title: Folates and post partum depression.
abstract: Hypofolatemia can cause psychiatric disturbances of a depressive nature. Pregnancy and delivery are often associated with hypofolatemia. This study was conducted to determine if hypofolatemia at day 3 post partum is a risk factor for baby blues or post partum depression. To study this hypothesis, 131 post partum women were followed prospectively for the 3 months immediately following delivery. 19% were found to have 'baby blues', as defined by a score greater than 20 on Pitt's scale (Pitt, 1968, J. Psychiatry 114, 1325-1335) and 12% had post partum depression as defined by a score greater than 7 on QD2A scale (Pichot et al., 1984, Rev. Psycholog. App. 34, 229-250, 323-340), within the three months post partum. No relationship was observed between the serum or erythrocyte folate levels on the third day following delivery and the maternal post partum depression scores. A statistically significant correlation between post partum depression and previous psychiatric disturbance was, however, observed.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Louis Mourier, Service de Psychiatrie, Colombes, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rouillon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thalassinos
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lemperiere
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid