Breastfeeding and antidepressants

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and preeclampsia: A quality assessment and meta-analysis

Serotonin modulates vascular, immune, and neurophysiology and is dysregulated in preeclampsia. Despite biological plausibility that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) prevent preeclampsia pathophysiology, observational studies have indicated increased risk and providers may be hesitant. The objective of this meta-analysis and quality assessment was to evaluate the evidence linking SSRI use in pregnancy to preeclampsia/gestational hypertension. PubMed was searched through June 5, 2020 manually and using combinations of terms: "preeclampsia", "serotonin", and "SSRI". This review followed MOOSE guidelines. Inclusion criteria were: 1) Observational cohort or population study, 2) exposure defined as SSRI use during pregnancy, 3) cases defined as preeclampsia or gestational hypertension, and 4) human participants. Studies were selected that addressed the hypothesis that gestational SSRI use modulates preeclampsia and/or gestational hypertension risk. Review Manager Web was used to synthesize study findings. Articles were read and scored (Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale) for quality by two independent reviewers. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and the Egger test. Of 179 screened studies, nine were included. The pooled risk ratio (random effects model) was 1.43 (95 % CI: 1.15-1.78, P < 0.001; range 0.96-4.86). Two studies were rated as moderate quality (both with total score of 6); others were high quality. Heterogeneity was high (I2 = 88 %) and funnel asymmetry was significant (p < 0.00001). Despite evidence for increased preeclampsia risk with SSRIs, shared risk factors and other variables are poorly controlled. Depression treatment should not be withheld due to perceived gestational hypertension risk. Mechanistic evidence for serotonin modulation in preeclampsia demonstrates a need for future research.

Exclusive Breastfeeding Moderates the Association Between Prenatal and Postpartum Depression

BACKGROUND

Exclusive breastfeeding has a wide range of benefits for maternal health. However, the benefit of exclusive breastfeeding for maternal mental health needs to be further explored.

RESEARCH AIM

To determine the moderating role of exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months on the association between prenatal and postpartum depression.

METHODS

This study had a prospective, longitudinal, and comparative design with two groups and three assessment waves. The sample comprised 334 participants (70 depressed and 264 non-depressed) recruited at public health services in northern Portugal. Participants completed a measure of depression symptoms between the second and the third trimester of pregnancy and between 3 and 6 months, and a measure of breastfeeding status at 3 months.

RESULTS

Exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months moderated the association between prenatal and postpartum depression. Participants with prenatal depression who were exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months showed fewer symptoms of depression and lower rates of depression between 3 and 6 months postpartum, compared to participants with prenatal depression who were not exclusively breastfeeding. Participants without prenatal depression who were exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months showed similar depression symptoms and similar rates of depression between 3 and 6 months postpartum, compared to participants without prenatal depression who were not exclusively breastfeeding.

CONCLUSION

Exclusive breastfeeding has a potential protective influence on postpartum depression among women with prenatal depression. Public health policies targeting women with prenatal depression should be implemented and include practices to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding in order to enhance women's exclusive breastfeeding and mental health.

Impact of Maternal Anxiety on Human Milk Macronutrients Content: A Prospective Observational Study

Objective: The impact of maternal anxiety on the macronutrients content of human milk (HM) is unknown. We hypothesized that maternal stress generated by her infant's hospitalization will affect the mother's breast milk's macronutrients content. Materials and Methods: HM samples (2-3 mL) were collected from 21 mothers whose infants were hospitalized for 2-3 days between August 2016 and November 2017 due to neonatal fever. Samples were provided at three time points: first day of admission, second day of admission, and 1 week after discharge. The maternal anxiety level was measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Milk analyses for macronutrients were performed by infrared transmission spectroscopy. Results: Fat and energy contents of HM on day 7 were significantly higher compared with the day of admission (p = 0.019 and p = 0.022, respectively), whereas they were similar to values on day 2. The maternal anxiety level (STAI) at the time of infant admission was significantly higher than at 1 week after discharge (p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the changes in fat content and changes in the STAI score between admission and 1 week after discharge. Conclusion: Short infant hospitalization is associated with a significant rise in maternal stress; however, macronutrients content of HM remained unaffected.

Screening for and Treating Postpartum Depression and Psychosis: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Objectives Postpartum depression impacts 6.5-12.9% of U.S. women. Postpartum depression is associated with impaired bonding and development, marital discord, suicide, and infanticide. However, the current standard of care is to not screen women for postpartum depression. This study modeled the cost-effectiveness of physicians screening for and treating postpartum depression and psychosis in partnership with a psychiatrist. Methods This study follows a hypothetical cohort of 1000 pregnant women experiencing one live birth over a 2-year time horizon. We used a decision tree model to obtain the outcomes of screening for and treating postpartum depression and psychosis using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. We use a Medicaid payer perspective because they cover approximately 50% of births in the U.S. The cost-effectiveness of the intervention is measured in cost per remission achieved and cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. We conducted both deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Results Screening for and treating postpartum depression and psychosis produced 29 more healthy women at a cost of $943 per woman. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of the intervention branch compared to usual care were $13,857 per QALY gained (below the commonly accepted willingness to pay threshold of $50,000/QALY gained) and $10,182 per remission achieved. These results were robust in both the deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses of input parameters. Conclusions for Practice Screening for and treating postpartum depression is a cost-effective intervention and should be considered as part of usual postnatal care, which aligns with the recently proposed recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

The Relationship Among Breastfeeding, Postpartum Depression, and Postpartum Weight in Mexican American Women

OBJECTIVE

To determine if symptoms of postpartum depression and postpartum weight varied according to the level of breastfeeding among women of Mexican origin at 1 month and 6 months postpartum.

DESIGN

Secondary quantitative analysis to study the differences in postpartum weight and depression among the mothers in the study who breastfed and those who did not.

SETTING

A heavily Hispanic community located in a major Southwestern U.S. city.

PARTICIPANTS

Women of Mexican origin (N = 150) who enrolled during their third trimesters in a local Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children clinic and were followed for 6 months.

METHODS

Weight was measured at 1 month and at 6 months postpartum at home visits with validated digital scales. Breastfeeding was measured according to World Health Organization criteria and recorded after monthly phone calls. Depression was measured at home visits at 1 month and 6 months with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

RESULTS

At 6 months postpartum, participants who did not breastfeed had the highest scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; participants who breastfed nonexclusively had the lowest scores (p = .067). At both time points, there was a significant difference in weight (p = .017) between women who were doing any breastfeeding and women who were not breastfeeding.

CONCLUSION

Breastfeeding, even if not exclusive, contributed to lower depression scores and significantly lower postpartum weight among this sample of Mexican American women.

Depression During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Depression is a common complication of pregnancy and the postpartum period. There are multiple risk factors for peripartum mood disorders, most important of which is a prior history of depression. Both depression and antidepressant medications confer risk upon the infant. Maternal depression has been associated with preterm birth, low birth weight, fetal growth restriction, and postnatal cognitive and emotional complications. Antidepressant exposure has been associated with preterm birth, reductions in birth weight, persistent pulmonary hypertension, and postnatal adaptation syndrome (PNAS) as well as a possible connection with autism spectrum disorder. Paroxetine has been associated with cardiac malformations. Most antidepressant medications are excreted in low levels in breast milk and are generally compatible with breastfeeding. The use of antidepressants during pregnancy and postpartum must be weighed against the risk of untreated depression in the mother.

Predictors of impaired breastfeeding initiation and maintenance in a diverse sample: what is important?

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate socio-demographic, medical and psychological factors that have an impact on breastfeeding.

METHODS

Questionnaires were administered to 330 women prenatally (TI third trimester) and postpartum (TII 3-4 days, TIII 4 months). Medical data were collected from the hospital records. Self-reported data on initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding was collected simultaneously. Primary endpoint was breastfeeding initiation and maintenance. Data analyses were performed using Spearman's ρ correlations between breastfeeding and other study variables and generalized multiple ordinal logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Neonatal admission to the NICU, high BMI, cesarean section, difficulties with breastfeeding initiation and high maternal state anxiety were the strongest predictors of impaired breastfeeding initiation, explaining together 50 % of variance. After 4 months, the strongest predictors of impaired maintenance of breastfeeding were maternal smoking, a high BMI and a history of postpartum anxiety disorder, explaining 30 % of variance.

CONCLUSIONS

Successful initiation and maintenance of breast feeding is a multifactorial process. Our results underline the need of interdisciplinary approaches to optimise breastfeeding outcomes by demonstrating the equality of medical and psychological variables. Whereas practices on maternity wards are crucial for optimal initiation, continuous lifestyle modifying and supporting approaches are essential for breastfeeding maintenance. Healthcare providers can also significantly influence breastfeeding initiation and maintenance by counselling on the importance of maternal BMI.

Hormone-related factors and post-menopausal onset depression: results from KNHANES (2010-2012)

BACKGROUND

Although hypotheses have been proposed regarding the biological mechanisms of hormonal fluctuations in mood disorders, few epidemiological studies have addressed this issue. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hormone-related life events and postmenopausal depression.

METHODS

Of 13,918 women who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) V, a total of 4869 post-menopausal women who had completed information on depression onset age and additional reproductive factors were included in the analysis. A multivariate logistic regression was applied to calculate the odds ratios between reproductive factors and post-menopausal onset depression.

RESULTS

A total of 276 women (5.7%) were diagnosed with depression after menopause. Longer reproductive years were associated with a reduced risk of depression (for more than 35 reproductive years: OR=0.41, 95% CI: 0.27-0.62, P-trend<0.001). Similarly, a later age of menopause (52 years and older) corresponded to a decreased risk of depression (OR=0.35, 95% CI: 0.22-0.55) compared to the women with a menopausal age younger than 46 years. Greater numbers of pregnancies and exogenous hormone use were also associated with increased risk of depression.

LIMITATIONS

All data were collected from interviews using questionnaires. There may be some inaccuracies in recall of lifetime reproductive events, but women generally recalled their hormonal events correctly.

CONCLUSION

Early menopause and the use of exogenous hormones were associated with the risk of post-menopausal depression. Clinicians should closely monitor and consider further screening for depressed women who undergo early menopause or those with exogenous hormone use.

Breastfeeding is negatively affected by prenatal depression and reduces postpartum depression

BACKGROUND

This prospective cohort study explored the effects of prenatal and postpartum depression on breastfeeding and the effect of breastfeeding on postpartum depression.

METHOD

The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was administered to 145 women at the first, second and third trimester, and at the neonatal period and 3 months postpartum. Self-report exclusive breastfeeding since birth was collected at birth and at 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum. Data analyses were performed using repeated-measures ANOVAs and logistic and multiple linear regressions.

RESULTS

Depression scores at the third trimester, but not at 3 months postpartum, were the best predictors of exclusive breastfeeding duration (β = -0.30, t = -2.08, p < 0.05). A significant decrease in depression scores was seen from childbirth to 3 months postpartum in women who maintained exclusive breastfeeding for ⩾3 months (F 1,65 = 3.73, p < 0.10, η p 2 = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that screening for depression symptoms during pregnancy can help to identify women at risk for early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding, and that exclusive breastfeeding may help to reduce symptoms of depression from childbirth to 3 months postpartum.

Breastfeeding and postpartum depression: state of the art review

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature on the association between breastfeeding and postpartum depression.

SOURCES

A review of literature found on MEDLINE/PubMed database.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

The literature consistently shows that breastfeeding provides a wide range of benefits for both the child and the mother. The psychological benefits for the mother are still in need of further research. Some studies point out that pregnancy depression is one of the factors that may contribute to breastfeeding failure. Others studies also suggest an association between breastfeeding and postpartum depression; the direction of this association is still unclear. Breastfeeding can promote hormonal processes that protect mothers against postpartum depression by attenuating cortisol response to stress. It can also reduce the risk of postpartum depression, by helping the regulation of sleep and wake patterns for mother and child, improving mother's self-efficacy and her emotional involvement with the child, reducing the child's temperamental difficulties, and promoting a better interaction between mother and child.

CONCLUSIONS

Studies demonstrate that breastfeeding can protect mothers from postpartum depression, and are starting to clarify which biological and psychological processes may explain this protection. However, there are still equivocal results in the literature that may be explained by the methodological limitations presented by some studies.

