nast, I., Hellhammer, D. H., & Meinlschmidt, G. (2011). Plasma oxytocin concentration during pregnancy is associated with development of postpartum depression. Neuropsychopharmacology, 36(9), 1886–1893. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2011.74

Skrundz, M. et al. (2011) ‘Plasma oxytocin concentration during pregnancy is associated with development of postpartum depression’, Neuropsychopharmacology, 36(9), pp. 1886–1893. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2011.74.

M. Skrundz, M. Bolten, I. Nast, D. H. Hellhammer, and G. Meinlschmidt, “Plasma oxytocin concentration during pregnancy is associated with development of postpartum depression,” Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 36, no. 9, pp. 1886–1893, Aug. 2011, doi: 10.1038/npp.2011.74.

SKRUNDZ, Marta, Margarete BOLTEN, Irina NAST, Dirk H. HELLHAMMER und Gunther MEINLSCHMIDT, 2011. Plasma oxytocin concentration during pregnancy is associated with development of postpartum depression. Neuropsychopharmacology. August 2011. Bd. 36, Nr. 9, S. 1886–1893. DOI 10.1038/npp.2011.74

Skrundz, Marta, Margarete Bolten, Irina Nast, Dirk H. Hellhammer, and Gunther Meinlschmidt. 2011. “Plasma Oxytocin Concentration during Pregnancy Is Associated with Development of Postpartum Depression.” Neuropsychopharmacology 36 (9): 1886–93. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2011.74.

Skrundz, Marta, et al. “Plasma Oxytocin Concentration during Pregnancy Is Associated with Development of Postpartum Depression.” Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 36, no. 9, Aug. 2011, pp. 1886–93, https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2011.74.