Chronobiology, sleep-related risk factors and light therapy in perinatal depression: the "Life-ON" project.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Perinatal depression (PND) has an overall estimated prevalence of roughly 12 %. Untreated PND has significant negative consequences not only on the health of the mothers, but also on the physical, emotional and cognitive development of their children. No certain risk factors are known to predict PND and no completely safe drug treatments are available during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Sleep and depression are strongly related to each other because of a solid reciprocal causal relationship. Bright light therapy (BLT) is a well-tested and safe treatment, effective in both depression and circadian/sleep disorders.

Methods

In a 3-year longitudinal, observational, multicentre study, about 500 women will be recruited and followed-up from early pregnancy (10-15 gestati

SUBMITTER: Baiardi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5225570 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature