title: Endocrine factors and postpartum depression. A selected review.
abstract: This review examines proposed endocrine-based etiologies of postpartum depression (PPD) and how knowledge of these etiologies may affect future treatments. It is based on a review of papers shedding light on the etiology of PPD with special emphasis on research into endocrine-related depression. A picture of PPD is starting to emerge that suggests a variety of endocrine root causes as well as psychosocial risk factors. Hormones reviewed include progesterone, estradiol and estriol, cortisol, corticotropin-releasing hormone, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone and triiodothyronine/thyroxine. Other substances examined include 3 antithyroid autoantibodies. Better understanding of the physiologic bases for depressive symptoms may lead to correction of the underlying pathology of PPD rather than treatment of symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biochemistry and of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, 1111 West 17th Street, Tulsa, OK 74107-1898, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah J Breese
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: J Martin
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Beal
authors.forename: Gary H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone