Prepartal Stress, Prepartal and Postpartal Hair Glucocorticoid Concentrations, and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression 3 Days and 12 Weeks After Delivery.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious mental health problem that affects about 17% of mothers. The aims of the current study were to observe the associations between prenatal stress, self- and expert-rated PPD, and prepartal and postpartal hair cortisol and cortisone concentrations as proxies for altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity (HPA-AA).

Methods

A total of 129 mothers (mean age 33.1 years) completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale 3 days (baseline) and 12 weeks (study end) postpartum. At the end of the study, participants reported on prepartum stressful life events, experts rated participants' symptoms of depression, and participants provided 6 cm of hair strands for analysis of hair glucosteroid levels 12 weeks before and 12 weeks

SUBMITTER: Sadeghi-Bahmani D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11925523 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature