Clinical trial NCT02020148: Can Oxytocin Level Predict Postpartum Depression?
Official title: Can Prenatal Plasma Oxytocin Concentration Predict Likelihood of Postpartum Depression? An Opportunity for Early Intervention and Prevention in a Vulnerable Population
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Postpartum Depression
Keywords: pregnancy
oxytocin
postpartum depression
depression
pregnant women
mood
anxiety
hormones
women's health
mental health
baby blues
mood disorders
Lead sponsor: Northwestern University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Northwestern Memorial Hospital
First posted: 2013-12-24
Enrollment: 68
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Healthy Pregnant Women

Brief summary: The goal of this research study is to understand the relationship between the hormone oxytocin and postpartum mood.

Detailed description: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects some one in five new mothers, and adversely influences maternal adaptation to motherhood. While it is known that women with a prior history of depression, or depression during pregnancy, are at elevated risk for postpartum depression, many women with no prior history of depression or other risk factors go on to develop depression in the postpartum period. Considering the grave consequences of postpartum depression on maternal infant bonding and childhood psychological development, it is critical to develop reliable methods to identify which women, who are not depressed during pregnancy, will become depressed after delivery.

The biological pathways leading to depression at any time in life, including around pregnancy, are still poorly characterized. Oxytocin (OT), a hormone involved in delivery and lactation, has received recent attention regarding its additional role in maternal emotions and care taking behaviors after birth. The primary goal is explore the relationship between plasma oxytocin and postpartum mood.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. At least 18 years of age
2. English-speaking
3. Pregnant (third trimester at time of visit)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current active depression or other mental illness at time of study entry in the third trimester (past depression or anxiety is acceptable)
2. Current antidepressant treatment
3. Severe medical complications in current pregnancy (gestational diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disease)
4. Signs of multiple gestation or of fetal malformation in current pregnancy
5. Cigarette smoking beyond 10th week of gestation of current pregnancy
6. Pre-pregnancy BMI \> 32

Primary outcomes:
measure: Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Self-Report (IDS-SR-30)
timeFrame: 4-6 weeks post delivery
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Chicago
country: United States
facility: Northwestern Memorial Hospital
state: Illinois
Study officials:
affiliation: Northwestern University
name: Suena H Massey, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Bell AF, Carter CS, Steer CD, Golding J, Davis JM, Steffen AD, Rubin LH, Lillard TS, Gregory SP, Harris JC, Connelly JJ. Interaction between oxytocin receptor DNA methylation and genotype is associated with risk of postpartum depression in women without depression in pregnancy. Front Genet. 2015 Jul 21;6:243. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00243. eCollection 2015.