Postpartum depression: current status and future directions

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common and serious mental health problem that is associated with maternal suffering and numerous negative consequences for offspring. The first six months after delivery may represent a high-risk time for depression. Estimates of prevalence range from 13% to 19%. Risk factors mirror those typically found with major depression, with the exception of postpartum-specific factors such as sensitivity to hormone changes. Controlled trials of psychological interventions have validated a variety of individual and group interventions. Medication often leads to depression improvement, but in controlled trials there are often no significant differences in outcomes between patients in the medication condition and those in placebo or active control conditions. Reviews converge on recommendations for particular antidepressant medications for use while breastfeeding. Prevention of PPD appears to be feasible and effective. Finally, there is a growing movement to integrate mental health screening into routine primary care for pregnant and postpartum women and to follow up this screening with treatment or referral and with follow-up care. Research and clinical recommendations are made throughout this review.

Postpartum corticosterone administration reduces dendritic complexity and increases the density of mushroom spines of hippocampal CA3 arbours in dams

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 15% of mothers after giving birth. A complete understanding of depression during the postpartum period has yet to be established, although disruptions in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and stress during the postpartum may be involved. To model these components in rats, we administered high corticosterone (CORT) postpartum, which increases immobility in the forced swim test (FST), and reduces maternal care, body weight and hippocampal cell proliferation in dams. The hippocampus is altered in response to chronic stress, exposure to high glucocorticoids and in major depression in humans. In the present study, we examined whether high CORT reduced dendritic complexity and spines in the CA3 region of the hippocampus. Additionally, housing complexity was manipulated so that dams and litters were housed either with tubes (complex) or without tubes (impoverished) to investigate the consequences of new animal care regulations. Dams received 40 mg/kg/day of CORT or oil starting on day 2 postpartum for 23 days. Maternal behaviours were assessed on postpartum days 2-8 and dams were tested using the FST on days 21 and 22. Dams were killed on day 24 and brains were processed for Golgi impregnation. Pyramidal cells in the CA3 subfield were traced using a camera lucida and analysed for branch points and dendritic complexity, as well as spine density and type on both basal and apical arbours. As previously established, high CORT postpartum reduced maternal care and increased immobility in the FST, which is a measure of depressive-like behaviour. High CORT postpartum reduced the complexity of basal arbours and increased mushroom spines on both apical and basal dendrites. Housing complexity had no effect on spines of CA3 pyramidal cells but modest effects on cell morphology. These data show that chronic high CORT in postpartum females alters hippocampal morphology and may provide insight regarding the neurobiological consequences of high stress or CORT during the postpartum period, as well as be relevant for postpartum stress or depression.

Efficacy of light therapy for perinatal depression: a review

Perinatal depression is an important public health problem affecting 10% to 20% of childbearing women. Perinatal depression is associated with significant morbidity, and has enormous consequences for the wellbeing of the mother and child. During the perinatal period, treatment of depression, which could affect the mother and child during pregnancy and lactation, poses a complex problem for both mother and clinician. Bright light therapy may be an attractive treatment for perinatal depression because it is low cost, home-based, and has a much lower side effect profile than pharmacotherapy. The antidepressant effects of bright light are well established, and there are several rationales for expecting that bright light might also be efficacious for perinatal depression. This review describes these rationales, summarizes the available evidence on the efficacy of bright light therapy for perinatal depression, and discusses future directions for investigation of bright light therapy as a treatment for perinatal depression.

Patterns of depression and treatment in pregnant and postpartum women

OBJECTIVE

To determine the course of depression and the effects of treatment during pregnancy and into the postpartum period.

METHOD

This is a longitudinal study of a community sample of 649 pregnant women who were assessed in early pregnancy (17.4 ± 4.9 weeks), late pregnancy (30.6 ± 2.7 weeks), and postpartum (4.2 ± 2.1 weeks) with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Women who scored 12 or more on the EPDS were encouraged to seek assessment and treatment. We used generalized estimating equation modelling to determine the predicted mean depression scores, taking age, ethnicity, history of depression, and previous and present treatment status into account.

