According to Statista, around 46% of women surveyed in China reported that they had had postpartum depression during 2019.
According to Statista, in 2012, 11.5% of new mothers experienced postpartum depression in the United States.
According to Statista, in 2018, 23.5% of new mothers in Mississippi experienced postpartum depression.
The Cedars-Sinai researchers found that women who developed perinatal and postpartum-associated mood disorders such as depression and anxiety had specific altered proteins circulating in their bloodstreams in the third trimester.
The study has been published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. In this controlled pilot study, 34 women at risk of developing PMAD and 18 controls participated. The mental health examination was performed in the third trimester and again three months after delivery.
The researchers used a highly sensitive tool called low-speed modified aptamer (SOMA) scanning technology to detect plasma biomarkers correlated with specific disorders, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress.
“The first fundamental step in the prevention of any disease is to know if you are at risk. The process of discovering a diagnostic test for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, through biomarker research like this, is our holy grail,” says Eynav Accortt, Director of the Cedars-Sinai Reproductive Psychology Program and corresponding author. of the study.
What is perinatal depression?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Perinatal depression is a mood disorder that can affect women during pregnancy and after delivery. The word “perinatal” refers to the time before and after the birth of a baby.
Perinatal depression includes depression that begins during pregnancy (called prenatal depression) and depression that begins after the baby is born (called postpartum depression). Mothers with perinatal depression experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and fatigue that can make it difficult for them to perform daily tasks, including caring for themselves or caring for others.
How is perinatal depression caused?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, perinatal depression is a real medical illness and can affect any mother, regardless of age, race, income, culture, or education.
There is no single cause for perinatal depression; rather, research suggests that it is the result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The stresses of life, the physical and emotional demands of having children, and the hormonal changes that occur during and after pregnancy can all contribute to perinatal depression.
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