Depressive symptoms in the second trimester relate to low oxytocin levels in African-American women: a pilot study

Garfield, Lindsey; Giurgescu, Carmen; Carter, C. Sue; Holditch‐Davis, Diane; McFarlin, Barbara L.; Schwertz, Dorie W.; Seng, Julia S.; White‐Traut, Rosemary

doi:10.1007/s00737-014-0437-4

Cited by 39 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…However, Zelkowitz and colleagues and Garfield and colleagues reported the absence of a statistically significant association between OT plasma levels and a mother's depressive symptoms. Higher OT levels were, however, associated with fewer depressive symptoms exclusively in mothers with greater psychosocial stress, suggesting that OT may protect women in stressful situations from developing major depression (Garfield et al 2015;Zelkowitz et al 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Oxytocin and depression in the perinatal period—a systematic review

Moura

Canavarro

Figueiredo-Braga

2016

Arch Womens Ment Health

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Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common postnatal psychiatric disorder, and it represents a considerable problem to the health and well-being of women and their families. Several pathogenic mechanisms have been identified in PPD, and recently, oxytocin (OT), known to be involved in childbirth and lactation, has drawn attention as a possible diagnostic and therapeutic tool in this disorder. The aim of this review was to assess and summarize the current literature on the relationship between OT as a potential depressive biomarker and depression in the perinatal period. We conducted a literature search on four electronic databases (Pubmed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Science Direct) by applying the following search terms: oxytocin AND (postpartum OR postnatal OR perinatal OR peripartum) AND (depression OR depressive). Six studies were included and a total of 620 pregnant women were recruited and completed the follow-up. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using self-report scales, and in three studies, the diagnosis of major depression was additionally confirmed using semi-structured interviews. Peripheral OT levels and depression were assessed during pregnancy and/or after delivery. Higher OT levels were associated with lower depressive symptoms, even if this association lacked statistical significance in two studies. Although some studies are beginning to shed light upon the complex nature of OT's effect in depression, its role as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in PPD is still unclear. Future research is needed to clarify the neuroendocrinological and psychosocial particularities of mothers with PPD and to define a specific profile associated with OT dysfunction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Oxytocin and depression in the perinatal period—a systematic review

Moura

Canavarro

Figueiredo-Braga

2016

Arch Womens Ment Health

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“…The CES-D does not provide a diagnosis of clinical depression, but a customary cutoff score of 16 or higher is used to identify those with elevated (e.g., clinically relevant) levels of depressive symptoms. The instrument has been used with good reliability in prior research with pregnant African American women (Garfield et al, 2015; Giurgescu et al, 2015). In the current study the Cronbach’s alpha was 0.87.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Racial discrimination predicts greater systemic inflammation in pregnant African American women

Giurgescu

Engeland

Templin

et al. 2016

Applied Nursing Research

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Purpose Chronic exposure to racial discrimination by pregnant African American women may lead to allostatic overload; thereby, predisposing women to systemic inflammation. Thus, the goal of this study was to examine if experiences of racial discrimination are related to systemic inflammation in pregnant African Americans. Methods A sample of 96 African American women from Chicago completed questionnaires and had blood drawn during the second trimester of pregnancy (19.7 ± 2.5 weeks). Results Experiences of racial discrimination were associated with higher cytokine levels of interleukin(IL)-4 (B=2.161, 95% CI =1.02–3.30, p<.001) and IL-6 (B = 1.859, 95% CI = .61–3.11, p= .004) when controlling for covariates. Conclusion These findings suggest that experiences of racial discrimination may cause physiological wear and tear on the body leading to alteration of immune functions. Nurses should inquire about women’s experiences of racial discrimination and make referrals for community or church support groups for women who report racial discrimination.

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“…Two clinical studies have found that low antepartum blood oxytocin levels are correlated with postpartum depression (Skrundz, Bolten, Nast, Hellhammer, & Meinlschmidt, 2011; A. M. Stuebe, Grewen, & Meltzer-Brody, 2013), and related work reports an association between prepartum depression and low oxytocin (L. Garfield et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of peripartum synthetic oxytocin administration and depressive and anxiety disorders within the first postpartum year

et al. 2017

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Background Due to its potent effects on social behavior, including maternal behavior, oxytocin has been identified as a potential mediator of postpartum depression and anxiety. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between peripartum synthetic oxytocin administration and the development of depressive and anxiety disorders within the first year postpartum. We hypothesized that women exposed to peripartum synthetic oxytocin would have a reduced risk of postpartum depressive and anxiety disorders compared with those without any exposure. Methods Population-based data available through the Massachusetts Integrated Clinical Academic Research Database (MiCARD) was used to retrospectively (2005–2014) examine this relationship and calculate the relative risk of peripartum synthetic oxytocin for the development of postpartum depressive and anxiety disorders in exposed (n=9,684) compared to unexposed (n=37,048) deliveries. Results Among deliveries to women with a history of prepregnancy depressive or anxiety disorder, exposure to peripartum oxytocin increased the risk of postpartum depressive or anxiety disorder by 36% (RR: 1.36; 95%CI: 1.20–1.55). In deliveries to women with no history of prepregnancy depressive or anxiety disorder, exposure to peripartum oxytocin increased the risk of postpartum depressive or anxiety disorder by 32% compared to those not exposed (RR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.23–1.42). Conclusions Contrary to our hypothesis, results indicate that women with peripartum exposure to synthetic oxytocin had a higher relative risk of receiving a documented depressive or anxiety disorder diagnosis or antidepressant/anxiolytic prescription within the first year postpartum than women without synthetic oxytocin exposure.

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Depressive symptoms in the second trimester relate to low oxytocin levels in African-American women: a pilot study

Cited by 39 publications

References 41 publications

Oxytocin and depression in the perinatal period—a systematic review

Oxytocin and depression in the perinatal period—a systematic review

Racial discrimination predicts greater systemic inflammation in pregnant African American women

Association of peripartum synthetic oxytocin administration and depressive and anxiety disorders within the first postpartum year

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