Effect of oestradiol on postpartum depression.
BACKGROUND
The months following childbirth are a time when women are susceptible to depressive disorders, which may be severe and have long-lasting serious adverse consequences. The illnesses remain often unrecognized and untreated, and can be resistant to conventional psychiatric treatment methods.


OBJECTIVE
We report two patients with postpartum depression, who had low serum oestradiol together with psychiatric symptoms, and who responded successfully to treatment with oestradiol.


METHODS
The serum oestradiol concentration was measured at baseline and weekly during treatment with sublingual 17-beta oestradiol for 8 weeks. The treatment effect was evaluated using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale.


RESULTS
Both patients had a low pretreatment oestradiol concentration (36-120 and 31 pmol/l). During treatment with oestradiol, the decline of depressive symptoms coincided with a rise in serum oestradiol.


CONCLUSIONS
Oestradiol may be causally related to postpartum depression and have significance in the treatment of this condition.
Ahokas
A
A
Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki City Hospital, Välskärinkatu 12, FIN-00260 Helsinki, Finland, antti.ahokas@soster.hel.fi
Kaukoranta
J
J
Aito
M
M
D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*
D004958:Estradiol