RESULTS

The unadjusted prevalence of depression (EPDS ≥ 12) was 14.1% (n = 91) in early pregnancy, 10.4% (n = 62) in late pregnancy, and 8.1% (n = 48) postpartum. Twelve per cent of women were engaged in treatment. The predicted mean EPDS score decreased over the course of the pregnancy into the postpartum period, most significantly when women were engaged in counselling or taking psychotropic medication. Counselling was the more common method of treatment during pregnancy and medication in the postpartum period. Women who were depressed and untreated were more likely to be younger, more stressed, have less support, have a history of depression, and use alcohol.

CONCLUSIONS

We confirm that depressive symptoms improve over the course of the pregnancy into the postpartum period, particularly for women who receive treatment. Our study is unique as it takes the history of depression, present and past treatment status, and the longitudinal nature of the data into account.

Antidepressant drugs and breastfeeding: a review of the literature

The use of antidepressants in breastfeeding mothers is controversial: Manufacters often routinely discourage breastfeeding for the nursing mother despite the well-known positive impact that breastfeeding carries on the health of the nursing infant and on his or her family and society. We conducted a systematic review of drugs commonly used in the treatment of postpartum depression. For every single drug two sets of data were provided: (1) selected pharmacokinetic characteristics such as half-life, milk-to-plasma ratio, protein binding, and oral bioavailability and (2) information about lactational risk, according to some authoritative sources of the literature: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation edited by Briggs et al. (Lippincott Williams, Philadelphia, 2008), Medications and Mothers' Milk by Hale (Hale Publishing, Amarillo, TX, 2010), and the LactMed database of TOXNET ( www.pubmed.gov ; accessed June 2010). Notwithstanding a certain variability of advice, we found that (1) knowledge of pharmacokinetic characteristics are scarcely useful to assess safety and (2) the majority of antidepressants are not usually contraindicated: (a) Selective serotinin reuptake inhibitors and nortryptiline have a better safety profile during lactation, (b) fluoxetine must be used carefully, (c) the tricyclic doxepine and the atypical nefazodone should better be avoided, and (d) lithium, usually considered as contraindicated, has been recently rehabilitated.

Treatment of postpartum depression: clinical, psychological and pharmacological options

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common complication of childbearing, and has increasingly been identified as a major public health problem. Untreated maternal depression has multiple potential negative effects on maternal-infant attachment and child development. Screening for depression in the perinatal period is feasible in multiple primary care or obstetric settings, and can help identify depressed mothers earlier. However, there are multiple barriers to appropriate treatment, including concerns about medication effects in breastfeeding infants. This article reviews the literature and recommendations for the treatment of postpartum depression, with a focus on the range of pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, and other nonpharmacologic interventions.

The use of antidepressants in pregnant and breastfeeding women: a review of recent studies

Antidepressants are one of the most commonly prescribed medications for pregnant and lactating women. However, there have been some recent concerns about their safety. This article summarizes recent research on the impact of untreated depression on the baby, the effects of antidepressants on the baby when prescribed during pregnancy, the short- and longer-term effects of prenatal exposure on infants and children, and the passage of medications into breast milk. Recommendations are made on providing mothers and their health care providers with information so they can make accurate risk/benefit analyses about using these medications while pregnant or breastfeeding.

The impact of mood disorders and their treatment on the pregnant woman, the fetus, and the infant

Treatment of mood disorders in pregnant or nursing women can carry significant risks for the mother and the developing infant. For patients and physicians, it may be difficult to obtain current information to make the proper decisions regarding pharmacologic and alternative treatments. Thus, this paper discusses the risks and benefits of pharmacologic treatment and the risks of not treating depression and bipolar disorder in the pregnant woman. The safety of treatment options is reviewed. Alternative treatment options are also discussed.

Postpartum depression effects on early interactions, parenting, and safety practices: a review

In this paper studies are reviewed from the last decade on postpartum depression effects on early interactions, parenting, safety practices and on early interventions. The interaction disturbances of depressed mothers and their infants appear to be universal, across different cultures and socioeconomic status groups and, include less sensitivity of the mothers and responsivity of the infants. Several caregiving activities also appear to be compromised by postpartum depression including feeding practices, most especially breastfeeding, sleep routines and well-child visits, vaccinations and safety practices. These data highlight the need for universal screening of maternal and paternal depression during the postpartum period. Early interventions reviewed here include psychotherapy and interaction coaching for the mothers, and infant massage for their infants.