Association between physical and depressive symptoms during the first 6 months postpartum

Indirect comparisons of relative efficacy estimates of zuranolone and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for postpartum depression

AIMS

Estimate relative efficacy of zuranolone, a novel oral, Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for postpartum depression (PPD) in adults vs. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and combination therapies used for PPD in the United States.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for zuranolone and SSRIs, identified from systematic review, were used to construct evidence networks, linking via common comparator arms. Due to heterogeneity in placebo responses, matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) was applied, statistically weighting the zuranolone treatment arm of Phase 3 SKYLARK Study (NCT04442503) to the placebo arm of RCTs investigating SSRIs for PPD. MAIC outputs were applied in Bucher indirect treatment comparisons (ITCs) and network meta-analysis (NMA), using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) change from baseline (CFB) on Days 3, 15, 28 (Month 1), 45, and last observation (Day 45, Week 12/18).

RESULTS

Larger EPDS CFB was observed among zuranolone-treated vs. SSRI-treated patients from Day 15 onward. Zuranolone-treated (vs. SSRI-treated) patients exhibited 4.22-point larger reduction in EPDS by Day 15 (95% confidence interval: -6.16, -2.28) and 7.43-point larger reduction at Day 45 (-9.84, -5.02) with Bucher ITC. NMA showed EPDS reduction for zuranolone was 4.52 (-6.40, -2.65) points larger than SSRIs by Day 15 and 7.16 (-9.47, -4.85) larger at Day 45. Lack of overlap between study populations substantially reduced effective sample size post-matching, making HAMD-17 CFB analysis infeasible.

LIMITATIONS

Limited population overlap between SKYLARK Study and RCTs reduced feasibility of undertaking HAMD-17 CFB ITCs and may introduce uncertainty to EPDS CFB ITC results.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis showed zuranolone-treated patients with PPD experienced greater symptom improvement than SSRI-treated patients from Day 15 onward, with largest mean difference at Day 45. Adjusting for differences between placebo arms, zuranolone may be associated with greater PPD symptom improvement (measured by EPDS) vs. SSRIs.

Antenatal Depression Symptoms Among Pregnant Women Seeking Health Services in Erbil, Iraq

INTRODUCTION

Maternal depression, which includes depression in the prenatal and postpartum periods, is estimated to affect between 10 and 20% of women globally but the rate is higher in the Middle East. Research focused on maternal depression in Iraq is limited to one study focused on postpartum depression. This paper identifies the prevalence and factors associated with antenatal depression among pregnant Iraqi women.

METHODS

Women seeking maternal health services at primary health centers were invited to participate. Data were collected by trained midwifery students in Erbil, Iraq. Responses to the PHQ-2 PRIME-MD depression questions were used to identify depressive symptoms. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were used to analyze findings.

RESULTS

Of the 179 participants, 86 (48%) reported depressive symptoms. In bivariate analysis, antenatal depression was associated with gestational age (p = 0.03), first prenatal visit in the second trimester (p = 0.003), loss of appetite (p = 0.003), not having help at home (p = 0.03), and use of prenatal vitamins (p = 0.002). Gravida approached significance (p = 0.07). In adjusted analysis, women reporting loss of appetite were more likely to report depressive symptoms (OR = 3.09, 95% CI: 1.47-6.51).

DISCUSSION

Consistent with other research from the region, nearly half the women reported depressive symptoms. Because lack of appetite is associated with depressive symptoms, women reporting loss of appetite should be prioritized for depression screening in time-constrained settings.

Adesão à consulta puerperal: facilitadores e barreiras

Resumo Objetivos identificar a prevalência de adesão e não adesão à consulta puerperal, assim como facilitadores e barreiras, entre puérperas assistidas em um hospital de ensino. Método estudo de coorte prospectivo, realizado com 121 puérperas, no período de agosto a dezembro de 2019, nas dependências de um hospital de ensino do interior de Minas Gerais. Resultados a prevalência de adesão à consulta puerperal foi de 34,7%. Observou-se, como facilitador, o acolhimento da equipe durante o pré-natal e/ou parto. Citaram-se como barreiras: esquecimento; intercorrências com o RN e/ou puerperais; dificuldade de transporte e distância entre o serviço e a residência. Foram associados à adesão: puérperas com maior escolaridade, que realizaram todo ou parte do pré-natal na instituição, que tiveram a gestação classificada como alto risco, que apresentaram doenças prévias durante a gestação, primigestas e as que tiveram parto cesáreo. Conclusões e implicações para a prática os dados apresentados possibilitaram delinear um perfil das puérperas que aderiram ou não à consulta puerperal, desvelando fatores facilitadores e barreiras, assim como fatores associados à maior adesão. Faz-se necessário repensar a assistência ao puerpério, uma vez que a consulta é uma estratégia de prevenção de morte materna.

'Mammy's supposed to be strong and supportive - not sitting in a corner rocking and crying': an interpretative phenomenological analysis of British mothers' experiences of postnatal depression

OBJECTIVE

To gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experience of women with postnatal depression (PND).

BACKGROUND

Although there is a small body of existing research which explores subjective experience of this phenomenon, relatively little research has been carried out and is prior to the publication of the NICE guidelines for PND in 2007.

METHOD

Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six mothers (aged 23-40 years), who had taken part in a PND support group. Verbatim transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

RESULTS

One broad superordinate theme of 'the conflicted mother' emerged from the data, with four corresponding sub-themes (own mother as absent and judgemental; internalised mother; pregnancy on the road to motherhood as an unpleasant stranger; the ideal mother).

CONCLUSION

It is argued that a broad umbrella construct of 'the conflicted mother' exists in PND experience. This study highlights the importance of the mother's own maternal relationship in living with depression. The authors discuss limitations of the study, make service recommendations to improve current clinical practice for women with PND, and provide future research directions.