Bidirectional associations between perinatal allopregnanolone and depression severity with postpartum gray matter volume in adult women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Perinatal depression (PND) is a debilitating condition affecting maternal well-being and child development. Allopregnanolone (ALLO) is important to perinatal neuroplasticity, however its relationship with depression severity and postpartum structural brain volume is unknown.

Method

We examined perinatal temporal dynamics and bidirectional associations between ALLO and depression severity and the association between these variables and postpartum gray matter volume, using a random intercept cross-lagged panel model.

Results

We identified a unidirectional predictive relationship between PND severity and ALLO concentration, suggesting greater depression severity early in the perinatal period may contribute to subsequent changes in ALLO concentration (β = 0.26,

SUBMITTER: Hare MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11444908 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature